March Customer Spotlight 2023: Birch Boys Inc.

CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY OF TALENTED MAKERS, ARTISANS & ALCHEMISTS

If you are looking for a heart-warming and inspiring tale, look no further. When we first read about Birch Boys Inc., we were interested in their commitment to sustainable harvesting and foraging of wild mushrooms for organic extracts. After learning more about the company we were even more proud to feature them as our March Customer Spotlight. Read about Birch Boys Inc. and we thank you for sharing your story.

"When I was 15 years old, after mowing my Mimi's lawn, I helped myself to a tall glass of what appeared to be iced tea in her fridge. I was on my second helping as Mimi entered the kitchen. When she saw me, her jaw dropped. She found it hilarious to inform me that I was drinking her freshest batch of home-brewed fungus tea. Chaga!

She and her friends at the Tupper Lake adult center had been turned on to Chaga after going on a trip to Maine, where they attended a foraging walk. It was here that they learned to identify Chaga and were enlightened about its healing properties.

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Lo and behold, when she returned to her home in the Adirondacks, she found Chaga growing on a Birch tree in the center of her yard. Next thing I know, I'm following my Grandmother across the fresh cut grass to get my own lesson on Chaga identification, harvesting, health benefits, and history. This was the first of many times I'd observe Mimi's new obsession.

I'll never forget the highlight of one day trip to Fish Creek Campground. Mimi wielded her cane - precariously aiming it high above her head - to deliver a forceful strike at a piece of Chaga. She did this again and again, until down it came, and a crowd of observers cheered. For a woman battling stage 4 pancreatic Cancer, her passion was totally contagious. As any loving (and responsible) Grandson should, I started harvesting Chaga for my Grandmother. I was her Birch Boy. 

She and her friends frequented various craft fairs and farmers markets, as vendors, in order to sell hand-knitted scarves, mittens, and pot-holders. That autumn, they snuck me in to set up a booth where I could sell Chaga. 

Eight years later - I'm still harvesting, selling, and learning more about Chaga. Sadly, Mimi is no longer with us. She passed peacefully at home in her sleep during a round of chemotherapy treatments. I'd like to believe she can see how far this has come. I know she'd be joyous and proud."

-Garrett Kopp  

We couldn't agree more, Garrett!

HARVESTING

"We sustainably wild-harvest our Chaga, Reishi and Turkey Tail from 200,000 acres of privately owned timberland within the Adirondack Mountains. Our harvesters are highly qualified individuals with careers in forestry, logging, and DEC-licensed guiding. We employ top-notch sustainability practices to ensure that we keep the forests and fungi healthy and abundant."

Birch Boys are serious about making sure they are responsibly harvesting with a unique, 9-point sustainability protocol that they employ when harvesting Chaga: Sourcing, Scouting, Long-Term Planning, Timely Harvests, Expert Harvesters, Wasteless Handling, Adirondack Park Agency Approval, Emergency Preparedness, and Consent.

Learn about each sustainability protocol and a whole lot more on their interesting and informative blog birchboys.com.

PRODUCTION

"We produce our products in small batches by hand in our 3700 square foot Fungi Factory in Tupper Lake, NY. Upon arrival to our facility, fresh fruiting bodies of organic wild-craft fungi are traced to the land parcel it was harvested from, who it was foraged by, and the date of harvest. From there, they are chopped, sliced, and dried in a custom built dehydration chamber, Tinctures - Using modern technology and the time honored, clinically-proven traditional extraction method of hot water and alcohol to release and concentrate the constituents, our dried fungi are transformed into potent and highly bioavailable, medicinal grade tincture."

WHAT MAKES BIRCH BOYS INC UNIQUE?

"Our mushroom fruiting bodies are sourced in the USA Our extraction process yields the most potent, effective, and bioavailable mushroom tinctures on the market. Our tinctures are sold in large 4 fl oz bottles, at highly competitive rates, to best accommodate real healing for everyday people We have removed all products from Amazon, permanently. We're a small company who makes everything in house We do not harvest, nor work with mycelium."

LEARN MORE ABOUT BIRCH BOYS INC...

Go to the Birch Boys Inc website to order products and learn more about their sustainable harvesting protocols and blog!  Also, get a 20% discount on your first order with code 'OAC'!

Thank you Birch Boys Inc for being our Customer Spotlight and sharing your wonderful story! If you are interested in being a Customer Spotlight and part of our OA Inside community, drop us a line here!