Learn the theory and practice for making alcohol-based extractions of medicinal mushrooms and plants, also called tinctures. These easy-to-learn methods allow straightforward preservation of wild or cultivated medicinal plants and fungi, which when done properly will create a product that will stay shelf stable for years. Topics covered will include: - Harvesting plants and mushrooms to maximize their potency - A background on different types of medicinal compounds that can be extracted from mushrooms and plants - Storage and preservation of raw material before extraction - How to perform effective macerations, infusions, and decoctions and determining which method is best for your extractions - Fine-tuning the tincture making process to maximize potency and shelf life - How to make double extract mushroom tinctures - Filtering, bottling and mixing tinctures - Useful materials and supplies for tincture making and where to find them The class will be more focused on medicinal mushroom tincture making methods, but plants will be covered too. There will be hands-on demonstrations and detailed explanations of all the steps for making double-extracted (alcohol and hot water) mushroom tinctures. Participants will leave with all the knowledge needed to make high-quality plant and mushroom tinctures at home. Whether you’re interested in tinctures for personal hobby use, creating more value-added products from a farming venture or starting a small herbalism business, the skills taught in this class will help to improve the quality and consistency of your extractions. No previous experience is required None of the information taught in this class should be taken as medical advice, consult a medical professional before using any mushroom or plant-based tinctures. Instructor Background: Leif Olson is an environmental scientist and educator with a professional and research background spanning ecological field research, environmental chemistry, soil health management, and mushroom farming. He has been practicing tincture making since 2016 when he was working in commercial mushroom cultivation and began studying the uses of medicinal mushrooms, finding it as a unique overlap between agricultural work and his experience in chemistry laboratories. He provides a scientifically nuanced and practical view on the subject that is also entrenched in the traditions of herbalism and working with plants and fungi experientially and intuitively.