Collar City Mushrooms flourishes at Indian Ladder Farms

Happy Monday, Capital Region! Today, we’re shining some well-deserved light on Collar City Mushrooms and their Foraged NY festival. We love their educational programming and cool collabs with folks throughout the Cap City area.

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Collar City Mushrooms sprouts at Indian Ladder Farms 👩‍🌾 

In its former home in Troy, Collar City Mushrooms operated out of a refurbished auto-body shop, sandwiched between a used-car lot and a towing business. You might say it was a bit in the dark 😆 

After a few tough years trying to grow in this urban setting, Collar City relocated in December to Indian Ladder Farms.

"We were on just a third of an acre in Troy," says Avery Stempel, who co-founded the business with his partner, Amy Hood, in 2021. "Now we’re on 400 acres. It feels amazing to be a farm again."

A frequent partner, Indian Ladder was thrilled to welcome Collar City to its grounds. "The team here is just so fantastic," Avery says. "They're collaborators at heart. They’ve been very supportive.”

And with Indian Ladder’s built-in foot traffic, Collar City is thriving in ways they couldn’t downtown. "We used to have a steady following of a couple dozen people. Now, hundreds of people come through every weekend.”

They’ve even carved out their own space in the farm’s main store, adorably called The Corner Spore—a perfect spot to introduce more visitors to the magic of mushrooms.

The big move finished just in time for Foraged NY, the weeklong celebration of wild edibles and local bounty, taking place May 4–10, with events centered around Indian Ladder and beyond.

"This is year 4," Avery says. "It started as this small idea—teaching people about the natural bounty around them without chemicals—and it’s just grown. We tried to scale it back this year because of the move, but so many partners were excited, we couldn’t say no."

The festival features foraging walks, wild food workshops, and a dinner and concert with local musician and forager Sean Rowe on May 10. 

"We’re putting in a shroom patch, too," Avery says. "It’s something we couldn’t do in Troy. Now we have the space for people to come, forage, and really connect."

Founded by forager Nadine Medina, Foraged NY was initially created to connect local chefs with wild-grown produce. That tradition continues today. Look for foraged ingredients to show up at Hamlet & Ghost in Saratoga, Nighthawks in Troy, Scarlet Knife in Latham, and Peekamoose Restaurant & Tap Room in Big Indian, among other spots. The edible plants include ramps, stinging nettles, Dame’s rocket, magnolia blossoms, Japanese knotweed and garlic mustard.

One of the things we really love about Collar City Mushrooms is their frequent collabs with folks all around the Capital Region, like their free programs for kids and this Asian-inspired dinner at SUNY Schenectady. Be sure to follow their Instagram to stay in the know.

“Mushrooms are collaborators,” Avery notes. “The way mycelium works is it trades with other organisms and, as a company, we love to work with other people, too.”

Tickets for Foraged NY events are going fast. A second foraging walk with Avery & Amy was just added, after the first quickly sold out. Exclusively for our subscribers: Get 25% off the May 10th performance with Sean Rowe (does not include the VIP dinner). Use promo code: readthe518foraged 🍄 🥳

A word from our sponsor

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💰️ The average National Grid customer will pay $600 more over the next three years if the utility company has its way 😡 The higher rates would start as soon as September, adding $22 to the average monthly bill. The proposal still needs to be approved by the Public Service Commission, but this guy has had enough of the rate hikes. [CNYCentral]

🏳️‍🌈 Collar City Mushrooms isn’t the only one leaving Troy. Collar City Pride says it won’t be hosting its 2025 Pride Festival in its namesake city, saying “pride is about visibility, safety, and joy—and those things cannot flourish without meaningful support from our civic partners.” Backup cities include Rensselaer, Watervliet or East Greenbush. [Times Union]

🌸 Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 11. Albany.com has a nice roundup of Capital Region restaurants that will be serving brunches and buffets. Make it special for your momma.

🕹️ The bad news is that The Egg is closing in July for renovations and won’t reopen until early 2026. The good news is that it’s putting on a Last Hurrah OPEN House on June 21, and turning the venue into a giant arcade! Expect games in the lobby (classic arcade games, giant board games, pinball machines, etc.) and “Rock Band” multiplayer video game on the main stage with full lights/fog machines. Free, but $15 donations are suggested. RSVP here.

This pastel charmer on a corner lot in Scotia is flooded with natural light. Original features include built-in cabinetry, crown molding, and detailed woodwork. An inviting front porch and lovely French doors lead to a four-season room made for entertaining. Downstairs includes a half bath and office with warm wood accents. Upstairs, find three spacious bedrooms and a full bathroom. There’s plenty of storage with a walk-up attic and extra-large garage out back.

The deets: 3 bd, 2 ba, 1668 sf. Asking: $269,900. Days on market: 4. See the full listing here. 

Our full weekend roundup publishes on Thursday! Keep an eye on your inbox.

🎸 Catch Melissa Etheridge & Joss Stone on Tuesday at the Palace Theatre. On Saturday, the theater presents “The Music of John Williams.”

🧑‍🎨 On Thursday, the Tri-County Literacy Center puts on its 4th annual fundraiser, “Celebrating Art of the Community,” at the Crandall Public Library.

🌷 First Friday Albany returns this week with popup art shows happening in and around downtown. Participating venues include Albany Institute of History & Art, City Hall, Larkin Hi-Fi, Lark Hall & The Eleven, Nine Pin Cider, Albany Barn and much more! See the full schedule of events here.

🪕 This Friday, catch Willoughby Station, a quartet performing American acoustic music firmly rooted in bluegrass, at Harvest Spirits Farm Distillery in Valatie.

🧸 The Big Bethlehem Yard Sale on Saturday is your chance to clear your clutter for a good cause!

🌲 Saturday is I Love My Park Day with events happening across NYS to celebrate the state’s world-class park system. Click here to find an event near you. Schuyler Mansion and Peebles Island are among the participating state parks.

🦸 Also Saturday, the Cohoes Public Library invites you to “Star Wars Day & Free Comic Book Day” with costumed characters and arts & crafts activities.

🦹‍♀️ Saratoga Comic Con is also happening this Saturday.

🍾 Why does Saratoga get to have all the fun? This Saturday, join the party at the 2025 Saratoga Margarita & Mimosa Fest. Also happening: 2025 Derby Day at Saratoga National. Find all the Derby Day parties here.

🏃‍♂️🍺 How can you go wrong with a 5K called Have a Drink on Me? This closed course, USATF-certified race has a great after-party at the SingleCut North Taproom.

🥕 On Sunday, Capital Roots celebrates its 50th anniversary with a spring brunch that’s touted as “the largest brunch in the Capital Region” with hundreds of top restaurants participating. Plus, indulge in bottomless mimosas and bloody Marys.

🖼️ And don’t miss these exhibitions currently on view:

• Outcasts: Mary Banning’s World of Mushrooms | NYSM

• Art+Design BFA Exhibit | Opalka Gallery

• 2025 MFA Thesis Exhibition | UAlbany Art Museum

• Americans Who Tell the Truth | Albany Institute of History & Art

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