Education at the Market

At the Sturgis Gathering Market, learning is part of the experience! We’re working to bring in local educators, gardeners, chefs, makers, and stewards of the land to share their knowledge in short, engaging, and hands-on sessions.

Each week, we plan to offer free or low-cost mini-workshops designed to inspire, inform, and connect our community, right in the middle of the market.

We’re happy to welcome Alan Carner, founder and owner of Black Hills Mushrooms LLC, as this week’s educator at the Sturgis Gathering Market! Alan will discuss planting alliums (garlic) in the fall for a spring or summer harvest. He can also share his expertise on gourmet and wild-foraged mushrooms — including Lion’s Mane, Oyster, Chanterelle, Lobster, and Morel varieties.

Alan Carner owns Black Hills Mushrooms LLC, a year-round producer of gourmet mushrooms and certified wild mushroom forager in the Black Hills region. He specializes in growing gourmet species like Lion’s Mane and Oyster mushrooms, and seasonally forages wild varieties such as Chanterelle, Lobster, and Morel. He also offers mushroom growing kits and grow logs so customers can try cultivating mushrooms at home.

Alan started foraging as a child with his father, learning ecology in the woods — those early experiences sparked a lifelong love of fungi. He became a certified mushroom expert in South Dakota, working to grow and forage mushrooms, and helping establish safe identification and certification programs in the state.

Alan is committed to food safety and education. He works with chefs and restaurants to ensure quality, and he emphasizes educating the public about look-alike mushrooms and safe practices.