The Psychedelic Snail, and Other Pollinators You Didn't Know You Needed
Inspired by forests, coasts, and edges between ecosystems, this wild food-centric party is a fundraiser for Home Grown, a kaleidoscopic shell installation for Burning Man 2025 that evokes a multicolor regal snail. This fundraiser encourages everyone to become a pollinator, even if it's the slow and steady, lesser celebrated pollinator, like the snail. The goal of transformation is not for a caterpillar to become a butterfly, but to become a pollinator. Produced by Maria Finn, founder of Flora & Fungi Adventures and The Institute for Ecosystem Based Living.
The Wild Apothecary
Elixirs inspired by some of our under-recognized pollinators.
Drinks created by Mars Bar
Psychedelic Snail
Snails are nature’s slow-moving hermaphrodites that can gender bend throughout their lifetime, and they are slow but steady pollinators. When other well-known pollinators like butterflies and bees can’t get to work because it’s too rainy or windy or dark, snails do the job transferring pollen between flowers.
Mocktail with rose syrup, loquat-rose geranium shrub, strawberry, lemon juice, black pepper, balsamic vinegar & Flower Power bitters.
Crystal Wave
The banana slug slime trail through the woods is a liquid crystal lubricant. This slime powers their journeys as they spread seeds and spores across the forest floor. This trail of slime they leave in the woods also serve as messages to other slugs, including a beckoning to potential mates.
Prosecco, pear puree, pinecone syrup, lemon juice
Seaweed Spermanator
Idotea balthica is a little crustacean that ferries the sperm of male to female red seaweed. Female red seaweed has been known to release sex pheromones to attract males. And red seaweed has been known for mating competition and preferences.
Tequila, kombu-mulberry shrub, salted makrut lime leaves, lime juice, seaweed rum bitters, luxardo cherries
Beetle Juice
From lady bugs to scarabs, beetles are some of the earth’s oldest pollinators. They are hearty, varied and often stunningly beautiful. And ladybugs have orgies, sometime so massive it has been said that they can stop forest fires. The scarab is monogamous.
Gin, chartreuse, cherry plum & bay laurel syrup, lime juice, elderflower & hibiscus syrup, & Lost in the Woods bitters.
The Sonic Grazing Table
The Sonic Grazing Table is a collaboration between Maria Finn and Scott Kildall. Scott has captured "data prints" from seaweed, mushroom mycelium, and ferns. These organisms emit subtle electrical signals into ambient soundscapes, revealing the hidden vibrations of these organisms.
Maria has created a grazing table inspired by mushrooms and the forest, seaweed from our coast, and the edges between our urban and rural areas. This is a multi-sensory experience of ecosystems that features wild foods inspired from her cookbook, Forage. Gather. Feast.
Forest
Fiddlehead fern & morel burrata crostini
Brillat Savarin soft cheese wheel with candied pine cones and pine cone syrup
Jackfruit meatballs by Karana with yogurt harissa, torn mint and pistachios.
Mushroom & herb butter with artisanal bread
Coast
Laser cut seaweed onigiri some salmon eggs and togarashi,/savory seaweed and mushroom jam and bonita flakes
White beans and sardines with seaweed gremolata crostini
Seaweed butter with artisanal bread
The Edge
Vegan escargot
Crudite
Cheese & charcuterie
Assorted pickles
Rose-honey butter with artisanal bread
Dessert Platter
Chocolate truffles rolled in bay laurel nut, orange zest and rose petals
Fresh berries
Jello-champagne balls
The Pizza Cave
Spiral Wild Thing Pizza Grotto: Enjoy fresh-baked pizzas featuring hypnotic spiraling patterns of sauces and toppings foraged from the forest.
Stinging nettle pesto with mozzarella, finish with swirl of nasturtium oil and flowers.
Garlic Calabrian chile olive oil, mushrooms, and caramelized onions with pecorino/Romano. A swirl of preserved lemon over the top.