Metamimicry 
SPoRE: Salish Place of Remediation Education
Internship Opportunities for Winter 2024
Organization Overview:
Metamimicry is a small Olympia-based organization which increases access to plants,
microbes, and especially mushrooms that can be used to deal with toxins in the land and our
bodies, also known as bioremediation. We do this by educating the public, especially youth and
tribal communities, about how to grow and how to apply these organisms through workshops,
consulting, creating community educational spaces, supporting internships, and generating
learning/teaching materials.
About the SPoRE:
Our main program at the moment is the SPoRE, which serves as an extension of the
Squaxin Island Tribe’s community garden. The SPoRE (Salish Place of Remediation Education)
grows mushrooms for food, medicine, and treating toxins in the environment. The garden
program provides food, medicine, and educational opportunities to community members free of
charge. This is a dynamic space which includes a lab, outdoor & indoor substrate preparation, a
variety of fruiting areas, and processing within the farmhouse.
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Mushroom Processing for Food Sovereignty Intern
Schedule: 8-10 hrs/week, 2 days/week (flexible scheduling)
Willing to support work-study students
Duration: January-March 2024 (with opportunity to extend longer term)
Location: Most of the work is to be done on-site at the Salish Roots Farm in Shelton, Washington.
Closing Date: December 22, 2023 — with interviews and notifications by January 6.
Position Overview:
We are seeking a curious individual to support mushroom processing at the SPoRE.
Working alone and with others, this position will focus on turning grown and foraged mushrooms
into distributable items, including tea blends, soup packs, and extracts, to bolster the food
sovereignty program at the Salish Roots Farm. This position is dynamic: some days will be
spent researching methods and recipes, writing up instructions or making labels, and other days
will be spent processing and blending, or distributing to the community. Successful applicants
will demonstrate an awareness of & interest in supporting Indigenous food sovereignty
Responsibilities:
● Prepare medicinal and culinary mushrooms in a variety of ways for distribution
● Maintain a clean workspace and clean equipment
● Harvest mushrooms both indoor and outdoor
● Research methods of preserving, extracting, and preparing mushrooms
● Write instructions, recipes, info cards, and labels
Learning Objectives:
● Understand growing cycles and harvesting practices of wild and cultivated mushrooms
● Develop practical knowledge of uses and preparations of common mushrooms
● Develop a broader understanding of Indigenous food systems
Required Qualifications:
● Ability to lift 20 pounds
● Reliable transportation to and from Salish Roots Farm
● Ability to work as a team and independently
● Ability to research, write, and follow instructions & recipes
Ideal Qualifications:
● Familiarity with food sovereignty
● Knowledge of herbalism and/or uses of mushrooms
● Squaxin Island Tribal member or descendent
● Experience working in an indigenous community
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Mushroom Cultivation for Food Sovereignty Intern
Schedule: 8-10 hrs/week, 2 days/week (flexible scheduling)
Willing to support work-study students
Duration: January-March 2024 (with opportunity to extend longer term)
Location: Most of the work is to be done on-site at the Salish Roots Farm in Shelton, Washington.
Closing Date: December 15, 2023 — with interviews and notifications by January 6.
Position Overview:
We are seeking a curious individual to support mushroom cultivation processes at the
SPoRE. Working alone and with others, this position will focus on substrate preparation and
inoculation. This hands-on work is dynamic in nature: some days will be spent mixing raw
substrate and pasteurizing in large batches outdoors, others preparing petri dishes, and still
others will focus on clean lab work. Successful applicants will demonstrate an awareness of &
interest in supporting Indigenous food sovereignty.
Responsibilities:
● Prepare a variety of substrates for pasteurization, including waste substrates (such as
spent coffee grounds)
● Perform culturing and inoculation activities
● Maintain fruiting area
● Harvest mushrooms both indoor and outdoor
Learning Objectives:
● Understanding cultivation techniques at a small-scale mushroom farm
● Add to the growing collection of knowledge for the utility of “waste” substrate alternatives
in mushroom cultivation
● Develop a broader understanding of Indigenous food systems
Required Qualifications:
● Ability to lift 50 pounds
● Reliable transportation to and from Salish Roots Farm
● Ability to work as a team and independently
● Ability to learn or practice aseptic techniques (clean lab techniques)
Ideal Qualifications:
● Familiarity with food sovereignty
● Knowledge of mushroom cultivation or reproduction
● Squaxin Island Tribal member or descendent
● Experience working in an indigenous community
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How to Apply:
Send email to mack@metamimicry.com with a letter of interest, explaining why you would be a
good fit for this position. Feel free to send a resume or other additional information if you already
have it prepared, but not required.
While we have listed ideal qualifications, please do not be worried if you don’t have any of
these. We are happy to train the right people and share what knowledge we have.
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