Mushroom Hunting!

[quadracer]

The progression of organic, sustainable, gardening has lead me to my now obsessive interest in mycology. Mycelium are extremely interesting, and extremely necessary for soil health, tree health, and human health.

Beyond the science of mushrooms and mycelium, being able to go on a hike and come back with dinner is amazing. Especially considering mushrooms only pop up in certain times, in certain places, under certain conditions.

Not everything I find is edible, but a lot is. Remember, WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT. Never eat anything you are not absolutely positive about.

I recommend David Arora's book: Mushrooms Demystified. It is the bible of mushroom identification, extremely valuable and knowledgeable, and very entertaining to read.


Here are some of my finds. Anyone else have any good finds? I notice mushrooms EVERYWHERE these days, popping up out of my compost pile, growing in the back yard, etc etc..


Chanterelle's ready to cook:


Amanita Muscaria:


Amanita Muscaria:


Boletus Edulis (THE BEST THING EVER!):


Boletus Edulis:


Boletus Edulis


Boletus Edulis:


Boletus Edulis:




Candy Cap:


Candy Cap:


Butter Bolete:


Oyster Mushroom:



Oyster Mushroom


Butter Bolete:

 

[overmind1632]

Very cool, Eating wild mushrooms is like filirting with death if you dont know what you are doing lol

 

[JerryPakul]

But when you do know they can be quite the treat. I'm also a wild mushroom fan although when I do collect I take them over to a friend of mine which I trust my life with when it comes to anything that deals with nature and we do a double check

All and all an awesome thread

Jerry

 

[quadracer]

yeah there's a general fungiphobia in this country, which is somewhat good because there is more for me


But yeah, you shouldn't eat any mushrooms if you aren't absolutely positive what they are. David Arora's book is a great guide too.

 

[GeneticHeirloom]

http://www.lonepinepublishing.com/cat/9781551051994

That book is by far my favourite book to bring adventuring.

Reads like a dream, very easy to figure out what's what.

Still would want someone with me who's done it before.

Simple things like half pink with a spec brown can be edible but the same mushroom with full pink no brown gills could kill you.

 

[Ganoderma]

Mushrooms can make a good meal become an gormet meal, but of corse if in dought, toss it, but when you know how to identify mushies beyond thier pure look, the spores, thier color, thier shape, their mycilum, its color. sorry cant think of any other ways, havent picked up any of my mycology books as of late

 

[B.C.]

Cool thread...

Cool thread...

I really dig mushrooms, but I'm afraid the extent of me picking them in the wild stops with the morel. It's too bad they're only around once a year. I'd like ta learn more about how ta grow em. Morels sell fer around 20 dollars a pound around here. That could add up fast if you were growin em. BC

 

[Indica Jones]

It is better IMHO to grow your own if in doubt. Oyster mushrooms are very tasty. Morels are the only ones that you have to hunt for. Very nice reward once you fry up a mess of them. Good Times IJ

P.S. 'Let's Grow Mushrooms' is a good DVD.

 

[cellardweller]

no-one has mentioned the "Chaga" mushroom yet..

 

[Mrs.Babba]

I really dig mushrooms, but I'm afraid the extent of me picking them in the wild stops with the morel. It's too bad they're only around once a year. I'd like ta learn more about how ta grow em. Morels sell fer around 20 dollars a pound around here. That could add up fast if you were growin em. BC

Im with you B.C. I love em, but to pick them is a different story, I would be so afraid to pick the wrong ones...the news had a story about a family that just picked some and got really sick, forget what kind but that would be my luck! ...so Ill leave it to the experts and just enjoy eating them

 

[Indica Jones]

Spore syringes last about 4-5 months in the fridge, whereas prints will last years in the fridge.


Yeah, it is better that you go with a experienced guide to go picking on your first couple of maiden runs.

 

[quadracer]

Mushrooms brought a whole new excitement into my life. I look forward to the rain and everything it brings. The fact that I can go out for a walk in the forest and come back with dinner still amazes me.

When I first started, I wouldn't eat anything, just go out to see what I could find and try to identify them. So so good.

It's gotten to the point where I've had some pretty intense mushroom hunting dreams that were a total tease, but inspired me the next day.

There's a lot of varieties that will grow in a compost pile, or even in a garden bed. Fresh mushrooms with fresh vegetables is incomparable. Fungi.com sells the spawn.

http://fungi.com/kits/outdoor.html

The "Three Amigos" Garden Pack
For species successionism of friendly fungi in the garden, we recommend using these three garden allies: in concert, the Garden Oyster (Hypsizygus ulmarius), the Garden Giant (Stropharia rugoso-annulata) and the Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus). They can be placed in the garden for the benefit of vegetables and for improving soil quality. And, gourmet mushrooms flourish throughout the seasons to create the best of edible landscapes!

Also, this book is the bible:

 

[Deft]

I took an ecology class in college, we were studying dichotomous keys and went out and people in the class found like 40 different kids of shrooms, our prof was a mycology specialist and said that one I found was called a death cap. I don't think mushroom hunting is for me besides morrels!

This past summer was so wet, I saw florescent and bioluminescent fungus and very strange things. I have never seen many of the types I saw this year in my woods ever before.

Edit: The bioluminescent one was a jack o lantern I think, they were orange and grew on a fallen tree in a little cluster of bright orange caps, very pretty.. I will get pics next summer!

 

[Mt Toaker]

I love mushrooms!! The only one's I've hunted are Morels. I'm going to have to get that book to get more mushies though. Any one know if a bunch of edibles grow in Michigan?

Any one ever grow non psycadelic mushrooms from one of those kits or plugs?

 

[afungi]

Nice finds! Me loves a good mushroom foray. Gone all over the place. I love the PNW though for the amount of great hunting and diversity. Look for truffles at all?

 

[Mr. Stinky]

we found the motherlode of morels this past spring and came home with a walmart bag full of them. butter and salt/pepper and they are the sweetest tasting thing ive ever found in the woods.

 

[ZeusOGrefugee]

nice thread dude...I have the Mush Demystified book and it is the BOMB!!!! When I lived up North, every summer I could go out on any given day and come home with pounds of Boletes, Chanterelles, Sheeps Polypores, Morels and many others to eat!!!! I love mushrooms and will post any pics I have in here as soon as I find them!!!! OH, and I hope you are not eating those Amanitas!!!!Peace and happy hunting!!!

- Z

 

[wicked*ryda*420]

some cyans. from a field i walked thru and found tons of them in...

 

[hanuman]

Hello mushrooms lovers,

Here's what we find in my area, famous for its mushrooms. Genuine "cepes" (porcini I think you say in English). A true delight!





h

 

[pontiac]

Sucks I live in a big city.................................... Lucky bastards.