Fungus Among Us: Mushroom Foraging Lessons with BaltiSpore [Session 2]

Are you fascinated by the mysterious world of fungi? Join us for a series that will have you thinking like a mycologist in order to confidently identify mushrooms in the wild. You’ll learn key identification skills and concepts, including must-know ID tools needed to accurately classify edible mushrooms from their toxic look-a-likes, as well as how to use a field guide and practice safe and sound foraging techniques. Then, you’ll learn how to grow your own mushrooms, and make your way to the kitchen to cook and tincture our newfound fungi.

By the end of the full series, participants will:

→ Understand how to read and use a variety of guidebooks among other ID tools

→ Identify trees and common places to find wild edible mushrooms seasonally

→ Feel confident in your ability to follow foraging safety precautions

→ Be able to cook and tincture edible mushrooms

March 4th: Introduction to Fungi (ID Tools & Safety)

Foraging for wild food is a great way to experience the natural world, but it is essential to learn how to do so safely. In this class, you’ll receive an overview of our top five seasonal wild edibles as a segway into learning the anatomy of mushrooms and foraging safety. You’ll also receive hands-on experience navigating a guidebook to identify mushrooms & learn how to properly conduct research for positive identification.

April 1st: Cooking Wild Edibles

Learn to cook gourmet mushrooms using farm-fresh ingredients from BaltiSpore’s mushroom farm based out of Ijamsville, Maryland. This course will explore cooking “crab” cakes from lions mane mushrooms with a side of lemon and herb pasta using oyster mushrooms.

May 6th: Look-A-Likes & Mushroom Toxicity

The ability to identify wild edibles is fun, but the knowledge of what toxic species exist in the area is essential. In this class, we’ll cover ID features of some of the deadliest mushrooms in our area and look-a-likes that can easily be misidentified with an untrained eye. We’ll also cover what to do if you accidentally consume a toxic mushroom and what precautions you can take to avoid fatal injury.

September 2nd: Tree ID for Mushroom Hunters

If there’s one skill that can improve your foraging yield, it’s tree ID. In this class, we’ll take a field trip to the Frederick Municipal Forest to identify common trees that every mushroom hunter should learn. We’ll also talk about decomposing matter and how that presents an opportunity for mushrooms to flourish.

October 7th: Making Mushroom Tinctures

One of the biggest advantages of mushroom tinctures is that they have a longer shelf-life than storing fresh mushrooms. In this class, you’ll learn the process of double extraction and try your hand at making your very own mushroom tincture to take home.

November 4th: Growing Mushrooms

You too can grow mushrooms at home. It’s easier than you think! Harriett of BaltiSpore will walk you through their process of growing mushrooms step-by-step. Plus, you’ll receive spawn to start growing your own mushrooms at home.

Bonus!

+All participants who sign up for this series will receive a free virtual class: Ethics of Foraging led by Lacey Walker & Taylor Roman on Fox Haven. We highly recommend you watch this before the first Fungus Among Us class to learn important safety tools and the importance of reciprocity from a forager’s perspective.

Email alecks@foxhavenfarm.org to discuss a payment plan!

Meet your teacher, Harriett!

Harriett is one of the founders of Baltispore. They have a background in agriculture, IPM, and greenhouse growing. Harriett first got into mushrooms when they realized all of the potential medicinal effects they hold. When they’re not growing mushrooms and running markets for BaltiSpore they can be found foraging, skating with their local roller derby league, or gardening.