I've been deep-diving mushrooms for a few years now, from learning about different types to using and cooking them in all kinds of ways. I'm a big fan and when wandering woods I'm so excited when I stumble onto the little clusters fanning off trees and hiding in the dirt. What a magical form of life!
I've learned quite a bit about what to look for, what's safe, what to only admire with my eyes, and what might be delicious but isn't worth the risk. Even though there's infinitely more to learn, I feel like I have enough knowledge and tools to make some good choices and it's time to grow through active practice of safe picks. However, so far I haven't made an intentional trip out to go mushroom hunting and collecting. I'd like to! I'm also a fickle, distractable being who gets caught up in the day-to-day of life; maybe this market will help motivate me. So, will I make it happen? And will I come back with anything edible?
Resolves YES if I make trip(s) out with the intent of finding edible mushrooms and come back with some on any of those trips.
Resolves NO after close if I don't make any trips with the purpose of finding edible mushrooms, if I don't find any, or if I do find some but never on a purposeful hunt.
(Since the comments are inevitable: I do consider many psychedelic mushrooms to be edible for this question's purposes, but even if I stumble across any I'm unlikely to pick them as I'm not so confident in my ability to distinguish many of those varieties from riskier species in my region)
I'll be betting in this market variously to encourage increased trading and motivate myself.
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@Stralor no real luck. lots of brackets and tiny early white and brown bois that I didn't bother to take pics of. but on the way out spotted what seems to be a puffball but I'm not confident on type.
I love mushroom id'ing. the most choice i've ever found was some oysters randomly growing on a dead palm stump in a woodsy apartment complex i lived in.
but most of the time i just identify for fun, most recently i found some stubble rosegills around the neighborhood.
betting no to incentivize you to hunt some more!
@Stralor it was only a short jaunt, but no luck. many mushrooms tend to prefer more humidity and wetness, though I figured rains would bring out small eager pioneers. I find it takes sitting in a spot for a moment to notice the small things in the woods like all the hidden plants, bugs, and goings-on but even still I didn't see even some long-lived brackets or anything more fungal than lichen. not seeing anything is also good practice imo and I'll go somewhere further afield next time
@Alice For collecting, some "easy" ones like oysters, boletes, or chanterelles (though there are some risky lookalikes these are fairly straightforward) would be good. I've heard that turkey tails can be made edible, too, but I'd have to look into it. References for the region also mention lobsters and violet webcaps which could be quite fun finds. I'm sad I missed morels season.
But while foraging I'd also love to run into anything crazy fun and exotic like a red cage or devil's tooth just to see them ya know?
Some questions which I hope don't invade your privacy too much:
When is the growth period for mushrooms where you live?
How long would it take you to go to a place where you'd expect to find mushrooms?
Do you know the dish Bread Dumplings with Creamed Mushroom Sauce (https://ichkocheheute.de/en/2017/10/09/semmelknoedel-mit-pilzrahmsauce-bread-dumplings-with-creamed-mushroom-sauce/)?
Do you like pickles?
Afaik, there isn't a season where mushrooms don't appear in most mushroom growing regions of the world, but certainly winter has much fewer and mostly only long-lived species while late summer into fall is the prime time for many desirable species, depending on rainfall patterns. I'm in the northern hemisphere with full but mild seasons.
I could find them in the open spaces on a walk near my home! Where I live is overflowing with areas I might expect mushrooms to be if they weren't so high traffic. I'll likely take a more serious trek out into less frequented countryside or wilderness when deciding to forage to increase my chances of success, and there are a lot of options within 2 hours of travel.
I've never heard of it! Thanks for the share :) Is it a favorite of yours?
Hmm I like many fermented foods but not most pickles. I do love a good gherkin or cornichon on occasion, though.
@Stralor Yeah, the Schwammerlbrühe with Semmelknödel, as we call it, is like the number one mushroom dish where I grew up and also my favorite. About twice a year I go hunting for mushrooms (just learned of that expression, sounds adorable!) and that's the dish we cook afterwards. It tastes a bit sour, that's why I included the pickles question ;)
Thanks for your answers!