FALL FUNGI FUN

FORAGE THESE EDIBLES WITH CONFIDENCE USING THESE TIPS

- REUBEN BOLIEU

What if you pick the wrong one?"

One of the most intimidating activities outdoors lovers can do is confidently pick wild food and eat it. People say, "I couldn't ever do that" or "I'll pick the wrong one" These are always initial concerns. However, don't let this fear prevent you from this experience.

Hopefully, these fungi and quick how-to identify tips will put the fun in and remove some fear. Spore printing, using apps, and books, searching online, and asking others who are in-the-know, are all ways to positively identify plants and fungi. To make a spore print, slice off the stem of a mushroom and lay the cap-gills down on a paper bag, dark surface, jar lid, or Tupperware lid, and wait for spore coloring.

A good day in the world of foraging for the author as he gathers oyster mushrooms and chicken of the woods. Using a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Camper model and Wazoo Survival Gear Foraging Bandanet made it all possible.

"SPORE PRINTING, USING APPS, AND BOOKS, SEARCHING ONLINE, AND ASKING OTHERS WHO ARE IN-THE-KNOW, ARE ALL WAYS TO POSITIVELY IDENTIFY PLANTS AND FUNGI."

MUSHROOMS (PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS)

This was the first wild mushroom I ever foraged. I remember coming across a downed log and seeing perfect white clusters attached to the entire side of the log. I ended up with close to four pounds of delicious pearl oyster mushrooms.

How to Identify- Oyster mushrooms form clusters called shelves on rotting or fallen logs. So, finding them means finding a few clumps, at least. Oyster mushrooms feed on dead wood, which means they are saprotrophic. They have a fishy smell, although some think it is more of a black licorice smell.

Cap-It should be oyster or fan-shaped. Most oyster mushrooms are 2 to 10 inches wide and smooth, free of scales. The flesh is firm, white, and usually light white to brown on top.