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Offlinegeneralsherman55
MF BOOGNISH


Registered: 09/05/13
Posts: 1,291
Loc: yay area
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
some personal questions
    #18836847 - 09/13/13 12:41 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

So as I mentioned earlier I currently taking an anthropological methods course at UC Berkeley.  I personally have a huge interest in mushroom hunting, one of my ex gf's growing up, her parents were crazy about it and her mom prepared this wild mushroom rub for this roast chicken she would make and it is simply the best thing i have ever put in my mouth to date.  Years later a close friend of mine became a pretty serious hunter and eventually took me under her wing and I was immediately bitten by the bug.  Thus when presented with this research opportunity I naturally wanted to make the focus mushroom hunting.  In fact it is my goal in life to become a gastro-anthropologist and get paid to travel the world eating various cultures' food (while being less of a cynical ethnocentric asshole than Bordain).  Ive been hunting for a little over a year now and have eaten about 10 or so wild gourmet species that I have found, identified, and prepared and although I personally am not confident enough to ID lbm's my friend who got me into hunting has shared some wild cyanes with me.  But back to the point. 

So I narrowed the focus of my research! What I am curious about is how people in the hunting community developed the knowledge base to be able to safely and accurately identify, analyze, harvest, and prepare wild mushrooms.



So heres some open ended questions to you all if you're interested in helping me out for my paper: (also keep in mind the things in parenthesis are just possible ideas of my own and may not reflect your own individual answer, please feel free to answer however if you like, if you want to answer at all)

What first interested you about mushroom hunting? (the desire to get high for free, the idea of cultivation, the idea of self reliance and knowledge of local biology, getting free gourmet food from the woods etc)

How did you initially get into mushroom hunting? (the shift from having a desire to hunt to physically entering the woods to hunt, what gear you assembled, what field guides you brought, what information you researched before hand, how your initial analysis would go, did you just identify for a period before building up confidence to eat them, did you simply want to take pictures of them or draw/paint them? etc.)


How did you begin to build your knowledge base? (through family with traditions of mushroom hunting, alone with field guides, through mycology group hunts with expert guides, through friends who already knew something on the subject, through online communities (such as this!)how familiar are with identifying poisonous species, did you study the deadly ones first so as to know to avoid them, is it just plain memorization, how much field exploration is necessary to build your knowledge base etc.)

What is your own process for harvesting? (digging, plucking, cutting, field dressing, baskets vs shoes boxes, wax paper vs paper bags, do you bring a magnifying glass, do you have a microscope for spore analysis) Where did you learn these methods? (trial and error, personal preference, from guides, from advice etc.)

And finally what is your process for preparing them? (do you cook them as soon as you get home, refrigerate for later, freeze, dehydrate (via fan, string, dehydrator), do you spends hours online finding the perfect recipe (like i do), do you have mushroom cookbooks you consult, do you share them with friends or save them for yourself)


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Offlinegeneralsherman55
MF BOOGNISH


Registered: 09/05/13
Posts: 1,291
Loc: yay area
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
Re: some personal questions [Re: generalsherman55]
    #18836908 - 09/13/13 12:57 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

So I suppose my initial interest sparked from my magic interest.  I love cyanes and thought it would be amazing to have my own steady supply (and i still do).  I knew a few people growing cubensis and being a giant foody i figured learning how to hunt and cultivate mushrooms would be a fantastic hobby (eventually down the line I intend to learn about bee keeping, how to raise goats/pigs/ducks/chickens etc) as my eventual retirement plan in life is to be pretty self sufficient in the woods.

As mentioned earlier though my interest in gourmet mushrooms was piqued with that home made wild rub on the roasted chicken.  Then eventually a close and experienced friend taught me the basics and I was soon hunting all on my lonesome.

My gear: copy of mushrooms demystified, an empty shoe box filled with various sized paper bags in my backpack, and boots.  The box is to conceal as some places here consider hunting illegal and being able to fully conceal is much less conspicuous than a huge basket.  I typically pluck rather than dig and like to sit down and attempt to ID each new specimen I come across (with an accuracy rating of roughly 30 percent).

I typically will text pictures and descriptive features to my mentor if I cannot make an ID.  Now I have about three more guidebooks in which to consult.

Even if I dont end up finding anything I simply enjoy strolling through the woods and climbing duffy hillsides and seeing glimpses of nature I dont typically get to see. ( i was inspecting a deer carcass once and had a turkey vulture break through the tree line and swoop not 6 inches from my face) (ive also stumbled upon deer doing it...i felt like david attenborough)

But it all boils down to me being a huge foody and not wanting to pay for gourmet mushrooms at a specialty grocery store when I could simply go out and find them myself.  Thats the real appeal, that I get to find this rare luxury item and and cook it up like the amazing chef that I am.  Thats what I really love about mushroom hunting.


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OfflineOregonBlueShroom
 User Gallery

Registered: 11/08/12
Posts: 1,802
Last seen: 9 years, 4 months
Re: some personal questions [Re: generalsherman55]
    #18836994 - 09/13/13 01:28 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

What first interested you about mushroom hunting?
I found a large amount of mushrooms in my front lawn and wanted to know what they were. It turns out they were Mycena.


How did you initially get into mushroom hunting?
After my first few IDs i learned that mycology is a never ending pool of information and a perfect hobby. Plus who doesnt enjoy free food?


How did you begin to build your knowledge base?
Shroomery! I started my quest for knowledge in day 1 at the shroomery, even now 5 years later i use other websites and mushroom books but the shroomery is still my main source of information.


What is your own process for harvesting?
Cut at base with knife or scissors, or with some smaller species pinching the base also works. Then usually put into a paper shopping bag. Small samples for identification put into a mini tacklebox to avoid damage / mixing.


And finally what is your process for preparing them?
Spread out on paper, use fan to dry off outside moisture at first, place small and fastest rotting mushrooms into dehydrator. The other 80% of them i leave out and eat before they go bad. Chantrelles hold really well for up to a week but other species like oyster mushrooms and COTW need dehydrated if i dont eat within a few days.


--------------------
Favorite quote: I want to know if they are active and magic or not. And if they are not active, can i pick them before they are active and then they will become active or do they have to grow till they activate?


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Offlinegeneralsherman55
MF BOOGNISH


Registered: 09/05/13
Posts: 1,291
Loc: yay area
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
Re: some personal questions [Re: OregonBlueShroom]
    #18837049 - 09/13/13 01:45 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

Quote:

OregonBlueShroom said:
What first interested you about mushroom hunting?
I found a large amount of mushrooms in my front lawn and wanted to know what they were. It turns out they were Mycena.


How did you initially get into mushroom hunting?
After my first few IDs i learned that mycology is a never ending pool of information and a perfect hobby. Plus who doesnt enjoy free food?


How did you begin to build your knowledge base?
Shroomery! I started my quest for knowledge in day 1 at the shroomery, even now 5 years later i use other websites and mushroom books but the shroomery is still my main source of information.


What is your own process for harvesting?
Cut at base with knife or scissors, or with some smaller species pinching the base also works. Then usually put into a paper shopping bag. Small samples for identification put into a mini tacklebox to avoid damage / mixing.


And finally what is your process for preparing them?
Spread out on paper, use fan to dry off outside moisture at first, place small and fastest rotting mushrooms into dehydrator. The other 80% of them i leave out and eat before they go bad. Chantrelles hold really well for up to a week but other species like oyster mushrooms and COTW need dehydrated if i dont eat within a few days.





thanks! this is great info. much appreciated


--------------------


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Offlinegeneralsherman55
MF BOOGNISH


Registered: 09/05/13
Posts: 1,291
Loc: yay area
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
Re: some personal questions [Re: generalsherman55]
    #18854674 - 09/17/13 05:57 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

bump


--------------------


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Offlinerev0kadavur
Forager
Female User Gallery


Registered: 03/18/10
Posts: 1,199
Loc: Richmond & Beyond - California Flag
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
Re: some personal questions [Re: generalsherman55]
    #18854855 - 09/17/13 06:38 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

What first interested you about mushroom hunting?

In High School it was the idea of finding cubes, until I did some research and discovered they did not grow around here (SF Bay Area)... however, I still went out to look... then I learned about the fungicides that they use on a lot of the cow pastures i visited ... there were barely any mushrooms to be seen at all... Years later I became re-interested due to an increased interest of a friend and then the introduction to new friends that were far into their study of mycology amongst many other interesting 'hobbies'. When I learned more about the relationship mushrooms have with plants and the role that they play in life, it kinda completed that circle of ecology that I already have a huge interest in through other outlets; like botany, biology, geology, anthropology, etc... In a strange way I feel that observing mushrooms has led to the ability to make some sense out of life, almost as if mushrooms have given me a better understanding and I have been able to apply that to many aspects of my life.


How did you initially get into mushroom hunting?

With my high school experience discounted, due to the fact I lost interest after having a hard time grasping taxonomy and the fact that I had no friends to inquire with, etc.. Mushroom hunting happened after living for some time with roommates who were hunting local psilocybes.. seeing them regularly and without realizing it I had picked up an eye for them... one day I drove past a patch on the side of the road and I knew exactly what they were, even though it was just a glance from a moving car.. I wasn't even looking for mushrooms, it was almost like magnetism.. I circled around, parked and gave them a closer look. I was sure of it, even though I had no real knowledge of mushrooms, I just knew it was right... they looked right, they felt right, everything was just spot-on... I picked most of them and went to have my mushroom friends ID them for me.. I got several positive IDs and that was it for me, I was hooked.. I found my eyes becoming drawn to mushrooms everywhere.. Eventually I expanded and began looking elsewhere, without really knowing what I was looking for, or what I was looking at.. I just began looking.. as time went on I began to read into identification keys and began to ID pretty quickly.. I had taken many photos and was looking through them one day and realized I had found chanterelles on one of my first hunts and didn't even know it then... it kinda just grew and grew from there.. I keep expanding, but I haven't rushed it... I feel the less I look, the more I see... Kinda just let it happen.


How did you begin to build your knowledge base?

-Observation.
-Taking many types of photos, macro, surroundings, etc.
-Sometimes taking notes, but my notes were usually in the form of photos and memories.
-Books. Etc.
-Shroomery and the like.
-Google... speshully google earth, for researching terrain and prospecting known and new locations.
-I try to use as many resources as possible, compile and compare the information.
-Sometimes further analysis or opinions are required.
-Sharing information often.
I have a lot of methods that I have put to good use, also good to have knowledge in other areas such as weather, environments, botany, etc-etc and so-on... a general understanding of ecology.
Forays and Mushroom Gatherings of sorts are things I've been interested in, but have yet to attend any.. definitely good places to exchange thoughts, ideas, opinions, information, etc with a variety of like-minded people.


What is your own process for harvesting?

I guess it depends on what Im harvesting.
Cutting, plucking, pulling, etc.. really depends.
Treading lightly and not often.
Quietly blend in.
Spore spreading and the like.
Following general codes of conduct to the best of my ability.
Paper bags, Cardboard and Baskets!
Hiding my Chanterelle patches to the best of my ability so that Russian couple and their mushroom hound don't come and wreck them again!


And finally what is your process for preparing them?

There are a bunch of ways to cook and eat them. Really depends on the mushroom.
Some require cooking or eating right away as they are too fragile or perishable.
Dry Saute is by far my favorite and most used method; versatile and easy.
Otherwise preservation for later enjoyment via dry saute and freezing, dehydrating, air/fan drying, etc.
I also have my methods for long-term storage, for preserving flavor, texture and potency.
You already know my method works hella good for Cyans ~:)


--------------------
- Question # Everything -



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Offlinegeneralsherman55
MF BOOGNISH


Registered: 09/05/13
Posts: 1,291
Loc: yay area
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
Re: some personal questions [Re: rev0kadavur]
    #18855253 - 09/17/13 08:06 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

Quote:

rev0kadavur said:
What first interested you about mushroom hunting?

In High School it was the idea of finding cubes, until I did some research and discovered they did not grow around here (SF Bay Area)... however, I still went out to look... then I learned about the fungicides that they use on a lot of the cow pastures i visited ... there were barely any mushrooms to be seen at all... Years later I became re-interested due to an increased interest of a friend and then the introduction to new friends that were far into their study of mycology amongst many other interesting 'hobbies'. When I learned more about the relationship mushrooms have with plants and the role that they play in life, it kinda completed that circle of ecology that I already have a huge interest in through other outlets; like botany, biology, geology, anthropology, etc... In a strange way I feel that observing mushrooms has led to the ability to make some sense out of life, almost as if mushrooms have given me a better understanding and I have been able to apply that to many aspects of my life.


How did you initially get into mushroom hunting?

With my high school experience discounted, due to the fact I lost interest after having a hard time grasping taxonomy and the fact that I had no friends to inquire with, etc.. Mushroom hunting happened after living for some time with roommates who were hunting local psilocybes.. seeing them regularly and without realizing it I had picked up an eye for them... one day I drove past a patch on the side of the road and I knew exactly what they were, even though it was just a glance from a moving car.. I wasn't even looking for mushrooms, it was almost like magnetism.. I circled around, parked and gave them a closer look. I was sure of it, even though I had no real knowledge of mushrooms, I just knew it was right... they looked right, they felt right, everything was just spot-on... I picked most of them and went to have my mushroom friends ID them for me.. I got several positive IDs and that was it for me, I was hooked.. I found my eyes becoming drawn to mushrooms everywhere.. Eventually I expanded and began looking elsewhere, without really knowing what I was looking for, or what I was looking at.. I just began looking.. as time went on I began to read into identification keys and began to ID pretty quickly.. I had taken many photos and was looking through them one day and realized I had found chanterelles on one of my first hunts and didn't even know it then... it kinda just grew and grew from there.. I keep expanding, but I haven't rushed it... I feel the less I look, the more I see... Kinda just let it happen.


How did you begin to build your knowledge base?

-Observation.
-Taking many types of photos, macro, surroundings, etc.
-Sometimes taking notes, but my notes were usually in the form of photos and memories.
-Books. Etc.
-Shroomery and the like.
-Google... speshully google earth, for researching terrain and prospecting known and new locations.
-I try to use as many resources as possible, compile and compare the information.
-Sometimes further analysis or opinions are required.
-Sharing information often.
I have a lot of methods that I have put to good use, also good to have knowledge in other areas such as weather, environments, botany, etc-etc and so-on... a general understanding of ecology.
Forays and Mushroom Gatherings of sorts are things I've been interested in, but have yet to attend any.. definitely good places to exchange thoughts, ideas, opinions, information, etc with a variety of like-minded people.


What is your own process for harvesting?

I guess it depends on what Im harvesting.
Cutting, plucking, pulling, etc.. really depends.
Treading lightly and not often.
Quietly blend in.
Spore spreading and the like.
Following general codes of conduct to the best of my ability.
Paper bags, Cardboard and Baskets!
Hiding my Chanterelle patches to the best of my ability so that Russian couple and their mushroom hound don't come and wreck them again!


And finally what is your process for preparing them?

There are a bunch of ways to cook and eat them. Really depends on the mushroom.
Some require cooking or eating right away as they are too fragile or perishable.
Dry Saute is by far my favorite and most used method; versatile and easy.
Otherwise preservation for later enjoyment via dry saute and freezing, dehydrating, air/fan drying, etc.
I also have my methods for long-term storage, for preserving flavor, texture and potency.
You already know my method works hella good for Cyans ~:)




also great info! do you want to come to the bay area mycological meeting with me in october? i think its a thursday at 7:30 on campus october 17th.  ive never been to a group meeting either but I'm really excited to see what theyll have to say on the topic.


--------------------


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Offlinegeneralsherman55
MF BOOGNISH


Registered: 09/05/13
Posts: 1,291
Loc: yay area
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
Re: some personal questions [Re: generalsherman55]
    #18872502 - 09/21/13 02:35 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

bump


--------------------


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Offlinerev0kadavur
Forager
Female User Gallery


Registered: 03/18/10
Posts: 1,199
Loc: Richmond & Beyond - California Flag
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
Re: some personal questions [Re: generalsherman55]
    #18876014 - 09/22/13 01:53 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

Maybe you should PM some people-of-interest about this thread to try to inquire for some responses on this.


--------------------
- Question # Everything -



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InvisibleGanzig
It's for the street cred
Male User Gallery

Registered: 11/29/06
Posts: 8,206
Loc: Oregon Flag
Re: some personal questions [Re: rev0kadavur]
    #18876035 - 09/22/13 01:59 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

What first interested you about mushroom hunting?


First, I was in the seventh grade. I was just obsessed with them.
I looked for them everywhere.
It was sort of my little secret. Like when my family would go camping.
I spent my time fishing or crawling through bushes looking for mushrooms.
I used to draw them a lot as a youngster too.

How did you initially get into mushroom hunting?

I think I already answered this one but to the hunting I do today,
a friend and I were in the Oregon Mycological Society when I first moved
to Oregon about 8 years ago. Started hunting then.

How did you begin to build your knowledge base?

In every way possible. Mostly other people helping me. I think getting a book
and keying something out before you can recognize genera really helps sink it all into the grey matter.

What is your own process for harvesting?

I like to bring a knife and keep them as clean as possible from the get go.


And finally what is your process for preparing them?


I usually do a finalizing clean. Then I use them over the next few days making
dishes.


--------------------
I must keep reminding myself of this.
I must keep reminding myself of this. I must keep reminding myself of this.
I must keep reminding myself of this.


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Offlinegeneralsherman55
MF BOOGNISH


Registered: 09/05/13
Posts: 1,291
Loc: yay area
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
Re: some personal questions [Re: rev0kadavur]
    #18877387 - 09/22/13 06:53 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

Quote:

rev0kadavur said:
Maybe you should PM some people-of-interest about this thread to try to inquire for some responses on this.





yeah i was thinking that and i messaged a few peep in cultivation. but they are for the most part cultivators and not hunters. i was going to use the method you suggested but got swamped with hw again : |


but yeah im prolly going to message this question privately to the more prevalent helpful identifiers and perhaps those with the trusted identifier label.


--------------------


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Offlinegeneralsherman55
MF BOOGNISH


Registered: 09/05/13
Posts: 1,291
Loc: yay area
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
Re: some personal questions [Re: Ganzig]
    #18877392 - 09/22/13 06:54 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

Quote:

Ganzig said:
What first interested you about mushroom hunting?


First, I was in the seventh grade. I was just obsessed with them.
I looked for them everywhere.
It was sort of my little secret. Like when my family would go camping.
I spent my time fishing or crawling through bushes looking for mushrooms.
I used to draw them a lot as a youngster too.

How did you initially get into mushroom hunting?

I think I already answered this one but to the hunting I do today,
a friend and I were in the Oregon Mycological Society when I first moved
to Oregon about 8 years ago. Started hunting then.

How did you begin to build your knowledge base?

In every way possible. Mostly other people helping me. I think getting a book
and keying something out before you can recognize genera really helps sink it all into the grey matter.

What is your own process for harvesting?

I like to bring a knife and keep them as clean as possible from the get go.


And finally what is your process for preparing them?


I usually do a finalizing clean. Then I use them over the next few days making
dishes.




thank you sir! great info :laugh:


--------------------


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InvisibleTimmiTM
 User Gallery

Registered: 03/23/10
Posts: 5,303
Loc: Victoria Flag
Trusted Identifier
Re: some personal questions [Re: generalsherman55]
    #18879702 - 09/23/13 09:12 AM (10 years, 4 months ago)

What first interested you about mushroom hunting?
My interest in mycology is an extension of my interest in other areas of biology. For as long as I can remember I've been fascinated by and captivated with the natural world. I've always had an intrinsic desire to understand the world around me and that inspired me to study biology at university. I ended up straying from the ecological side of things to study a biomedical path but continue to pursue mycology as a hobby.

How did you initially get into mushroom hunting?
On a practical level my interest in mycology developed from a desire to know how to identify edible and psychoactive mushrooms. To eat wild mushrooms and trip for free. It grew from there to include lots of other aspects of mycology (ie taxonomy, systematics, ecology).

How did you begin to build your knowledge base?
I borrowed all the mushroom related books I could find from the library and began reading. I used the field guides and some ID websites to identify what I found, comparing descriptions and using keys. I would also come to the shroomery and try to identify other people's finds. Eventually you begin to learn which features are important and which characterise different groups (families, genera, etc.).

What is your own process for harvesting?
I guess it depends on the situation. Sometimes it's a matter of picking with my hands and using my shirt as a pouch, other times (if I'm more organised) I will bring a knife and carry bag.

And finally what is your process for preparing them?
Again it kind of depends on what I'm doing. I think they're always best straight from the field, so if I can they get a quick clean up and into the pan. Otherwise they go into the dehydrator and stored for later use.


--------------------
"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination" ~ John Lennon


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Offlinethiotimoline
Stranger
 User Gallery
Registered: 12/01/12
Posts: 898
Loc: Bay Area
Last seen: 6 years, 11 days
Re: some personal questions [Re: TimmiT]
    #18880446 - 09/23/13 12:43 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

What first interested you about mushroom hunting? / How did you initially get into mushroom hunting?
I first got interested in mushrooms almost a year ago when my roommate tried to grow oysters. Read a lot about them, became very impressed with how beautiful and interesting these organisms are, and wanted to learn to identify what I found. Most of the time I didn't even care if they were useful to me; I just liked looking at them.

How did you begin to build your knowledge base?
-Spent a LOT of time on this site
-Got some guidebooks and read the shorter ones cover-to-cover

What is your own process for harvesting?
A good fraction of my edible (rather than "let's look at all the pretty Mycenas") hunting so far has been about finding mushrooms to clone and cultivate, rather than finding enough to make a meal of. If I'm taking a walk in a park with "No picking!" signs all over and I find something I want to clone, I'll cut off a square inch or so and take it home in a small Tupperware that lives in my backpack. If it seems reasonable to take home a larger amount, I pick them with my hands and take them home in a cloth bag that I usually keep in my pocket.

And finally what is your process for preparing them?
My default recipe is "fry it up with butter and garlic," and it's never failed me. But one of my greater successes was using chopped porcini fried with chili bean paste in place of the meat topping in dan dan noodles. I don't have a dehydrator yet, so I don't take home more of anything than I can eat fresh.


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Offlinegeneralsherman55
MF BOOGNISH


Registered: 09/05/13
Posts: 1,291
Loc: yay area
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
Re: some personal questions [Re: TimmiT]
    #18881671 - 09/23/13 06:22 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

Quote:

TimmiT said:
What first interested you about mushroom hunting?
My interest in mycology is an extension of my interest in other areas of biology. For as long as I can remember I've been fascinated by and captivated with the natural world. I've always had an intrinsic desire to understand the world around me and that inspired me to study biology at university. I ended up straying from the ecological side of things to study a biomedical path but continue to pursue mycology as a hobby.

How did you initially get into mushroom hunting?
On a practical level my interest in mycology developed from a desire to know how to identify edible and psychoactive mushrooms. To eat wild mushrooms and trip for free. It grew from there to include lots of other aspects of mycology (ie taxonomy, systematics, ecology).

How did you begin to build your knowledge base?
I borrowed all the mushroom related books I could find from the library and began reading. I used the field guides and some ID websites to identify what I found, comparing descriptions and using keys. I would also come to the shroomery and try to identify other people's finds. Eventually you begin to learn which features are important and which characterise different groups (families, genera, etc.).

What is your own process for harvesting?
I guess it depends on the situation. Sometimes it's a matter of picking with my hands and using my shirt as a pouch, other times (if I'm more organised) I will bring a knife and carry bag.

And finally what is your process for preparing them?
Again it kind of depends on what I'm doing. I think they're always best straight from the field, so if I can they get a quick clean up and into the pan. Otherwise they go into the dehydrator and stored for later use.





this is great! thank you

how long were you a productive member of the community before you were assigned the trusted identifier label?


--------------------


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Offlinegeneralsherman55
MF BOOGNISH


Registered: 09/05/13
Posts: 1,291
Loc: yay area
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
Re: some personal questions [Re: thiotimoline]
    #18881675 - 09/23/13 06:24 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

Quote:

thiotimoline said:
What first interested you about mushroom hunting? / How did you initially get into mushroom hunting?
I first got interested in mushrooms almost a year ago when my roommate tried to grow oysters. Read a lot about them, became very impressed with how beautiful and interesting these organisms are, and wanted to learn to identify what I found. Most of the time I didn't even care if they were useful to me; I just liked looking at them.

How did you begin to build your knowledge base?
-Spent a LOT of time on this site
-Got some guidebooks and read the shorter ones cover-to-cover

What is your own process for harvesting?
A good fraction of my edible (rather than "let's look at all the pretty Mycenas") hunting so far has been about finding mushrooms to clone and cultivate, rather than finding enough to make a meal of. If I'm taking a walk in a park with "No picking!" signs all over and I find something I want to clone, I'll cut off a square inch or so and take it home in a small Tupperware that lives in my backpack. If it seems reasonable to take home a larger amount, I pick them with my hands and take them home in a cloth bag that I usually keep in my pocket.

And finally what is your process for preparing them?
My default recipe is "fry it up with butter and garlic," and it's never failed me. But one of my greater successes was using chopped porcini fried with chili bean paste in place of the meat topping in dan dan noodles. I don't have a dehydrator yet, so I don't take home more of anything than I can eat fresh.




really good responses. thank you


im beginning to make the step from forager to cultivator. but cultivation seems much more complicated and involves quit of a lot of sophisticated equipment and scientific knowhow. im a big overwhelmed as to how to dive in.


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InvisibleTimmiTM
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Re: some personal questions [Re: generalsherman55]
    #18881894 - 09/23/13 07:24 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

Quote:

generalsherman55 said:
this is great! thank you

how long were you a productive member of the community before you were assigned the trusted identifier label?



I can't remember exactly but I think it was about 7 months


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"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination" ~ John Lennon


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Offlinerev0kadavur
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Re: some personal questions [Re: TimmiT]
    #18886252 - 09/24/13 07:01 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

Quote:

TimmiT said:
What first interested you about mushroom hunting?
My interest in mycology is an extension of my interest in other areas of biology. For as long as I can remember I've been fascinated by and captivated with the natural world. I've always had an intrinsic desire to understand the world around me and that inspired me to study biology at university. I ended up straying from the ecological side of things to study a biomedical path but continue to pursue mycology as a hobby.

How did you initially get into mushroom hunting?
On a practical level my interest in mycology developed from a desire to know how to identify edible and psychoactive mushrooms. To eat wild mushrooms and trip for free. It grew from there to include lots of other aspects of mycology (ie taxonomy, systematics, ecology).

How did you begin to build your knowledge base?
I borrowed all the mushroom related books I could find from the library and began reading. I used the field guides and some ID websites to identify what I found, comparing descriptions and using keys. I would also come to the shroomery and try to identify other people's finds. Eventually you begin to learn which features are important and which characterise different groups (families, genera, etc.).

What is your own process for harvesting?
I guess it depends on the situation. Sometimes it's a matter of picking with my hands and using my shirt as a pouch, other times (if I'm more organised) I will bring a knife and carry bag.

And finally what is your process for preparing them?
Again it kind of depends on what I'm doing. I think they're always best straight from the field, so if I can they get a quick clean up and into the pan. Otherwise they go into the dehydrator and stored for later use.




Sounds like me! :grin:


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Offlinegeneralsherman55
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Re: some personal questions [Re: rev0kadavur]
    #18886422 - 09/24/13 07:46 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

Quote:

rev0kadavur said:
Quote:

TimmiT said:
What first interested you about mushroom hunting?
My interest in mycology is an extension of my interest in other areas of biology. For as long as I can remember I've been fascinated by and captivated with the natural world. I've always had an intrinsic desire to understand the world around me and that inspired me to study biology at university. I ended up straying from the ecological side of things to study a biomedical path but continue to pursue mycology as a hobby.

How did you initially get into mushroom hunting?
On a practical level my interest in mycology developed from a desire to know how to identify edible and psychoactive mushrooms. To eat wild mushrooms and trip for free. It grew from there to include lots of other aspects of mycology (ie taxonomy, systematics, ecology).

How did you begin to build your knowledge base?
I borrowed all the mushroom related books I could find from the library and began reading. I used the field guides and some ID websites to identify what I found, comparing descriptions and using keys. I would also come to the shroomery and try to identify other people's finds. Eventually you begin to learn which features are important and which characterise different groups (families, genera, etc.).

What is your own process for harvesting?
I guess it depends on the situation. Sometimes it's a matter of picking with my hands and using my shirt as a pouch, other times (if I'm more organised) I will bring a knife and carry bag.

And finally what is your process for preparing them?
Again it kind of depends on what I'm doing. I think they're always best straight from the field, so if I can they get a quick clean up and into the pan. Otherwise they go into the dehydrator and stored for later use.




Sounds like me! :grin:




my thoughts exactly! :B


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OfflineEddeee
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Re: some personal questions [Re: generalsherman55]
    #18886563 - 09/24/13 08:21 PM (10 years, 4 months ago)

What first interested you about mushroom hunting?
Ok been doing this stuff since I was 10 years old. Use to go out with a very kowledgable navajo woman. I knew  from working at a cactus nersery. So as a kid I became a cactus and mushroom expert she tought me well. Later on going to collage I use what I new to make a bit of cash collecting morels and others Hangin at the mushroom camps with the jypsies.

How did you initially get into mushroom hunting?
As a Child I was intrested in the strange things that grew in my yard. use to live in an area that had a lot of space so I hiked a lot around there and there were always mushrooms around so I'd pick them and fiuger out what they were and if they where edible Id try them. Actuall by all practical perpuses I should of died of mushroom poisening. I would in descrempetly try them to see if I got sick nevr did though not until I knew what I was doing that I poisond my self LOL. When I got older when t to school on the subject. its just been a  big part of my life forever. 

How did you begin to build your knowledge base?
As you go along your knowlege base builds and builds. I am fornate to have some mentors of people that are well to do in the mushroom world so that has helped me a lot. Other than that it was a slow prosess to learn throughly the mushroom that I know. I try each year to eat a new one.Not so much now that I have covered so many species. but I have my favorites. I like to Id my finds  100%, so after years and years of that you know what your looking for when your out in the field 

What is your own process for harvesting?  Depends on what my purpose for hunting at the moment is. If it is for ID prupose I dig them up use coffee cups styrofoam ones to hold them in. If its for the table or for resale I cut them feild clean them then re clean them when I get to home base, The ol shopping baskest and poorious bags is what I like to put them in .There is enough space to let the spores fly free as your walking aloing which I think helps with a wider distrabutiaon/ Yes I have a compleat lab. I learned them everwhere in my life. I was a nerd as a kid always had a scope I learned alot about t

And finally what is your process for preparing them? Wow I have many methods I come with my own  recipies. I can them, I freez them ,I dry them. I make alchole with them and wind. No I spend more time on shroomery and MO but too many mushrooms to find to be online to long. I have some cook books on the mushrooms that people have geven me but I like to do my own thing In preparing them I use many differnt methods depenind in the varity that im working with. I even have pickeld some lactaria in a way they do in Finland.

Oh I went to Berkley for a bit People Park still there.


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Don't read books study life then write books
we are nothing but atoms trying to figure out what atoms are.



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