Guided Mushroom Foray with Local Mycologist

Turn your senses to the whispering wind, creatures of the forest, and listen: the great wheel turns and again beckons the mushroom people forth from their underworld slumber. As they prepare to present the rainbow of decay to the seen realm, we prepare to meet them in gratitude and reverence.

Join Santa Cruz based mycologist Kennan Mighell for this guided foray into our local wild places to celebrate the abundance drawn from the cycles of growth, death, and rebirth. During our explorations we will learn where and with whom the mushroom spirits dance. By attuning to presence, empowered with a little science and a lot of pattern recognition, we will learn who we may safely take home for our plates, apothecaries, and palettes.

Rain or shine we roam! Please come prepared for the season, it is forecast to be a rather wet (and bountiful!) one. A suggested packing list is provided below.

What's covered:

• How to locate mushrooms in our local forests

• Seasonal identification in the field

• On trail and off-trail safety and navigation tips

• Attuning to the forest and your intuition

• Local fungal ecology

• Foraging ethics and The Honarable Harvest

What you'll receive:

• An introduction to local edible, medicinal, and otherwise useful fungi

• The basic toolkit to become a proficient forager

• Locally-harvested mushrooms to take home with you!

• A take-home local ID reference sheet

Packing list:

• Rain gear

• Water

• Boots

• Knife

• Small brush

• Backpack

• Notebook (Rite in the rain recommended) & pencil