Porcini, chanterelle, parasol, chicken of the woods, puffball, oyster… Wild mushrooms are famously prized for their delicate and complex flavors. Though many people think autumn is the only time to find mushrooms, in reality, after a good summer rain mushrooms can be found exploding out of the forest floor.

With a little searching, even us city-dwellers can find baskets of delicious fungi almost right outside our front doors, thanks to the amazing forests around Berlin. Yet, as is well-known, when it comes to mushrooms it takes knowledge and experience to distinguish the delectable from the deadly.

Join foraging guide Simka (they/them) for an adventure to the magical blue waters of Liepnitzsee and its surrounding forest and many hidden lakes, where we will soak up the stunning nature and get acquainted with the common and delicious edible mushrooms growing in this area – no experience necessary.

Together we'll explore the forest floor and learn the basics of how to find, identify, collect, and prepare the wild edible mushrooms that are currently in season. Here you will learn which mushrooms to stay away from – and how to get confident enough to bring your own harvest home.

At the banks of a serene forest lake, away from the city hustle and bustle, we will enjoy a picnic including some delicious homemade foraged snacks made by Simka, so you can discover the incredible range of foraged flavors!

During the tour, we'll make our way past five different lakes, through stunning forest and lakeside scenery, where we will have plenty of time to relax, explore, and take in the surroundings. And of course we'll pause for ample opportunity to swim in the wonderful clear waters of Liepnitzsee itself.

During the day, we'll cover:

the staggering complexity and beauty of fungal ecology, and the crucial role fungi play in our ecosystem
important terminology, basic fungal biology, and mushroom anatomy to help demystify mushroom identification
the key identification features of important species and families, with a focus on particularly rewarding, beginner-friendly edible species common to Berlin forests (dependent on conditions)
how to actually get confident taking home & cooking edible mushrooms without worrying about poisoning anyone
particularly dangerous species and how to recognize them
fungal habitats, companion plant species, and how to read the landscape to maximize your luck
sustainable harvesting of edible species
tips and techniques for how to prepare and preserve your edible finds
how to continue learning and expanding your knowledge and foraging confidence

The focus of this workshop is on understanding and identification skills, rather than on filling our baskets with as many edible mushrooms as possible. You will however have the opportunity to do some searching on your own, and you're invited to bring home the edible treasures find along the way!

Though the time and location of the event are chosen to maximize the potential for finding a wide range of species, fungi are fickle beings and their fruiting is determined by many complex factors, so there's truly no way to guarantee what we'll find. In case the mushrooms end up much more sparse than we hoped for, we'll take a closer look at the delicious edible plants & herbs that line the path instead.

As with all Wild Path Foraging events, this workshop will be guided by Simka (they/them), a passionate wild food instructor and qualified PilzCoach through the DGfM with over 4 years' experience teaching about mushroom and plant foraging in Berlin.

You can check out what people have said about previous workshops run by Simka here.

When: Saturday August 15th, 11:00 - 17:00
Where: Liepnitzsee (~ 8km walking in total)
Cost: 77€ / 60€

Attendance is limited to 12 people to keep the group cozy and make sure everyone gets their questions answered, so registration is essential!

The meeting and ending point for the tour are accessible with public transportation. The exact meeting point, along with what to bring, will be sent via email after registration. Don't forget to read your confirmation email carefully!

Contact the host of Summer Fungal Foray: Mushrooming Hike & Lakeside Picnic at Liepnitzsee