Edible Mushrooms of Southern California

Mud Puppy Chanterelle Cantharellus californicus

Southern California is full of different varieties of mushrooms to forage for. Both beginner mushroom foragers and those with experience can use this list as a starting point for foraging in the southern regions of California.   Black Trumpet (Craterellus cornucopoides) Black trumpet mushrooms are a common black fungus that grows in forests, sprouting from the […]

Edible Mushrooms of Northern California

Northern California is home to a wide variety of fungi, including many species of edible mushrooms that foragers can explore the area to find. The following list includes a few fungi that both beginner and experienced foragers can find! Blushing Morel (Morchella rufobrunnea) The Blushing Morel mushroom, also known as the Woodchip Morel, is found […]

Edible Mushrooms of Oregon

Yellow Morel

Oregon is home to many mushrooms, many of which are perfect for both beginner and experienced mushroom foragers. The following list includes mushrooms that are commonly found on the West Coast and throughout Oregon! Western Giant Puffball (Calvatia booniana) The Western Giant Puffball mushroom is most commonly found in meadows, forests, and fields, but you […]

Edible Mushrooms of Washington

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The West Coast is home to various edible and interesting mushrooms. Washington’s warm humid winters and mild summers host a lot of interesting mushrooms! The following list includes our top 10 mushrooms found in the state of Washington. King Bolete (Boletus sp.) King Bolete mushrooms are also known as Penny Bun or Porcini mushrooms. This […]

Edible Mushrooms of Massachusetts

Hemlock Reishi

Massachusetts is home to many varieties of mushrooms, including multiple wild edible mushrooms. Foraging mushrooms in Massachusetts can be fulfilling when you know what to look for. The following list is a short list of common edible mushrooms found throughout the state! Disclaimer This article does not describe the details needed to thoroughly identify these […]

Edible Mushrooms of New York

New York is home to an array of diverse varieties of fungi, many of which are edible and safe to forage. Here are a few of the many types that can be found around the state! Disclaimer This article does not describe the details needed to thoroughly identify these mushrooms. Deadly and otherwise toxic look-a-likes […]

Edible Mushrooms of Connecticut

Trametes versicolor, Turkey Tail Mushroom

Connecticut is home to a plethora of wild edible mushrooms throughout the state. Knowing which mushrooms to look for means that you can reap the benefits of harvesting wild food near your home and enjoy what nature has to offer. To kickstart your journey into familiarizing yourself with mushrooms in your local area, here are […]

Pretty But Poisonous: Deadly Mushrooms To Avoid

There are a lot of wild mushrooms that are considered inedible and even toxic. But a few may be lethal if consumed in sufficient quantities–and sometimes those quantities aren’t very much. Here are some of the species you’ll most want to avoid when foraging for mushrooms; as the common names suggest, these are nothing to […]

Our Place in the Universe – Excerpt from Mushroom Wanderland

Mushroom Wanderland PG38

Excerpted from Mushroom Wanderland: A Forager’s Guide to Finding, Identifying, and Using More Than 25 Wild Fungi. Copyright (c) 2021 by Jess Starwood. Used with permission of the publisher, The Countryman Press, a division of W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. All rights reserved. In the same way that mushrooms can heal and nourish us, […]

A Brief History of the Pumpkin – From Ice-age Megafauna to New England Pumpkin Pie

The star of the autumn garden is the pumpkin! This iconic squash’s round shape and bright orange color are found in imagery surrounding harvest festivals all through the season, to include modern American favorites Halloween and Thanksgiving. Pumpkin pie is a beloved dessert for fall festivities, though the squash also lends itself well to soups, […]

What Are Wild Edibles?

Wild edibles can be found in almost every habitat and environment. From mountain slopes and forest clearings to marshlands and even your own back yard. If you’ve ever picked blackberries from hedgerows, or perhaps collected hazelnuts from your local woodland, you’ll have already enjoyed some of the wild edibles that nature can provide. More people […]

Our Place in the Universe – Excerpt from Mushroom Wanderland

Excerpted from Mushroom Wanderland: A Forager’s Guide to Finding, Identifying, and Using More Than 25 Wild Fungi. Copyright (c) 2021 by Jess Starwood. Used with permission of the publisher, The Countryman Press, a division of W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. All rights reserved. In the same way that mushrooms can heal and nourish us, […]

Fungi as Medicine – Excerpt from Mushroom Wanderland

Excerpted from Mushroom Wanderland: A Forager’s Guide to Finding, Identifying, and Using More Than 25 Wild Fungi. Copyright (c) 2021 by Jess Starwood. Used with permission of the publisher, The Countryman Press, a division of W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Mushrooms have garnered the attention of humans for as long as […]

How to Grow Oyster Mushrooms (Detailed Steps)

Oyster Mushroom

Courtesy of Benson Udoh of Umuntu Integrated Farms, Nigeria BASIC STEPS IN OYSTER MUSHROOM FARMING: Requirements: Growing Space Spawn(Seeds) Substrates preparation Bagging the substrates Sterilizing/Pasteurizing your substrates Inoculation of your substrates bag Incubating the substrates Fruiting(harvest time) You will need… Straw (the medium for growing the mushrooms in) Containers (for soaking straw) Plastic bags (or […]

Milk Caps & Candy Caps – Excerpt from Mushroom Wanderland

CandyCap Basket

Excerpted from Mushroom Wanderland: A Forager’s Guide to Finding, Identifying, and Using More Than 25 Wild Fungi. Copyright (c) 2021 by Jess Starwood. Used with permission of the publisher, The Countryman Press, a division of W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Lactarius rubidus, L. fragilis, L. deliciosus, L. indigo, etc. When people […]

Aromatic Gardens And Their Mood-Enhancing Benefits

Article brought to you courtesy of Emma Wilson with CBD-news.co Gardening requires special skills and passion. It does not mean that anyone cannot get into this habit if they genuinely want to try things out. However, it takes a lot of commitment and love for the trade actually to plant a garden that will be […]

How to Buy Wild Mushrooms – Everything You Need to Know

Foraged

Article courtesy of Jack Hamrick, Co-Founder of Foraged – The Marketplace for Wild & Specialty Foods. Mushrooms are having a moment right now – and many people have been looking to learn more about how to buy wild mushrooms. They make for a great, healthy alternative to meat in all kinds of dishes, they offer […]

Here Are 5 Common Outdoor Plants Containing Cannabinoids (That Aren’t Cannabis)

Echinacea purpurea

In light of the growing body of scientific literature around medical cannabis, public interest in the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids is at an all-time high. Cannabinoids are now a mainstay in several burgeoning industries including sports medicine, snack foods and vaping. However, it’s worth noting that they don’t only come from cannabis — and are […]

Dig This: We Can Protect Wild American Ginseng – By George Lindemann

american ginseng Panax quinquefolius

Author: George Lindmann of www.coalcreek.com Throughout the year, my four kids and I organize our snake boots, our chigger repellant, our tools (which can include shovels, smart devices and gps software) and head out into the moist, dark Appalachian forests of Eastern Tennessee. Throughout rural Appalachia, “ginsenging” is a family affair. The knowledge of how […]

4 Poisonous Relatives of Tomatoes and Potatoes

Solanaceae is a family of plants including a wide variety of perennials, annuals, shrubs, and vines. The potato (Solanum tuberosum), eggplant or aubergine (Solanum melongena), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) belong to this family. As a group of plants, it is even often referred to as the ‘potato family’. Other notable members include the notorious deadly […]