Winter Into Spring

Posted on April 29, 2018 by psmsblogadmin under Member Articles, New to Mushroom Hunting, Uncategorized

If you want to learn about mushrooms gather round for Brian’s table tours at PSMS field trips.

by Brady Raymond

Morels are here, and that means it’s time to gear up and head out. I have reports of landscape Morels being found in the Puget Sound lowlands and as warmer weather moves in we can start moving up into the mountains. Landscape Morels are good but mountain Morels are better and probably cleaner too. Make sure if you find landscape Morels to be discerning when picking them for the table. Many urban landscapes are fouled with pesticides and other harmful contaminants, caution is urged when collecting near human populations. If you are lucky enough to spot some locale landscape Morels count it as a good omen for the rest of the season.

Spring also means the beginning of the 2018 PSMS field trip season. If you’ve been on field trips in the past you probably already know that it is one of the best ways to learn about mushrooms and if you haven’t been on a field trip let me reiterate, it is one of the best ways to learn about mushrooms. There is no substitute for getting out in the woods and finding mushrooms first hand, taking in all of the peripheral clues and of course having access to one of PSMS’s most valuable resources, Brian Luther.

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Posted on April 27, 2018 by psmsblogadmin under Announcements, Safety

What to Expect on a Fiel Trip Poster:Wren

Wren Hudgins, Chair, Field Trip Guiding Committee

New PSMS members (welcome to you) or infrequent field trip attendees may have varying expectations about our field trips. Although unexpected events can and do occur, the following represents how things generally happen on our trips. First, there is a lot of good information on our website, so be sure to read that. The website also has a link to a page called “Harvesting Rules”. It would be good to review that page in advance, relative to the locale where the field trip will take place. You will find information about permit requirements if any, harvest limits, etc.

Unless specified otherwise, no reservations are necessary for any trip. Trips are for members and considered a member benefit. On occasion in the past, we have let members bring one non-member guest, once, as sort of a free trial, to see if they like the experience enough to join. If you are in that situation, ask Brian Luther, our Field Trip Chairperson, (and Identification Chairperson as well) if it’s OK to bring a friend once. Sometimes carpools can be arranged in advance via the group email lists. Members generally arrive at the trip site between 8am and 9am.

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PSMS Monthly Meeting Tuesday, April 10th

Posted on April 4, 2018 by psmsblogadmin under Announcements

William Padilla Brown – Fungal Fortunes

PSMSAprilMeeting

The field of mycology has never been more accessible to the public. With online forums, books from experts and workshops in almost all major cities in the U.S., we are seeing more and more ‘amateur mycologists’ contributing to our understanding of Fungi! William will be speaking on how he went from dropping out of high school to culturing wild mushrooms, starting a farm and learning how to grow Cordyceps militaris. Learn how fungi and mushrooms can be incorporated into whole system designs for the home/farm and community for food, medicine and remediation.

William Padilla-Brown had the opportunity to grow up traveling, living in England, Taiwan, Mexico, New York he now is back in his hometown of New Cumberland, PA. He is a social entrepreneur, citizen scientist, mycologist, amateur phycologist, urban shaman, poet and father to his beloved 3-year old son, Leo. Leaving high school at age 16, Will pursued a non-traditional, independent approach to learning and actively promotes alternative education. He holds Permaculture Design Certificates from Susquehanna Permaculture and NGOZI. In 2014, he established Community Compassion, a nonprofit focused on radical sustainability, based in New Cumberland, PA. In 2015 he founded MycoSymbiotics LLC – a mycological research and mushroom production business. He has raised over 30 types of mushrooms and 6 types of algae. He is driving mycological research in the areas of food production, mycoremediation and medicinal value. Will educates children and adults alike about topics ranging from nutrition to mushroom cultivation, having led workshops and various programs all over the country. Will is proud to be a contributing editor for Fungi Magazine, the foremost Mycological periodical.

Doors open at 6:30 pm at the Center for Urban Horticulture. Come early and bring any mushrooms you want identified!