It is sort of an odd time for this to be on Chronicle. The foraging season for most mushies is pretty done at this point in the year.

It’s probably a good idea though, so people don’t watch this segment and then decide to go wander out in their backyards to eat something poisonous because they feel like an expert at that point

It's strange.

A skill like foraging that was ubiquitous among our ancestors is something I look at and can't square the risk to value ratio.

I'm not so hard up for mushrooms to risk making a mistake.

It takes some practice to level up any skill or knowledge. There are many edibles that are "easy" to identify once you put the work in to level up your identification skills. You just don't eat anything you're not 100% sure about while you're learning.

Last year I found over nine pounds of chanterelles in a week. And a few weeks back I found a pound of hedgehogs on a random walk through the woods. It's also nice having access to and get to experience flavors that you might never taste if you never go out to find them on your own.

There are old foragers and there are adventurous foragers but there are no old adventurous foragers

That's why people put in the time, energy, and effort to level up their identification skills.

Be careful wild mushrooms can kill if there the wrong type.

As a forager, you're absolutely right, but I have a feeling this person does their due diligence.

Yes, I certainly do. I started foraging for mushrooms last year. Before I harvested anything I just read a ton and took loads of pictures to try to identify what all was out there. I have a friend that knows quite a bit and if I'm ever not 100% sure about something I ask for help. I've collected and eaten five different types of mushroom this past year, all of which are fairly easy to identify and have either no poisonous lookalikes or very few that can be easily ruled out. I'm very aware that many mushrooms can make you quite ill and that some can kill you. I appreciate the warning though. It's always good to be too careful.

You're probably right. Fritz Wetherbee covering his arse so he doesn't get sued.

Technically you're right, but a lot of mushrooms aren't hard to identify, lion's mane grows a lot in NH and it's pretty easy to ID with nothing really looking like it besides bear's tooth, which is also edible

This is how I feel too. I've only been doing it for a little over a year, but it has been really interesting and fun. I have learned a lot and have lots more to learn.

And wow, nine pounds of chanterelles. That is impressive. I found about of quarter pound of winter chanterelles and hedgehogs several weeks ago and was pumped.

I just do it as a hobby. There are so many different kinds and they look so different from one another, and it's kind of cool when you find one that's deadly, or one that's a choice edible, or one that's rare or you haven't found before. 🍄 There is one called the big laughing Jim that's hallucinogenic. 😃

Are there any good mushroom finding clubs in NH? Would be nice to go for a walk with some fellow mushroom enthusiasts next year.

Last year was so wet at the right time/temperature that the fruiting conditions were great and I seemed to hit them at the right time. That's why I try to go out often during the season, bc once one species starts popping off, I'm more likely to find them elsewhere on my rounds.

I don't know of any clubs, but I know there are places around the state that do foraging workshops periodically in season. After a quick look I think there is an active group in the Keene area.

I'm down with a mycology club in NH! I can identify 8 edible variants and I also own this book.

I love the hobby. Been to a few classes locally. Bought a few field guides. Started to develop a Micro community. All started by finding and eating a morel mushroom.

My first find was a chicken.

Found my first this year. Was too old and filled with bugs. I got a spot now so I will be quicker to the competition

What kind of time commitment does this require? It seems pretty hefty.

Not much if you only want to be able to identify a couple of things. If you want to know what every single mushroom you find in the woods is then it might take some time.

It was filmed over a month ago, amidst peak season. As far as season, there’s still a few late bloomers lurking; Hedgehogs, Winter Chanterelles, Trumpets, Hypholoma, Enoki (Flammulina veleutipes) to name a few. I was harvesting young Oysters (P. ostreatus) Christmas Day last year & the medicinal Turkey tails & Chaga are abundant right now. If you’re into the candied varieties, Excidia is going to peak soon too 🙂