My Mushroom Journal
In 2019 I finally decided to start exploring wild mushrooms…
Though I have been happily foraging for many years, I had avoided wild fungi due to an irrational fear of poisoning myself.
There is a simple survival rule for foraging, which is never to eat anything unless you are 100% sure that you have identified it as edible.
By applying this to my fungi exploration, I can safely begin to sample many edible mushrooms.
Each mushroom I identify and consume will be recorded and added to this list.
My First Foraged Mushroom: Turkey Tail
Trametes versicolor: A common fungus prized for it’s immune boosting, cancer-busting properties!
Foraged Mushroom 2: Morel
Morchella esculenta Morels, a popular wild edible mushroom are all over the mushroom groups earlier in the year, so I guess it is a Spring
Foraged Mushroom 3: Parasol
Macrolepiota procera This is my favourite foraged mushroom so far! A friend, whom I’d not seen for some years, but has been a great supporter
Foraged Mushroom 4: Jelly Ear
Auricularia auricula-judae This one was really easy to identify! Sometimes I’ll find a mushroom and then try to identify it, but in this case, I
Foraged Mushroom 5: Wood Cauliflower
Sparassis crispa “Oh…you found someone’s brain!” came the reply when I proudly sent this to a friend! 😂 “Look what I found! 😃” It certainly
Foraged Mushroom 6: Giant Polypore
Meripilus giganteus
This wasn’t supposed to be number 6. I didn’t even know what it was when I found it, but it did look tasty!
Foraged Mushroom 7: Beefsteak Fungus
Fistulina hepatica A mushroom that resembles raw meat is enough to intrigue anyone, even a vegetarian, like me! So, of course, I was able to
Foraged Mushroom 8: Amethyst Deceiver
Laccaria amethystina Who wouldn’t be impressed by these beautiful purple Mushrooms? Not only are Amethyst Deceivers pretty but they’re also edible. Identification Despite the name,
Foraged Mushroom 9: Birch Polypore
Fomitopsis betulina A Man Named Ötzi A long, long time ago, there lived a man named Ötzi. He probably wasn’t called Ötzi but that’s what
Foraged Mushroom 10: Wood Blewit
Lepista/Clitocybe nuda There’s something special about the number 10, it’s an important number for several reasons, not least, our numerical system.And we love to use
Foraged Mushroom 11: Chicken Of The Woods
Laetiporus sulphurous Mushrooms are magic! People often misunderstand me when I say this, they assume I’m talking about psychotropic mushrooms but I’m not (though I
Foraged Mushroom 12: Wood Hedgehog
The Hedgehog Mushroom is easy to identify and absolutely delicious! A fantastic species for beginners to get acquainted with.
Foraged Mushroom 13: Brown Birch (and other) Bolete
Leccinum scabrum The Wrong Bolete… This is not a foragers bucket list kind of mushroom, it’s more of a “Damn! Still no Ceps, I’ll just
Foraged Mushroom 14: Penny Bun
Boletus edulis The Penny Bun Here it is, at last, The Penny Bun! This world-famous mushroom goes by many names; Cep is commonly used (from
Foraged Mushroom 15: Chanterelle.
Cantharellus cibarius Folds instead of gills The Golden Chanterelle, or Girolle as they’re known in France. Definitely high on the bucket list of every mushroom