Mushroom foragers

[blackchisel97]

I've been picking mushrooms since I could walk alone into the woods at my grandparents cottage. I was probably 7-8 yrs old back then. I like their taste, texture and we always had winter supply in our pantry. To my delight, I found same species in Canada and became picking them each year. My current place is surrounded by hundreds of acres of mixed forest and about 30-40 acres belong to this property, which means no hunting or other foolishness allowed.
Last year we managed to harvest close to 60lb which we partially dried and partially froze since it was too much work with drying. This year we start propagating the early ones as they already had worms. Once we noticed mycellium growth, we would take a bucked and spread culture in favorable spots. We also leave some on the tree branches so the spores can be spread by wind. I noticed, squirrels doing the same thing and leaving partially eaten cups on the branches.
I attached some pictures from earlier trips some of which took only couple hours.

V

 

[duluthralphie]

This is Amanita muscaria from coastal California. We have this one or one very similar and a yellow one with the same "chunks" on the shell. Neither as I understand are safe to eat. Is this one?


This is a pretty good day of morel hunting after a forest fire.



Do you get Morels this time of year?


These morels were growing in a logged area near Mt Lassen.

 

[duluthralphie]

I've been picking mushrooms since I could walk alone into the woods at my grandparents cottage. I was probably 7-8 yrs old back then. I like their taste, texture and we always had winter supply in our pantry. To my delight, I found same species in Canada and became picking them each year. My current place is surrounded by hundreds of acres of mixed forest and about 30-40 acres belong to this property, which means no hunting or other foolishness allowed.
Last year we managed to harvest close to 60lb which we partially dried and partially froze since it was too much work with drying. This year we start propagating the early ones as they already had worms. Once we noticed mycellium growth, we would take a bucked and spread culture in favorable spots. We also leave some on the tree branches so the spores can be spread by wind. I noticed, squirrels doing the same thing and leaving partially eaten cups on the branches.
I attached some pictures from earlier trips some of which took only couple hours.

V

Welcome to BYC and to the thread..


What type of mushroom are those? Where do they grow? When do you harvest them?

A couple of you guys seem way ahead of us (me) in mushrooming. Any help is more than welcome.

Thanks

 

[blackchisel97]

Hi duluthralphie,

We mainly pick Boletus edulis and Leccinum as there is abundance of them . They all have common names in my homeland. Boletus edulis is called a "true mushroom" or a "noble mushroom" and it is highly praised due to culinary values. Same goes for Leccinum, which has couple members- griceum, scabrum, rufum, cersipelle and holopus. They're excellent in sauce, soup or marinated.
I found first ones by the end of July and they can be found until first frost or mid/late October.
Boletus is more common in forests with prevailing coniferous trees, while Leccinum likes mixed woods and company of Birch.
There are a few members of Boletus family and among them are two poisonous - satanas and calopus however, they're not difficult to recognize. There is also another shroom which looks very similar to the edible Boletus - Tylopilus felleus but it has a very bitter taste. Not poisonous but can ruin entire meal.

Thanks
V

 

[katsdar]

Most Leccinums are OK to eat but do they taste good? Edible is not always tasty. I have tried several boletes but not a Leccinum. Suillus is another mushroom in the bolete family and they are slimy and tasteless.

ok, noted thanks, now for your picture where are you racing dogs?

 

[Bogtown Chick]

So this is safe to eat?

This is the bolete that some people may be questionable I believe. Some people may not do well with it. I'm intrigued to see animals eating these, though. Does it translate that mushroom eaten by certain mammals make it edible for the rest of us. Any input on these thoughts...?

The bolete I'm really looking for is the king bolete. Those I'll feel safest trying after I've confirmed it with a couple experienced people.

Tonight I went to visit my parents and behind their house is a sphagnum tamarack bog. I'm obsessed. Lots of variety but nothing obviously edible. It was getting dark back in there and a gray fox moved. About 20 feet away from me. Very bold and just watching. I think mom throws old food scraps out nearby and they've spoke of him. Dad seemed to know him well. Gorgeous and eerie. Mom and dad also have a pack of timber wolves in their neck of the woods. I got to thinking about that and decided to leave. I'm going to go back in this weekend with more daylight and my camera. Tamarack bogs are so picturesque.

 

[duluthralphie]

Originally Posted by Birdy Buddy


Most Leccinums are OK to eat but do they taste good? Edible is not always tasty. I have tried several boletes but not a Leccinum. Suillus is another mushroom in the bolete family and they are slimy and tasteless.
ok, noted thanks, now for your picture where are you racing dogs?

My audobon book lists 13 different bolettes with Suillus in the name. Some of the books claim some are real good.

The ;larch is a Suillus.



I was hunting a tamarack bog today BC, tamarack=larch,,,

The books say just because an animal eats it does not mean you can.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Interesting and good to know that mushrooms eaten by other animals means we can't take that into our own account. Thanks for that Ralphie.

Tamarack = larch. Yes. This I've known longer than I've known about mushrooms. black spruce often like the same bogs.

I love hunting for the edibles but taking photos of them all is about as much fun too.

 

[duluthralphie]

Interesting and good to know that mushrooms eaten by other animals means we can't take that into our own account. Thanks for that Ralphie.

Tamarack = larch. Yes. This I've known longer than I've known about mushrooms.

black spruce often like the same bogs.

I love hunting for the edibles but taking photos of them all is about as much fun too.

I have no, or very few black spruce down here, to far south, the banana belt weather does not suit them.

I wish I could get to most of the tamarack to check them for shrooms...

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Mom and Dad's Tamarack Bog is very small and very old. The Tamarack's are HUGE in it. One actually went down in a wind storm and Dad harvested the wood from it for his fireplace. He said he saves it for the really cold nights. Because the heat output on Tamarack is incredible. He say's he sometimes worries about the steel fireplace box when he's burning it LOL. Interesting that the black spruce does not extend down there to your Larch Bogs in the Banana Belt. I guess that's what happens when you get to have Coconut trees. I figure if the environment is set up for Larch why not the spruce? Hmmm. There is another Bog I should go check out on the 4 wheeler. This bog also has wild cranberries in it. It's been such a wet year though...I'm sure the bog is quite full. I wonder if I should bring waders. LOL. Wild Cranberry sauce...mmmm. the best.