SUSTAINABLE HARVESTING
...a guide to mushroom picking with the future in mind.
By Adrian (EARTHPOD) June 10th 2003
Contents:
Introduction (law, conservation, trespassing, - AIM)
1.The Times Right? (on your marks...get set)
2.Treding Carefully (under-stand)
3.Size Does Matter (...but it's not a big issue)
4.Way to Pick (a pat on the head)
5.Being Productive (& re-productive)
6.Spreading the Goodness (want not, waste not)
7.Sharing (ohhh isn't that nice)
8.Your contribution (???)
9.Useful Links
Introduction:
This is a basic guide for picking mushrooms without have a negative impact on mushroom population
as well as reducing risks to yourself, the picker.
The author is not a mycologist and this is information is provided as a common sense guide (i.e. it works in practice).
It should be noted that this is not aimed at picking illegal mushroom species, although the same information does apply.
Some of the information in this guide may not apply as much to the dung loving species as to other species,
however it'll be of no disadvantage if you know it anyway
Be aware that your local laws may restrict what type of mushrooms you can pick without fear of prosecution.
Picking any species of mushroom in National parks may well be unlawful and quite possibly a crime
against nature (many species could be unknown, rare or endangered).
Mushrooms are of great importance to ecology as they play an integral part in
decomposing organic matter.
Without this decomposition our atmosphere would contain much higher levels of green house gasses such as methane.
There are also many species of fungi that have mycorrhizal & co-dependant relationship with plants.
It may be debatable whether or not increasing and distributing existing mushroom populations would have
a negative impact of other life forms, however as a food source (as well as medicinal & entheogenic significance)
to ourselves as well other fauna and flora, fungi is of the utmost value.
With respect to the laws that govern conservation of fish species, a mindful fisher will obey these laws in
order to maintain their purpose and integrity.
No fishes, no fishin!
No shrooms, no shroomin!
What do fish and shrooms have in common you ask.
- they both have gills
- they are both hunted by us
- we consume both and they consume us
- we'll all benefit from their conservation
In many cases picking mushrooms on private property is not only illegal but also dangerous.
It's no myth that proud farmers get so pissed off with trespassers that they will shoot at you.
Is the shroom hunt worth it's salt?
By that I mean, is it worth pulling out large chunks of salt from deep flesh wounds in your ass? I don't think so.
- AIM
This guide has been created with the intention of providing information, that if followed (and hopefully shared)
will not only help to conserve existing mushroom populations, but ideally increase yields.
I have done this out of personal concern for the environment and also out of knowledge that many
people either don't care or are unaware of basic conservation techniques.
I believe that if shared this knowledge may prove to be fruitful in the real world.
In my opinion human population growth is not so much of an issue as conservation and sharing resources are.
- Ignorance is NOT bliss but a burden. Being unaware may provide solace, definitely not bliss.
Knowledge allows for power. Wisdom is understanding how best to use knowledge and is very powerful
1.Time is Right?
Firstly, there is not much point in going out without first knowing what to expect.
Knowing the ideal fruiting conditions of your target species is a definite advantage.
Most mushroom books & resources will often give you at least an idea
of the right season in which to find your shrooms.
Remember to first check the place of publication if in doubt of the specific geographical location.
If the months of fruiting are listed and not the season it may well be the opposite end of the calendar
on your side of the globe.
Assuming that you have a good idea of where and when to find your shrooms, it is a good idea to
check the 'word on the street' or for instance on mycology forums, if in doubt ask.
Depending on local conditions one area might see fruit at an earlier or latter stage to another not so far away.
An example of earlier fruiting may be seen in typically moist habitat
(due to higher rainfall or cooler temp/ duepoint) such as mountainous regions.
When the time is right and you have found (or already know of) a patch of fruiting mushrooms, it is
important to observe the population in the area and surrounding area in order to ascertain how
advanced/ mature the specimens are.
The reason why this is important relates to the reproductive cycle of the mushrooms and this is covered
in the next two sections.
For more detailed information on the reproductive cycle of mushrooms please follow this link:
http://www.swifty.com/apase/charlotte/lcycle.html (please send a better link if you have one)
2.Treding Carefully
Without going too far into the life cycle of mushrooms I will cover a few basic reasons and techniques
for minimising interference of the mushroom's habitat.
The mushroom that we seek out to pick are only the terrestrial fruiting/ reproductive bodies of a much
larger, subterranean fungal growth.
What we can't often see is a large (usually) underground mycelieal network that connects the fruits.
When entering a patch, care should be taken not to uncover the substrate (mulch, soil etc) that
surrounds the mushrooms as damage here can cause a halt to the spreading of the mycelia, and can result
in the lowering the mushroom population of the area.
Care through observation should also be taken to reduce the chance of stepping on the often minute,
immature mushrooms commonly referred to as pinheads.
Basically an immature mushroom (with veil still intact) has not yet dropped it's spores.
One way to reduce impact is to use existing 'stepping stones' , these could be stones/ rocks, bare earth or
branches/ logs (assuming this is not what the mushrooms are growing on).
A common tragedy occurs when attempting to pick the earliest fruiting shrooms in a patch, you may
go in to get a couple and destroy a great many more.
When gregarious (grouped) there may be 100 or more pinheads in an area the size of one's shoe.
3.Size Does Matter
Although some species may bare resemblance this is not about the phallus (maybe Phallus spp
Maturity and not size itself is actually the issue here, however in many cases maturity is
characterised (but not defined) by size.
Generally a mature specimen is noted by the condition of the veil (cobweb like membrane between cap and stem).
The spores are released once the veil is broken.
Determining if the veil is broken or not is difficult without getting a good view underneath the cap unless
spores are obviously present i.e. on other mushrooms, grass or debris underneath the mushroom's cap.
An easier way to choose mature specimens is to select in regards to size, shape or both.
The shape or size at maturity depends on the species of mushroom, i.e. generally Psilocybe species will
expand to a plane (flat) shape at maturity, generally Panaeolus species will remain conical at maturity and
therefore it may be best to select according to size.
If mushrooms are picked when mature it will ensure that they have had time to release their store of spores
and thus they will shave fulfilled their reproductive role.
4.Way to Pick
As mentioned earlier on, there is often more than meets the eye below the surface or at the base of a mushroom
i.e. often pinheads are attached on or very close to the base of the stem.
If pulled from the ground you take with the mushroom a link in the mycelial network (mentioned above)
as well as a piece of unwanted 'crap' that you'll probably have to remove latter anyway.
So please, please don't just yank them from the ground.
Instead of pulling them out:
1.Give them a firm (non violent) tap on the cap (pat on the head
this serves to release more spores.
2.Try and break the stem towards the base, be careful of smaller shrooms underneath.
3.Whether or not the stem will break easily by hand will depend on the species or sometimes on the individual.
If you cannot break the stem with the fingers or fingernails cut it with an
appropriately sharp implement (mentioned below).
In Europe it is common to see people trekking through fields and forests on a 'Shroom Hunt' carrying
switch blades or flick knives.
A switch (retractable) blade knife is a very handy thing to use when hunting shrooms and can be
much safer than wielding a fixed blade or scissors.
Unfortunately here (Australia) it is illegal to own or possess flick knives, switch blades & butterfly knives
and carrying any sort of knife may (as well as be unlawful) pose as threatening to any onlookers.
The best and safest bet is to use a small 'Stanley knife'/ box cutter with sheath or a pair of blunt tipped scissors.
In the often slippery field of mushroom hunting you don't want to slip and land on an open faced blade or
have a pointed pair of scissors stab an extra hole in you or your pants.
If using a knife you should have positive results by pressing the stem onto the blade using your thumb,
of course you should be careful of the blade sharpness and your skin softness.
This technique is quite simple and you should have that knack of it before you have a callous on your thumb
5.Being Productive
Now that you've found the right season for your hemisphere, selected a fruitful patch, tiptoed around it,
selected some mature specimens, helped them release spores and taken a bunch for gobbling up
(or whatever you want with them, you sicko you
it's time to give a little back.
Well so far you have already been quite productive (in the voice Tim Shaw) "but wait...There's more".
In your search you will probably come across some less appetizing specimens (assuming you wish to consume them).
Sometimes a good test is, if when you give them a firm tap on the cap, they fall apart or break
(assuming your not just being violent, you nasty specimen you
then they are good candidates for distribution.
What to do with these ratty, half eaten, decaying guys?
In some cases the cap may look beyond the pallet, however the stems may still be in good condition.
Why not separate the stems and bag them (if there okay) then break up the cap into as many pieces as you
wish and start flinging them around the area, preferably into areas that are not yet colonised by your mushroom friends.
Fun-guy like to migrate, well at least we appreciate it when they do
My favourite methods include:
(a time to release your anger, if any)
- Flicking them sharply (yes violently
with my index fingernail, spattering them like this they can go a long
way (remember to wipe those spored fingers somewhere special, no not down there, ugh!
- pretending I'm a sporting legend and soccer kicking (or AFL) them so that they spray off in a more... spore-adic fashion.
a bonus with this latter method is that the shrooms will follow in your footsteps
6.Spreading the Goodies
(Tim Shaw again) "...There's still more"
Each mature cap produces a multitude of microscopic spores.
If left on a surface for a period of time (1/2hr - 2hrs) a mushroom's cap will drop it's spores to leave a visible
spore print.
Here's a simple method to significantly increase the mushroom population and/ or distribute the population:
1.Take some large healthy caps from your stash.
2.Place them gills down in the bottom of the largest water proof container you have access to.
(If really successful in your hunt you may consider using a clean garbage bin
Stack as many in there as you can, it's okay you can still eat them afterwards.
3.Entertain yourself for a couple of hours, i.e. go on another shroom hunt.
4.Come back and find nice dark, thick spores prints all over the bottom of the container and if stacked, all over
each other too.
5.(Adding water without removing the mushrooms first is optional and would mainly depend if you wanted to dry
them anyway)
Add a fair amount* of clean or (preferably) distilled water to the container (with or without the shrooms still there)
and agitate to move the spores into the water.
6.If you have no particles larger than a grain of sand in with your spore-water forget straining it and go to the next step.
If you washed the shrooms with the water, strain them through something fine enough to allow spores through, but not allow
particles larger than a grain of sand (fine sand) , perhaps stockings?
7.Pour the spore-water into the largest spray bottle (or water pistol) you can find**.
8.Remove any filter that may be on you sprayer and set the nozzle (assuming it does adjust) so that you can squirt a
nice long jet of spore-water at your desired target (no, not your significant other
9.Find your desired target area (the appropriated habitat helps) and squirt away.
* The more water the more area you can cover, the less water the denser the population of mushrooms in that area.
** Should sophisticated sprayers be hard to come by, try filling a balloon (if possible), condom or plastic bag and
piercing it when at your target area.
Alternatively you can let the spore-water trail behind you. Again they'll follow in your footsteps.
7.Sharing
As well as sharing your stash with others you can swap and share you species with others.
Using the above method you can swap, sell or give away your spore-water to others or likewise
you can make spore prints on shiny paper, foil or glass.
8.Your contribution
Please take steps to follow the suggestions in this guide if you're not already doing so.
If you want to pass this on to your shrooming companions (if you have them, if you don't make some
please copy at will, preferably without changing any of the content (well maybe some of my speeling mistakes and punctuation!
[...]
Thank you!
Be Safe &
Enjoy.
FROM: Adrian
EARTHPOD
