Magnum Camp for wild food gathering\processing

[upnorth]

The Mag Camp struck me as a great mushroom gathering tool. The long thin blade can reach under and slice mushroom stems cleanly. It is important not to disturb the Mycelium, or main large delicate fungus root structure beneath some mushrooms, or the plant may be killed. As Beckerheads are respectful of nature while gathering its resources, I see the BK-5 as a dandy tool for this application. Needless to say that the Mag Camp would make short work of fresh mushrooms while being processed for home or in camp..........I used to pick wild asparagus as a child with my parents, and I see the same application for this tasty plant.


These I have previously picked.

Chanterelle

Aspen Bolete

Shaggy Mane

Orange Bolete

These I hope to pick this year.

Morels

Oyster

Hedgehog

 

[cody1]

I'm not an expert on mushrooms. Since over 80% are poisonous, I leave them alone. I have heard that most with white folds are poisonous(some are not) and if they have a tray 1/2 way up the stem is another sign. I get mine at the store. If you know what you are doing, than the BK5 will cut them with ease...

 

[daizee]

*shudder*

Reaching for the anti-fungal cream...

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I remember reading a biography of Harry Truman, where he was reminiscing about gathering mushrooms when he was young. One reporter asked if he learned which mushrooms were safe to eat from a book. No, Harry snorted -- your grandmother teaches you that.

Great post, beautiful pictures. I just had vegetable soup that I added sliced mushrooms to.

 

[upnorth]

I'm not an expert on mushrooms. Since over 80% are poisonous, I leave them alone.

Yes indeed. That is why I have only gathered the four that I know already. The only wild mushrooms that I pick were taught to me by old time mushroom pickers. This is the only way to gather the knowledge safely. I suppose in this day and age I should add a disclaimer.

* I believe that Beckerheads are intelligent enough to use common sense while gathering wild foods. If you are unfamiliar with a mushroom or any wild plant, do not gather or consume it.

If you are interested in gathering wild food plants there are likely local groups in your area willing to take new members out. Even up here I met up with a forestry biologist that takes the public out for mushroom hunts. A little research turns up the human resources. You also find old farmers\immigrants that have been gathering since childhood. Local natives (Indians) around here are also a wonderful resource. I suppose it depends on an individuals level of interest in the outdoors.

 

[upnorth]

I remember reading a biography of Harry Truman, where he was reminiscing about gathering mushrooms when he was young. One reporter asked if he learned which mushrooms were safe to eat from a book. No, Harry snorted -- your grandmother teaches you that.

Great post, beautiful pictures. I just had vegetable soup that I added sliced mushrooms to.

:thumbup:

 

[Bladite]

i've read something like, by species, 90% of mushrooms are edible...

but 90% of what you tend to encounter, are poisonous (which is to say, they are more prosperous)...

there's a few as some of the above in the OP that are easy peasy to identify, esp for a given region... good beginner mushrooms too... some are not.

then the lookalikes... you might have grown up eating a mushroom in "the homeland", and goto another country and THINK you found exactly the same kind, except, well, it's deadly. oops.

good stuff those shrooms

 

[sqoon]

80% of the time they kill you every time.

 

[upnorth]

80% of the time they kill you every time.

Likely the odds of a tight black bear encounter with a cub. And yet I don't let that stop me from being in the woods. I have come back and wiped off\picked off ticks from various parts of my body. I can pick any number of excuses not to experience the wild environment. Yet I go because it is a primal need for me to be in the beautiful, quiet, clean, scented, violent, bug filled, hot, cold, lonely coyote howl, life affirming sun rises and sets. Yes there are risks in the outdoors and I venture to say that they are worse in a city. I would rather take my chances with a four legged predator than those with two. With common sense and some basic knowledge of our environment, one can reduce the risks of being in the woods or a city. It is a choice, neither good or bad, it just is. :thumbup: