#mushroom field guide

[deadleafpard]

Yuki + 🍄 for @gaynfl

[rebeccathenaturalist]

I have THE biggest, BEST news EVER--

I GOT A BOOK CONTRACT!!!!!!!!

I am exceptionally pleased to announce that I have just signed a contract with Ten Speed Press (a division of Penguin Random House) to publish...

The Everyday Naturalist: How to Identify Animals, Plants, and Fungi Wherever You Go!

It is slated for publication in early Summer 2025, and will be written for anyone who wants to be able to identify the living beings around them regardless of educational level or experience. A HUGE thank you to my literary agent Jane Dystel of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret LLC, and my editor at Ten Speed Press, Julie Bennett!

This isn't just another field guide--it's a how-to book on nature identification that helps you go from "I have no idea what this animal/plant/fungus is and I don't know where to start" to "Aha! I know how to figure out what species I'm looking at/hearing!" Those familiar with my nature ID classes know that I emphasize skills and tools accessible to everyday people. Whether you're birdwatching, foraging, or just enjoying the nature around you, my goal is to help you be more confident in figuring out what living beings you encounter wherever you go--and not just in the Pacific Northwest. 

The Everyday Naturalist will not only explain what traits you need to pay attention to like color, size, shape, location, etc. and how to use them to differentiate among similar species, but will also detail how and when to use tools like apps, field guides, and more. (And given the current kerfuffle about A I generated foraging books, I will of course include information on how to determine the veracity of a given book or other resource.) And my editor and I have already been discussing some great additions to the book that will make it even more user-friendly!

Are you excited about this? I certainly am! I wanted to wait until the pixels were dry on the contract before going public with this (though my newsletter subscribers got to hear about it last month, lucky them!) It still doesn't feel real, but I'm already working on the manuscript so it'll sink in soon enough.

I will, of course, keep you all apprised of my progress because this project is going to be a big part of my life over the next several months as I write and edit and write and edit and wash, rinse, repeat. So keep your eyes on this space for updates (and feel free to add yourself to my monthly email newsletter here, too!)

[toadstoolgardens]

Amanita appreciation

McKnight, Kent & Vera McKnight. A Peterson Field Guide to Mushrooms: North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987. Illustrations by Vera McKnight.

[theninjazebra]

[wastelandwild]

Sure, I'm toxique...

[aldercaps]

wellington mushrooms

[mezais]

Hehrhrhehrhrhrhr

[nuala-luna]

Somebody recommend me some good books about fungi? I’m trying to widen my appreciation of them to more than just an aesthetic thing, I’d like to actually learn about them and how they work and what they do and the different types

[oxymoron84]

"Gnomes are a type of benevolent beast that roam in the depths of the forests. Despite their communities being remarkably large, they are rare finds--- especially if you're looking for them... They are humanoid with fungal properties, growing and feeding similar to mushrooms. They are peaceful until threatened and their singing voices ward off malevolent beings. So if you're anything like me, bring some earplugs." --Bishop and Poppet's Guide to the Abnormal: Section 1. Beasts, pg 8

[k20spock]

dining hall allegedly has mushrooms tonight please lord let it be true i need some fungi in me

[memoriesofthepark]

I know I've never posted reblogs here but this is important.

Always, ALWAYS, verify the validity of any field guides you purchase and the credentials of the authors. More and more, AI generated field guides are being sold under fake authors names with gods know what kind of false information inside. This is stupid and dangerous and fucked up and could easily lead to deaths due to the consumption of falsely IDed mushrooms/plants.

When buying field guides, especially if you plan to consume the species you identify, make sure the author is first of all A REAL PERSON and one who is credible in whatever field the guide is for and has the trust and backing of the community. Its also a good idea to purchase from well established environmental organizations such as the National Audubon Society.

Make sure you are using guides specific to the area in which you will be foraging, in the U.S. you can often find them by state. It is also important to cross-reference from more than one guide/source. If you have any local foraging groups, they are likely to be your best resource. Consider joining them on a foray or even just speaking to members, they should be more than happy to share info and resources.

Field guides do tend to be somewhat expensive, so I'd recommend checking your local library or buying second hand from thrift/antique shops, local bookshops, thriftbooks.com, or even ebay.

And when you choose to eat something you have foraged (plant or fungus), always try a small amount - very small! some of the deadliest amanitas can kill an adult from a piece as small as a thumbnail - first and wait a day or at least several hours before consuming larger quantities to make sure there are no ill effects. Some species are considered edible in some places and toxic in others and some well known edibles can still cause upset in certain individuals.

I have been actively foraging and IDing fungi for at least 2-3 years now and I have never eaten a mushroom I've found in the wild, even if I was dead certain of its species and edibility, because I know that I still do not have the necessary expertise to feel fully confident in doing so.

This is a very long post but the information is important. Always err on the side of caution when foraging and take the time to check up on your sources.

from Alexis Nikole’s instagram

[deadleafpard]

i think it's really cool that every time i make a graphic that's a little out of the norm i'm like this is it. this is the flop. this is where i lose them. and yet

[dragonfang-photography]

Still slowly picking away at the next big batch. Here is a free-to-use-for-whatever pic of some mushrooms on a dead tree.

[seasonallyappropriategoth]

'darling i love you, you're going to die'

My new book

[scribefindegil]

Still thinking about how the dominant conception of mushroom-hunting in my (USAmerican) culture is fear and revulsion and the idea that anyone who eats a mushroom they found in the woods is courting a terrible death. And I don't want to push back too aggressively; it's better that people think the hobby is too dangerous to bother with rather than having people who are so blasé about the dangers that they end up poisoning themselves. But it still gets a little annoying sometimes. So, for the record, some more nuanced information:

There are a small number of mushrooms that will kill you if you eat them. Most field guides make sure to describe these species carefully so you know what to avoid.

There are a rather larger number of mushrooms that will make you sick but not kill you. Many of these are also noted in field guides, especially if they look at all like any of the edible species.

Many choice edibles are very visually distinct and don't have any non-edible lookalikes. Many foragers stick with these safe choices permanently. (I do this!)

Some edible mushrooms *do* have poisonous lookalikes. Individual foragers can decide how confident they are in their identification skills and what level of risk they're comfortable with accepting.

You need to learn how to use a field guide if you want to gather mushrooms for the table. For most people, this is not a difficult skill to develop, although it takes practice.

You need to learn how to see what is actually in front of you instead of what you want to see. Many misidentifications come from people ignoring obvious field marks out of wishful thinking.

You need to learn about what grows in your region, and if you move, stop foraging until you've had a chance to research the new region. Sadly, many mushroom poisoning cases are recent immigrants who mistook a toxic mushroom for an edible variety from their home country.

It is extremely possible to forage safely. It is also very possible to forage recklessly. You need to be aware of your own skills and temperament to decide whether it's a hobby that will work for you.

If you want to learn more about mushrooms (both poisonous and edible varieties), I highly recommend the book Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares by Greg Marley.

[wastelandwild]

Mushroom Magic straight from the forest floor. A fairytale-style journal creation. This junk journal is entirely handmade and put together! Here is a detailed flipthrough.