Stay on the trails at first: Newbies should stay on marked trails—or venture off them only a short distance—until they gain some experience. It’s best to slowly get to know a new area, and inch your way towards deeper forest exploration (also known as bushwhacking). One great idea is to go foraging with people who are more experienced until you feel able to get out of your comfort zone. Not only is this a safer approach, but you can learn faster that way.
There’s an app for that! It’s true that many people forage to get away from their electronic devices and commune with nature, but if you’re a newbie forager, or even an expert foraging alone, technology can be invaluable to help you find the best spots to forage and avoid getting lost. Gaia GPS, onX Hunt and other apps can do things like track your location and provide details of the topography, elevation, trees, creeks, and other natural features. However, it’s best not to get too reliant on them—treat them as one of the many tools in your toolbox.
Don’t be greedy: You’re not the only one who’s foraging. In addition to other humans on the hunt, many animals rely on mushrooms as a food source. Leave some behind for them, and to allow spores to disperse so that more will grow next week, next month, or next year.
Harvest smartly: Whether you cut or pluck, remove the mushroom from its base without disturbing the soil or duff in which it’s growing. This ensures that the mycelium stays intact and allows other mushrooms to grow. Follow the ethical forager’s mantra: “leave no trace.”
Don’t eat anything until you’ve 100% positively identified it: Guidebooks and apps are not a substitute for expert knowledge. If you’re a newbie and are unsure whether a variety that you foraged is edible, consult an expert. The Mendocino Coast Mushroom Club can help, and their meetings are open to the public. Visit mendocinocoastmushroomclub.org for more information.
WHERE TO FORAGE: If you plan to forage on your own in Mendocino County, be aware that it is not allowed in our state parks, nor on private property (without the permission of the property owner). The best place to safely and legally forage is in the 200-square mile Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF), which has 50 miles of trails and dozens of microclimates that sustain multiple varieties of mushrooms. To forage in JDSF, you must buy a $20 permit in advance, by mail. Permit information can be found here.
Click here to read about the art of the hunt, and how to tune into the “mycoverse” for better, more productive foraging.
