September Newsletter

Summer has had it’s glorious season for this crazy year and is winding down, welcoming in fall. This year in mushroom foraging has been an abundant one. The Morals were great, followed by an amazing Reishi bounty, Chicken of the Woods and Chanterelles didn’t disappoint, so what’s next? Fall will see some of the best varieties popping out. Before I talk about those I’d like to give some updates……

The markets are still going strong and to finish August I’ll be doing this Fridays market at East Asheville. From 3-6pm at 954 Tunnel rd., Groce United Methodist church. I won’t be back at this market until the end of September. I will be at the Weaverville market on September 2nd, which is from 2:30-6pm at Reems Creek Nursery, 76 Monticello Rd. I’ll return to that market at the end of the month. September will be my last month for mushroom walks for the year and I will try to get some in at the end of the month. Contact me either by phone or email to set one up!

****I’ll be out of town until the 22nd of September, so won’t be able to schedule any walks or fill any orders until then. *****

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The fall mushrooms are arriving! Turkey Tail is full swing and to me one of the most important mushrooms in the forest. Turkey Tail is a powerful cancer fighter, immune booster and aids in digestion. Simply making a tea out of this mushroom will benefit you greatly. I make tinctures from turkey Tail as well. you can real Turkey tail from the false by looking at the bottom of it, it’ll be white and almost like a sandpaper on the bottom. Here is a good article on it: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/turkey-tail-mushroom

Another highly medicinal mushroom popping out is Lions Mane. It’s hard to mistake this mushroom for any other. It’s toothed, solid white and most often found on dying or dead trees. Lions Mane has a seafood flavor and tastes great, besides that it is a powerful medicine, good for your heart, immune system and most especially your brain health! Keeping with the medicinal ‘shrooms, Maitake, Hen of the Woods or the dancing mushroom, is yet another fall specimen. Maitake is like Turkey Tail and Lions Mane is great for boosting your immune system, helps combat diabetes, lowers cholesterol and lowers blood pressure. It’s a cancer fighter and fights infections, making it an important mushroom in these times of viruses. Plus it tastes great!

Chicken of the Wood will be around for another few months, as well as Oysters, which see a late fall, golden colored variety. Boletes are still around a bit longer and Chanterelles are winding down. The Blue Indigo milk caps, a personal favorite, are unmistakable and out in full force right now. This month will see Puffballs emerge, open them up, if white inside they are good to eat, if any other color throw them out! There is also a Giant Puffball which grow quite large. Lastly is the Honey mushroom. There are two varieties, the ringed and ringless Honeys. They can be smooth on the cap or speckled and the ringed get a distinct veil on the stem. Identifying Honey mushrooms can be easy, but it’s a see it, touch it, smell it kind of thing. I recommend people get out on a walk with an expert to be sure. There is a toxic look alike called the Deadly Galerina that is quite similar, but looking at them side by side in the forest you’d see the big differences. Honeys are a choice edible, with the stringy stems being some of the best parts.

As always I have a full stock of my medicinal tinctures and dried mushrooms for tea making available. Welcome in fall by getting out and enjoying the cooler weather and do some mushroom hunting!