With fall here among us I’ve decided to dedicate the rest of the season to foraging for medicine making. So I won’t be doing any more walks this year. It’s a great time to be out in the forest and I hope you all go exploring. Walks will resume in the spring with some Morel hunting.
For me the hunt for Maitake is a challenging one, some years it is elusive and others I find a bunch. I refer to as the ghost mushroom, as it goes unseen. I have found Lions Mane in unlikely places and Turkey Tail is showing up every where I go. Not to mention the great Chaga outings to come. I will bring fresh finds of Chicken of the Wood, Honey mushrooms, and Oysters to the market each week I’m there if your interested in those.
Fall Foraging
Into the chilly morning air
I go alone
to search for
the ingredients
for healing potions.
to search for dancing mushrooms
Turkey Tails and Lions Mane.
Into the falling leaves
red, yellow, purple, orange
and brown,
strolling about as acorns fall
to the forest floor.
Their colors disguise
the Chicken of the Wood and the Oyster,
growing wild and unnoticed.
It's quiet here, peaceful.
The mushrooms appear
one by one by one
and soon my basket shall be full.
Into the woods I go
fall foraging
in the afternoon delight.