Rumi has a special happiness portal. It is our back gate that leads through our neighbor’s yard to the woods beyond. As soon as he sees the leash in my hand he gives a yip of glee and makes a bee-line for the gate. Furry rump thumps down while chest remains high, tail swishes the ground in expectation.
He waits for the magic word.
Break!
The portal gate is thrown wide open. Gangly limbs become coordinated instruments in a symphony of propulsion as he gallops into the forest.
Oh, to be a dog.
Besides putting a wide grin on my face, our walks have another benefit: Rumi’s wanderings have forced me off the beaten path and a new world has been discovered.
Mushrooms. Once spotted, no forest walk will ever be the same.
Because of my newfound appreciation for fungi, I treated myself to a rainy afternoon viewing of Fantastic Fungi on Netflix yesterday. Treat yourself and watch it if you have not yet done so. My head was exploding like a spore-releasing puffball throughout the entire thing.
As you well know, mushrooms are the fruiting body of fungi. Here are some documentary tidbits:
- fungi is the digestive tract of the forest
- there are 300 miles of fungi under every step you take in the forest, that form an enormous web connecting trees and helping them communicate and swap nutrients.
- ‘magic mushrooms’ are theorized to have played a big role in our evolution by “providing a software to program neurologic hardware to think and produce language.”
- mushrooms have an entirely unique molecular structure
I laughed out loud when one of the presenters said:
“Tomatoes will tell you when to pick them by turning a brilliant color. Mushrooms? Nah. They don’t give a shit.”
It is easy to respect nonchalant shrooms. They rule by cool.
I also learned in Fantastic Fungi that there are some smart people passionately researching ways to harness the power of fungi and their decomposing abilities to deal with environmental disasters like oil spills and overflowing landfill sites. Being responsible for our own garbage disposal without dumping it on others’ shores? Yes, please.
Psilocybin therapy – using ‘magic mushrooms’ to deal with a host of mental health conditions, PTSD, and addictions is gaining traction as an effective treatment. This part in film was powerful and poignant. No matter where one stands on the use of psychedelics, it would be difficult to remain neutral after hearing what cancer patients said about their experiences, namely the ability to tap into Universal Consciousness: anxiety, and fear of death were replaced with a calm, comforting connection to The Whole. This state remained long after treatment. For anyone who has encountered serious illness, living on the periphery of life – disconnected and alone – is a familiar feeling.
About a month ago, our 82 year old neighbor at the cabin – a smart, independent woman who possesses knowledge in many areas – gifted me a big chunk of Chaga mushroom harvested from her friend’s property.
“The Russians swear by this,” she said. “It is a wonder.”
After a bit of research and some sampling, I agree.
As for our foraging closer to home, here are some mushrooms discovered a mere 3 minute walk from the back door:
Until I can walk the forest floor with a knowledgeable mycologist, it is safer for me and our over-burdened healthcare system to enjoy mushrooms in their natural habitat and not in my frying pan.
Knowing one’s limits is a very good thing. So is seeing a forest you have long taken for granted from a brand new viewpoint.
I have been walking in the same woods but not paying much attention (none) to the ‘shrooms. I’ll look more carefully now! I’d wait for an expert opinion before sampling any though.
I’d love to get an expert forager to do a tour out back. If I’m ever able to arrange anything I will let you know!
Ooh that would be so interesting.
It takes years of studying before it’s safe to wander out on your own… puff balls for example are good to eat when they are white but not yellow or vice versa – there are look a likes, imposters… There are so many pretty ones and ugly ones… it sure is a fascinating world!
Years of study sounds about right. To entertain the consequences of just one little mistake….shudder.
My grandmother used to pick “puffball mushrooms” off the lawn at the cottage and fry them up in a pound of butter. We were always hesitant to have a taste, having been told never to eat mushrooms from the wild. The “puffballs” never harmed her…but the butter?!?
Mushroom eating is often an excuse to consume mass quantities of butter…but Yum! Did you ever try the puffball?