Advertise on podcast: MO Mushrooms

Neil Thenier started Forager's Kingdom nearly 4 years ago, and has been providing top notch tinctures ever since. Forager's Kingdom was one of my introduction points to the world of mycology, so having him on this episode was a great full circle moment! Neil combines his love of nature with education and accessibility, something I feel all my guests have in common, and he's doing it in a very special way. Check out the website to order your tinctures: https://foragerskingdom.com And check out Neil's podcast! https://foragerskingdom.com/blogs/foragers-radio?page=1

Leigh Ann Ludolph is a Missouri native who now resides in Cape Girardeau, MO and recently started the group 573 Hiking and Foraging- she and her guests host free nature events focused on different topics throughout the seasons. Perfect for beginners and not so beginners just looking to connect and gain some new nature knowledge! Join them in their Facebook group, 573 Hiking and Foraging: https://www.facebook.com/groups/114932088314346 I will be hosting a foray with the group on October 1, 2023 in Cape County Park North, at noon.  Meet at shelter #3! Can't wait to meet you!

Emily Hemeyer is a local educator enthusiastic about sharing her love for all things fungi and the natural world. She has teamed up with Forest and Meadow Apothecary (3228 Ivanhoe Ave, St. Louis, MO) to bring you a spring series of wonderful classes, from basket weaving to making mushroom tinctures. We catch up about her trip to Costa Rica, as well as find out about some exciting new projects she'll be working on all summer long. Here is her website: https://www.sporeprojects.com/wild-seed-field-museum Check back often and on her socials (Wildseed Field Museum) to see new classes and info! As always, here is the link to the Missouri Mycological Society website, join now! https://momyco.org Thanks for listening and sharing! Enjoy morel season, Missouri.

Season 3 is starting off with an update from Mike and Cara Snyder. They have been up to so many amazing things lately, from hosting new events, to Mike becoming a new member of the MOMS board! Listen now to learn about several awesome events coming up around the state, as well as some tasty mushroom recipes from our two experts. Enjoy! Missouri Mushroom Grow Kits:  Jeremie Taylor, Taylor's Mushrooms St. James, MO https://taylorsmushrooms.com Upcoming events: In addition to all of these, you can also book Mike and Cara for private forays on your property! https://www.wildwisebotanicals.com/services Collaborations with Rachael West (Eating the Ozarks of Springfield, MO) and Bo Brown (author of Foraging the Ozarks)- Join Rachel for the Beginning Herbalist Campout May 26-28, and keep an eye on Wildwise Botanicals social media for foray collaborations with Bo. Missouri Mycological Society- join and see all the foray dates- there are many!- But definitely check out Morel Madness April 14-16 in Osceola, MO https://momyco.org Baker Creek Planting Festival, May 14-15, 2023 (Mike is the first mushroom expert they will have had as a speaker!) https://www.rareseeds.com/baker-creek-spring-planting-festival-may-2023-per-vehicle Ozarks Homesteading Expo- Marshfield, MO Aug. 25-26, 2023 https://ozarkshomesteading.com/2023-homesteading-expo The Ozark Natural Science Center Mycology workshop with Jay Justice (founding member of Arkansas Mycological Society and expert mycologist)- October 13-15, 2023

Mike, along with his wife Cara, own Wild Wise Botanicals.  Their business focuses on foraging and growing native plants and mushrooms to promote wellness, and they want to share as much knowledge as they can with all of us about the medicinal properties of our natural world. To quote their website: "We’re passionate about the plant and fungal allies we have encountered thus far, and we are devoted to producing extracts, salves, tea blends, mushrooms, and learning opportunities of the highest quality!" Mike and I had a great discussion about his journey to fungal knowledge, as well as where you can catch him next. Check out all of the books, movies, and upcoming events we discussed below, and don't forget to JOIN the Missouri Mycological Society and follow Mike and Cara! Wild Wise Botanicals webpage:  https://www.wildwisebotanicals.com/ Instagram: @wildwisebotanicals Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildwisebotanicals Mike's helpful guides and suppliers for growing his own mushrooms: https://www.fieldforest.net Missouri Mycological Society webpage: https://momyco.org North American Mycological Association: https://namyco.org "Know Your Mushrooms" Movie: can be found on Prime video Books: "Missouri's Wild Mushrooms" by Maxine Stone "The Essential Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms" Christopher Hobbs Upcoming Events: Makanda  Mushroom Festival: April 22-24 and October 14-16 2022 https://www.makandamushroomfestival.com Peaceful Bend Winery, Saturday June 11. 2022 Mushroom presentation, walk, and meal NAMA Foray: September 29-October 2, 2022 at Trout Lodge, Potosi, MO https://namyco.org/forays.php

Missouri native Emily Hemeyer fuses her passions for art, teaching and the natural world. She is in a graduate school program through Project Dragonfly, and teaches classes everywhere she can about foraging for plants and mushrooms in Missouri. She is working on some pretty amazing stuff extracting dye from mushrooms! Want to take a class with her? Follow this link! https://www.sporeprojects.com/classes Check out these links and handles to see more info on Emily and her graduate program, as well as the books she referenced in our discussion. https://projectdragonfly.miamioh.edu/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/538010973438174/?ref=share Insta: @wildseedfieldmuseum Books: "Mushrooms For Color" by Miriam Rice Alissa Allen, who runs the “Mushrooms For Color” Facebook page, is another wonderful resource and has her own website here: https://www.mycopigments.com/ "Rainbow Beneath My Feet" by Arlene Rainis Bessett and Alan Bessett

Learn about what kind of delicious fungi are waiting for you in the fall forest, and learn why puffballs are good for more than just a delicious fried snack. Music: Track: Summer Vibes Music composed and recorded by Oak Studios Creative Commons - Attribution ND 4.0 https://youtu.be/ixCCak6cX0Y Cancer study and articles: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6044372/ (Article on mushrooms and their use in immunotherapy) https://internalmedicine.imedpub.com/an-insight-in-to-isolation-of-natural-products-derived-from-macrofungi-as-antineoplastic-agents-a-review.php?aid=23300 (International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5023580/ (Calvatea Gigantea study) https://www.nps.gov/articles/species-spotlight-puffballs.htm (National Park Service article) RECIPES: 1. "Chicken" Phillys: https://pin.it/3cewRNb 2. Roasted Maitake with Rosemary: https://pin.it/2MGE5tN 3. "Lion" Cakes: https://pin.it/1MwtCc5 4. Crispy Fried Puffball: https://pin.it/7LfGJ2q

Candice Cramer is a visual artist working towards completing her masters thesis in Maryland. She has lived out on the east coast for 6 years now, but I met her while we were both at Southeast Missouri State and working at a restaurant in Cape Girardeau, MO. She was the first person who I had heard of foraging for mushrooms, so I wanted to have a discussion with her about her experiences in Missouri, and how they are still influencing her life and her art. We also discuss John Cage, one of the most influential composers of the 20th century and a person who had a huge impact on the world of mycology. He was an avid mycology enthusiast throughout his entire life and we discuss the many ways fungi influenced his compositions. Candice suggested some wonderful books, and provided information on where to find her art work! Atelier Editions: John Cage: A Mycological Foray Mushroom Book Mushrooms Demystified, by David Arora Candice's website: cehcart.com Insta: @cannediice What were your thoughts about our discussion? Let me know! [email protected] Music: Track: Summer Vibes Music composed and recorded by Oak Studios Creative Commons - Attribution ND 4.0 https://youtu.be/ixCCak6cX0Y

This week, I focus on how to start finding your own wild edible fungi. Listed below are all of the mushrooms I talk about and their correct scientific names. Morels, chanterelles, and oyster mushrooms await you in the woods! Happy hunting! Morels: Morchella esculenta Chanterelle: Cantharellus False Chanterelles: Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca Jack-O-Lantern: Omphalotus olearius Oysters: Pleurotus ostreatus Field guides: "Edible Wild Mushrooms of Illinois & Surrounding States: A Field-to-Kitchen Guide" Joe McFarland and Gregory M. Mueller "Mushrooms of the Midwest" Michael Kuo and Andrew S. Methven MO Department of Conservation https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/activities/mushroom-hunting/guide-missouri’s-edible-and-poisonous-mushrooms Music: Track: Summer Vibes Music composed and recorded by Oak Studios Creative Commons - Attribution ND 4.0 https://youtu.be/ixCCak6cX0Y GREAT News! Ozark Wild Harvest (the name of the amazing company I couldn't remember from Hillberry 2018) has approval to start selling those famous pickled mushrooms I was talking about. Check out their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/ozarkwildharvest/

I explain mushroom anatomy, classification, and a general overview of why I love mushrooms and you should, too!  After listening, I encourage you to take a hike and see what you weren't necessarily paying attention to before. Part 2 will be out next week- and will be packed with tips on how to start finding, cooking, and eating wild mushrooms this spring. Recommended Reading: “Mycophilia: Revelations From the Weird World of Mushrooms” by Eugenia Bone Field guides: "Edible Wild Mushrooms of Illinois & Surrounding States: A Field-to-Kitchen Guide" Joe McFarland and Gregory M. Mueller "Mushrooms of the Midwest" Michael Kuo and Andrew S. Methven MO Department of Conservation https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/activities/mushroom-hunting/guide-missouri’s-edible-and-poisonous-mushrooms Music: Track: Summer Vibes Music composed and recorded by Oak Studios Creative Commons - Attribution ND 4.0 https://youtu.be/ixCCak6cX0Y