Two Day Advanced Wild Mushroom Workshop October 6th & 7th

September has been a funny month, from a weather perspective at least!. We haven’t had too many of those lovely autumnal days with sun beating down on us and the hint of the changing seasons  advising us that a change is one the way. We have had gales , rain, more gales and more ran but today is one of those days that has promise. Apples, the few that we have , look great in the sunshine and there is  a warmth about, that has been missing  and missing  for fungi deep in our woods. This is the sort  day they love, warm, sunshine and with rain some days ago they are bursting out of the ground.

But what are they? Are they safe to eat? Which ones are downright nasty and which ones,  if we had a culture of eating wild mushrooms ,would we defend to the last to get and eat?

On October 6th and 7th we are holding our last Wild Mushroom Workshop for those who want to learn a little more about these fascinating fungi. If you already have a bit of knowledge about fungi, then this is the course for you.

On Saturday October 6th we will learn ,with Jonathan Spazzi ,a lot more about the structure of fungi and their classification. We will wander into lovely woods and try to name as many as possible and hopefully, we will find some delicious edibles to take home and eat.

Hedgehog Fungus

We will learn about gills, cortinas, stipes, caps, veils and umbos.We will marvel at the structure and delicacy of these wild mushrooms  and much , much  more.

 

On   the Sunday we will go into a completly dffferent wood for some different fungi and we will learn how to name, classify and to demystify at least some of the  complexities of the fungi world.

This two day course is for those who know a little and want to know more. We will provide delicious organic lunches on both days with copious tea and coffee and home-made biscuits to help us on our way.

Jonathan Spazzi is one of Ireland’s leading mycologists and we are guaranteed two great days in stunning woods as we pick up  on his knowledge.

The course is suitable for those with an interest in fungi, hoteliers, environmentalists, restaurant owners, outdoor recreation enthusiasts and those who simply want to develop a stronger knowledge of this intriguing part of woodland life.

Course costs €90 which includes lunches on both days and refreshments throughout the  workshops.

Book now and Go Wild with us!

 

 

September 29th Wild Mushroom Workshop

Last Saturday we had the first of our three Wild Mushroom Workshops with Jonathan Spazzi. We had a marvellous day in the woods and a great cook up afterwards.

We found this!

Amanita Rubescens

Our next Workshop is on Saturday September 29th here in Killedmond, Home of Blackstairs Ecotrails. The Workshop will run from 10am till 4pm with talks , demonstrations,  excursions into beautiful broadleaf woods underneath the Blackstairs, identification of species and hopefully, if we find some edible species, a glorious cook up to end the day.

We will also have a delicious organic lunch with local cheeses and artisan breads for you to enjoy.

 

 

 

 

Boletus Edulis Cep

We also found lovely Ceps and Jonathan had some lovely Chanterelles for us to enjoy

Our Workshops cater for a maximum of 15 people so, if you would like to come, please book early.

Wild Mushroom Workshops are fun. You can learn about fungi and their beautiful habitat, hopefully enjoy some gourmet wild edible delights and enjoy  good organic food in cheerful surroundings. So, let’s go wild on September 29th!

Our Advanced course will follow on October 6th and 7th for those who already have a basic knowledge of fungi.

Check Killedmond out on Facebook to see where you are going! We are also on Twitter @whiteecotrails

The Fantastic World of Fungi

I don’t mean to be pessimistic but there is a slight shift in the seasons these days. I spotted  the first Beech with turning leaves, blackberries are ripening  in the ditches, Rowan berries are adding colour to our woods and our  swallows are gone. I have never known them leave so early.But this shifting from one season to another is natural and after the summer we have had,perhaps autumn will reward  us with wonderful colour, berries and lovely warm autumn days to ease us  into winter. We have got to be hopeful.

One of the great things about autumn  are fungi. Wonderful edible ones, alarming poisonous ones and those  reminders of our childhood stories, the ones with the red caps and white dots. Deep in the woods they are there. Silent, secretive and endlessly fascinating.

Fly Agaric

 

 

 

 

This Autumn we are holding three separate fungi workshops with Jonathan Spazzi, a renowned fungi expert.

The first will be on Saturday September 15th. 10-4pm;

the second is on September 29th at the same time and for those who already have a basic knowledge of mycology we are holding a two-day advanced course on October 6th and 7th.

Chanterelle

 Cost €45 per person and will include all refreshments and a delicious organic lunch.

The advanced two course is €90 and will include all refreshments and a delicious organic lunch on both days. 

At the end of these workshops a good grounding in nomenclature will have been gained. We will cook up all the edible ones we find, isolate the poisonous and understand the habitat of  fungi in general.

Boletus Edulis – Cep

The advanced two-day course will go into detail of classification, spore prints, genera and further complexities of the fungi world

Maximum number on any of these course is 20.

So book early if you want to  learn more about  fungi or to deepen your knowledge of these most mysterious inhabitants of our broad leaf and coniferous woods.

These are the Days of Miracle and Wonder

Thanks to Paul Simon for that line. But what a day we are having in the Blackstairs. Beautiful sunshine, a soft breeze ruffling the changing Beech trees. Pigeons on the Beech nuts and a Robin singing his lonely little song. We  hear him so clearly now that all the songsters have taken their long flight back to Africa. I know he is a harbinger of winter but on a day like this who cares?

The heavy, heavy rain of a couple of days ago has produced fungi everywhere – great for our next Fungi Forage on October 16th.

I was picking some pears for chutney this morning and everywhere under foot were Woolly Wood Foot fungi, Lots of Lactarius, Sulphur Tufts and Amanitas.  This one below is known as the Blusher.

The Blusher - Amanita Rubescens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hedgerows are bursting with berries; haws, Rose Hips, Blackberries and big fat sloes. Nothing is eating them at the moment, except me ,because none of our winter migrants have arrived. But when they do, hedgerows will be stripped as hungry flocks from Scandanavia devour our outdoor larder.

On the hills the heather is almost gone but the grasses and sedges are turning an incredible russet colour and little splashes of colour from Knapweed dot the lower slopes.

Elderberries for crumble - yum!

 

 

There are crab apples to pick, Sloe Gin to make and Elderberry Crumble to scoff, so “these are the days of miracle and wonder…” Let’s go walking!