I and friends used to pick mushrooms all the time. Just field mushrooms. We knew the big yellow mushies in the pine forests were edible but we weren’t confident to pick them. Some local Italians used to.
I know someone who runs foraging courses, including mushrooming. There is a rhyme to help remember what to avoid. Of course I can’t recall the whole thing right now.
Same! As kids we used to collect them from the horse paddock nearby, and only the ones with pink or brown underneath. We never got the ones that were any different to that. Very glad I didn’t accidentally poison the whole family, though.
There are currently big yellow ones in my front yard which the snails or slugs seem to love
Yes. Still do when I can. However, the big white ones that spring up in people’s lawns have 2 different sorts - one is edible & delicious. The other sort looks identical, but if you lightly score the white top with a fingernail and the mark turns yellow, they may give you a tummyache but won’t kill you. The yellow staining ones have a mild toxin that really upsets some people’s stomachs, but doesn’t affect others. I know a few spots that are reliable for goldtops too, but don’t always get there before the locals.
Following the trial.
Who here has gone mushrooming?
I and friends used to pick mushrooms all the time. Just field mushrooms. We knew the big yellow mushies in the pine forests were edible but we weren’t confident to pick them. Some local Italians used to.
I haven’t, but enjoy seeing when people do!
I know someone who runs foraging courses, including mushrooming. There is a rhyme to help remember what to avoid. Of course I can’t recall the whole thing right now.
My dad used to and we never touched what he picked.
Same! As kids we used to collect them from the horse paddock nearby, and only the ones with pink or brown underneath. We never got the ones that were any different to that. Very glad I didn’t accidentally poison the whole family, though.
There are currently big yellow ones in my front yard which the snails or slugs seem to love
Yes. Still do when I can. However, the big white ones that spring up in people’s lawns have 2 different sorts - one is edible & delicious. The other sort looks identical, but if you lightly score the white top with a fingernail and the mark turns yellow, they may give you a tummyache but won’t kill you. The yellow staining ones have a mild toxin that really upsets some people’s stomachs, but doesn’t affect others. I know a few spots that are reliable for goldtops too, but don’t always get there before the locals.
I have. For the magical variety lol
I used to like looking at them on walks but never dared to pick any for consumption. That’s a specialist skill and a high cost to being wrong.
I did once grow some of a safe variety from mycelium though (grow kit).