FFSC Events Archive

Alan Rockefeller leading a mushroom hunt with Ray Lanier this Sunday, February 9 in Berkeley, California.

We are meeting at noon at the parking lot.

There has been a few days of rain, so there might be some mushrooms. It is not legal to pick mushrooms in the park so this will be a photography only foray.

If you are late, or follow the paths around the lake to the right (Lake Anza Trail), then we will turn right and hunt in the canyon which feeds the lake towards the Berkeley Botanical Gardens.

Many wild mushrooms contain permanent, intensely colored dyes. Join us Saturday, February 1 for a hands-on Mushroom Dye Workshop taught by Alissa Allen. If response is good, we will add another class on Sunday, February 2!

In this 4 hour class, you will learn the simple steps for extracting and harnessing the color-rich pigments found in local mushrooms. Possibilities span the entire spectrum of the rainbow. Cost is $60 for FFSC members, $80 for non-members.

In addition to learning the best local dye fungi and how to extract their colors, participants will learn about specific habitats and the features to look at to help identify mushrooms. Everyone will take home beautiful samples of the yarns dyed in class.

Most activities will be done indoors, so dress in comfortable layers. All supplies will be provided, but there will be a larger community dye pot of yellow and or green dye for a small personal item. Feel free to bring a light weight (1-2oz) un-dyed wool or silk item for the big pot. Un-dyed silk scarves will be available for $5 in class.

Instructor Bio:

Alissa Allen has been experimenting with mushroom derived pigments for 15 years. Raised by a forager in the Pacific Northwest, she has been a student of the natural world her entire life. For the past two years she has been travelling around the US; studying regional habitats and sharing local mushroom dye palettes with fungophiles and fiber artists alike. Mushroom identification is her primary passion, but Mycopigments are her obsession. In addition using mushrooms to dye wool, she is currently exploring lichen dyes and mushroom pigments for paint. You can read more about mushroom dyes on her website http://mycopigments.com/

Mycopigments.com 

Mycopigments on Facebook 

Mushroom Dyers Trading Post

Foray cancelled due to drought in Mendocino!

Looking to spend a weekend hunting mushrooms, working dichotomous keys and sharpening your microscopy skills? With wonderful food cooked by someone who isn't you? Look no further!

The fifth biannual All California Club Foray (ACCF) will be held in January 2014. Chief mycologist Dr. Terry Henkel and two of his grad students from Humboldt State University will assist with taxonomy. This event includes catered meals, comfy lodging, and mushroom hunts in the bountiful Jackson Demonstration State Forest near Mendocino. This foray is open to any current member of a California mushroom club and NAMA members. Cost is $175 per person and includes two nights lodging and all meals from Friday evening through Sunday breakfast.

Pre-registration is required. Registration and detailed information can be found at: http://bayareamushrooms.org/forays/accf_2014.html

oin us for this season’s first Quail Hollow Ranch Foray between Felton and Ben Lomond on January 18th!

For years, the FFSC has led forays in this highly productive and diverse area. Amanitas, Boletes, Chroogomphus, Suillus, Trametes and Tremella have all been found here, just to name a few. While there is no guarantee as to how the low levels of rain fall will affect the kinds of fungi we find this year, it promises to be a beautiful hike through varying types of terrain: Shady Oak groves, grassy fields, Manzanita thickets, and Pine trees. Further within the park, one will find winding Redwood paths and sandstone wall formations that are part of the Sandhill habitat that lies between Ben Lomond and Scotts Valley. The trails vary in difficulty; very flat and easy to somewhat moderate. In addition, we will be wrapping things up with Chef Bob Wynn cooking a mushroom-themed delight for hungry foragers.

Quail Hollow has given us permission to pick within the park but we cannot take anything we pick outside of the park. Parking at the Ranch is very limited so car pooling is recommended, as there is no street parking. Through the efforts of previous foray leader, Adam Ryszka, the FFSC has created a good relationship with park leaders, and we ask that you please respect their requests.

Registration is required if you would like to attend. Please sign up by calling the park at (831) 335-9348. If not answered, leave a message with your information and someone will get back to you. Space will be limited.

Quail Hollow is nestled within the Santa Cruz Mountains, at 800 Quail Hollow Road in Felton. Please see map for a sense of location. Further information about the park and directions can be found on their website: http://www.scparks.com/quail_hollow.html

Hope to see you there!

Cass Fuentes

Minister of Local Forays

Dr. Tom Volk is a Professor of Biology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He teaches courses on Mycology, Medical Mycology, Plant-Microbe Interactions, Food & Industrial Mycology, Advanced Mycology, Organismal Biology and Latin & Greek for Scientists. Tom Volk's Fungi website has a popular "Fungus of the Month" feature, and an extensive introduction to the Kingdom Fungi. Besides dabbling in mushroom cultivation, Tom has worked on the genera Morchella (morels), Cantharellus (chanterelles), Hydnellum (a tooth fungus), Armillaria (honey mushrooms) and Laetiporus (chicken of the woods, or sulfur shelf), as well as several medical mycology projects, prairie mycorrhizae, mycoprospecting, and fungi involved in coal formation. He also has conducted fungal biodiversity studies in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Alaska, and Israel. Having lectured in 36 states so far, Tom is a popular speaker at many amateur and professional mycological events throughout North America, including many NAMA and NEMF forays.

The Scout House entrance is next to the BBQ area. See you there!

Help us keep the Fun in Fungus - come celebrate 40 years of Fungus Fairs! We're celebrating in Room 3 at Louden Nelson Community Center Saturday, January 11th with food, music and, of course, mushrooms.

Get your tickets early, as we anticipate high demand!

Music

• DJ Zachary Mazi and “The Helvella Experience” presented by DJ Critical Cass

• The Soft White Sixties

Food and Drink

By Chef Bob Wynn of Bob & Doreen's, the Penny Ice Creamery and Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard

• Trumpet Pasta with Shitake, Porcini, and Crimini Mushrooms in Cream Sauce $5.00

• Porcini and Shitake Mushroom Quinoa Soup $4.00

• Organic Micro-Green Salad with Truffle Oil Vingarette $3.00

• New York Cheesecake with Candy Cap Glaze $4.00

• Candycap Cookies - $1.00

• Soda, Tea, and Coffee - $1.00 each

• Your favorite Penny Ice Creamery flavors & Candy Cap Ice Cream - $3.75 per scoop

• Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard wines - $5.00 per glass

Admission

$20.00, payable in advance or at the door

Follow link to purchase tickets; options include purchase by check.

Join us for the 3rd Annual After-Hours Mushroom Dinner! This over-the-top event features a catered dinner, world-class wines and live music.

The meal will be catered by Eric Carter of Cabrillo College, Director of Pino Alto Restaurant at the historic Sesnon House.

Wine will be poured by Eric Baugher, Winemaker at Ridge Vineyards' Montebello Winery. Ridge has been producing exceptional single-vineyard wines since 1962.

We are delighted to introduce the enchanting World Music of Fernando Lezama and his Latin Jazz Band sound!

Joining in on the fun are mycologists Christian Schwarz and Noah Siegel, who will answer your questions about mushrooms and lead private tours of the Fungus Fair mushroom displays. What better way to see it all without the daytime crowds?

Menu

Stay tuned - it will be posted as soon as it's final!

$75.00 Members

$80.00 Non-Members

Tax and Gratuity Included

A list of paid reservations will be kept at the door.

Learn about our Holiday Potluck.

Learn about this event on our Albion Long-Distance Forays page.

CLASS SERIES FULL — check for another series in the spring!

Prior to the program presentation, Yev Nyden will be giving an on-screen walk though of the 2013 version of our website at http://ffsc.us. This is a great opportunity to learn about the useful features of the new site.

Our main program features FFSC Ministers Justin Pierce and Cassandra Fuentes, who recently attended the North American Mycological Association foray held in the Arkansas Ozarks with assistance from the FFSC educational fund. They will present highlights of the foray. Come see what it's all about! NAMA holds annual forays in diverse locales throughout North America. A list of past foray locations can be found at http://www.namyco.org/about/forays.html