News & Stories / Writings FFSC 2026 Ministers Elections-Results Welcome our new slate of FFSC ministers elected at May 19, 2026 general meeting. Dan Tischler • May 20, 2026 Porcini and Coccora invited to dinner-photo by Dan Tischler We have a new slate of ministers with some new faces and veteran FFSC ministers. You can view the list at https://www.ffsc.us/info/ffsc-ministers . When you get a chance please welcome the new ministers and thank outgoing ministers for all their hard work. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

FFSC News & Stories Field reports, member stories, and mushroom-related news, from newest to oldest. (Visit FFSC Events for upcoming club activities.) Cookeina tricholoma (Mont.) Kuntze (2014, Yukatan). Photo by Yev Nyden More Finds Featured Fungi Mushroom Photos Recipes Events of 11 pages Go Go Go Go Go More Finds Featured Fungi Mushroom Photos Events Recipes Stewardship FFSC News March 10, 2026 FFSC Bylaws 2026 Revision We are revising our club bylaws. FFSC members are encouraged to review the changes before the April 2026 members meeting. Category Writings FFSC News May 20, 2026 FFSC 2026 Ministers Elections-Results Welcome our new slate of FFSC ministers elected at May 19, 2026 general meeting. Category Fair News FFSC News January 20, 2026 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair: Our Mission in Action The Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz exists to expand the understanding and appreciation of mycology through education; and to assist the public, institutions, and partner organizations in advancing that goal--and keeping the FUN in fungi. The 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair brought all of these groups together to make high-quality mycological education accessible to thousands of people, while producing real scientific output and supporting local arts, culture and economic development. Category Writings FFSC News November 10, 2025 How I Spent My Summer Vacation I officially retired in Oct 2024 and after the end of our club season this year, I suddenly had more time to go foraging. Category Field Reports FFSC News November 1, 2025 Field Report - Nov 2025 Local Foray After scant fall rains, about 30 inquisitive fungiphiles met on a Saturday morning to see what might be popping up in our local fields and forests. Category Mycology & Art News FFSC News July 20, 2025 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Logo Design Contest 2026 Calling all artists! Submit your entries for the 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair logo design contest! The deadline is 10pm on August 18, 2026. The winning logo will be used on the official Fair T-Shirts, posters and other materials. The Grand Prize is $500 plus other perks! Category of 11 pages Go Go Go Go Go Filter by Category Fair News Field Reports Mycology & Art News Stewardship Writings Reset

Learn about mushrooms, both deadly and delicious, at the 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair, brought to you by the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. View hundreds of regional species, have your mushroom finds identified, and explore the secrets of the fungal kingdom. Mushrooms fascinate us! They're ubiquitous and mysterious, delicious and sometimes deadly. They're among the oldest living things on earth. Excited to learn more? You might be a fungiphile! Learn About Fungi Explore the world of fungi! Join us as we hunt mushrooms for scientific interest and for the table. Learn to create art with fungi. Spend time outdoors and share your fungi finds with friends! Upcoming Events Keep the "fun" in fungus! Our mission is to foster and expand the understanding and appreciation of mycology among our members and the general public. And to always keep the “fun” in fungus! Why Join FFSC Previous Next Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz "An eating and drinking club with a mushroom problem" -- Henry Young January 9-11, 2026 Santa Cruz, CA Thanks for visiting! Fungus Fair Fungus Fair Fungus Fair Fungus Fair The 2026 Santa Cruz Upcoming FFSC Events August 29, 2026 at 3:00 PM – September 6, 2026 at 11:00 AM Alaska Long-Distance Foray, September 2026 Save the date for our fantastic journey in Alaska! Explore the Alaskan Kenai peninsula and be amazed by the wildlife, fjords, glaciers and of course mushrooms. September 15, 2026, 6:00 – 9:00 PM September Speaker | Liv Fragiacomo : Organic Strawberries - Bio Alternatives to Plastic Join us for our first monthly speaker of the 2026-2027 season! October 20, 2026, 6:00 – 9:00 PM October Speaker | Save the Date : Details TBD Check back at the beginning of the season to learn about our October monthly speaker. Explore All Events Recent News & Stories More Articles Dan Tischler March 10, 2026 at 7:00:00 AM FFSC Bylaws 2026 Revision We are revising our club bylaws. FFSC members are encouraged to review the changes before the April 2026 members meeting. Pinned to top Dan Tischler May 20, 2026 at 7:11:16 PM FFSC 2026 Ministers Elections-Results Welcome our new slate of FFSC ministers elected at May 19, 2026 general meeting. Pinned to top Peter Mu January 20, 2026 at 8:00:00 AM 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair: Our Mission in Action The Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz exists to expand the understanding and appreciation of mycology through education; and to assist the public, institutions, and partner organizations in advancing that goal--and keeping the FUN in fungi. The 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair brought all of these groups together to make high-quality mycological education accessible to thousands of people, while producing real scientific output and supporting local arts, culture and economic development. Pinned to top Join Our Indoor and Outdoor Activities We get together from September through May to learn and share knowledge about mushrooms, while having fun! Monthly talks from mycologists and enthusiasts that inspire and educate. Peruse mushrooms that people bring in, and enjoy refreshments. FREE and open to the public. Monthly Speakers From tailgate tastings and potlucks to chef dinners, our foodie fun events are scattered throughout the year. Potlucks & Chef Dinners Join local forays in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay areas. Learn while exploring our local woods and fields with like-minded people. Local Forays Long-distance forays are overnight (or longer) trips farther afield. They carry the allure of new fungal finds, amazing culinary pleasures, and collaborative education adventure. Long-Distance Forays Gain more knowledge and hands-on experience with mushroom ID and mycology. (Some classes are for FFSC members only.) ID Classes & Workshops Explore hundreds of wild species, both deadly and delicious. Create mushroom crafts--fun for all ages! Visit vendors and sample delicious mushroomy treats. Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Join our club for only $25 per household! Why Join FFSC? Online Resources The safest way to learn about mushrooms is to hunt and identify mushrooms with knowledgable people in person. In addition, here are some field guildes, recipes, and other resources that can help you build your knowlede. Stay safe, and have fun learning! Featured Fungi Get background intel on mushrooms you may encounter in your wanderings. Myco Art Mushroom photography, and making art with or inspired by mushrooms. Field Reports Foray stories and species we found. (Available to FFSC members only.) Mushroom Recipes Recipes with mushrooms, and complementary dishes. Try them at home or for an FFSC potluck! Culinary Techniques Bring out the flavors of your edible finds by cleaning and storing them properly Online Learning Advice and self-challenges to build your skills. Scholarships Scholarship opportunities for students, non-profits, and FFSC members studying fungi. What We're Reading Browse our selection of books and articles on mycology. Follow @scfungusfed on Instagram Load more

Contact FFSC Got questions? Here are ways to connect in person, by email, on social media, and more. Science advisors Phil and Thea helping people ID their mushrooms FFSC Mailing Address PO Box 82, Santa Cruz, CA 95063-0082 How to Reach Us in Person You're welcome to talk to us in person at our free Monthly Speaker & Social at the Santa Cruz Live Oak Grange, or any of our other upcoming events . Many FFSC events are open to the public. Join Our Online Conversations Our members and community connect and share online in a few ways: Our Facebook group FFSC on Instagram ( @scfungusfed ) FFSC on YouTube ( @ffscmedia ) The FFSC projects on iNaturalist Our community mailing list (a Google Group). See the FAQs below for links and details on how to subscribe. FAQs What is included in a Household Membership? A single household membership covers two adults and minor children. Membership entitles your household to additional details on this website, access to members-only events, and more. See our Why Join FFSC? page for details and membership FAQs. What is the FFSC Google Group mailing list, and why would I join it? Google provides a Groups feature, which allows you to join a group and to share information in files and by email. Anyone in the FFSC Google Group can announce upcoming mushroom-related events, share photos of mushrooms and FFSC events, send and answer mushroom ID requests, and have other group conversations via email. (SPAM is not permitted, of course.) If you choose not to join FFSC's Google Group mailing list, you can still find out about most FFSC events on this website, and you can use the form below to submit mushroom ID requests. How do I join the FFSC Google Group mailing list? Go to https://groups.google.com/g/ffsc and request to join the group. You'll need to sign in with your Google account (see the next question below). We'll usually add you to the mailing list within a few days. What is a Google account? Do I need a "gmail.com" email address? You can create a Google account with any email address. You don't need a Gmail address to have a Google account. (That said, if you already have a Gmail address, then you already have a Google account!) If you don't have a Google account, you can either: Create a Google account with a new Gmail address ; or Use your own email to create a Google account . (For more info about this option, see " Use an existing email address " on the Google Support website .) I joined the Google Group mailing list. Why can't I login or send email to it? If your request was approved a while ago, but you haven't been receiving emails or you can't login to the Group , double-check which email you used when you joined the Google Group. (It might be different from the email you used for your FFSC club membership and this website.) Still stuck? Use the form below and choose “FFSC Google Group issue” as the area of interest, so we can help you figure it out. I have a problem with my account Check our FFSC Account FAQs for a few common questions. If you still need help, use the form below. I need help identifying a mushroom We're happy to help! Here are some options: Bring your specimen to one of our in-person events (our monthly speaker events are free and open to the public)! Join our Google Group (see the answers above) and describe your mushroom there. (Review Photography for ID Purposes before submitting ID photos to the Google Group, and treat all ID answers as suggestions for your own research; not as definitive identifications of what is safe to eat.) Try the California Mushroom Identification Forum (on Facebook), iNaturalist , or MushroomObserver . Why can't I submit a mushroom ID request here? To accurately identify a mushroom, someone needs to smell it, feel it, taste it, hear or sense how it breaks, evaluate a spore print, and in some cases run chemical or other tests on it. If you can't bring a mushroom in person, the next best option is to use an online forum where others can guide your verification process. Got More Questions? If you have a question about a specific event, see that event’s page (or the email you received when you bought your ticket) for the best way to contact the coordinators. For general questions about FFSC, or if you're having issues with your club membership, feel free to contact us by using the form below. Contact Us First name* Last name Email* Topic Area (choose one)* Mushroom ID request FFSC Membership FFSC Google Group FFSC Hotline Speaker / interview invite FFSC event FFSC Website issue Fungus Fair Vendor Scholarship application Other Message Subject* Message* Submit

FFSC History In the Fall of 1984, 20 people attended the first meeting of the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz. The club was founded to make learning about wild mushrooms interesting to both science oriented and curious naturalists alike, and above all to make the hunt and ID fun for everyone and their families. First Duff Illustration Spores The Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz (FFSC) was founded by David Arora in 1984. There were two Fungus Federations before ours, one in Pasadena, CA and one at University of California Santa Cruz. First newsletter and invitation to join FFSC The idea to form a mushroom club in Santa Cruz grew out of David's fungus fairs held at the Santa Cruz Natural History Museum (1974), Sanborn Park in Saratoga, CA, and Coyote Point in the San Francisco Bay Area. These fairs were well attended by curious members of the public, encouraged by the museums as a public event. Requests by interested persons for more information led to classes on taxonomy, field trips, and eventually his published field guide Mushrooms Demystified. (Which came to be known among FFSC members as "the Bible".) Hyphae David Arora drew interested parties from the rosters of his classes, and his fellow fungifiles in Santa Cruz, to discuss the formation of a club and to see who among them would be willing to participate in such a venture. They would hold monthly meetings during the mushroom season to discuss fungi appearing that month, have general identification discussions, speakers, and have group forays to local areas to gather mushrooms and learn about habitat. The club would also be responsible for gathering mushrooms for the Fungus Fair. The club's first newsletter in 1984 would be entitled The Federation Flyer , renamed to Ascus the following month, and to Duff a year later. Not everyone was enthusiastic about local forays. Fearing they might lose the secrecy of their hunting spots. Nevertheless, in the Fall of 1984 the first meeting of the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz was held at the Natural History Museum and was attended by about 20 people. Officers were appointed and volunteers accepted to run the organization with a $25.00 annual membership fee. David named the officers "Ministers" to keep everyone from taking themselves too seriously. Among those in attendance were: Luen Miller, Newsletter editor and Mushroom of the Month writer; Bob Sellers, Foray leader and newsletter contributor; Craig Mitchell, membership; Ed Aguilar, Long Distance foray leader; Joe DeSmet, Treasurer and Non-profit organizer; Bo Heinricks, writer; Lia Matera, author of Mushroom Mystery books; Shea Moss, Culinary Coordinator; Jerry Moss, member; Anne, member; Joy Churchman, member; Bill McGuire, member; John Anderson, Museum Director; Patricia, head of museum volunteers, and David Arora, Founder. The underlying purpose of the club was to make learning about wild mushrooms interesting to both science oriented and curious naturalists alike, and above all to make the hunt and ID fun for everyone including their families. Announcement of the 1984 Fungus Fair in Ascus newsletter The first FFSC-sponsored Fungus Fair was held at the Santa Cruz City Museum (now the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History) and was attended by record crowds. Club members now swollen to 50 and their families were enlisted to hunt in organized forays the week prior to the fair. Volunteers turned the museum into a sylvan forest using local materials, and filled baskets with mushrooms identified and tagged so onlookers could compare them to what they might see while walking in the woods or their backyards. Books on fungi, t-shirts and aprons were sold. Miriam Rice gave a demonstration of mushroom dyes. Chanterelle soup and CandyCap cookies were available for sale to pique the interest of those on the fringe of "why hunt wild mushrooms?" And The FFSC was on its way. It was not long before the Natural History Museum could no longer hold all the people who were drawn to the Fungus Fair. 1998 Fungus Fair Recap in the Duff newsletter In 1998, the Fair was held at Harvey West Park, with great success. In 1999, the new location became the Loudon Nelson Community Center (now corrected to Lo n don Nelson) in downtown Santa Cruz. A large auditorium was available to house the Fair, and 5 classrooms were available to provide space for speakers, vendors, and a kids room, and a cafeteria to hold a sold out "After hours dinner" on Friday night. Mycelium The FFSC has gained recognition as a major player in mycological organizations in North America, Mexico, and Europe. Phil Carpenter, who joined in 1984, continues to teach Mushroom ID workshops, which garner both scientific and culinary interest and routinely sell out. One of our members, Christian Schwartz, a Mycologist at University of California Santa Cruz, put forward a proposal for a new documented library of species identification with DNA testing and the FFSC embraced it. We reached out to the North American Mycological Association to include other mushroom clubs to help with the funding and to contribute fungus species. A scholarship program for university students interested in pursuing the study of fungi was instituted in the late 90s. "Fungus Fair postponed due to good weather" --Calendar page from 1987 Duff Since 1984, the paid membership has grown from 20 to over 425 family and individual memberships. Each year there are more forays, events, and speakers. Numerous local forays are held for members and the general public weekly during the season. Long Distance forays to the Sierra, Mendocino, Sonoma County, and Alaska are held in Fall, Spring, and Summer. The Duff newsletter evolved from print to PDF, and then to an earlier version of this website. In 1998 the FFSC sponsored the North American Mycological Association foray at Asilomar. 500+ Guests from all mushroom clubs in North America attended. Member dinners and parties included: The Holiday Potluck in December, Celebrity Chef pop up dinners, the Friday night After Hours Dinner after the Fair, Wine and Mushroom Dinner, and the Continental Beer Picnic (now called Suds & 'Shrooms). All long distance forays included a potluck dinner -- whether camping or staying in lodging. We published the final Duff newsletter in May 2013, and published all content online thereafter. In January 2024 we celebrated the 50th Fungus Fair in Santa Cruz. This was the 37th fair organized by the FFSC—each succeeding fair drawing more people than the last. Nearly 6,000 paying guests were noted at the 2024 Fungus Fair. This count did not include children under 12, who were admitted free of charge, or the school classes and seniors admitted for free to the Friday afternoon opening of the 50th Fair. 2025 Fungus Fair Volunteers. Photo by Peter Mu The attitude fostered by the FFSC is "Keeping the fun in fungus". We know each other. We help each other learn and include one and all into our fold. We work hard, we play hard. Many enduring friendships have evolved. Lifelong partnerships, weddings etc, are common. Science, the Hunt, the food and wine are all part of the package. One visiting mycologist from out of State attended a party with me after an exhausting day at the fair. He was greeted with hugs and acceptance by all. He remarked in awe, "This is not just any mushroom club, you are all friends." When it rains it spores! Shea Moss Members Only Content Login Join FFSC

FFSC Ministers Ministers?? To be sure, but in a political rather than a religious sense. Think Prime Minister or Minister of the Exchequer. We have both, and many more ministers, on our board. Winter Chanterelles Bunch. Photo by Yevgeny Nyden FFSC took its name and structure using the “Federation of Planets” model. Instead of a president, vice president, etc, we have a board of Ministers and subcommittees who volunteer their time to plan and run classes, forays, culinary events and other activities to implement our mission. Collage of some current and past FFSC ministers- Its really time to update this photo! FFSC Ministers are a hard-working group of volunteers who plan and run FFSC activities aligned with our mission. Members elect or re-elect ministers every 2 years in May. To get a sense of what is entailed in these positions, see our FFSC Bylaws . The group meets monthly from September through May at 7 PM on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. We're an eating and drinking club, so of course the evening begins at 6 PM with a potluck (often with wine) and social hour! Visit Food and Fun to confirm when the next minister potluck will be held. After dinner, we circle up to discuss and vote on current and future business and to plan forays, classes, and other club activities. Some of the minister duties are quite involved, so each minister may also have a sub-committee of members to help them. If you're an FFSC member, consider volunteering to help a minister! It's is a great way to get involved with the club, learn more, gain leadership experience, and potentially become an FFSC minister yourself one day! Current Ministers Here is the current slate of ministers elected in May 2026: Prime Minister: Vellany Pierce Vice Prime Minister: Peter Mu Scribe: Nerissa Wong-VanHaren Minister of Programs: Peter Mu Minister of Exchequer: Michelle Kinney Ministers of Membership: Richard Rammer Ministers of Propaganda: Suhani Saraswat Minister of Local Forays: Vega Bluem Minister of Long Distance Forays: Kitty Elvin Science Advisors: Phil Carpenter, Christian Schwarz, and Henry Young Minister of Stores: Andrea Wilson Minister of Culinary Events: Bob Wynn Ministers of Web: Lisa Tesler Minister of Education: Richard Rammer Ministers at Large: Dan Tischler and Lisa VanBuhler Fungus Fair Coordinator: Peter Mu North American Mycological Association (NAMA) Representative: Phil Carpenter New ministers elected 2026 Members Only Content Login Join FFSC

"Mushrooms Demystified" © David Arora What We're Reading Over the years we've collected a library of books, articles, and other educational resources. We've started to list a few of them here, and we'll add more as time goes by. Field Guides We Use Here's a list of field guides and other mycology books and articles that FFSC uses for our classes and/or shares through our member library. We offer some of these books at or near cost at the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair . They're also available through various book retailers and the original publishers. Mushrooms Demystified , by David Arora All That the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms , by David Arora Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast , by Noah Siegel and Christian Schwarz Mushrooms of Cascadia , by Christian Schwarz and Noah Siegel More Resources Mushroom Dye Resources : Books and articles suggested by our members who dye fabrics with mushroom pigments. NAMA Book Reviews : A reading list by the North American Mycological Association

Mushrooms have sparked all sorts of creative works, leading to some fantastic art depicting mushrooms, and in some cases using mushrooms as part of the craft. Artists love to play around with the cool shapes, colors, and textures that mushrooms offer. Mushroom Photography Lentinus (Polyporus) arcularius. Photo by Cathy Welch Mushrooms are fun to photograph, due to their intricate details and variety of forms. They can also be challenging to capture when they grow in dark and/or hard-to-reach places--especially when your photography setup is minimal (to make room for carrying your collecting gear!). Photographers love to capture mushrooms from different points of view: Fruiting in habitat: Beauty shots, specimen studies, and quick snaps of mushrooms in forests, fields, and lawns show them off in their natural habitat. Browse our Mushroom Photo Gallery for some examples. Macro and microscopic photos: Close-ups that highlight the tiny details of mushroom caps, textures, spores and structures. We occasionally post examples on this website, such as in our free FFSC Online Learning programs, and you can browse the Web for thousands more! Life cycle changes: Some people document how mushrooms change through their life cycles, and/or how patches change across seasons. Check out this Time Lapsed Laetiporous article in our News section for an example. If you have an interesting life cycle series to share with us, let us know! Mushroom-Themed Art and Crafts If you're looking at this website, you might already have a few of these in your closet or cupboard or on your walls! Crafts: Some of us depect our favorite mushrooms in pottery and tiles, glass, clothing and jewelry, gift cards and stickers, wall hangings and more. Paintings: Artists paint mushrooms, depicting them in the wild or reimagined in abstract ways. Sculptures: Some talented folks craft mushrooms in 3D, using clay, wood, glass, or metal. Illustration : Check out the beautiful mushroom-themed illustrations we've commissioned for our Santa Cruz Fungus Fairs in our Fungus Fair Posters archive. Explore the works of local artisans in the vendor areas of the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair for some examples. Mushroom-Based Pigments Besides looking cool in artwork, mushrooms are also a wonderful source of natural pigments for creating art. Eco-Friendly Dyes: Mushroom dyes are a green alternative to synthetic ones, perfect for eco-conscious creators. Unique Color Palettes: Different kinds of mushrooms create a range of colors, from earthy browns to bright reds and yellows. Textile Techniques: Artists use various dyeing methods, like immersion or tie-dyeing, to create unique patterns and effects on fabrics. Browse our Arts menu for links to more information and some tips on how to get started with with mushroom dyes. Or visit the Craft Room at our annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair and volunteers will show you how! (Or, if you already have experience with this art form, you can become a Fair volunteer and help others learn, too!) Craft room at the 47th FFSC Fungus Fair (2024). Photo by Hugh Smith Mushroom dyed silk at the 44th Fungus Fair. Photo by Hugh Smith (cropped) Myco Art Some people come for the food; some are driven by an interest in the science; and some come for the sheer beauty and/or bizarreness of certain mushrooms. If you're in the latter camp (or have toes in each), we have you covered!

Mycology students are welcome to submit applications for funding for specific projects, classes or assistance. If you're an FFSC member who needs financial assistance to take special mycology classes or outside workshops, or to attend regional or national forays, you can also submit an application for assistance. Scholarship information and application forms for larger and smaller scholarships can be found in the PDF document below. Those applying for smaller grants (books, microscopes, workshops) do not need to fill in the "Education" section of the form. Apply for a Scholarship FFSC Scholarship Application .pdf Download PDF • 321KB To submit your request: Online : Use the Contact form at the bottom of the Contact FFSC page, choose "Scholarship Application" and then upload your PDF. Paper Copy : Mail your completed application to: Attn: FFSC Education Minister PO Box 82 Santa Cruz, CA 95063-0082 Past Funding Recipients Quotes from a couple of our past scholarship recipients: Julien Pometta Julien Pometta "I received my scholarship during my sophomore year of college at UC Santa Cruz. I applied for it because I was starting a project that attempted to capture a snapshot of the macrofungal diversity within the UCSC Arboretum. I documented observations on iNaturalist, collected specimens that are stored at the Norris Center for Natural History on campus, and even managed to sequence 25 of those specimens. At the end of the project, I compiled my findings into a book, Mushrooms of the UCSC Arboretum, An Annotated Checklist , which also served as my senior exit requirement for my major. "The scholarship made working on this project much more accessible; I was able to purchase the necessary equipment to properly collect specimens and towards the end, it helped cover the costs of publishing and printing copies of my book. Aside from the financial aid of the scholarship, it made me feel encouraged about my project at a time when I was still figuring out how I would get everything done. I am very grateful that I was able to pursue a project like this during college, the experience it gave me applies to many different types of environmental jobs. The sequencing experience helped me land at my current job where I work as a lab technician in a molecular ecology lab at UCSC." Peter Vahlberg Peter Vahlberg "I am happily studying Computer Science at Gonzaga University, and I’m hoping to get a PhD in a similar area of study. Despite my interest in technology, I’m still captivated by the world of fungi, and most other kinds of nature. Getting the scholarship meant a lot to me, particularly because it meant that I was taken seriously at a relatively young age. I feel like I was able to contribute something real to science, and I learned a lot from it. Just the other day I spied a Coprinellus (the genus that I studied) while driving, and I just had to go and see it." FFSC's mission statement also includes an outreach to the community here in Santa Cruz. To this end we are exploring the purchase of mycology books to be donated to the Santa Cruz Public Library; and we periodically donate resources to the library at UCSC. We also helped to fund their herbarium and several different fungal studies. "Now that's a hedgehog". Credit: Unknown Scholarships To aid in promoting education about mycology, we offer full and partial scholarships to members needing financial aid or who express a deep interest in mycology; students pursuing an interest in fungi; and local educational institutions.

Come to the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair to learn fascinating and fun facts about beautiful and diverse species of mushrooms! View remarkable mushroom arts and crafts, taste unusual and exceptionally good fungal fare, and experience FFSC's overriding mission: "We keep the fun in fungus!" Fungus Fair Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Fungus Fair General Information Did you know that without fungus, we’d have no bread, cheese, beer, or wine? Or that anti-cholesterol medicine was developed from mushrooms? Come to the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair to learn fascinating and fun facts about beautiful and diverse species of mushrooms! View remarkable mushroom arts and crafts, taste unusual and exceptionally good fungal fare, and experience FFSC's overriding mission : "We keep the fun in fun gus!" This unique Santa Cruz area tradition draws thousands of visitors each year. A Forest of Fungi One of the highlights of the fair is the Great Hall, where visitors explore the shapes and scents of wild mushrooms in a recreated woodland habitat. Fair volunteers collect hundreds of species of local fungi in the days leading up to the Fair, and carefully identify and label each one. Science advisors and experienced FFSC members are available to answer questions about the mushroom exhibits throughout the event, and to identify any wild mushrooms you’ve found yourself. Found a mushroom but can't bring it with you? Visit our Photography for ID Purposes page for tips on taking photos that will help us answer your "what is this?" question. Expert Speakers Nationally and locally renowned speakers present talks on a wide variety of topics each year. Sessions sometimes also include short hands-on workshops. Many talks are FREE with your purchase of a Fair Admission ticket, and you can also purchase tickets to larger sessions (Room 3 headliner talks) for a modest additional fee. Check out the schedule of speakers for the 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair. Make, Eat, and Shop Create fun mushroom art, sample gourmet foods made with mushrooms, and take home beautiful mushroom-themed crafts, books, and more. Create your own mushroom art at the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair! Try dyeing fabric swatches, get your face painted and more. Fun for all ages! Make Fungi Art Tasty food, beautiful artwork, mushroom-dyed silks, jewelry and more can be found throughout the venue. Vendor Areas Presented By The Santa Cruz Fungus Fair is organized by the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz The Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz actively promotes the study of mushrooms, and is dedicated to encouraging an avid interest in the fungal kingdom. We hunt mushrooms for scientific interest and for the table. We encourage a sense of wonder with regard to one of the least understood segments of our global environment. We are fungiphiles, and you just might be one, too! See our mission page and member benefits for more information about FFSC. Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors. It was the first museum in Santa Cruz, dating back to 1905 with the founding collection of Santa Cruz lighthouse keeper and naturalist, Laura Hecox. The museum has been connecting people to the wonders of nature for over 100 years. The museum served as one of the original locations of the annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair. See the museum's About page for more information about its mission.

Media and Publicity If you're a member of the press or just looking for news about the Fungus Fair, we've collected useful info for you below. Fungus Fair Logo Artwork Members of the press are welcome to download and use these Santa Cruz Fungus Fair art files for publication. Please credit the artists and copyright holders. 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Logo This year we held a logo design contest focusing on “Underground Wonders: Secrets of the Fungal Kingdom” as the 2026 Fair theme. The winning design was created by Viel Xander Olaguera (@vxolaguera) from Torrance, CA. The logo will be used on this year's T-shirts, posters, and postcards. Plus, several of the other contest entries will be on display during the Fair. The 2026 logo uses the concept of “wood wide web” to emphasize the underground network of fungi that connects our world's plants. The design portrays the following California fungi, selected for their different features (from left to right and down): Zombie-ant fungus ( Ophiocordyceps unilateralis ), growing from its host carpenter ant A lobster mushroom ( Hypomyces lactifluorum ), a parasitic fungus best known as an edible delicacy and for dyeing textiles A King Bolete ( Boletus edulis ), better-known in grocery stores and restaurants as "porcini" Honey fungus ( Armillaria mellea ), a plant pathogen known to arborists as "oak root rot," to the curious for its bioluminescent mycelium, and to others for its subtle nutty and sweet flavor A death cap ( Amanita phalloides ), one of the most poisonous fungi in the world Mycelium, as the "wood wide web" Inspired by the bioluminescence of honey fungus mycelium, the logo on this year's Fungus Fair T-shirt will also glow in the dark! If you use the 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair logo in publications, please include these credits near the image: Artist: Viel Xander Olaguera © Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz Logo You are welcome to include the FFSC logo in news articles, and visit the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History's website for their logo. Example of FFSC Logo Downloads FFSC logo, with full name FFSC-logo-full-transparent_2x .png Download PNG • 845KB FFSC logo, acronym only ffsc-logo-circle-only-transp .png Download PNG • 330KB FFSC logo SVG (small) .svg Download SVG • 201KB 2026 Fungus Fair Poster and Postcard Vector Images (PDF) If you use the poster or postcard images, please include these credits near the image: Logo Artist: Viel Xander Olaguera Poster Layout : Lynn Piquett © Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz 2026 Fair Postcard and Poster .pdf Download PDF • 2.12MB Past Fungus Fair Photos for Publication 301 Center St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA Feel free to download and use any of the images on this page for your articles in conjunction with the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair. We ask that you please credit the photographers. Thanks! Past Fungus Fair Posters Check out some of our past Santa Cruz Fungus Fair poster artwork too! Fungus Fair Poster Archive History of the Fungus Fair The Fungus Fair originated in 1974 at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, led by the efforts of David Arora, who went on to write “ All That the Rain Promises and More ” and “ Mushrooms Demystified ”, which is widely considered to be one of the best and most comprehensive mushroom guidebooks available. As the Fungus Fair grew, it found new homes throughout the county, including Harvey West Park and London Nelson Community Center. During the pandemic years of 2021-2023, the Fair took on new forms, as the Virtual and Outdoor Fair with a full week of live video lectures plus two weekends of small group, expert guided forays, and the Mini Fungus Fair held at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. In January of 2024 the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz partnered again with the Santa Cruz Natural History Museum to bring the Fungus Fair triumphantly back to the London Nelson Community Center, celebrating the 50th anniversary with our largest event ever. The 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair will be the 39th Fungus Fair organized by the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz. Visit the FFSC History page for more about the origins of the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair. The Great Hall, at the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Press Releases and News 2026 Fair Press Release and Contacts 2026 Fungus Fair_Press Release .pdf Download PDF • 495KB Santa Cruz Fungus Fair in the News On the FFSC Website Fungus Fair News Past News about the Fungus Fair Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz hosts 51st Fungi Fair, KAZU Santa Cruz Fungus Fair returns to the London Nelson Center , Santa Cruz Sentinel The 50th Anniversary Fungus Fair brings mushroom mania to Santa Cruz , KAZU Fungus are Among Us , Palo Alto Online 46th annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair , KSBW Past Fungus Fair Videos Visit the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz YouTube channel (@ffscmedia) for more videos.

Featured Fungi Ready to get into the woods? Browse our list of featured fungi for tips and intel from our science advisors, ID specialists, and experienced foragers and learn about some of the common and not-so-common mushroom species you might encounter in the wild. Fort Bragg, 2021. Photo by Hugh Smith We hunt mushrooms for study, for their beauty and/or strangeness, and in some cases for the table. The pages and stories our members provide on this website are not intended for you to use as an ID guide for edible mushrooms. You must must be qualified to positively identify every individual mushroom in your collection as an edible species before eating it. Remember: "When in doubt, throw it out!" When collecting fungi for the table: Learn how to use a formally published field guide correctly. Get help from ID specialists to verify the identity of mushrooms you're still learning to identify. Don't assume nearby or look-alike mushrooms are the same species. Identify every single specimen. If you live in the Bay Area, you can join the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz or a related mycological club to gain more skills. For example, in FFSC's mushroom ID classes you will learn how to use and then practice using the classic field guide Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora, with a science advisor available to confirm/correct your ID attempts. On our local forays and long-distance forays , our science advisors and experienced members can also help you identify mushrooms you've collected. You're also welcome to bring mushrooms you've found to any of our events. Here are a few other useful resources about eating mushrooms The Mycophagist's Ten Commandments Mushroom Poisoning Potluck Essentials What We're Reading (field guides and more) Get intel about some of our favorite mushrooms below, and check out our Fungi Photo Gallery for some of our favorite photos! Filter by Mushroom Close A Bolete by Any Other Name... ... Many mushrooms we see in our local woods now have a new name or spot in the myco tree of life. One of our most prized groups of local mushrooms, the boletes, is no exception. Let's look at some name changes that you might need to be aware of if you're using older field guides. Coccoras ... Coccoras are one of my favorite mushrooms to see and collect. The distinctive colors, thick cottony cap and striation on the cap edge makes this Amanita a little easier to ID. If I am unsure at any point, it stays in the ground and I take away the memory, image and sometimes a photo. Coprinus comatus -- What Is Going On With That Inky Cap? ... Learn about the fascinating and at times powerful liquification scenario known in biological terms as deliquescence or auto-deliquescence , one of the key morphological characteristics associated with this long-appreciated edible mushroom. Fomes fomentarius, the “Tinder Fungus” ... Most of us enjoy the process of walking through moist forests in search of fungi for the table. For some of us, it is the hope of finding a rare or unusual species that draws us to the woods. But in a time before matches and Bic lighters, a hike in the woods yielded fungi that held the promise of a fire . Four Dry Season Mushrooms ... At the beginning of the season, while we wait patiently for the fall rains to arrive, there are still some interesting sporocarps lurking in our local outdoor spaces. Galerina marginata (autumnalis), aka “The Deadly Galerina” ... In this article we take a look at a little brown job, that is dear to my heart but probably not to most of yours. Honey Mushrooms - Armillaria mellea ... Objects or firewood stacked up against a trunk, misguided nearby plantings, surplus soil or mulch, and other man-made sources can allow certain mycelium to infiltrate oak, maple, grape vines, blackberries, and orchard trees and shrubs. Mark shares some lessons from his professional experience with mitigating and preventing "Oak root rot", a.k.a, Armillarea Root Rot, or Armillaria mellea . Hygrocybe laetissima (Waxy Caps) ... As deep winter settles on the Redwood Coast, you’ll begin to notice many small red, orange and yellow Waxy Caps (Hygrocybe ); sprinkled through the understory of redwood forests; beacons of color in the dark duff. Hygrocybe singeri, Western Witch's Hat ... Have you ever found a bright orange to red waxy cap, and brought it home only to find your once colorful mushroom was dingy black colored? You have found one of the blackening Hygrocybe , or the “Witch’s Hats”. Inky Caps - from "Basic Inky Cap ID for California" ... "Out of the millions of different kinds of fungi out there, I think that inky caps are the coolest by far. They are called inky caps because they dissolve into black ink when they get old. They are also often misidentified, so I put together a list of the common inky caps and their differences." Lawn Agaricus ... This featured species turns up in the plastic bags of people attending the Fungus Fair perhaps more than any other fleshy fungus. Invariably, hordes of people will be lined up at the mushroom ID table with bags containing fresh to soggy specimens of Agaricus mushrooms they found “growing in my lawn. Are these edible? Will they poison my dog, cat, kids?” Marasmius plicatulus ... This species has a lot of features setting it apart from the rest of it’s marasmioid brethren: electric-sunset stipe coloration, oddly wiry-stipes (often tipped in pom-poms of creamy-white mycelium), and finely velvety caps often covered in beaded-up water droplets. Meet Amanita pruittii: Arora’s Amanita, Anonymous No More! ... Those of us who are passionate about all aspects of wild mushrooms are a breed apart. As mycophilic outliers to the societal norm, what better focus for our discerning attention than a mycological oddity like the renamed Amanita pruittii ? This mushroom is unimposing, squat and warted, sometimes grows in standing water, and most curiously, is not found with a mycorrhizal partner! Mycophagy Challenge: Ten Edibles to Find this Year ... People come to the love of mushrooms for various reasons, but for most in this club, the main reason seems to be that they are good to eat! By focusing on learning just a few mushrooms really well, you can “pick up” a few new species each year almost effortlessly. Snorkeling for "The Rogue" Mushroom ... Robert Coffan, an Adjunct Professor of water resources at Southern Oregon University, was vacationing with his family on the Rogue River. A bit of wading resulted in a surprise: He discovered a new species. Sorry, it's a Suillus ... "Look at all these Boletes!" As an eager beginner, you spend an hour in the woods collecting what you think is going to be the meal of the year.... Sorry… it's a Suillus . It's the culinary equivalent of a wet sponge, and a maggot riddled one at that! The Chanterelles ... One of the first wild mushrooms that beginning foragers seek out is our local golden chanterelle. That is most likely because it is relatively abundant, is easy to recognize and has a reputation for being a good edible. For many years, these mushrooms went by the Latin name Cantharellus cibarius . It was only recently that the various different chanterelle species have been given their own unique names. Tricholoma Murrillianum (Matsutake) ... Of all the choice edible mushrooms that occur in our area, none eluded me longer than the matsutake, Tricholoma murrillianum . Wavy Caps (Psilocybe cyanescens) ... Psilocybe is the primary genus of hallucinogenic mushrooms, containing such famous species as Liberty Caps (P. semilanceata ), Cubes (P. cubensis), and the topic of this article, Wavy Caps (P. cyanescens ). What is Not to Love About The Prince? (Agaricus augustus) ... Just when you thought the mushroom season was over, “The Prince” may appear, providing mushroom enthusiasts a culinary bounty. Tall, stately, golden-hued and perfumed like almond paste, this royal-sized mushroom often fruits in warm weather. Coming upon the Prince unexpectedly can be an experience to remember.