Hugh Smith There's a whole world out there waiting to be discovered! FFSC TITLE : Minister emeritus MEMBER SINCE : maybe 2007 ... started out as a child... growing up in the tide pools of the Pacific coast with my marine biologist mother. Since before he could remember, Hugh acquired an intense interest in all of the wonders that nature has to offer. Latin became his second language. Later Hugh became interested in photography, and then his brother took him on his first mushroom hunt in Fort Bragg, California. It was a very successful mushroom hunt! It was a full blown Boletus edulis season. Hugh had never seen a mushroom so big! And there were so many. Being already accustomed to the Macro world he was hooked. Photographing mushrooms is much easier than photographing Nudibranchs in the tide pools. Living in Northern California (Yuba City) he does most of the hunting there and the Pacific Coast. Hugh carries his camera everywhere he goes. There's a whole world out there waiting to be discovered! https://www.hughsmith.org/ 2026 Hugh Smith 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets

The Glint of Gold (chanterelle). Photo by Sue Labiste The Glint of Gold Sue Labiste Looking for fall chanterelles is like treasure hunt. Fall leaves such as tan oak mimics the yellow and orange colours we seek. And just as you head out, you see this. Camera (Not provided) Focal L. Aperture Shutter Sp. ISO Flash Photo taken on November 16, 2015 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

Support FFSC Website Accessibility Efforts An accessible website allows visitors with disabilities to browse the site with the same or a similar level of ease and enjoyment as other visitors. To make this website accessible, we rely on the capabilities of the system on which the site is operating, tools which help us determine where the site might not be compliant, and our evolving understanding of WCAG guidelines. Accessibility Adjustments on this Website When building this website, we have: Used various tools to determine font size and color contrast ratios for text and neighboring elements. Used our web platform's Accessibility Wizard to find and fix potential accessibility issues Set the language of the site to US Attempted to maintain consistent heading structures on all of the site’s pages Implemented text and background color combinations that meet the required color contrast in WCAG 2.1 guidelines, to at least a level of AA. In 2025 we will also be working to: Set the content order of the site’s pages Add alternative text to images Make videos and audio files on the site accessible (e.g., with audio transcripts available) Avoid looping motion effects Prevent videos from playing automatically when our system permits it, and/or allow users to stop video effects Test the website with assistive technologies such as screen readers and keyboards Areas of Partial Compliance with the Standard The accessibility of certain pages on the site may vary, depending on two main factors: We sometimes use applications that belong to external platforms (ticketing, shopping, video, etc.) which own and manage their own user interfaces, and we have no direct control over certain features. We are a volunteer-run organization. Over time, some volunteers who contribute content to this website might not consistently follow the standards. We don't always have volunteers available to fix such content in a timely manner. (If you're an FFSC member with expertise in website accessibility, and you're interested in volunteering to assist with such maintenance, please let us know!) Requests, Issues and Suggestions If you are personally affected by an accessibility issue on this website, or if you need further assistance, you are welcome to contact our website volunteers via any of the methods on our Contact FFSC page, or come to one of our Minister Meetings to chat in person. We'll do our best to address or mitigate such issues. FFSC Accessibility Statement This statement was last updated on August 12, 2025. We at the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz are working to making the ffsc.us website accessible to people with disabilities.

Become a Fair Volunteer We need volunteers to set up and run the 2026 Fungus Fair. Honestly, we can't do it without you! What Do Volunteers Do? Ready to sign up? Here's how . During the Fair (Jan 9-11) Help with ticket sales and voucher redemption Check hand stamps Set up and/or take down tables and chairs for the After Hours Dinner Help at the FFSC membership table The central island ready to receive the fungi from volunteers. Photo by Katherine Elvin Before the Fair Collect wild mushrooms for the exhibits (January 6-7) Help arrange the mushroom exhibits (January 7-9) Load and unload tables, chairs, equipment, etc. for the Fungi Forest, talks, and craft areas (January 6-9) Help to plan the Fair (June - December) At the End of (and After) the Fair Take down all the exhibits (January 11) Fold and store all the tables and chairs (January 11) Celebrate a job well done at the Volunteer Dinner! (TBA) Ready to sign up? How to Become a Fair Volunteer 301 Center St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA Anyone can help! You do not need to be a member of FFSC to volunteer. To be eligible for a FREE General Admission ticket to the Fungus Fair, you must pre-register as a volunteer, and work for at least one volunteer position (usually for a few hours, depending on the role). If there is an area or task you particularly enjoy, it's a good idea to sign up early to nail it down now. To volunteer during the Fair (Friday, Saturday, Sunday), please visit: https://ffsc.ivolunteer.com/fungusfair_2026 To volunteer for set up before the Fair, or take down at the end of the Fair, please visit: https://ffsc.ivolunteer.com/setup_2026

2026 Speaker Schedule Visitors attended fascinating talks by distinguished and up-and-coming mycologists during the 2026 Fungus Fair in January. You can also browse 2026 Fair Speakers by name. The Fungus Fair has two lecture venues: The London Nelson Multipurpose Room ( Room 3 ) is where you'll find our headliners. To attend these talks you will need to buy a separate ticket for each talk , in addition to your general admission ticket. This year we will be selling the majority of these tickets online, in advance of the fair. Though we will continue to sell a few tickets at the door for procrastinators, it is highly recommended that you buy your ticket ahead of time if there is a particular speaker whom you are very motivated to see. Talk tickets for 2026 went on sale in December, along with general admission tickets to the Fungus Fair. A smaller lecture room ( Room 1 ) will have informative and educational talks given by local, or not so local, knowledgeable mycologists. These talks are free, but you must have a Fungus Fair general admission hand stamp to get in, and please note that seating (and standing room) is limited and first-come, first-served. Include room(s): All Room 1 Room 3 Fair days Friday Saturday Sunday Tips and Techniques for Cooking With Mushrooms Chef Bob Wynn ... ... Friday, January 9, 2026 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Room 1 Friday Revealing Fungal Secrets: Apps and Programs for Mushroom Discovery Alan Rockefeller ... ... In this talk, Alan Rockefeller will demonstrate powerful Android and iPhone apps, websites, and computer programs that help mushroom enthusiasts, researchers, and… Show More Friday, January 9, 2026 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Room 3 Friday Introduction to Mushroom Identification Phil Carpenter ... ... Friday, January 9, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 Friday The Underground Internet, 30 Years Later Christian Schwarz ... ... By now, almost everyone's heard of "Wood Wide Webs" — invisible forest networks through which trees, fungi, and other organisms communicate and… Show More Saturday, January 10, 2026 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Room 3 Saturday The Top Ten Edible and Poisonous Wild Mushrooms Douglas Smith ... ... Saturday, January 10, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Room 1 Saturday Truffles: The Egos, Ecology, and Economics of Cultivating and Hunting Nature’s Nuggets of Gold Stephanie S. Jarvis, MSc ... ... Because these fungi are far more than gourmet ingredients — they’re ecological power players, political lightning rods, and the ultimate test of… Show More Saturday, January 10, 2026 11:05 AM - 12:05 PM Room 3 Saturday Getting Started with Cultivation Vellany Pierce ... ... Saturday, January 10, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Room 1 Saturday Fungi in Art Through Space and Time Jason Raiti ... ... A continent-by-continent exploration of the role the fungi have played in art from 10,000 years ago with petroglyphs, to medieval southeast Asian… Show More Saturday, January 10, 2026 12:40 PM - 1:40 PM Room 3 Saturday Introduction to Mushroom Identification Phil Carpenter ... ... Saturday, January 10, 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Room 1 Saturday Fungal Sporecasting: From Continental to Local Spore Drifts and Constraints on Fungal Dispersal Andrew Ratz ... ... Fungi are vital ecosystem drivers, along with delectable and wondrous organisms, yet their dispersal via microscopic airborne spores remains a challenge to… Show More Saturday, January 10, 2026 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM Room 3 Saturday Medicinal Mushrooms Traditional Usage in Chinese Medicine and Modern Scientific Research Dr. Bill Schoenbart ... ... Medicinal mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. They have also been the subject of numerous scientific studies… Show More Saturday, January 10, 2026 3:50 PM - 4:50 PM Room 3 Saturday Poisonous Mushrooms Henry Young ... ... Saturday, January 10, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 Saturday Truffles in the Wind: Unexpected Airborne Pathways for Underground Fungi Andrew Ratz ... ... While most mushrooms cast their spores to the wind, truffles have evolved to stay underground. They release strong scents and can mimic… Show More Sunday, January 11, 2026 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Room 3 Sunday Question And Answer Session about Identifying and Cooking Wild Mushrooms Chad Hyatt Phil Carpenter ... Sunday, January 11, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Room 1 Sunday Sea Islands, Sky Islands, and Dry Islands: the Biogeography of Macrofungi Christian Schwarz ... ... Making maps of the distributions of organisms is one of the most fascinating topics in all of natural history. The theory of… Show More Sunday, January 11, 2026 11:05 AM - 12:05 PM Room 3 Sunday DNA Sequencing for the Fungus Federation Douglas Smith ... ... Sunday, January 11, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Room 1 Sunday The Mystery of Amanita phalloides Jason Raiti ... ... A deep dive into the literature in an accessible form, to tell the story of the invasive fungus Amanita phalloides. This is… Show More Sunday, January 11, 2026 12:40 PM - 1:40 PM Room 3 Sunday Commercial Mushroom Cultivation Kyle Garrone ... ... Sunday, January 11, 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Room 1 Sunday Mushroom Cooking Demo with Tasting and optional Wine Pairing Jeff Emery Chad Hyatt ... Chef Chad Hyatt will demonstrate his cooking techniques and his creations will be paired with exquisite wines provided by vintner Jeff Emery… Show More Sunday, January 11, 2026 2:15 PM - 3:25 PM Room 3 Sunday Energetics of Medicinal Mushrooms in Traditional Chinese Medicine: How they Work Along with Herbs to Treat Various Conditions Dr. Bill Schoenbart ... ... Sunday, January 11, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 Sunday What You Need to Know About Poisonous Mushrooms Henry Young ... ... Explore the intersection of poisonous mushrooms and people who accidentally or purposefully eat them. Toxic fungi from the deadly to the lose… Show More Sunday, January 11, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 3 Sunday

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?” ... Agaricus californicus. Photo by Noah Siegel (from mushroomobserver.org) Indeed, when abundant, lawn Agaricus probably elicit more questions for identification than any other species. They are obtrusively obvious, boldly bursting up through a lush carpet of green grass. People don’t have to venture very far to collect them. They are also exceedingly common, appearing shortly after the first fall rains before the weather gets too cold, even in the summer in well-watered lawns. Cemeteries contain them, city parks can produce them, and along with fairy ring mushrooms, they are the most abundant large mushrooms of lawns and mowed grassy areas. Agaricus californicus . Photo by Debbie Viess (from mushroomobserver.org) Agaricus species are an easy group to recognize because of the store-bought variety with which everyone is familiar. When mature, all Agaricus species have dark brown gills which give a chocolate brown spore print. The stem will separate cleanly from the cap and gills, and the stem (stipe) will also have a ring or annulus, which may be thick and persistent or may collapse as the mushroom matures. The cap color is generally white, but there can be gray to brown patches or fibrils on the cap depending on the species and age. These features will help you determine if your mushroom is an Agaricus , but knowing which Agaricus you have will take a closer look. Agaricus xanthodermus . Photo by Shane (from mushroomobserver.org) Pull your mushroom out of the ground so that your get the entire stem. Clean off some dirt and scratch the very bottom of the stem with a fingernail to remove some mushroom tissue. Did the scratched area immediately stain bright yellow? If it did you have A. xanthodermus , which means yellow skin. (Other parts of the stem and cap may also stain yellow from handling. The base of the stem, however, is the critical part.) This mushroom often grows in large clusters or fairy rings, and also under cypress and oak trees. The color of the entire mushroom is nearly white, but it often develops grayish to brownish or even metallic tones on the cap with age. The ring is thick and membranous with flat patches underneath. Crush the mushroom and notice the strong odor of phenol (medicinal odor) that exists along with the “normal” mushroomy scent. All of the phenol-smelling Agaricus species actually contain the compound phenol and are considered poisonous, although I’ve heard of individuals who don’t seem to be affected (i.e., vomit) after eating these species. Agaricus arvensis . Photo by Herbert Baker (from mushroomobserver.org) If the base of your lawn Agaricus didn’t stain yellow but there are yellow stains from handling on the cap or stalk, take another sniff and see if you can detect the odor of anise or almond extract. If this odor is present, your mushroom is most likely A. arvensis , the horse mushroom, so named because of the musty or urine-like odor the mushroom develops when old. Also found in pastures along with A. osecanus (the giant horse mushroom), A. arvensis has a nearly pure white cap and stalk and is a look-alike for A. xanthodermus , but doesn’t grow in clumps nor have a phenol odor. The annulus is persistent, thick and cottony with tooth-like patches on the underside. Agaricus arvensis . Photo by Walter Sturgeon (from mushroomobserver.org) A. arvensis is a choice edible (as are all the anise or almond smelling Agaricus species). Sliced and dried, it maintains its anise odor and lends a marvelous flavor to soups. You can eat it fresh or stuff the caps with chopped stems, onions, basil, parmesan cheese and broil. Agaricus californicus . Photo by Noah Siegel (from mushroomobserver.org) The next two lawn Agaricus are difficult to tell apart unless you have a good nose and some young buttons of each species. If your mushroom doesn’t stain visibly yellow from handling, lacks and anise odor, but has a faint phenol odor, you probably have A. californicus . The odor is not as apparent as in A. xanthodermus , but it is there — especially in young specimens that haven’t become waterlogged or rotten. This species seems to be especially abundant in Santa Cruz and most often in lawns, rarely in pastures. It will also appear in disturbed ground, roadsides, vacant lots or in grassy areas along the edges of the woods. When mature, this species has a flattened top which has brown, gray or even silvery areas in the center of the cap. It is often gregarious, growing in patches, but not in rings. The membranous ring in A. californicus has felt-like patches on the underside and will be evident even as the mushroom ages. As with A. xanthodermus , the phenol odor in A. californicus , often faint or difficult to detect, should dissuade you from eating it. However, some people do just fine and actually enjoy this very common Agaricus . Agaricus campestris . Photo by Darvin DeShazer (from mushroomobserver.org) The final lawn Agaricus we’ll mention is the meadow mushroom, A. campestris . As its name suggest, this species is usually found in meadows or pastures, but it occasionally strays into some fortunate person’s lawn. The meadow mushroom is easy to identify in the button stage, for it is the only local Agaricus with pink gills when it is young (before the cap opens). As it matures, the pink color fades until the gills are brown as in all Agaricus . There is no phenol odor, only a lovely sweet mushroom scent. No part of the mushroom stains yellow, but red stains may appear when the mushroom is wet. The color is nearly all white, bur in age darker areas may appear near the center of the cap. The veil is thin, cottony and collapses or disappears entirely as the gills open from the button stage. The stalk is rather short and often tapers towards the base. This mushroom is far superior in flavor to the store-bought variety, and can be used in any recipe calling fresh mushrooms. One final note: please be absolutely sure of your identifications before making a meal of your lawn Agaricus . Use all of your senses and consult a more thorough description in a guidebook if you are not entirely convinced which species you might have; or consult with a mushroom ID expert. I have tried to describe the most common Agaricus species you will encounter. There are others than can occur occasionally in lawns. However, Agaricus is a rather “safe” genus in that no species are deadly, and all of the poisonous species have a phenol odor, which is most notable in fresh younger specimens. Mushrooms covered: See code Previous Description All Featured Fungi Next Description

Intro to Dyeing with Mushroom Pigments Go out and find some fungi! Many mushrooms don’t give much color, and those that do aren’t necessarily the color of the fungus itself, but quite a few are very obliging. Pigment dye patterns at the 51st Santa Cruz Fungus Fair (cropped). Photo by Hugh Smith At the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair , we often use Dyer’s Polypore ( Phaeolus schweinitzii ) and Dead Man’s Foot ( Pisolithus arhizus ). Equipment Small garage sale saucepan and stirrer not to be used for food in the future. Mark with tape! Some mushrooms used for dye are harmful to eat, so you don’t want to contaminate your cookware. Dried fungi Whatever you’d like to dye. Best results are obtained with protein fibers such as wool and silk, prewashed. Linen and cotton will also dye, but colors are far paler and many more mushrooms are needed. Use equal weight of dried mushrooms to wool or silk fiber. Method Simmer dried mushroom weight equal to your goods in a pint or so of water for ½ - 1 hour. (Fresh fungi are a guess, so try a mound equal to or greater than your pile of fiber.) Meanwhile, soak your fibers in warm water. Add to them to the dye bath and gently simmer for an additional ½ - 1 hour, adding water as needed. No need to strain out the mushrooms for a simple test batch. Rinse thoroughly in warm water and hang to dry. You can leave it in the dye bath overnight for deeper color. Have fun and be ready for surprises! Find more resources and tips on our Mushroom Dye Resources page. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC

2025 Speaker Schedule Our 2025 Fungus Fair was once again graced by a great lineup of speakers and fascinating talks. We hope to see you next year! If you're interested in learning more about our 2025 speakers, you can view their bios and find more about them online. Include room(s): All Room 1 Room 3 Fair days Friday Saturday Sunday Tips and Techniques for Cooking with Mushrooms Chef Bob Wynn ... ... Friday, January 10, 2025 2:30 PM - 2:30 PM Room 1 Friday Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Fungi Alan Rockefeller ... ... These types of mushrooms are both beautiful and scientifically fascinating. This presentation has hundreds of high quality photos and photography tips for… Show More Friday, January 10, 2025 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Room 3 Friday An Introduction to Mushroom Identification Phil Carpenter ... ... Friday, January 10, 2025 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 Friday The Magic Mushroom Talk Dr. Christopher Hobbs, Ph.D., L.Ac ... ... Psilocybin mushrooms are renowned as spiritual guides and tools for dissolving the ego, helping to overcome trauma, limiting beliefs, and mental blocks… Show More Saturday, January 11, 2025 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Room 3 Saturday An Introduction to Mushroom Cultivation Vellany Pierce ... ... Saturday, January 11, 2025 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Room 1 Saturday Fungi of New Zealand The Ecology of a Young Land Christian Schwarz ... ... Aotearoa — the land more commonly known as New Zealand is young in many ways: In recent geologic history, it nearly drowned… Show More Saturday, January 11, 2025 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Room 3 Saturday A Discussion of Poisonous Mushrooms Henry Young ... ... Saturday, January 11, 2025 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Room 1 Saturday Top Ten Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms Douglas Smith ... ... Saturday, January 11, 2025 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Room 1 Saturday Medicinal Mushrooms Science and Traditional Usage Dr. Bill Schoenbart ... ... Medicinal mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. They have also been the subject of numerous scientific studies… Show More Saturday, January 11, 2025 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Room 3 Saturday From Saucepan to Science Foraging Feasting and Phylogeny Shannon Adams ... ... Saturday, January 11, 2025 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Room 1 Saturday Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast Noah Siegel ... ... From towering redwoods to live oak woodlands, northern California has diverse habitats which host a dazzling array of fungi. From the worlds… Show More Saturday, January 11, 2025 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM Room 3 Saturday An Introduction to Mushroom Identification Phil Carpenter ... ... Saturday, January 11, 2025 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 Saturday What You Need to Know About Poisonous Mushrooms Henry Young ... ... We will explore the intersection of poisonous mushrooms and people who accidentally or purposefully eat them. Toxic fungi from the deadly to… Show More Saturday, January 11, 2025 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Room 3 Saturday Adventures of a Mycohobo Noah Siegel ... ... Ever wonder what mushrooms occur in the jungles of tropical Africa and South America, or the dripping, moss covered Antarctic Beech forests… Show More Sunday, January 12, 2025 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Room 3 Sunday Decoding the Forest Floor The Art of Mushroom Recognition Alan Rockefeller ... ... Sunday, January 12, 2025 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Room 1 Sunday Magic Mushroom Microdosing Dr. Christopher Hobbs, Ph.D., L.Ac ... ... Magic mushroom microdosing is gaining global attention, with growing scientific research and personal testimonials highlighting its benefits for cognitive health, brain plasticity,… Show More Sunday, January 12, 2025 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Room 3 Sunday Medicinal Mushrooms Traditional Usage and Modern Science Dr. Bill Schoenbart ... ... Sunday, January 12, 2025 11:30 AM - 12:30 AM Room 1 Sunday Common Mushrooms of the San Francisco Bay Area Douglas Smith ... ... Sunday, January 12, 2025 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Room 1 Sunday Fungal Range Maps How We Build Them and Why They Matter Thea Chesney ... ... Understanding where an organism lives, and why, is an essential part of understanding its life history and ecology, yet we have been… Show More Sunday, January 12, 2025 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Room 3 Sunday An Introduction to Mushroom Identification Phil Carpenter ... ... Sunday, January 12, 2025 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Room 1 Sunday A Mushroom Tasting with Wine Pairing Chad Hyatt ... ... Chef Chad Hyatt will demonstrate his cooking techniques and his creations will be paired with exquisite wines provided by vintner Jeff Emery… Show More Sunday, January 12, 2025 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM Room 3 Sunday Mushroom Cultivation Kyle Garrone ... ... Sunday, January 12, 2025 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 Sunday Two Years of the California Fungal Diversity Study What Have We Learned Christian Schwarz ... ... Over the past two years, the CA FUNDIS organization has undertaken a remarkable effort to get to know the mushrooms of California… Show More Sunday, January 12, 2025 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Room 3 Sunday

Join local forays in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay areas. Learn while exploring our local woods and fields with like-minded people. During the rainy season FFSC offers guided local mushroom forays, the best way to safely learn about finding wild fungi. Basket of mixed fungi. Photo by Dan Tischler We concentrate on finding, enjoying and learning a bit about some of our local mushrooms. We meet at a forested area in Santa Cruz County or the Monterey Bay area, talk about the types of mushrooms that can grow in the area's habitat, and then begin to hunt. Depending on the location chosen and the type of permit available, there may be some collection allowed; otherwise the goal will be education. If collection is allowed, we may hunt as a group and/or split up for a couple hours and then meet back together to show each other our fungal finds. The foray leader(s) will do our best to help you identify what you found, answer questions, and share knowledge. Always a fun family activity! The exact location is sent out to registered participants a couple of days before the foray. Please do not share the location with others. Occasionally some local forays may also include tailgate cooking (bring your own food and beverages) and tasting of any edibles collected. This will be announced in the foray's description. What to wear Layered warm clothing, sturdy footwear for hiking, and Tecnu if you get poison oak! Gloves for moving branches aside may also be useful. Activity level Some locations are relatively flat; others may involve steeper mountain roads or trails. When we collect as a group, we usually move fairly slowly while looking for and discussing mushrooms. If we split up, you can hike at your own pace. What to bring Basket or bucket to hold mushrooms, a knife and perhaps a small trowel. Waxed paper or brown paper bags to hold mushrooms (plastic bags are not recommended). A field guide if you have one (David Arora's All That The Rain Promises and More is a good choice for our area). Bring your own water or beverage to stay hydrated. Snacks are optional. What to read Before joining any foray, we ask that you read and follow FFSC's mushroom collection ethics and etiquette guidelines , to ensure that we continue to be welcome at foray locations. Beginners are welcome You don't need prior experience. That said, if you've never taken a mushroom ID class , we also encourage you to read FFSC's Learn about Wild Mushroom ID pages. Past Local Forays Sold Out Sat, Dec 06 December Local Foray / Details Join us before our potluck to enjoy and learn a bit about some of our local mushrooms. Sold Out Sat, Nov 01 Local Fungus Foray-Nov 1, 2025 / Details Get out in the woods! Log. Photo by Dan Tischler Local Forays Join local forays in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay areas. Learn while exploring our local woods and fields with like-minded people. No events at the moment Scheduled Local Forays

Birch Boletes (2014). Photo by Steve Olson Birch Boletes in July! Steve Olson Found these little Birch Boletes in a neighbors wooded yard. I would love to pick and dry these little fellas but not sure if they've been spayed, fertilized, etc. Too bad……they look delicious! Found in San Carlos, July 20, 2014 Sadly only had my iPhone camera Camera Apple iPhone 5 Focal L. 4mm Aperture Shutter Sp. 1/100s ISO 80 Flash Off Photo taken on July 20, 2014 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

2026 Speaker Schedule : Room 1 2026 Speaker Schedule : Room 3

Purple Slime (Cortinarius sp.). Photo by Sam Betty Purple Slime Sam Betty Taken by an FFSC member, now living in Sonoma. Cortinarius sp. can be seen at Salt Point. Camera Apple iPhone 6 Focal L. Aperture Shutter Sp. ISO Flash Photo taken on November 27, 2016 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo