Morgan Yacullo Lead Curator, Ken Norris Center for Natural History Morgan Yacullo is a recent Environmental Studies graduate from UC Santa Cruz, where she spent much of her time crawling along the forest floor, photographing the slimy, minuscule marvels of the natural world. Serving as a Lead Curator at the Ken Norris Center for Natural History, she managed the fungarium, led a course on fungal identification, assisted in Christian Schwarz’s Natural History of Fungi course, led numerous field walks, and spent countless hours behind the microscope. She has participated in fungal surveys across diverse California ecosystems—from burn scars to islands and caves—documenting the remarkable variety of fungal life. Alongside academic work, Morgan is a photographer whose practice explores ecological and social resilience through the lens of decomposition. 2026 Morgan Yacullo 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets

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

Toni with a baked dish Food & Fun From tailgate tastings and potlucks to chef dinners, our foodie fun events are scattered throughout the year. Is it a coincidence that "FFSC" also stands for F un and F ood in S anta C ruz ? (Yes, but we'll take it!) We get together for tailgate tastings, potluck* dinners, and sit-down dinners; as well as demonstration-style cooking programs. Organized foodie fun events are scattered throughout the year. Some recurring favorites are listed below, and we announce others on a case-by-case basis. Not sure what to bring to a mushroom potluck? Explore some of our members' recipes for inspiration! Also see our tips on how to clean and store mushrooms , from drying to salt-preserving to freezing and more. * For all FFSC potlucks, any wild mushroom dish must adhere to the species list for potlucks, serve at least 10 people, and be labeled with a descriptive tag. See our Potluck Essentials page for details. Popular FFSC Culinary Events Learn more about some of our most popular culinary events below, and see the schedule lower on this page for a schedule of upcoming culinary events. Wine & Mushroom Event Our annual Wine & Mushroom Fest is a phenomenal early Spring evening of sampling wonderful wines and fabulous homemade food. This member-only event is always fantastic and is the highlight of our culinary activities. Event Overview Fermentation Friday workshop Shane Peterson, Master Fermentologist of Farmhouse Culture fame, will be our fearless leader. He’ll do a demo, share tastings, and instruct us in creating a few of our own ferments to take home. Join us and bring a friend ! Friday, May 1 5:30pm-8:30pm Register at the link below. FFSC members should login to get the access code to buy tickets at the member price. Event Overview Beer and Mushrooms Picnic As our stories turn to morel hunts and spring kings, we gather for a co-op potluck picnic with the Central Coast Zymurgeeks , a local homebrew group. (Wouldn't you go just to say you had MET a "Zymurgeek"??) Event Overview Fall Mushroom Dinner Join us in celebrating each new season! As Autumn beckons and we await or enjoy the first fungal fruitings, Chef Bob Wynn and the FFSC Culinary Committee welcome FFSC members and their guests to celebrate the season with our much-loved Fall Mushroom Dinner. Event Overview Members Holiday Potluck A Festive Gathering for Members and Their Guests Spend a delicious evening in the company of the great cooks of the FFSC at our annual members' Holiday Potluck! Event Overview Santa Cruz Fungus Fair After Hours Dinner On opening night of the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair each January, we indulge in a multi-course prix fixe meal crafted by a celebrity chef. Event Overview Foray Potlucks After a day of foraging in Mendocino, Tahoe, and farther afield, create an amazing gourmet potluck feast as you share tales of the hunt around a warm campfire. Event Overview 1 day to the event Dinner with Speaker | Dean Lyons May 19, 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Special Noodle - Time honored dishes wit, 415 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA Get to know this month's speaker over a sit-down meal with a smaller group. RSVP Scheduled Culinary Socials Past Culinary Socials RSVP Closed Sat, May 16 2026 Beer and Mushrooms Picnic / Details Prepare to enjoy a fun-filled day with a bunch of Fungiphiles and Zymurgeeks! Our spring picnic is coming up, and you won’t want to miss it. Fri, May 01 May 2026 Fermentation Workshop / Learn more Shane Peterson, Master Fermentologist of Farmhouse Culture fame, will be our fearless leader. He’ll do a demo, share tastings, and instruct us in creating a few of our own ferments to take home. Join us and bring a friend ! Attendance is limited so advanced tickets will be required. Tue, Apr 14 April 2026 Ministers Meeting and potluck / Learn more The ministers meeting and potluck is where we discuss club business and plan for upcoming events. All are welcome and encouraged to join in! Load More

Phil Carpenter FFSC Science Advisor Dr. Phil Carpenter has been a member of the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz (CA) (FFSC) since the club was founded in 1984. He has been very active in the FFSC since joining, acting as President for many years as well as several other offices, including Minister of Science for many years. He is also currently a Regional Trustee for the North American Mushroom Association (NAMA). Phil has conducted mushroom identification classes for FFSC members for over ten years. In addition, he has taught mushroom foraging and identification at the University of California, Santa Cruz for over 25 years; for local park districts; for private resorts; for food events such as the Masters of Food and Wine and the Gourmet Fest in nearby Carmel; and for private parties. He heads up the mushroom identification service provided at the well-known and highly-attended annual Fungus Fair presented by the FFSC. He has been and continues to be a resource of mushroom identification for monthly FFSC meetings and periodic local and long distance forays. He provides identification and consulting for mushroom poisonings for hospitals and veterinarians. Phil was the 2023 recipient of the Harry and Elsie Knighton Service Award given by the North American Mycological Association (NAMA) in recognition of his many years of distinguished service to the mycology community. 2026 Dr. Phil Carpenter 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets Introduction to Mushroom Identification Saturday, January 10, 2026 12:00 AM - 1:00 AM Room 1 Introduction to Mushroom Identification Saturday, January 10, 2026 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM Room 1 Question And Answer Session about Identifying and Cooking Wild Mushrooms Sunday, January 11, 2026 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Room 1 An Introduction to Mushroom Identification Saturday, January 11, 2025 12:00 AM - 1:00 AM Room 1 An Introduction to Mushroom Identification Sunday, January 12, 2025 12:00 AM - 1:00 AM Room 1 An Introduction to Mushroom Identification Sunday, January 12, 2025 10:30 PM - 11:30 PM Room 1

Foray Potlucks After a day of foraging in Mendocino, Tahoe, and farther afield, create an amazing gourmet potluck feast as you share tales of the hunt around a warm campfire. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC

Christian Schwarz Research Associate | UCSC Christian Schwarz is a naturalist based in California, the land of milk (caps) and honey (mushrooms). He teaches Natural History of Fungi at UC Santa Cruz and is co-author of " Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast ”" and " Mushrooms of Cascadia ". Fungi satisfy his curiosity with their seemingly endless forms; from the grotesque to the bizarre to the sublime. Besides dabbling in mushroom taxonomy, he loves fish, plants, nudibranchs, moths, and dragonflies. He is passionate about community science, especially through the use of iNaturalist. He is a Research Associate at the Norris Center for Natural History at UCSC as well as the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden. 2026 Christian Schwarz 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets The Underground Internet, 30 Years Later By now, almost everyone's heard of "Wood Wide Webs" — invisible forest networks through which trees, fungi, and other organisms communicate and exchange resources.… Show More Saturday, January 10, 2026 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Room 3 Sea Islands, Sky Islands, and Dry Islands: the Biogeography of Macrofungi Making maps of the distributions of organisms is one of the most fascinating topics in all of natural history. The theory of island biogeography… Show More Sunday, January 11, 2026 7:05 PM - 8:05 PM Room 3 Fungi of New Zealand The Ecology of a Young Land Aotearoa — the land more commonly known as New Zealand is young in many ways: In recent geologic history, it nearly drowned after splitting… Show More Saturday, January 11, 2025 7:15 PM - 8:15 PM Room 3 Two Years of the California Fungal Diversity Study What Have We Learned Over the past two years, the CA FUNDIS organization has undertaken a remarkable effort to get to know the mushrooms of California more deeply.… Show More Monday, January 13, 2025 12:30 AM - 1:30 AM Room 3

Dr. Christopher Hobbs, Ph.D., L.Ac Faculty, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Dr. Christopher Hobbs, Ph.D., L.Ac. is a fourth generation, internationally known herbalist and mycologist, licensed acupuncturist, herbal clinician, research scientist, consultant to the dietary supplement industry, expert witness, botanist, public speaker, and author of over 20 books and numerous articles with over 40 years of experience. He is the author of the recent book “ Christopher Hobbs’s Medicinal Mushrooms, the Essential Guide ,” with German and English editions. He earned his Ph.D. at UC Berkeley with research and publication in evolutionary biology, biogeography, phylogenetics, the chemistry of plants and fungi, and ethnobotany. Now faculty at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. christopherhobbs.com Home - Dr. Christopher Hobbs, Ph.D. DR. CHRISTOPHER HOBBS is a fourth-generation, internationally renowned herbalist, licensed acupuncturist, author, clinician, botanist, mycologist, and 2026 Christopher Hobbs 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets The Magic Mushroom Talk Psilocybin mushrooms are renowned as spiritual guides and tools for dissolving the ego, helping to overcome trauma, limiting beliefs, and mental blocks and clinical… Show More Saturday, January 11, 2025 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Room 3 Magic Mushroom Microdosing Magic mushroom microdosing is gaining global attention, with growing scientific research and personal testimonials highlighting its benefits for cognitive health, brain plasticity, neurogenesis, and… Show More Sunday, January 12, 2025 7:15 PM - 8:15 PM Room 3

Fall Mushroom Dinner Join us in celebrating each new season! As Autumn beckons and we await or enjoy the first fungal fruitings, Chef Bob Wynn and the FFSC Culinary Committee welcome FFSC members and their guests to celebrate the season with our much-loved Fall Mushroom Dinner. The 2025 Fall Mushroom Dinner is scheduled on November 8, 2025. See the Members Only section below for time and location details. Fall Flavors The committee typically prepares the main elements of the meal (main dish, salad, and dessert). In some years we prepare a full dinner; and in other years members are invited to bring appetizers and sides to share, plus your own place setting and beverage of choice. The committee chooses a different theme each year, and it's sure to be a scrumptious menu! Price The price changes each year, depending on the cost of the venue rental and other factors. For 2025, we will not charge admission for this event. A donation bucket will be ready to accept contributions to offset rental fees and expenses. $10 per person is suggested. Thanks! Location The Fall Mushroom Dinner is open to FFSC members and their guests. The location varies each year. We usually post the location in the Members' section below by early October. Let’s come together to share food, celebrate community, and welcome the mushroom season with good cheer. We look forward to seeing you at the table! Members Only Content Login Join FFSC

Beer and Mushrooms Picnic As our stories turn to morel hunts and spring kings, we gather for a co-op potluck picnic with the Central Coast Zymurgeeks , a local homebrew group. (Wouldn't you go just to say you had MET a "Zymurgeek"??) But seriously, these people make some fine brew and cider! The überchefs of FFSC grill up a storm, and FFSC members bring main dishes and lots of mushroomy sides as well. The 2026 Beer and Mushrooms Picnic will be held on Saturday, May 16. Members can access more info below. Fried Morel Corn Fritters at Suds n Shrooms. Photo by Katherine Elvin The annual Beer and Mushrooms Picnic (formerly called "Suds 'n' Shrooms") is a great time to gather, enjoy the end of the season and the usual array of great potluck food that our excellent cooks in the FFSC provide. What's more, you'll have the opportunity to sample some fine, award-winning beers made by the excellent zymurgists (brewers) of the Central Coast Zymurgeeks. If you want to learn or share information about the art of brewing, the Zymurgeeks are extremely knowledgeable and can address your questions. Asking brewers how their beer was crafted will be greeted with enthusiasm and a detailed procedure This is a members only event. Of course members of FFSC and the Zymurgeeks may bring family and friends of all ages, and well-behaved pets on leash! Visit this website around March-April each year (or join our Google Group mailing list ) to find out when the next picnic is scheduled! As with all our potlucks, please be sure to review any specific requirements outlined in the event announcement, as well as the guidelines in our Potluck Essentials page. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC

! FFSC Calendar We have a lot of fun foraging, learning, and socializing from September to May. Many of our events are open to the public, and you can join FFSC for more! Note: We schedule local forays , ID classes , and culinary events on relatively short notice, based on location availability and habitat conditions. You can also visit or subscribe to the FFSC Google Calendar, and/or download an iCal file for other calendar applications. ! Calendar View FFSC Calendar Grid View

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. ... Mushroom collecting basket. Photo by Susan Labiste Visit our free Online Learning section to start this challenge: FFSC Online Learning Mushrooms covered: See code Previous Description All Featured Fungi Next Description

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." ... Coprinopsis lagopus gr. Photo by Terry Way Editors note: FFSC member Peter Vahlberg posted "Basic Inky Cap ID for California" on iNaturalist in 2020, and FFSC previously reprinted a copy on this website. Going forward, you can read Peter's original article on iNaturalist instead, for the latest comments and updates. In the meantime, enjoy these quick links to the inky cap species that Peter describes in his article: The genus Coprinus includes the edible shaggy mane ( Coprinus comatus ) and a close look-alike, Coprinus calyptratus . www.inaturalist.org Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus) Shaggy Mane from Dan Foley Park, Solano County, US-CA, US on November 19, 2016 at 12:38 PM by Peter Vahlberg www.inaturalist.org Star-capped Coprinus (Coprinus calyptratus) Coprinus calyptratus is a species of fungus in the family Agaricaceae. It is commonly known as the star-capped coprinus. (Source: Wikipedia, 'Coprinus calyptratus', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coprinus_calyptratus, CC BY-SA 3.0 . Photo: (c) Pete Siminski, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Pete Siminski) The Coprinopsis group includes Coprinopsis lagopus and Coprinopsis atramentaria . www.inaturalist.org hare's foot inkcap (Coprinopsis lagopus) hare's foot inkcap from Jackson Demonstration State Forest, Mendocino County, US-CA, US on December 7, 2018 at 03:42 PM by Peter Vahlberg www.inaturalist.org Common Ink Cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria) Common Ink Cap from Santa Clara County, US-CA, US on January 30, 2018 at 04:45 PM by Peter Vahlberg Coprinellus includes Coprinellus micaceus (the mica cap) and Coprinellus flocculosus . www.inaturalist.org mica cap (Coprinellus micaceus) mica cap from 2755 Glorietta Cir, Santa Clara, CA, US on December 25, 2018 at 04:12 PM by Peter Vahlberg www.inaturalist.org flocculose inkcap (Coprinellus flocculosus) flocculose inkcap from Golden Gate Natl. Rec. Area - SF, San Francisco County, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, US-CA, US on October 28, 2017 at 09:21 AM by Peter Vahlberg An unnamed species in California looks similar to C. micaceus , but Peter believes it is Coprinellus radians . www.inaturalist.org Genus Coprinellus Coprinellus from Rancho San Antonio County Park, Los Altos, CA, US on December 25, 2018 at 03:37 PM by Peter Vahlberg www.inaturalist.org Coprinellus radians Coprinellus radians is a species of mushroom in the family Psathyrellaceae. First described as Agaricus radians by the mycologist John Baptiste Henri Joseph Desmazières in 1828, it was later transferred to the genus Coprinellus in 2001. (Source: Wikipedia, 'Coprinellus radians', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coprinellus_radians, CC BY-SA 3.0 . Photo: (c) judymac, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by judymac) Coprinellus disseminatus does not turn inky. www.inaturalist.org Trooping Crumble Cap (Coprinellus disseminatus) Trooping Crumble Cap from Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, Santa Clara County, US-CA, US on December 28, 2018 at 11:08 AM by Peter Vahlberg The genus Parasola are hard to ID without a microscope. www.inaturalist.org Genus Parasola Parasola from Santa Clara County, US-CA, US on June 30, 2017 at 10:34 AM by Peter Vahlberg Parasola auricoma is easier to identify, along with Parasola conopilus (which looks like Psathyrella corrugis ). www.inaturalist.org goldenhaired inkcap (Parasola auricoma) goldenhaired inkcap from Bay Rd, Menlo Park, CA, US on October 19, 2019 at 11:31 AM by Peter Vahlberg More inky caps exist, but can be hard to identify without a microscope. www.inaturalist.org Inkcaps (Genus Coprinopsis) Inkcaps from Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Santa Cruz County, US-CA, US on December 14, 2018 at 09:33 AM by Peter Vahlberg Mushrooms covered: See code Previous Description All Featured Fungi Next Description