Psathyrella sp. Photo by Peter Vahlberg Psathyrella sp. Peter Vahlberg Found at Sanborn County Park under a log. Camera Nikon D5600 Focal L. 60mm Aperture f/25.0 Shutter Sp. 1s ISO 400 Flash Off Photo taken on April 16, 2019 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

News & Stories / Message From Our Incoming CEO 2009 If you had told me back in 1984 that I would be making this salutation 25 years later, I would never have even considered the possibility... Bob Sellers • September 2, 2009 Bob Sellers But here we are, starting our next 25-year run, a prosperous and vibrant organization, with an incredible group of talented and dedicated members, some of whom have been with the group since it began; others who have joined the voyage only recently. As one of the original handful of "midwives" who helped give birth to the organization, I have occupied nearly every minister position in the FFSC over the years except for CEO. It seems appropriate that 25 years later, I volunteer for that role. This year's programs and events will follow our tradition of monthly meetings, local forays, long distance forays, and special culinary events. We also have changes in the works, including a new format for our mushroom ID class, led this season by Phil Carpenter. Details are included in this newsletter. We may also implement collecting trips before some of the classes. One of our premier events is the annual Fungus Fair in January, held in downtown Santa Cruz. We have co-produced the Fungus Fair with the City of Santa Cruz and the employees of the Museum of Natural History and the Museum Association for many years of the Fair’s history. The picture changed this year when the City’s budget crisis resulted in elimination of the paid Museum staff. In spite of these changes, we are now planning for the 2010 Fungus Fair in cooperation with the Natural History Museum Association. Your help in volunteering for the fair is more crucial than ever. The proceeds from sales at the Fungus Fair represent a substantial percentage of our yearly revenues, allowing the club to pay for such things as speakers and snacks at our meetings, equipment purchases, library additions and educational stipends to students studying mycology. Because the Fungus Fair is such a popular event, our publicity whiz member, Jim Maley, worked with a local California publication to write a piece about the Fungus Fair and FFSC. Look for the article in an upcoming issue of Sunset Magazine! Here's to a wet and wonderful mushroom season, everyone. Bob Sellers, CEO Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / Writings Haikus Celebrating the Secret Life of Fungi FFSC President Richard Lyness challenged the membership to come up with our own haikus based on the 2016 Fungus Fair theme, "The Secret Life of Fungi". Katherine (Kitty) Elvin • December 17, 2015 Albion Finds. Photo by Zachary Hunter Haiku is a Japanese poetry form. A haiku uses just a few words to create an image in the reader's mind. Traditionally the haiku is written in 3 lines: Five syllables Seven syllables Five syllables Here are haikus our members came up with. "The Secret Life of Fungi" Fungus fair haiku mycellium duff spores rain creative and fun -- Richard Lyness "Fall" Fall is upon us The secret life of fungi Soon to be revealed - -Kathy Welch "Untitled" Cleaning chanterelles Golden glow beneath the mud My, that’s a big one! --Deb "Mushroom haiku" What mushroom are you? Small brown job or something more? Rain drops light your top. --Shea "Red drops" Little red drops peek Hiding in the fuzzy duff Yellow lips glisten --Shea "Mushroom Haiku" First-rain scent rising Moss-quiet expectation Pathless, perfect woods --Susan Labiste "Mushroom Haiku" Matsutake bride In deep humis lies the mate holds her threaded veil --Susan Labiste "haiku" hyphae intertwine beneath the moist duff and soil primordia grow --Marjorie Young Share More Poetry You can share your haikus or other poetry on the FFSC Google Group, FFSC Facebook group, and/or (as of 2025) our new FFSC Discord channel! Join our conversations your favorite way. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts 40th Fungus Fair: Time lapse of the Island setup A Short History of the Fungus Fair Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

FFSC Bylaws FFSC's Bylaws encapsulate our organization's purpose and goals, and provide the structure needed to accomplish it all. You may not find the details as engaging a read as a good novel, but the document gives insight into how we're organized. Pilobolus. Photo by Judith Ogus The club voted on and approved a new set of bylaws on April 21, 2026. Take a look, especially at the descriptions of the Ministerial duties! Perhaps you'll find an area where your interests and talents can find a home, either as a future minister or as part of a ministerial subcommittee. FFSC Revised Bylaws 2026 .pdf Download PDF • 238KB Members Only Content Login Join FFSC

News & Stories / Phil Carpenter receives Knighton Award at Appalachia NAMA 2023 Phil Carpenter, FFSC Science Advisor, has been awarded the 2023 Harry and Elsie Knighton Service Award by the North American Mycological Association (NAMA) ! Sue Willis • August 3, 2023 Phil Carpenter receiving Knighton Award. Photo credit: Brennon Strnad The Harry and Elsie Knighton Service Award was established by the NAMA Board of Trustees to recognize and encourage persons who have distinguished themselves in service to their local clubs. It is named for the Knightons, whose efforts began the North American Mycological Association in 1967. The annual award consists of: A plaque Publicity for the winner and club in The Mycophile A one-year membership in the organization Rregistration, housing and foray fees for the next NAMA Foray. Each year's recipient is selected by the three most recent recipients of the Award. Every NAMA-affiliated mycological club may nominate one candidate whom it feels has performed meritorious service during the current or preceding year, which has to be described! The North American Mycological Association (NAMA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of professional and amateur mycologists with over 90 affiliated mycological societies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Phil was presented with the award at the 2023 NAMA National Foray in North Carolina, with over 400 amateur and professional mycologists in attendance. Read a summary of Phil's contributions on pages 9-11 of The Mycophile Quarterly (July August September 2023 issue). Phil Carpenter. (Photo credit: Dan Tischler) Congratulations, Phil! Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Field Report - 2021 NAMA Foray Grandby CO Time Lapsed Laetiporous Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

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

News & Stories / The Season Begins A poem, while we all wait in anticipation of the first coastal rains that bring the autumn boletes and a wealth of fungal fruiting. Regardless of your preference for edibles and/or rich fungal diversity, it is difficult to ignore each passing day that brings us closer to local forays. Bill McGuire • September 1, 2010 Boletus edulis. © Alan Rockefeller (from mushroomobserver.org The sounds and smells of fall in the air, fat pumpkins lying in the fields Wood smoke rising lazily, moon in apogee, full, the summer yields A quiet breeze rustles the leaves, leaving only a faint sound Like the flutter of the Fairies’ wings heard in ghostly flight The leaves winter colored, frost crisp’d, dry in their season of death Slowly twist, and then suddenly free, fall silently to the ground Warm mists of October, November rains, fairy rings up last night Baskets ready, anticipation, mushrooms thrusting, pounding hearts A good day, baskets full, shadows long, campfire blazing, happy sounds Of those dying leaves, give thanks, they have had their season in the sun Their short life has run, in their dying commences a new life, the fungal mycelium Mushrooms, in their turn, become the leaves; their life cycle then to be o’er As nature intended, their day in the rain has quickly run, ad infinitum Mushroom lovers: observe the leaves as they twist and turn and fall to mother earth Observe, prepare, it’s soon our turn, our day in the sun, and our season of rebirth —Bill McGuire 2010 Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Haikus Celebrating the Secret Life of Fungi Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

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

Vinegar Pickled Mushrooms Mushrooms that have been properly pickled in vinegar can last for years. They be eaten as an appetizer, or incorporated into other recipes. ... Caption This preservation approach involves pickling with vinegar in boiling water bath. The acidic environment created by the use of vinegar prevents the growth of Clostridium botulinum , the bacterium responsible for botulism. Advantages of vinegar pickling May be stored in pantry if processed in a water bath. Can be flavored with different vinegars, herbs, etc. if desired. Mushrooms are pre-seasoned and ready to use as an appetizer or in recipes Works well for substantial mushrooms such as Bolete buttons, Chanterelles, Russula spp . Works well for mushrooms with bolder flavors. Disadvantages of vinegar pickling Pronounced vinegar flavor can overpower delicate mushrooms. Does not work well for less substantial mushrooms. Objective: Storage/Prep Total Time: Approx. 40 minutes Suggested Mushrooms: See code Equipment and/or Ingredients Equipment Canning pot and rack Sterilized canning jars and lids Ingredients IMPORTANT : The following recipe can be varied with regard to seasoning, but one must strictly observe the quantity of vinegar . Fresh mushrooms (I use very small porcini, chanterelles) boiled in salted water for 5 minutes Pickling Marinade, per liter: 1 liter water ¾ C vinegar 1 Tbl salt 1 tsp sugar Peppercorns Mustard seed Allspice Juniper berries Laurel leaves Method Boil water with vinegar. Add seasonings. Place the hot mushrooms in the hot sterilized jar, and pour the pickling marinade over them while still hot , ensuring that all the mushrooms are covered and leaving ½” headspace. Screw the lid shut. Pasteurize the mushrooms in a hot water canning bath to boil for 10 minutes (see the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving if you’re not familiar with canning). Check jars for leakage by turning them upside down on a cloth until the next morning. If any leak, you can eat them in a day or so (keep in the refrigerator), but do not preserve for later . Intact (non-leaking) jars should then be placed in a cool, dark place, where they will keep for years. Special request : If you have pickled your own mushrooms in vinegar, would you be willing to send us a photo of your completed container? We'd love to replace the stock photo at the top of this page with a member's photo! See Showcase a Photo for information about how to submit a photo. Previous Technique All Techniques Next Technique

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. Each year brings a unique selection of tasty mushroom dishes, and may include wine pairing, music, and/or other activities. Tickets to the After Hours Dinner usually go on sale in early December, and sell out quickly. (Fungus Fair General admission tickets do not include the dinner.) Examples of Past Dinners 2025 Menu presented by Chef Chad Hyatt Wine pairings by Jeff Emery, Winemaker, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Live music by George Heagerty & Never the Same Members Only Content Login Join FFSC

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

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