News & Stories / Fungus Fair Raffle sends FFSC Member to Todd Spanier Weekend One of the highlights of the Fungus Fair is our Raffle with many awesome items raffled off during the two day event. Rene Barone • February 1, 2011 Our new poster series, a cooperative effort by Erin Page Blanchard, Christian Schwarz, Noah Siegel, and Marje Young. Photo by Hugh Smith This years raffle included many generous donors (listed below). The Grand Prize was a trip to Todd Spanier’s Anderson Valley Culinary Weekend – won this year by FFSC Member Austin Stowell. A special thank-you also to Monterey Mushrooms for their generous donation of mushrooms utilized during the cooking demonstrations. Raffle Donors Carpenter’s Custom Cutlery FUNGI Magazine Gelato Massimo India Joze JustMushroomStuff.Com King of Mushrooms La Posta Restaurant Light Energy Glass Lucy Martin Art Angela Mele Ma Maison Restaurant Fred Molnar Shea Moss Monterey Mushrooms Jeannine Niehaus Oswald Restaurant Brian & Ruth Salisbury Nate & Erika Seagraves Gale Lee Still The True Olive Connection Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

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

Craterellus tubaeformis. Photo by Yevgeny Nyden Winter Chanterelles Bunch (Craterellus tubaeformis) Yevgeny Nyden Craterellus tubaeformis is an edible fungus, also known as yellowfoot, winter mushroom, winter chanterelle, and funnel chanterelle. Camera Panasonic DMC-GX1 Focal L. 14mm Aperture f/3.5 Shutter Sp. 1/10s ISO 1600 Flash Off Photo taken on January 26, 2013 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

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

Weathered Morel (2014). Photo by Hugh Smith Weathered Morel Hugh Smith Formerly called Morchella elata (which is now known not to exist in North America). Camera (Not provided) Focal L. Aperture Shutter Sp. ISO Flash Photo taken on May 18, 2014 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

Candy Cap & Sage Pork Tenderloin This savory Candy Cap dish delighted members at one of our long-distance foray dinners. ... Candy caps. Photo by Hugh Smith This savory Candy Cap recipe is the creation of Bernard Glim. It was served at one of our epic El Dorado Long-Distance Foray potlucks to great acclaim. Objective: Main Course Total Time: 1 hour Yield: 6-8 servings Suggested Mushrooms: See code Ingredients 2 lbs. pork tenderloin 2 - 3 Tbl dried, finely chopped candy caps 2 Tbl finely chopped fresh sage Salt & freshly ground black pepper 4 Tbl butter 2 - 3 Tbl Dijon mustard 1 1/2 c heavy cream Baby red or white potatoes (garnish) Parsley (garnish) Method Meat Directions Rub the tenderloins with salt and pepper.  Mix the candy caps and sage, and apply as a dry rub all over the tenderloins. Melt butter in a large skillet (with lid for later use). Cook over medium heat, turning occasionally, until deeply and evenly browned. Reduce heat to low, cover skillet and simmer for about 45 minutes, turning occasionally. Center of tenderloin should reach 145°. Transfer meat to a warmed serving dish and keep warm while finishing the sauce. Sauce Directions Stir the mustard into the pan juices. Pour in the cream to deglaze the pan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes until hot but not boiling. Serving Suggestion Carve meat into serving pieces. Arrange some boiled and halved baby red or white potatoes around meat. Pour part of sauce over tenderloin slices and potatoes; garnish with parsley. The remaining sauce can be served in a gravy boat. Previous Recipe All Recipes Next Recipe

I Took a Walk. Helvella lacunosa (fluted black elfin saddle). Photo by Kaye Peyron I took a Walk Kaye Peyron Found in Watsonville, CA. During this time of year it was rainy and cold. At first we almost missed it because it was under all these leaves. We did not collect this baby elfin for it needed more time to grow before consideration of collecting. Camera Canon EOS 60D Focal L. 85mm Aperture f/5.6 Shutter Sp. 1/100s ISO 1000 Flash Off Photo taken on March 1, 2019 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

News & Stories / My Adventures in Telluride Colorado I was in full mushroom frenzy. Those of you who have seen me hunting know what that means. Porcini, hawkwings, chanterelles, milk caps and many assorted other fungi. Katherine (Kitty) Elvin • September 3, 2019 Kitty Helvella I don't know why, but I had this strange desire to attend the annual Telluride Mushroom Festival in Colorado. I wanted to do this so much it made it my bucket list. I loved the idea of the Festival parade which seemed like a small town parade where folks dressed up as mushrooms. Hearing about the great mushrooms in Colorado did not hurt either. This year, I finally managed to get this Festival on my schedule and I was not disappointed. Majestic Colorado Have you ever visited the Colorado Rockies? It is beautiful. I managed to coerce my friend Genine, another FFSC member, to join me on my adventure and agree to dress up with me for the parade which was the highlight of my trip. This became my sole focus and bucket list item, "to walk in the Telluride festival dressed as a mushroom". No silly Amanita hat for me, for my bucket list it had to be a costume I made. After months of agonizing what to do, I finally got around to make the costume. It took 3 weekends and probably only 6 hours of actual work not including the hours agonizing how to make my vision a reality. Then it was done, and no one was allowed to see until I pranced onto the parade for the "grand reveal". Telluride is NOT a cheap event. The festival tickets are $240 for the early bird tickets. Lodging around Telluride is also pricey, unless you plan on camping out nearby. Adding the plane fare and car rental it all adds up. We landed in Colorado and got into the car and headed to the Rockies. It reminded me of Alaska. The majestic mountains with snow and trees. This was Genine's first time in Colorado and she was amazed. 3 little agarics We spent most of our time hiking in the mountains. Our first festival event was the all day foray led by Chad Hyatt and Chris from the Colorado club. Telluride is located about 8000-9000'. The foray took us to 10,000 to 11,000'. We found mushrooms but for me, each exertion was tough. I had difficulty with the elevation, and it was hard for me not to slow down. It took 3 full days for the acclimation to finally set. By then, I was in full mushroom frenzy. For those of you who have seen me hunting know what that means. Porcini, hawkwings, chanterelles, milk caps and many assorted other fungi. I made a point of collecting fresh specimens for the table. I did however make some of other festival events: Wild Foods Lecture by Katrina Blair which was more focused bio remediation which was very interesting, Wild Food dinner, Beer and Wine happy hour (cordyceps and reishi beer), and the keynote speaker Tradd Cotter who also focused on bio remediation. Here is a link to the events . The festival was trying out a new scheduling experiment, which I felt was trying. You had to line up to get the limited tickets for some of the events. Unfortunately the locations are around town and the overlapping of events do not allow you to stand in line 20 mins before, while you were attending another at a different location. You can plan very carefully what, where and when and for the cost, not being able to attend was frustrating for many ticket holders. Since I was hiking most days it was not possible for me. Here is the link to the festival if you are interested. Everyone should check it out if you can. All in all, it was a fun extended weekend. Lots of good food, good folks, interesting lectures and plenty of nature to explore. Definitely something to do again. Yes, we did find mushrooms in Colorado, and it was as beautiful as everyone says. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts 2016 Alaska Foray Field Report How I Spent My Summer Vacation Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Hymenoscyphus fructigenus on Acorn. Photo by Anisa Etemadi Mushy Acorn Anisa Etemadi This acorn was found under a decomposing log in the Santa Cruz mountains. The photo was taken by Anisa Etemadi and the acorn was found by Zac Vavoulis. We believe they are Hymenoscyphus fructigenus , a saprobic mushroom found on only certain nuts! Camera Apple iPhone 6s Focal L. 4mm Aperture f/2.2 Shutter Sp. 1/300s ISO 100 Flash Off Photo taken on December 11, 2016 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

Coprinopsis lagopus gr. © Terry Way Coprinopsis Lagopus Group Terry Way This beautiful mushroom was found in Terry's backyard. Phil Carpenter pegs it as being in the Coprinopsis lagopus group. One of the Inky Caps, this exquisite and evanescent member of the Psathyrellaceae family is a feast for the eyes. Not for the table, though: this tiny mushroom is considered inedible. Camera Canon EOS 5D Mark III Focal L. 100mm Aperture f/22.0 Shutter Sp. ISO 10000 Flash Off Photo taken on September 29, 2014 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

Jason Raiti Botany-Mycology Graduate Student Pringle Lab | University of Wisconsin–Madison I’m Jason Raiti—a mycologist, educator, and creative technologist. I’m currently pursuing a graduate degree in Botany at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where I study the evolutionary morphology of Amanita spores in the Pringle Lab. My research integrates ecology, phylogenetics, and computational analysis, with a strong focus on science communication and fungal conservation. I also serve as a board member for the Wisconsin Mycological Society, where I run our speaker series. Prior to joining UW–Madison, I served as a board member of the Central Texas Mycological Society, where I led hands-on workshops in low-tech mushroom cultivation and wild-to-agar cloning. My work has included cultivating bioluminescent fungi in Brazil, co-authoring a paper on robotic water sampling for IROS, and contributing to NASA-affiliated robotics projects, including an autonomous lunar rover and a space-trash cleaning robot! I am also passionate about teaching, interdisciplinary collaboration, and finding unexpected intersections between science, technology, and creativity. From developing conservation-themed mobile games to generating mushroom-inspired AI art and poetry, I aim to foster curiosity and accessible engagement with the natural world. Outside of academia, I enjoy doing anything outdoors- hiking, foraging, surfing, climbing, running etc. I also love to play guitar and make any kind of art or poetry. I believe that creativity and science are deeply intertwined, and I strive to bring a sense of wonder and playfulness to everything I do. Botany-Mycology Graduate Student Pringle Lab | University of Wisconsin–Madison 2026 Jason Raiti 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets Fungi in Art Through Space and Time 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 poetry, to… Show More Saturday, January 10, 2026 8:40 PM - 9:40 PM Room 3 The Mystery of Amanita phalloides A deep dive into the literature in an accessible form, to tell the story of the invasive fungus Amanita phalloides. This is not your… Show More Sunday, January 11, 2026 8:40 PM - 9:40 PM Room 3

News & Stories / Mycology & Art News The Wood Wide Web (from the BBC) Most of us know many species of fungi form mycorrhyzal relatonships with plants... but it hasn't always been clear what exactly they are doing and who is benefiting from this relationship. Sue Labiste • November 18, 2014 At Eldorado National Forest (2016). Photo by Anne Dyari Discoveries about chemical warfare, defense communication, protection, food sharing and assistance are all outlined in this fascinating article as part of a "wood wide web" network. This article is written about the ongoing science without a lot of technical detail. So, for anyone who finds the scientific jargon or the myriad of papers difficult to wade through, this is fascinating light reading. This BBC article was suggested by Geary Lyons of BAMs. I hope you enjoy it. https://web.archive.org/web/20141112121629/http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20141111-plants-have-a-hidden-internet Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Microscopy of Gilled Mushrooms Chanterelle Look Alike Rewriting Evolutionary History Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article