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News & Stories / Fair News Fungus Fair 2003 Recap The Fungus Fair for 2003 is now a pleasant memory; I hope everyone had the opportunity to attend. We had 2700 attendees over the two days and close to 300 attending the Friday evening reception. 251 species were recorded. Phil Carpenter • February 1, 2003 2003 Fungus Fair ID table As chairman of the FFSC planning committee, I would like to acknowledge those responsible for the different aspects of the event and to thank all of those people who put in so many hours of effort to produce a successful fair. The planning committee for the fair includes personnel from the Santa Cruz City Museum of Natural History (it is actually their event!) and the following other FFSC members: Marje and Henry Young, Mark Gillespie, John Brown and Dan Farber. Specific contributions were provided by the following people: Exhibit layout and design, and setup - Marje Young, Debbie Johnson, Horst Kuhlman Labels - Marje Young Vendors - Debbie Johnson FFSC Stores – Monise Brown Reception decor – Vernetta McGuire Collecting forays - Ken Sommers and John Brown Duff collection for displays - John Brown Art exhibit - Marilyn Fenn Kids room - Ken Sommers Mushroom identification - Henry Young, Dan Farber, Mark Gillespie, John Brown, J.R. Blair, Mike Wood (MSSF), Bill Maxfield, Nathan Wilson and Phil Carpenter. Speakers - by committee, contacts by Phil Carpenter Jennifer Switzer, Deb Munoz, Patria Brown and Vernetta McGuire after setting up for the 2003 Fungus Fair Reception Contributors include all of the many volunteers who helped throughout the setup and weekend, in addition to those named above. We wish we could thank everyone individually. Rest assured, we couldn’t do it without you! If you have any specific input to the fair committee on how to improve the fair, we would welcome your contribution. Opinion polls were collected during the fair and will be assessed for feedback, both positive and negative. We will be meeting again soon to have a debriefing of this year’s fair so that we can start right away on next year’s. Sofia Clemens decided that she would attend the 2003 Fungus Fair dressed as a mushroom Again, many thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of our fungus fair. It was a pleasure working with you and I look forward to continuing next year. Phil Carpenter, Fair Coordinator Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts 2005 Fungus Fair Wrap Up A Short History of the Fungus Fair Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / A Short History of the Fungus Fair At our recent club meeting, Phil Carpenter shared how FFSC and the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair came to be. Here's a video recap of his talk! Vellany Pierce • January 6, 2014 Phil Carpenter gives a short history of FFSC and the Fungus Fair Learn more on our FFSC History page! Come and celebrate the Fair with us at Louden Nelson Center in Santa Cruz this coming weekend: January 10th, 2014: 3-7 Sat 11th, 2014: 10-5 Sun 12th, 2014: 10-5 Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Fungus Fair Sculpture at the Wharf Haikus Celebrating the Secret Life of Fungi Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Pilobolus sp. Photo by Judith Ogus Pilobolus Fungus Judith Ogus Found the fungus on horse manure and used a 200mm macro lens for the photo and Canon40D body. Camera Canon40D Focal L. 200mm Aperture Shutter Sp. ISO Flash Photo taken on April 20, 2019 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

News & Stories / Field Reports Big Bend as a Potential Foray Location? We're planning for the Echo Summit foray as I write this article. This reminds me of a trip my wife Toni and I took this summer. Mark Gillespie • October 1, 2001 Boletus edulis. © Darvin DeShazer (from mushroomobserver.org) We visited some hot springs in Big Bend near Mt. Shasta. They are listed in Marjorie Young's-. guide to Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Southwest. Most of you know her as one of our former FFSC CEOs. I mention it here because Toni and I were impressed with the habitat surrounding Big Bend on the Pit River. It looks like a great place for a foray in the fall after the rains get going. Lots of pines mixed with oaks that should produce boletes. One of the issues that get raised by some of our members is how crowded our long distance forays have become. As our group grows in size and popularity, this becomes more of an issue. We try to keep our eyes out for new foray sites and are looking forward to developing some new locations. One advantage of Big Bend are the hot springs. These are some of the hottest Toni and I have visited. There are some natural Indian springs that flow out of a hillside. They travel from pool to pool until emptying into the Pit River. They are truly sensational in a beautiful forest setting. There is some primitive camping at a former resort that is being rebuilt. This could allow us to enjoy two great pursuits, mushrooms and soaking! Keep your ears out as we plan this a little further. If you have any suggestions for foray sites, both local and long distance, please let us know. The best way to do this is at one of our minister's meetings on the second Wednesday of each month. It's also a good place to stay abreast of coming events as they are planned and discussed. One of the other complaints I hear comes from members who feel left out. As some of our popular forays fill up far in advance, attending minister's meetings is the best way to stay involved. You will definitely be kept appraised of which forays and culinary events have space left and can get your registration in early. We can also use fresh ideas and energy to keep developing the federation. If I don't get to see you at Echo Summit, it's already a good time to reserve space in Albion for December. Mark Gillespie, CEO Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

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

News & Stories / Hats Off — A Note of Thanks from the Minister of Propaganda It has been a pleasure serving the club this season through the design and development of the Duff . Madeleine Wyke • May 1, 2001 Hydnum oregonense. © Gordon Walker (CC-BY-NC) (from inaturalist.org, obs. 148047408) Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Notes from the Outgoing CEO Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / 2019 Elections. May 15 2019 Tired of politics? Here is your opportunity to engage in fairly non-controversial and rewarding issues on a very local level, without a grueling, eye-rolling 2 year campaign period! Sue Willis • March 19, 2019 You're the missing piece! (based on a photo by Katherine Elvin) The Fungus Federation is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We have all the trappings, including a set of bylaws and a Board of Directors, known as Ministers in Fungusfedspeak. Elections are held every two years at the last meeting of the season. This year's elections will be held at the Membership meeting on May 15th at the Harvey West Scout House. Below you'll find a list of the Board Members up for election. Please note that only the Prime Minister and Vice Prime Minister positions require having served previously as a board member. The other positions can be held by any FFSC member. This is a super opportunity to get involved in the operation of the Fungus Federation, direct and shape the club's activities, and get to know a great group of people. Again, THIS IS AN ELECTION! You can step up for any office, even if there is already a name listed. Several positions have provisional candidates who are open to either stepping aside for an enthusiastic new person. To get a sense of what is entailed in these positions, check out the Ministerial Duties in the bylaws, see if anything looks interesting, and chat up the relevant ministers. They'll be happy to talk about what they do so you can see if a particular job might be a good fit. Let Prime Minister Vellany Pierce know if you'd like to participate! Elected Positions: Prime Minister : Vellany Pierce Vice Prime Ministe r: Open - Richard Rammer will run but would welcome an actual race (or perhaps step aside for another candidate) Minister of Propaganda: Open - Kitty Elvin will continue but welcomes new volunteers contribute to this position. Minister of the Exchequer (Finance) : Margaret Carpenter Minister of Membership: Open Minister of Programs: Richard Lyness has volunteered to return to this position, but is open to stepping aside for a fresh contributor. Minister of Long Distance Forays: Open - Kitty Elvin will continue if necessary but would love to pass this essential and rewarding position on. Minister of Local Forays : Dan Tischler. Dan would like to form a Local Foray Committee to increase variety and frequence of local forays. Scribe: Andrea Wilson can continue or pass to an aspiring scribe. Super intro position, no knowledge of mushrooms necessary. Stores : Andrea Wilson Science Advisors: Henry Young, Christian Schwarz, Phil Carpenter Appointed Positions: These positions are not part of this year's elections process, but please let Vellany Pierce or a board member know if you have an interest in one of these! Sustenance : Bob Wynn Culinary : Bob Wynn continues in Culinary and would welcome a co-conspirator for planning and setup duties Video/Media : Vellany Pierce, welcomes members of potential media committee Website : Open Education : Jeanne Gonda Fair : Les Seltzer NAMA Representative: Phil Carpenter Minister at Large : Open . The updated elected ministers are found at this page: FFSC Ministers Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts FFSC Bylaws 2026 Revision Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / Fair News 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. Peter Mu • January 20, 2026 Visitors enjoying outdoor vendors at the 2026 Fair This year, the 52nd fair reached more people, more deeply, than ever before. More than 3,500 attendees joined us over the weekend. 12 educational talks drew an estimated 1,100 participants, while 300+ children and adults explored hands-on learning through mushroom crafts, dyeing, face painting, and creative play. 75 guests gathered for a special after-hours mushroom dinner and wine pairings. It was also an exceptional year for mycological research: 275 mushroom specimens were collected, sampled, and submitted for DNA sequencing during the Fair, contributing valuable data to the broader scientific community and advancing our shared knowledge of fungal biodiversity. Plus, over 6,800 mushroom observations were recorded in the 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair MycoBlitz project on iNaturalist! The Fair reinvested directly into the local ecosystem—paying over $6,000 to speakers, mycologists and students; supporting partners such as the London Nelson Community Center and the Museum of Natural History; and providing 26 local artisans and small businesses with vending opportunities , while incurring no overhead cost to FFSC. None of this happens without volunteers. 169 volunteers filled 94.9% of all positions during the Fair, contributing over 500 hours of service collectively. Volunteers collected and identified specimens, set up and disassembled exhibits, staffed doors and tables, loaded and unloaded trucks, educated the community, and supported each other. Many of you committed your entire weekend and more to the event. The Fungus Fair is more than an annual event. It is a living expression of FFSC’s mission—education made accessible, science made communal, and appreciation for fungi shared widely. I’d like to take a moment to express my deeply felt gratitude towards all the volunteers who made the event possible--especially to members of the Fungus Fair Committee who tirelessly volunteered throughout the year to plan and implement this event. Thank you. Peter Mu Co-Chair, Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Committee Keeping the FUN in FUNgus at the 2026 Fair After Hours Dinner Trametes betulina and versicolor at the 2026 Fungus Fair Visitors exploring the craft room at the 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Doug Smith shows iNaturalist at the 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair 2026 Fungus Fair attendees browsing display. Photo by Shea Moss Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts A Short History of the Fungus Fair Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Logo Design Contest 2026 Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

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 . by Cortinarius Fomes fomentarius amadou tinder. Photo by S Labiste F fomentarius (2014). Photo by Walt Sturgeon A while back, four small specimens of Fomes fomentarius were gifted to me by a friend returning from the FFSC Alaska foray. I was delighted, but not for the usual reasons. 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. In Europe, back in the day when flint and steel started your fire, “German tinder” was sold. It was an industry of sorts involving the collection of Fomes fomentarius , a birch-loving conk. From this fungus, a light brown felt was produced with the feel and look of soft buckskin. This fungal felt is commonly known as “amadou”. This processed polypore felt had many uses. It could be fashioned into clothing like hats and vests when leather was scarce. But for German tinder, it was saturated with salt peter (potassium nitrate). This is the same stuff that gives gunpowder much of its explosive force. The folks who made the tinder didn’t necessarily know the chemistry, but they sure knew how to make tinder “quick”, quick to catch fire that is. The source for this salt came from soiled straw from stables heaps. Piled in rows, the urea in this stable waste underwent bacterial decomposition to form first calcium nitrite, then eventually calcium nitrate. Water was poured through the heap, collected, then filtered through white wood ash (containing potassium carbonate). The calcium nitrate salt converts to potassium nitrate as it reacts with the potassium carbonate. This nitrate rich solution was then decanted, sopped up with the amadou, then dried. Natural sources of potassium nitrate crystals can sometimes be collected directly from bat cave walls and old stables. ( A note of caution here . If you try this at home, and you get a little too much saltpeter in your amadou, be prepared for an explosion rather than “quick” tinder. Burn injury is a real risk.) Fomes fomentarius amadou tinder. Photo by S Labiste But Germany’s tinder manufacturers were not the first to discover the relationship between Fomes fomentarius and fire. Long before nitrate-enhanced amadou was in use, before Europe even had cities, this fungus was in use as a tinder. In 1991 a late Neolithic man melted out of a glacier in the Ötztal region of the Italian Alps. Ötzi, as he came to be named, carried tinder fungus ( Fomes fomentarius ). He may also have carried it for its medicinal qualities, but his knife shows traces of marcasite, so he apparently used the knife as a striker in his pyrite/flint fire kit. The last time he used the kit was 5,400 years ago. Most likely he needed the Fomes fomentarius he carried to kindle a fire in that alpine winter environment. Even without creating a fungal felt, the trauma layer of this conk can be scraped into a fluffy mass then ignited with a small spark. The term “amadou” can mean either the felt or the fluff from this fungus. To appreciate amadou one has to realize how difficult it can be to obtain really good tinder material in the wild. I’m talking about tinder that will catch a spark from flint and steel or flint and pyrite/marcasite without first being charred. Most flint and steel enthusiasts use charred punk wood, charred cotton cloth, or charred plant pith. Unless you carry some form of charcloth in the field with you, you have to first make a fire to make the charcloth. If you are relying on flint and steel or flint and pyrite for that fire, you are in a bit of a fix without charcloth. So it’s useful to know about tinders that work without charring. Mors Kochansky, survival guru of the boreal forest, teaches the processing and use of this tinder material. Amadou isn’t the only good tinder, but it sure is an appealing one. You will see Fomes fomentarius referred to as both "tinder fungus" and "false tinder fungus". It is also known as "horse hoof" fungus, "tinder polypore", "tinder conk" and "touchwood fungus" among others. Even more confusing, the term “false tinder fungus” is applied to both Fomes fomentarius and to a similar birch-loving conk, Phellinus igniarius . Common names can be confusing since they vary depending on the region. The terms tinder fungus and true tinder fungus are also used to describe an entirely different fungus, Inonotus obliquus (chaga). Chaga is an incredible tinder which can be used without processing, or it can be powdered, but it does not produce a felt. Like Fomes fomentarius , it is found on birch (though not exclusively birch) and is rare in our area. Amadou felt had other uses. It has an amazing ability to absorb moisture. Dentists once used it to dry teeth before a blast of air came into vogue. Podiatrists used it to pack the sides of toenails prone to inflammation. It has been used to staunch bleeding and to serve as a wound dressing. To this day fly fishermen use it to dry fishing flies and it can be purchased on line. It has medicinal qualities, was used as a razor strop, and it is even used to make “smoking hats”… wait, a flammable hat for smoking? What were those Germans and Hungarians thinking? https://medium.com/@istvan.daraban/the-worlds-last-amadou-makers-korond-iii-9694114ffa4a Then too, the tube layer has its use in relation to fire. A small section of the tubes, set to rest in a pool of fat or oil becomes a wick for a candle. It draws the liquid to the flame and remains unconsumed until the oil is completely burned. It, and the tubes of other polypores, appear to have been used as wicks in the fat lamps of Cro-Magnon man. No wonder it flaunts its relationship to fire in its name. The Latin word fōmĕs means touchwood or tinder. Mushrooms covered: Fomes fomentarius (tinder fungus, hoof fungus) Previous Description All Featured Fungi Next Description

News & Stories / 38th Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Rocked! The 38th Annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair was a huge success under the capable leadership of our fair co-chairs, Rene Barone and Phil Carpenter. We opened at 3:00 on Friday to a surprisingly large group of attendees. Wendy Wells • February 1, 2012 Mushrooms with banana slug. Illustration by Kelly Finan for 2012 Fair All workshops, talks and cooking demonstrations were heavily attended and we had over 200 species on display. A special thank-you to all our volunteers is in order. The Fair is run entirely on volunteer time and we could not do it without you! Kudos also to the Fair Committee members who work throughout the year to plan, organize and execute the many projects required to create a fair. And a very special thank-you to our foray participants. The challenges of a dry and rain-less winter were met above and beyond expectations. Many of you forayed far and wide to gather species and make the fair a success. Login to see all our volunteers below! Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts 2007 Fungus Fair — Thank You Fungus Fair 2009 — Better Than Ever! Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / Field Reports 2013 Echo Summit Foray Recap Our 2013 Echo Summit foray was met with stunning early Autumn weather, warm sunny days and clear night skies. The view from the California Alpine Club lodge was amazing and the company exceptional. Wendy Wells • September 21, 2013 Echo Summit Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Echo Summit 2015 Foray Report Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / Website Review: James Arthur — Wisdom or Balderdash? Flaky? Really flaky? Compelling? It's hard to deny that his ideas are thought-provoking... Larry Payne • March 1, 2000 Pleuroflammula subsulphurea. © Alan Rockefeller (CC-BY) (from inaturalist.org, obs. 395496334) It may be that the first time you check out his website you might find it a little flaky. Then again, it may be that after reflecting on what this guy has to say, after giving yourself enough time to digest his theory, you may just come away thinking the site is really flaky. Or, you may find it compelling. But no matter how you feel, it would be hard to deny that his ideas are thought-provoking. The website* is the home of James Arthur .. . James Arthur ... James Arthur .... (There, now you get an idea how the website begins. I felt like I was listening to one of those old Saturday Night Live Al Franken bits where he kept repeating "Hi, I'm Al Franken.") However, once you can get past all the self promoting (though his resume does sound pretty impressive) you finally arrive at the real purpose of the website, James Arthur's commentary on the theory that mushrooms played a vital role in the development of early religion and social development. Be prepared to take a good hour or two pondering James Arthur's wisdom or balderdash, depending on your take of his presentation. My own reaction was this: Deep (whether in thought or manure I'll leave for you to guess), tedious, nice pictures. * The original website link was compromised, so you can preview James Arthur's book on Google Books if you're curious: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Mushrooms_and_Mankind/qSL9jRTzXx4C?hl=en Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article