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Kyle Garrone Production Manager, Far West Fungi Kyle Garrone holds a degree in Plant Biology from the University of California, Davis with a focus on plant pathology and mycology. He has been the Production Manager of Far West Fungi since graduating from UC Davis in 2010, with his primary focus on increasing yields and experimenting with new varieties of mushrooms that have potential for wholesale customers. Kyle has traveled throughout the world to find the most successful and efficient growing methods and the most resilient and highest yielding mushroom varieties. He enjoys sharing what he has learned with those who are interested in exotic mushroom cultivation. farwestfungi.com Far West Fungi - Organic Mushrooms, Grow Kits & Mushroom Products Far West Fungi grows and sells fresh organically grown and wild mushrooms, mushroom grow kits and mushroom products. Kyle Garrone Upcoming Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets Commercial Mushroom Cultivation Sunday, January 11, 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Room 1 Mushroom Cultivation Sunday, January 12, 2025 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 Mushroom Cultivation: Passive and Active Systems Passive and active systems-Kyle will discuss different methods of using the natural environment and appropriate technologies to maximize yields and efficiencies. Applicable for growers… Show More Sunday, January 14, 2024 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Room 1 Past Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Commercial Mushroom Cultivation 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 11, 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Room 1 Mushroom Cultivation 2025 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 12, 2025 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 Mushroom Cultivation: Passive and Active Systems Passive and active systems-Kyle will discuss different methods of using the natural environment and appropriate technologies to maximize yields and efficiencies. Applicable for growers of all sizes. 2024 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 14, 2024 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Room 1

Henry Young FFSC Science Advisor, Foray & ID Specialist, Willamette Valley Mushroom Society Henry moved to Salem, Oregon in 2016 from Santa Cruz. He is active with the Willamette Valley Mushroom Society teaching a mushroom ID class for members and leading forays. Henry is an amateur mycologist who has collected and studied fungi for over 40 years. He started by taking identification classes with David Arora. He joined the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz in 1986 and has been a board member since 1987. Henry attended the San Francisco State University “Spring Fungi of the Sierra Nevada” course taught by Dr. Dennis Desjardin and several other workshops and classes dealing with various aspects of mycology. He has been a contributor to mushroom identification for the Willamette Valley, Santa Cruz and San Francisco Fungus Fairs. His name is on the NAMA call list to help identify mushrooms in poisoning cases. In between giving classes at the Fair, he works at the identification table helping to identify mushrooms. Besides a general interest in all types of fungi Henry has a particular interest in poisonous mushrooms, ascomycetes and lichens. Henry is also a member of the Cascade Mycological Society, BAMS and NAMA and has attended several national forays. Henry Young Upcoming Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets Poisonous Mushrooms Saturday, January 10, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 What You Need to Know About Poisonous Mushrooms Explore the intersection of poisonous mushrooms and people who accidentally or purposefully eat them. Toxic fungi from the deadly to the lose your lunch… Show More Sunday, January 11, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 3 A Discussion of Poisonous Mushrooms Saturday, January 11, 2025 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Room 1 What You Need to Know About Poisonous Mushrooms We will explore the intersection of poisonous mushrooms and people who accidentally or purposefully eat them. Toxic fungi from the deadly to the lose… Show More Saturday, January 11, 2025 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Room 3 A Survey of Poisonous Mushrooms Friday, January 10, 2020 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicity (Friday) Friday, January 12, 2018 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicity (Saturday) Saturday, January 13, 2018 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicity (Saturday) Friday, January 13, 2017 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicity (Sunday) Saturday, January 14, 2017 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicology (Friday) Friday, January 10, 2014 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicology (Saturday) Saturday, January 11, 2014 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicology (Friday) Friday, January 11, 2013 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicology (Sunday) Sunday, January 13, 2013 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Room 1 Past Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks What You Need to Know About Poisonous Mushrooms Explore the intersection of poisonous mushrooms and people who accidentally or purposefully eat them. Toxic fungi from the deadly to the lose your lunch bunch are covered, along with their impact on humans. 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 11, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 3 Poisonous Mushrooms 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 10, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 What You Need to Know About Poisonous Mushrooms We will explore the intersection of poisonous mushrooms and people who accidentally or purposefully eat them. Toxic fungi from the deadly to the lose your lunch bunch and their impact on humans will be covered. 2025 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 11, 2025 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Room 3 A Discussion of Poisonous Mushrooms 2025 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 11, 2025 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Room 1 A Survey of Poisonous Mushrooms 2020 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Friday, January 10, 2020 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicity (Saturday) 2018 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 13, 2018 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicity (Friday) 2018 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Friday, January 12, 2018 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicity (Sunday) 2017 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 14, 2017 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicity (Saturday) 2017 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Friday, January 13, 2017 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicology (Saturday) 2014 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 11, 2014 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicology (Friday) 2014 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Friday, January 10, 2014 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicology (Sunday) 2013 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 13, 2013 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Room 1 Mushroom Toxicology (Friday) 2013 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Friday, January 11, 2013 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM Room 1

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. Morgan Yacullo Upcoming Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets Past Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks

Chef Chad Hyatt Chef and Author Chef Chad Hyatt, the author of " The Mushroom Hunter's Kitchen ", is an expert forager and classically trained chef who has made a name for himself in northern California and beyond, sharing his delicious spin on wild mushroom cookery. He has cooked in a variety of restaurants and private clubs around the San Francisco Bay area, and these days, freelances. Chad can often be found foraging for mushrooms, putting on wild mushroom-themed dinners, and teaching mushroom-related classes around the United States. He is passionate about cooking approachable comfort food based on local, seasonal ingredients, and, of course, wild mushrooms. www.themushroomhunterskitchen.com The Mushroom Hunter's Kitchen A wild mushroom cookbook that reinvents what you thought possible with mushrooms, and that brings new life to classic comfort foods. Chef Chad Hyatt Upcoming Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets Question And Answer Session about Identifying and Cooking Wild Mushrooms Sunday, January 11, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Room 1 Mushroom Cooking Demo with Tasting and optional Wine Pairing Chef Chad Hyatt will demonstrate his cooking techniques and his creations will be paired with exquisite wines provided by vintner Jeff Emery of Santa… Show More Sunday, January 11, 2026 2:15 PM - 3:25 PM Room 3 A Mushroom Tasting with Wine Pairing Chef Chad Hyatt will demonstrate his cooking techniques and his creations will be paired with exquisite wines provided by vintner Jeff Emery of Santa… Show More Sunday, January 12, 2025 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM Room 3 Mushrooms, Not Just for Breakfast Anymore Chad will be demonstrating some of his favorite wild mushroom cooking techniques and recipes, with several samples to taste. Sunday, January 14, 2024 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Room 3 Mushrooms for the Table: Myths, Facts, Culture and Cooking. Saturday, January 11, 2020 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Room 1 Cooking Demonstration and Wine Pairing Chef Chad Hyatt pairing with owner and winemaker, Jeff Emery of Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards. Saturday, January 12, 2019 4:30 PM - 4:30 PM Room 3 All you wanted to know about mushrooms and how to cook with them A question and answer session. Sunday, January 13, 2019 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Room 1 Past Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Mushroom Cooking Demo with Tasting and optional Wine Pairing Chef Chad Hyatt will demonstrate his cooking techniques and his creations will be paired with exquisite wines provided by vintner Jeff Emery of Santa Cruz Mountain Vinyard. There will be a small extra fee to cover the cost of ingredients. All ages are welcome, but you must be over 21 to taste the wine. 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 11, 2026 2:15 PM - 3:25 PM Room 3 Question And Answer Session about Identifying and Cooking Wild Mushrooms 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 11, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Room 1 A Mushroom Tasting with Wine Pairing Chef Chad Hyatt will demonstrate his cooking techniques and his creations will be paired with exquisite wines provided by vintner Jeff Emery of Santa Cruz Mountain Vinyard. There will be a small extra fee to cover the cost of ingredients. All ages are welcome, but you must be over 21 to taste the wine. 2025 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 12, 2025 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM Room 3 Mushrooms, Not Just for Breakfast Anymore Chad will be demonstrating some of his favorite wild mushroom cooking techniques and recipes, with several samples to taste. 2024 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 14, 2024 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Room 3 Mushrooms for the Table: Myths, Facts, Culture and Cooking. 2020 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 11, 2020 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Room 1 All you wanted to know about mushrooms and how to cook with them A question and answer session. 2019 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 13, 2019 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Room 1 Cooking Demonstration and Wine Pairing Chef Chad Hyatt pairing with owner and winemaker, Jeff Emery of Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards. 2019 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 12, 2019 4:30 PM - 4:30 PM Room 3

Chef John Paul Lechtenberg Executive Chef at Hollins House in Santa Cruz Chef JP grew up eating Filipino and German recipes. His multicultural background afforded an interesting view on the “similarities but complete differences” in his first food experiences. Chef John Paul Lechtenberg Upcoming Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets Cooking Demonstration and Wine Pairing Saturday, January 13, 2018 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Room 3 Past Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Cooking Demonstration and Wine Pairing 2018 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 13, 2018 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Room 3

Chef Zachary Mazi Chef, author, and herbal medicine expert Chef Mazi has been studying herbal medicine and mushrooms for over 20 years, and combining these deep earth wisdoms with fine culinary cuisine. Classically trained in the art of French cuisine, with ventures into the wide array of New American and Pacific Northwest cuisine, Chef Zachary presents an organic, foraged, local, & imaginative experience in both global cuisine & dining. Igniting others with his contagious zest for life, he creates lasting inspiration with delicious recipes and lectures. In 2012, Food Is Medicine emerged as a co-project of Chef Zachary Mazi and partner Dr. Juli Mazi, ND; the aim of this organization if to help people worldwide understand that their choices in food matter greatly, and yet the pressure to eat can be lessened exponentially by sticking to intuitive, local and organic options. Visit the Food is Medicine page on Facebook for more information. Chef Zachary Mazi (originally printed in April 2013 issue of Duff, with permission) Upcoming Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets Cooking Demonstration Forest "Farmacy" to Kitchen: The Art of Haute Healing Friday, January 10, 2014 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Room 3 Kitchen Farmacy: Common Edible Mushrooms as Medicines Saturday, January 11, 2014 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Room 1 Past Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Kitchen Farmacy: Common Edible Mushrooms as Medicines 2014 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 11, 2014 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Room 1 Cooking Demonstration Forest "Farmacy" to Kitchen: The Art of Haute Healing 2014 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Friday, January 10, 2014 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Room 3

Dr. Bill Schoenbart Practitioner of Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture Dr. Bill Schoenbart is a practitioner of Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture with over 30 years of experience. He has been working with medicinal herbs since 1969, with a clinical practice in traditional Chinese herbal medicine since 1991. His work has taken him through every aspect of the herb industry: research, manufacturing, product safety, botanical identity, efficacy, label reviews, trade associations, teaching, and clinical practice. From a very young age, he has been fascinated by nature. He would spend hours each day exploring the forests, meadows, rivers, and ponds near his childhood home. Field guides to insects, animals, and plants were worn out from constant use. General science and biology classes were also his favorite subjects in school. So, it’s no coincidence that his career path led to a field that combines biology with botany. https://doctorbillschoenbart.com/ herbalproductconsulting.com Home - Herbal Product Consulting Make better, more effective, safer and more compliant products by working with Herbal Product Consulting. Learn more here or call us at 831-466-0980. Dr. Bill Schoenbart Upcoming Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets Medicinal Mushrooms Traditional Usage in Chinese Medicine and Modern Scientific Research Medicinal mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. They have also been the subject of numerous scientific studies in recent… Show More Saturday, January 10, 2026 3:50 PM - 4:50 PM Room 3 Energetics of Medicinal Mushrooms in Traditional Chinese Medicine: How they Work Along with Herbs to Treat Various Conditions Sunday, January 11, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 Medicinal Mushrooms Science and Traditional Usage Medicinal mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. They have also been the subject of numerous scientific studies in recent… Show More Saturday, January 11, 2025 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Room 3 Medicinal Mushrooms Traditional Usage and Modern Science Sunday, January 12, 2025 11:30 AM - 12:30 AM Room 1 Medicinal Mushrooms - Traditional Usage and Modern Science (Saturday) This talk will review the traditional functions and indications of turkey tail, reishi, and lion's mane, and we will discuss clinical studies and research… Show More Saturday, January 13, 2024 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Room 3 Medicinal Mushrooms - Traditional Usage and Modern Science (Sunday) This talk will review the traditional functions and indications of turkey tail, reishi, and lion's mane, and we will discuss clinical studies and research… Show More Sunday, January 14, 2024 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Room 3 Past Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Energetics of Medicinal Mushrooms in Traditional Chinese Medicine: How they Work Along with Herbs to Treat Various Conditions 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 11, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 Medicinal Mushrooms Traditional Usage in Chinese Medicine and Modern Scientific Research Medicinal mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. They have also been the subject of numerous scientific studies in recent years. This talk will review the traditional functions and indications of turkey tail, reishi, cordyceps, and lion's mane, and we will discuss clinical studies and research into these incredible gifts from nature. 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 10, 2026 3:50 PM - 4:50 PM Room 3 Medicinal Mushrooms Traditional Usage and Modern Science 2025 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 12, 2025 11:30 AM - 12:30 AM Room 1 Medicinal Mushrooms Science and Traditional Usage Medicinal mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. They have also been the subject of numerous scientific studies in recent years. This talk will review the traditional functions and indications of turkey tail, reishi, cordyceps, and lion's mane, and we will discuss clinical studies and research into these incredible gifts from nature. 2025 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 11, 2025 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Room 3 Medicinal Mushrooms - Traditional Usage and Modern Science (Sunday) This talk will review the traditional functions and indications of turkey tail, reishi, and lion's mane, and we will discuss clinical studies and research into these incredible gifts from nature. 2024 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 14, 2024 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Room 3 Medicinal Mushrooms - Traditional Usage and Modern Science (Saturday) This talk will review the traditional functions and indications of turkey tail, reishi, and lion's mane, and we will discuss clinical studies and research into these incredible gifts from nature. 2024 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 13, 2024 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Room 3

2018 Fair Speakers We had a great lineup of speakers for the 2018 Fair. For the list of talks, check out the 2018 Speaker Schedule. Talks: Sunday: Mushrooms of Mexico Alan Rockefeller Researcher and Photographer Talks: Saturday: Growing Oysters on Toilet Paper Rolls: A Beginning Cultivators's Workshop Cass Fuentes Biologist, former FFSC Minister of Local Forays Talks: Friday: Tips and Techniques for Cooking With Mushrooms Chef Bob Wynn FFSC Minister of Culinary and Sustenance Talks: Saturday: Cooking Demonstration and Wine Pairing Chef John Paul Lechtenberg Executive Chef at Hollins House in Santa Cruz Talks: Sunday: Cooking Demonstration Chef Wall Heartical Foods, Santa Cruz Talks: Saturday: The value of old growth forest in fungal conservation Sunday: Tales From The Cryptograms: Alternative Lifestyles In The Kingdom of Fungi Christian Schwarz Research Associate | UCSC Talks: Saturday: Local Edible Wild Mushroom Basics Sunday: The Mushrooms of Los Trancos, A Local Open Space Area Douglas Smith Photographer, Educator, and FFSC Science Advisor Talks: Saturday: Mushroom Medicine: Science and controversies of mushroom products Sunday: Medicinal Mushrooms - Properties and diversity of cooked mushrooms for health Dr. Christopher Hobbs, Ph.D., L.Ac Faculty, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Talks: Saturday: Cooking Demonstration and Wine Pairing Frank Virgil De Vincenzi Cellars Talks: Friday: Mushroom Toxicity (Friday) Saturday: Mushroom Toxicity (Saturday) Henry Young FFSC Science Advisor, Foray & ID Specialist, Willamette Valley Mushroom Society Talks: Saturday: The value of old growth forest in fungal conservation Monday: Common Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms of California Noah Siegel Speaker, Author, Mycologist Talks: Friday: An Introduction to Mushroom Identification Phil Carpenter FFSC Science Advisor, NAMA Representative, and past CEO Talks: Friday: Gaps are good: fungi and forest dynamics in Nothern Californa Saturday: The value of old growth forest in fungal conservation Monday: Fungi as food and drink: ethnomycology of tropical indigenous peoples Professor Terry Henkel Humboldt State University Talks: Friday: Black Gold - A discussion of tast of the world's most prized mushroom Todd Spanier Tagline or Title Talks: Sunday: An Introduction to Mushroom Cultivation Vellany Pierce FFSC Prime Minister

David Rust David Rust is co-founder of the Bay Area Mycological Society (BAMS). He has helped organize three All California Club Forays and coordinated the Mycoblitz cooperative science forays at Point Reyes National Seashore. He has given talks at the Point Reyes Fungus Fair, Santa Cruz Fungus Fair, the Cascade Mycological Society, the Colorado Mycological Society, and the Sonoma County Mycological Association. He has followed research on the devastating forest pathogen Phytophthora ramorum , which causes the disease known as Sudden Oak Death (SOD). He is a member of the California Oak Mortality Task Force . Rust has written for Mushroom The Journal on the discovery and science of SOD. David is President of the North American Mycological Association (NAMA), co-chair of NAMA's Marketing Committee, and is recipient of NAMA's Presidents Award for Outstanding Service for his work on the NAMA website. David Rust Upcoming Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets Introduction to Wild and Edible Mushrooms Saturday, January 14, 2017 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM Room 1 Introduction to Wild and Edible Mushrooms Sunday, January 12, 2014 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Room 1 Introduction to Wild and Edible Mushrooms Friday, January 11, 2013 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Room 1 Past Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Introduction to Wild and Edible Mushrooms 2017 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 14, 2017 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM Room 1 Introduction to Wild and Edible Mushrooms 2014 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 12, 2014 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Room 1 Introduction to Wild and Edible Mushrooms 2013 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Friday, January 11, 2013 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Room 1

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/ Hugh Smith Upcoming Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets Past Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks

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. Christian Schwarz Upcoming 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 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM 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 11:05 AM - 12:05 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 11:15 AM - 12:15 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 Sunday, January 12, 2025 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Room 3 Mushrooms of Sea Islands, Sky Islands, & Dry Islands The theory of island biogeography serves as an ideal starting point in understanding broader patterns of dispersal, extinction, and adaptation. Friday, January 12, 2024 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Room 3 Mushroom Bioregions of The United States In this talk, we'll explore broad bioregions of the United States from the perspective of mushrooms (which sometimes align with bioregions of plants and… Show More Saturday, January 13, 2024 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Room 3 The Most Dangerous Fungi in the World A Mycological Study in Risk Assessment in a world that is rapidly changing. Saturday, January 11, 2020 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Room 3 What’s new in the mushrooming world of; taxonomy, ecology and citizen science. Learn about new species of boletes, hallucinogenic cicadas, matsutake taxonomy and discoveries of East coast mushrooms spreading into California. / Neurogenesis from Psilocybin and… Show More Sunday, January 12, 2020 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Room 3 The World's Most Dangerous Fungi Sunday, January 12, 2020 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Room 1 Civilizations' Ten Most Dangerous Fungi Saturday, January 12, 2019 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 Longevity The life history of Medicinal Polypores Sunday, January 13, 2019 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Room 3 The value of old growth forest in fungal conservation Saturday, January 13, 2018 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Room 3 Tales From The Cryptograms: Alternative Lifestyles In The Kingdom of Fungi Saturday, January 13, 2018 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 Meet the authors of "Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast" Friday, January 13, 2017 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Room 3 Slaying the dragon for the love of the forest A vision for phasing out draconian anti-mushroom forgaging laws Saturday, January 14, 2017 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Room 3 Mycology for the Citizen Scientist Saturday, January 11, 2014 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Room 1 Kicking and Screaming: Dragging Mycology into the 21st Century with the Help of Citizen Scientists (aka YOU) Friday, January 11, 2013 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Room 1 Tales from the Cryptogams - Twelve Alternative Lifestyles from the Kingdom Fungi. Beware! Sex, Death and Insanity lie ahead Saturday, January 12, 2013 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Room 1 Past Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks 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 serves as an ideal starting point in understanding broader patterns of dispersal, extinction, and adaptation. How do fungi behave in comparison to other groups of organisms? In what ways do island-dwelling individuals differ from their mainland brethren? We'll explore all these topics and more! 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 11, 2026 11:05 AM - 12:05 PM Room 3 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. This concept has been covered extensively in mainstream news and popular science outlets, and has even made its way into movies and fiction! But where did this idea come from? What do we actually know about how it works? We'll talk about the history of the metaphor, take a look at the existing body of research, examine recent challenges to the idea from modern findings, and think about what directions future investigations might need to take. 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 10, 2026 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM 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. We’ll talk about the results of this effort by reviewing some of some of the discoveries made by this dedicated crew, and talk about how this non-profit organization has accomplished so much in such a short time. We’ll end by discussing how you can help support us, or even get involved directly. You’ll come away with a sneak peek at some cutting-edge knowledge about the mushrooms in our amazing state. 2025 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 12, 2025 4:30 PM - 5:30 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 off from the Australian continent, and it was the last bit of Earth’s land to be inhabited by human beings. This island nation is a wild and wondrous place — very different from anything familiar to a resident of the Northern Hemisphere. We’ll talk about the holistic ecology of the place, using fungi as a lens to understand the bigger picture. 2025 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 11, 2025 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Room 3 Mushroom Bioregions of The United States In this talk, we'll explore broad bioregions of the United States from the perspective of mushrooms (which sometimes align with bioregions of plants and animals... but not always!). 2024 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 13, 2024 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Room 3 Mushrooms of Sea Islands, Sky Islands, & Dry Islands The theory of island biogeography serves as an ideal starting point in understanding broader patterns of dispersal, extinction, and adaptation. 2024 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Friday, January 12, 2024 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Room 3 The World's Most Dangerous Fungi 2020 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 12, 2020 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Room 1 What’s new in the mushrooming world of; taxonomy, ecology and citizen science. Learn about new species of boletes, hallucinogenic cicadas, matsutake taxonomy and discoveries of East coast mushrooms spreading into California. / Neurogenesis from Psilocybin and Analogs: A Paradigm Shift in Medicine? 2020 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 12, 2020 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Room 3 The Most Dangerous Fungi in the World A Mycological Study in Risk Assessment in a world that is rapidly changing. 2020 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 11, 2020 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Room 3 Longevity The life history of Medicinal Polypores 2019 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 13, 2019 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Room 3 Civilizations' Ten Most Dangerous Fungi 2019 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 12, 2019 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 Tales From The Cryptograms: Alternative Lifestyles In The Kingdom of Fungi 2018 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 13, 2018 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 1 The value of old growth forest in fungal conservation 2018 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 13, 2018 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Room 3 Slaying the dragon for the love of the forest A vision for phasing out draconian anti-mushroom forgaging laws 2017 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 14, 2017 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Room 3 Meet the authors of "Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast" 2017 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Friday, January 13, 2017 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Room 3 Mycology for the Citizen Scientist 2014 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 11, 2014 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Room 1 Tales from the Cryptogams - Twelve Alternative Lifestyles from the Kingdom Fungi. Beware! Sex, Death and Insanity lie ahead 2013 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 12, 2013 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Room 1 Kicking and Screaming: Dragging Mycology into the 21st Century with the Help of Citizen Scientists (aka YOU) 2013 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Friday, January 11, 2013 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Room 1

Noah Siegel Speaker, Author, Mycologist Noah is one of North America’s foremost field mycologists; he has spent over three decades seeking, photographing, identifying, and furthering his knowledge about all aspects of macrofungi. He travels and lectures extensively across America, following the mushrooms from coast to coast. Noah was the recipient of the 2022 North American Mycological Association’s Award for Contributions to Amateur Mycology. His primary research interest is on the taxonomy and systematics of fungi. He authored, along with Christian Schwarz, " Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast ", and " Mushrooms of Cascadia ", as well as " A Field Guide to the Rare Fungi of California's National Forests ". He is currently working on " Mushrooms of Alaska ", with Steve Trudell and Kate Mohatt. Noah Siegel Upcoming Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast From towering redwoods to live oak woodlands, northern California has diverse habitats which host a dazzling array of fungi. From the worlds largest chanterelle,… Show More Saturday, January 11, 2025 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM Room 3 Adventures of a Mycohobo Ever wonder what mushrooms occur in the jungles of tropical Africa and South America, or the dripping, moss covered Antarctic Beech forests of New… Show More Sunday, January 12, 2025 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Room 3 Exploring the Unknown: Cryptic Mushroom Diversity In Your Backyard California has an extremely diverse 'mycoflora', with over 4,000 species of macro fungi documented. Modern taxonomical tools have shown that this is just the… Show More Saturday, January 13, 2024 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 3 California: Land of the Year Round Mushroom Forage From wet coastal forests to high mountains, California has varied habitats. Because of this, you have the ability to hunt mushrooms year round without… Show More Sunday, January 14, 2024 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 3 California, Land of the Year Around Mushroom Forage Friday, January 11, 2019 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM Room 1 Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast Sunday, January 13, 2019 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Room 1 Longevity The life history of Medicinal Polypores Sunday, January 13, 2019 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Room 3 The value of old growth forest in fungal conservation Saturday, January 13, 2018 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Room 3 Common Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms of California Sunday, January 14, 2018 10:30 PM - 11:30 PM Room 1 Meet the authors of "Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast" Friday, January 13, 2017 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Room 3 California: Land of the year round mushroom forage. Saturday, January 14, 2017 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Room 3 Past Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Adventures of a Mycohobo Ever wonder what mushrooms occur in the jungles of tropical Africa and South America, or the dripping, moss covered Antarctic Beech forests of New Zealand, or across North America? We will take a photo safari of some of the places I have been working, and highlight my favorite mushrooms and ecosystems. 2025 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 12, 2025 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Room 3 Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast From towering redwoods to live oak woodlands, northern California has diverse habitats which host a dazzling array of fungi. From the worlds largest chanterelle, to massive Porcini, or a rainbow of tiny waxy caps in the redwood duff, this talk will introduce you to the mushrooms of the Redwood Coast. 2025 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 11, 2025 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM Room 3 California: Land of the Year Round Mushroom Forage From wet coastal forests to high mountains, California has varied habitats. Because of this, you have the ability to hunt mushrooms year round without leaving the state! We will highlight the mushrooms found throughout the year. 2024 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 14, 2024 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 3 Exploring the Unknown: Cryptic Mushroom Diversity In Your Backyard California has an extremely diverse 'mycoflora', with over 4,000 species of macro fungi documented. Modern taxonomical tools have shown that this is just the tip of the iceberg. This talk will highlight some of the recent discoveries, and how you can help move mycology forward. 2024 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 13, 2024 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 3 Longevity The life history of Medicinal Polypores 2019 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 13, 2019 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Room 3 Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast 2019 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 13, 2019 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Room 1 California, Land of the Year Around Mushroom Forage 2019 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Friday, January 11, 2019 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM Room 1 Common Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms of California 2018 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Sunday, January 14, 2018 10:30 PM - 11:30 PM Room 1 The value of old growth forest in fungal conservation 2018 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 13, 2018 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Room 3 California: Land of the year round mushroom forage. 2017 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Saturday, January 14, 2017 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Room 3 Meet the authors of "Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast" 2017 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Friday, January 13, 2017 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Room 3