WriterByNature.com

March 4, 2008 7:55 am

Thanks for this addition to my vocabulary goes to Ursula Hoffman, a dedicated student of the world of fungi and a skilled webmaster.

Mycophile - a devotee of mushrooms.

The implied meaning of this word suggests that the seeker is engaged in the hobby of pursing edible mushrooms. But that definition does not fit Ursula or any other dedicated COMA member.

Mushroom University exists because individuals with scientific minds have spent decades organizing and documenting their observations, check and cross-checking their information, and now even applying DNA analysis to the mushroom identification. The idea of this daunting endeavor makes my head spin.

I’m the lucky beneficiary, because I have the latest published information and  people willing to share their hard-earned knowledge.

February 24, 2008 7:04 am

Finding a blow-down, where a live tree has fallen down, can be a lucky opportunity in a survival situation. The pine tree that fell just before our survival class began, provided pine needles for tea, pine inner bark for food, boughs to cushion and warm the floor of our shelter and baskets for heating liquid during our trek.

This photo shows how the pine branch was peeled and the folded basket. (more…)

February 17, 2008 7:00 am

I’m lucky to learn from people who have been teaching for many years. They have a fine-tuned presentation that I find inspiring. They also know which books and which online sites provide the greatest value in keeping up with the continuous stream of new mycological information. That’s a huge time saver.

Once again, I am in awe of Gary Lincoff and deeply grateful he shared Michael Kuo’s MushroomExpert.com website. Michael writes:

Mushrooms and trees are inextricably linked. Most trees cannot survive without mycorrhizal partners from the fungal world–and saprobic fungi play a vital role in forest ecosystems, decomposing tree litter. Thus identifying trees is essential to understanding and identifying mushrooms.

Mycorrhizal means mutually-beneficial and saprobic means decomposing dead organic matter. My language skills are also getting a workout.

Everything in nature is connected. But I’m always amazed when I see it on such a macro level. (more…)

January 25, 2008 6:04 am

This happens to be Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis); Black Birch (Betula lenta) tastes sweeter.

In winter, when the sap is not flowing, you can scrape the cambium (the layer between the inner bark and the wood) and steep it or brew it for a delicious beverage. The following recipe is for a winter harvest, when the sap is not flowing and the tree is dormant.

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January 20, 2008 5:16 pm

My last three days at Hawk Circle were spent on the survival trek part of their Winter Intensive program. I had the choice to spend the time solo or as part of a group. My decision was based on the quality of snow on the property. I hadn’t used my cross country skis yet this winter.

So, with a good quality sleeping bag, my day pack, eight Larabars, two acorn burgers, three liters of water, two sets of warm clothes, my knife, a compass, a clock, my digital camera, a lighter and my skis, I set off solo for three days. Here are some of my journal notes:

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January 14, 2008 7:18 am

I’ve experimented with acorns on and off for years. But it was Rose Barlow of Prodigal Gardens who enlightened me on how to create a ground meat effect using acorns.

I used frozen acorns in my recipe. Next season I will put Rose’s acorn roasting technique to the test. (more…)

January 5, 2008 8:27 am

The Hawk Circle advertisement reads:

Two Feet of Fresh Snow
17 Degrees Below Zero
No Tent
No Electricity
No Problem.

The reason: a quinzee - an Inuit word for a snow shelter made from compressed snow, which is then hollowed out.

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December 30, 2007 5:28 am

As I write this, I am on my way to Hawk Circle for their winter survival skills class. I will wake up in a nature setting on New Years Day. I expect to be transformed. (more…)

December 29, 2007 5:46 am

I was reading my survival skill class notes. I haven’t looked at these in a number of years.

I’m impressed with the complete explanations and careful drawings. I just modified my pine needle tea recipe. The needles nearer the trunk are higher in Vitamin C than needles on outer branches.  (more…)

December 17, 2007 6:11 am

I was surprised and delighted to hear from a fellow forager, who has streamlined black walnut harvesting. I’m waiting for the ice storms to pass, so I can go outdoors and try it out.

I profoundly grateful that Rose Barlow of Prodigal Gardens, took the time to visit my site and make a valuable contribution. Of course, I wanted to learn more about her so I paid her a visit.  (more…)