By Renee Wood
Mushroom foraging is no modern man made adventure – it’s something that’s taken place for hundreds, if not thousands, of years but in recent decades it’s mainstream acceptability has waned – until now.
Something that’s been a long standing tradition for other countries such as in France, the UK or America, it now seems Fungi finding adventures have gained a local surge of interest in recent time.
Foraging groups have been popping up within Melbourne and Australia over the past few years, with several social media groups dedicated to seeking out mushrooms.
Having eatable, medicinal and poisonous, even deadly, properties– joining the hunt for fungus is a task that needs skill and expertise.
Healesville resident Marcus Kaye started his quest to learn more about mushrooms when the Covid-19 pandemic exploded and walking became a popular past time.
Mr Kaye, who’s a chef by trade, said many of his favourite recipes promote mushrooms as the leading superstar of a top table dish.
“Mushrooms are a big part of cooking, especially vegetarian cooking, that’s one of the biggest ways to get your proteins – different flavors, different varieties, different colors,” Mr Kaye said.
Once the walks began, Mr Kaye noticed there was plenty of fungi around us – all you have to do is allow your gaze to widen the lens.
“If you’re not actually looking for them, it’s very easy to miss because we’re more focused on where we’re going.
“A lot of the time, they’re underneath things and sometimes you do have to look hard for them, so it does take a bit but it’s not that hard. It’s more just keeping your eyes open for them – they grow over trees, all over fallen stumps and you can find mushrooms anywhere basically.”
Once you start to uncover their hiding spots, the desire for a foraging hunt is contagious.
Mr Kaye said he’s invested a great amount of time into researching mushrooms, speaking with experts and reading books to ensure he’s finding the right ones.
An app called ‘Picture This Mushroom’ also helps to identify the ones that can be eaten – and most importantly the ones that cannot be consumed.
The Saffron Milk Caps are a regular edible find in the Healesville area, which grow wherever their are pine trees.
“You do have to be careful…you have to take photos from different angles, because they [the app] can actually identify it as something else if you’re not correct with the photography, so I guess that’s been a big help.”
Mr Kaye who’s a member of the Healesville Community Garden has started sharing his knowledge and foraging areas will others.
So far two meetings have been held where Mr Kaye imparts his information with others.
“I’ve had some really good feedback… it’s great to see the kids doing it with their parents because I have two kids myself and I’ve been teaching them and they love it.
“It’s just good to see people enjoying it and then you get the reward of picking them and going home to cook them.”
However, respecting the environment and only taking small portions is a strong ethos for foragers.
“Leave a third for someone else and a third for the animals…you have to respect that not just take everything, so it’s all about taking care of the environment as well.”
Mushroom hunting isn’t just for the taste seekers, it’s also for the thrill of finding interesting shapes, sizes and colours.
Mr Kaye said the glow in the dark, not to be consumed, varieties can be found in the region.
“There’ll be on the bottom of the trees and the foliage, so on the ground around Healesville..
“They won’t glow during the day, it’s only at night then once they’re past a certain point they won’t glow anymore as well…they glow for roughly five days.”
Growing mushrooms at home is also another option – Mr Kay purchases kits from Healesville based Gramco Fungi, a mushroom wholesaler.
“Gray oyster, tan oyster, I also have yellow oyster, pink oyster, lion’s main, shiitaki… If people are interested in growing mushrooms at home that’s a good place to start.”
