Radical Mycology (Imposed)

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RadicalMycology

An SLF Primer


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Notes

Ed. 1.1, 2010

Radical MycologyAn SLF Primer


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DISCLAIMER

This publication is intended for entertainment and informationpurposes only. It is not meant to encourage nor condone illegalactivity. The SLF holds no affiliation to the Earth LiberationFront nor the Animal Liberation Front as the name Spore LiberationFront refers to the term frequently used to describe the ejec-tion of a spore from its host mushroom (i.e. spore liberation).

Anti-copyright. This zine is a spore to be spread across the globe.Please cut, paste, copy, and distribute this information in whatevernot-for-profit form you see fit. In fact, we rely on such grass rootsdistribution and hope that such a tradition continues. SPREAD THE SPORES.

Much of the information we pooled for this zine came from the following sources, all of whichwe highly recommend.

Identication All The Rain Promises And More David Arora Mushrooms Demystied David Arora National Audubon Society Field Guide To North American Mushrooms Gary H. Lincoff Pacic North West (PNW) Key Council - http://www.svims.ca/council/keys.htm

Matchmaker - http://www.pfc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/biodiversity/matchmaker/index_e.html Mushrooms of the Pacic North West - Steve Trudell

Cooking

Mushroom Johnny Acton & Nick Sandler The Chanterelle Book Olle Persson The Complete Mushroom Book: The Quiet Hunt Antonio Carluccio Wild About Mushrooms - http://www.mssf.org/cookbook/contents.html

Cultivation Mycelium Running Paul Stamets The Mushroom Cultivator Paul Stamets Growing Gourmet & Medicinal Mushrooms - Paul Stamets

Dying & Papermaking

The Rainbow Beneath My Feet - Arleen R. Bessette Mushrooms For Dyes, Paper, Pigments, Myco Stix Miriam Rice International Mushroom Dye Institute (IMDI) - http://www.sonic.net/dbeebee/IMDI.htm Paper Making Photo Tutorial - http://www.allberarts.com/library/aa04/aa072104i.htm

Sacred Mushrooms Magic Mushrooms Around the World - Jochen Gartz Psilocybin Mushroom Handbook L.G. Nicholas & Kerry Ogame Food Of The Gods Terence Mckenna

Friends & Others http://www.radicalmycology.wordpress.com http://www.mycorant.com http://punkrockpermaculture.com/Tinder Polypore ember carrying techinique photo tutorial at

www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/re/tinder/tinderfungus/spolypore/index.html

Recommended Reading

We wish to mention here that the SLF primer is an ever changing work in prog-ress. As new information and revelations come out we plan to put out new editions. Wealso strongly desire to hear from other radical mycologists around the globe, expandingour mycelial network and (hopefully) getting contributions in the process. We encourageall submissions, mycoexperiment reports, guerilla mushrooming stories, etc. Contact usvia email or the blogosphere. You are the SLF...contribute!

[email protected]

Submissions

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Ascomycete: Fungi whos spores grow in a sac-like structure called an ascus. Basidiomycete: Fungi whos spores grow off club-shaped end cells called basidia. Enzyme: A protein that creates a biochemical reaction by acting as a catalyst. Ethomycology: The human use of mushrooms. Entheogen: A substance that is ingested to produce a nonordinary state of

consciousness for religious or spiritual purposes. Literally creates godwithin in Greek.

Flush: A crop of mushrooms collectively forming within a dened time period,

often repeating in a rhythmic fashion. Fruiting: The event of mushroom formation and development. Fruiting body: The above-ground eshy entity which most people associate with the term

mushroom. Hypha(e): The laments that appear from spores after germination. Mushroom: In this zine, we apply the term mushroom not just to fruiting

bodies but also to the types of fungi that produce them. This way, wediscern from the so-called lower fungi that do not form distinct fruitingbodies (e.g. molds, yeasts, and mildews).

Mycelium: Fungal network of threadlike cells. Mycology: The study of fungi. Mycophile: A person who likes mushrooms, as opposed to a Mycophobe: A person who fears mushrooms. Rhizormorph: A dense mass of interwoven hyphae forming a root-like structure. Spawn: Any material impregnated with mycelium which is later used to inoculate

more massive substrates. Sclerotium: (pl. sclerotia) Interwoven multihyphal structures that create a compact

mass capable of prolonged periods of survival. Substrate: Any organic material on which mushroom mycelium will grow (e.g. straw,

sawdust, compost, or soil).

Glossary35

Q.) Why did the mush-room go to the party?A.) Because he was afungi!

Q.) Why did the fungileave the party?

A.) There wasnt enoughmushroom!

Q.) What kind of soapdo mushrooms use?A.) Ex pholiota-atingbody wash

Q.) Which mushroomsare best at staying up todate on the forest news?A.) The ones with decur-rent gills

Q.) What did the crankyold Trametes say to youthe young Trametes on

the upper shelf?A.) Quit makin all thatbracket!

Q.) What do hipster Am-anitas listen to?A.) Death Cap for Cutie

Q.) Why couldnt theBolete reproduce?A.) Its tubes were tied

Q.) How many mycolo-gists does it take to screwin a light bulb?A.) 10, one to screw inthe light bulb and 9 toargue about what kindof light bulb it was.

Q.) What did the mush-room say after beingstomped on by an er-rant, witless child?A.) Ouch, my back sureis spore!

Q.)What was Mushroom

Jesuss occupation?A.) A sporocarpenter

Q.) What did the janitorsay when his boss toldhim to clean up the cul-ture spill?A.) You triclomopsis!!

Q.) How can you tell

when youre turning intoMushroom Jesus?A.)You get sterigmata onyour hands & feetQ.) What kind of sodado mushrooms drink?A.) Fomitopsis

piniCOLA!

Q.) What happens whenyou leave your jacket inmy yard?A.) It becomes mycota

Q.) What grows inthe water, eats decay-

ing plants and has greygills?A.) A sh, duh.

Jokes!

And So It Goes

A Call To Sporulate ............................................................... 1

The Lifecycle & Its Implications ........................................... 3

Types Of Fungi ..................................................................... 5

Wild Identication ............................................................... 6Notes / TipsDeath Cap (Amanita phalloides)Sulfur Tuft (Naematoloma/Hypholoma fasciculare)Honey Mushroom (Armillaria spp.)Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus spp.)Turkey Tails (Tramates versicolor)Pacic Golden Chanterelle (Cantharellus formosus)Red-Belted Polypore (Fomitopsis pinicola)

Morels (Morchella esculenta & elata)

Shrimp Mushroom (Russula xerampelina)Potent Psilocybe (Psilocybe cyanescens)Oregon Reishi (Ganoderma oregonense)

A Note On Medicinals ........................................................ 20

Cooking & Preservation ...................................................... 21

Mycorestoration ................................................................. 23

Cultivation Methods ........................................................... 24

Ethnomycology ................................................................... 27Mushroom Dyes ........................................................... 28Mushroom Paper .......................................................... 29The Sacred Mushrooms ................................................ 31

We Are The Spore Liberation Front .................................... 34

Glossary, Jokes, & Recommended Reading ......................... 35


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Alllifeisinterconnected.HowwechoosetospendthefewyearswereallottedonEarthfromtheinteractionswehavewitheachothertothewayswechoosetohealorstealfromtheplanetisaseriousdecisionwithmeasurableconsequences.Ouractionsasindividualsdeterminenotjusthowourdaywillunfoldbuthowfuturegenerationswillbeabletolive.Wearebornwiththeprivilegetodeterminewhatqualityofairourchildrenwillbreathe,whattemperaturestheirplanetwillmaintain,whatfaunaandfloratheywillgazeatinwonder.

Andyet,asself-evidentasthisfactmaybe,itsadlyseemsinacteduponbythevastmajorityoftheworld.Forifallindividualstruelytookthetimetoreflectupontheimpactoftheiractionsandchosetoactuallydosomethingaboutit,wewouldliveinaworldfilledwithmorehumancontributorstothecommunityoflife,notjustconquerorsofit.Withtheincrediblepowerthehumanspecieshasstolenfromtheearth,comestheincredibleresponsibilitytofacilitateotherspeciesreclamationofourplanet.Indeed,choicesassimpleashowonechoosestointeractwithnature,tofeedthemself,ortosurviveandprovideforthemself,areonesthat,fromacriticalstandpoint,shouldnotbetakenlightly.Whenwechoosetoaffecttheworldaroundusdirectly,webegintoliveourlivesasiftheyactuallymattered.Webegintorealizethepotentialeverypersonhasformakingthisworldabetterplacetoliveandthrivein.Webegintogrow.Inmanyways,onesconsciousrelationshipwithmushroomscandirectlyfosterthisdesireforchange.Thecomplexlifecycleofmushroomspro-videsprofoundandnovelexamples(tocivilizedhumans)ofnetworkingbetweendifferentspeciesandenvironmentsnotexhibitedbymostotherlifeforms.Theseactionsshowaconcernfornotjustthemushroomin-volvedbutforthesurroundingenvironmentaswell.Webelievethatasonelearnsmoreaboutthesehabits,andthewaysinwhichtheycaninflu-enceourownhumanbehavior,onequicklybeginstoperceivetheintercon-nectednessoflifesurroundingthemallthemoreclearly.Mushroomsspendthemajorityoftheirlivesasavastundergroundweb-likestructurereferredtoasmycelium.Thismycelialnetworkhasbeencalled theearthscentral nervous systemits naturalinternet somesayduetothewayinwhichinformationandresources(suchaswaterandminerals)areexchangedandcommunicatedthroughitinamethodic,rapid,andseeminglysentientmanner.Adaptive,creative,andaware,themycelialnetworkinteractswithitshostenvironmentasthoughkeepingthehealthofthegreatersysteminmind.

A C a l l T o S p o r u l a t e :1

We are the hidden network beneath the duff, fusingfilaments of thought to create fruitbodies of change.

We are the filters of a diseased and radi-ated culture and the decomposers of its clas-sist, spiritually stifled, and oppressive society.

We are the destroyers of already dead ideologies that

attempt to destroy the right to life of present and fu-ture generations through a torrent of chemicals, wars,and fear spewing propaganda. And we are the creatorsof soil most fertile from which relentless synergiesform, habits of mutual aid take over, and respectfor all that lives persists and is never forgotten.

We reject the unforgivable levels of waste, abuse,and destruction taken against ourselves and thisplanet we all share. And we demand the ability tolive our lives as we desire and to expand the lim-its of our consciousness should we so choose.

Our mycelium is our affinity groups and open collec-tives working synergistically toward the common goal of

absolute freedom. The soil we grow through is the massof underpaid employees and closet insurgents influencedand transformed through knowledge of our triumphs. Ourspores are our dreams and aspirations. Thus, we broadenour mycelial network toward a day when every layer of soilis free to nourish whichever spores may seek their cradle.

We liberate spores. The spores that eject from our con-sciousness by the millions daily. Those that tell us toquit our jobs, learn a trade, seed a garden, to fall inlove, to care. The spores that alone may not germinatebeyond a few steps but, when combined with those likethem and surrounded by soil awaiting a new force oflife, have the potential to transform whole ecosystems.

These spores are ever-present in the soil. Microscopic,

hidden, and unseen, yet everywhere. They may lie in waitfor years until the right conditions call on them toarise. And even when the soil seems to be decaying, theever-present hidden networks remain, growing and fusingto produce a continual mass, embedded in the soil, en-riching the soil, purifying the soil, rebuilding it intosomething stronger, healthier, and much more powerful.

We, the Spore Liberation Front, reconnect with the Earthdirectly, with our hands in the dirt, repairing the dev-astation left by others. We work our hyphae to the lim-its, producing fairy rings on the outer edges of societyto thrust our fists through the asphalt and concrete.We extend our mycelial networks across the globe, shar-ing resources and tactics, visions and actions. We take

our lives back and stop at nothing to create the balancewe need to survive. This process takes time. But, whenliving only to destroy and recreate worlds in an end-less cycle of growth and change, time is all we have.

We are theSpore Liberation Front

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If we as radicals are to grow beyond the inhibiting, mediated, and sedatedculture we currently struggle in, we must recognize the sacred mushrooms as potentialallies in the search for a rethinking of social structures and a rebirthing of our lost bondwith the natural world. We are not advocating for a dropout culture harking back tothe salad days of Timothy Leary but, rather, to a new form of radical revolution. To astruggle geared toward the dismantling of hierarchy not just between members of ourspecies but between ourselves and all of the Earths inhabitants. Toward a transforma-tion from this confused and destructive ght between haves and have-nots to an age ofunderstanding, enlightenment, and respect for all that is.

We believe the sacred mushrooms can help us reach this goal. By allowing us to open

ourselves to each other, to humble ourselves and strip off our egos to face the mysteri-ous and innite energy of the cosmos, mushrooms guide us toward a way of livingmore in tune with the world around us. By expanding our modes of thought, they helpus envision new approaches to solving problems we and our world face and to seeknew means to communicate and connect with each. And through the profound emo-tions typically elicited from their effects, we nd powerful reafrmations as to why weght the dominator culture and why we cherish our lives and this beautiful planet sodearly.

The sacred fungi are there for us. To aid us in our struggles and to strengthen our wills.To teach us and to guide us beyond our destrucive ways. The sacred mushrooms haveevolved for eons alongside humans, developing complex, perception-altering com-pounds that take us beyond the eeting world we all die in and toward a plane of ex-istence beyond the temporal, to a way of life more in concert with the universe. Thesecompounds serve no defensive or metabolistic purpose for the mushrooms. They seemto exist solely for the purpose of eliciting these effects in mammals. This cannot be by

chance. We encourage all who seek this knowledge and sense of attunement to takethese entheogens if they so choose.

It is your mind. And your life. Live it how you may.

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We,themembersoftheSporeLiberationFront,seethelifecycleofmushrooms,andespeciallythismycelialstage,asametaphorforthewayhumanscanchoosetointeractinandwithGaia,ouroneworld.Asanendlesscycleofgrowth,decay,networking,sharing,andpurification,thiscycleis,forus,aprocessbothbeautifulandenchanting,complexandintriguing;morethanthelifegivingdestructionitsjobasdecom-poserappearstobe.Justasmushroomsusetheirabilitiestosharenutrientswithplantsand

breakdowntoxicchemicalstokeeptheirmicrocosmcleanerandhealthier,socanweashumanslivecommittedtothehealthofourplanetthroughournaturalroleasstewardsandcaretakersoftheland.Likethemush-rooms--andtheirmycelium--thatformfromindividualsporestoflourishandco-existwithnatureinharmony,sotoocanwechoosetospendourexistenceinterconnectedwitheachotherandtheplanettogrowandlivebetter,fullerlives.Mushroomsteachushowtocareforeachother,howtoseelifeasaperpetualcycleofinterdependence,afragilebalancebetweengiveandtakewherenotonespeciesdominatesbutallrelyoneachother.Andtheyhelpusreconnectwithandacceptanoftendeniedandfearedaspectofthewheeloflife,thatofdeathanddecay.

Throughhuntingforandgrowingourownmushrooms,welearnthevalueofsubsistenceandlivingofftheland,ofsubvertingcapitalisteco-nomicstructures,ofmakingourownmedicines,andofconnectingwiththenaturalworld.Usingmushroomsforremediationpurposes,weareabletoreclaimlandthathasbeenstolenanddestroyedbyothersthatcamebeforeus.Weareabletoputourhandsinthedirtdirectly,makingadifferencebyhealingthedamagesdonesothatalllifemaycontinueonstronger,healthier,andfreer.Forallthesereasonsandmorewewrotethiszineinthehopeofsharingourloveforfungitoyouthereader;to spread our spores.

Ourlivesandourworldcanbesomuchbetterifonlywebeginlookingtothegreaterfungi.Justhowcrucialmushroomswillbeinsavingourplanet(andourselves)fromthebrinkofcollapsewillonlybetoldintime.Fornow,weurgeyouthereaders,oursymbioticalliesandradicalmycophilesatlarge,toputtheinformationwepresentinthesepagestowork.Forwetruelybelievethatthecomingrevolutioninhumanexistancewillbe(inwaysbothliteralandmethaphoric)amycelialone.

SLFSpring,2009

Cascadia,Earth

T o w a r d A n i n t r o d u c t i o n2


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In 2006 at Johns Hopkins University, theU.S. government funded a randomized and double-blinded study to test the spiritual effects of psilo-cybin-containing mushrooms on humans. The studyinvolved 36 college-educated adults, with an aver-age age of 46, who had never tried psilocybin norhad a history of drug use. The participants were

closely observed while under the inuence of thepsychoactive mushrooms for 8 hours.

Upon completion, one-third of the participants re-ported that the psychedelic experience brought onby the mushrooms was the single most spirituallysignicant event of their lives. More than two-thirdsreported it was among their top ve such experi-ences. Two months after the study, 79 percent of theparticipants reported increased well being and gen-eral satisfaction...

With results such as these, it should comeas no surprice that the psilocybin-containing (a.k.a.magic) mushrooms have been a signicant andinuential part of human history for thousands ofyears. One of the earlist known statements to thisfact dates to at least 5,000 B.C. when cave paint-ings on the Tassili plateau of Northern Algeria weremade depicting mushroom-ed humanoids. In oneof these images, mushrooms with electried aurasare shown growing out of a dancing shaman.

Author Terence Mckenna theorizes that psilocybinmushrooms may have been the catalyst for our evo-lution as a species. He posits that their effects onour brains pineal gland may have helped in our de-velopment of spoken language and cognition capa-bilities and aided in our steps out of the jungles andinto the grass plains of Africa.

As interesting as these points may be, studies of thesacraments of ancient cultures show that this useof the pschedelics has not been restricted to indig-enous tribes. In ancient cultures around the globe,one nds that the use of psychedelic mushroomsamong humans for religious communion, divina-tion, and healing has been accepted and revered formillenia. From the ancient mushroom stones andmotifs found in Mayan temples, to the Soma of theHindu Vedic texts, to the fungal drink of the Eleusin-ian Mysterisan ancient Greek religious ceremonyattended by Aristotle, Plato, and Sophoclestheuse of psychedelic mushrooms stand out with theirinuential role in the formation of human cultures.The extent to which their use shaped the thinking ofancient philosophers and artists can only be guessedat but the knowledge of their power by such peoplecannot be denied.

The Sacred Mushrooms

BelowisaworkinglistofallknownPsilocbincontaining mushroomsfound in the 3 westcoaststates.However,itis illegalto pickthem.HappyHunting!

Northern CaliforniaPsilocybe azurescensPsilocybe cyanescensPsilocybe pelliculosaPsilocybe semilanceataGymnopilus aeruginosusGymnopilus luteofolius

OregonPsilocybe baeocystisPsilocybe cyanafibrillosaPsilocybe cyanescensPsilocybe fimetariaPsilocybe liniformans

var. americanaPsilocybe pelliculosaPsilocybe semilanceataPsilocybe silvaticaPsilocybe strictipesPsilocybe stuntziiPsilocybe subfimetariaPanaeolus subbalteatus

WashingtonSameasOregonplus:Conocybe cyanopusConocybe smithii watlingGymnopilus aeruginosusGymnopilus viridans

Anaveragedoseofpsi-locybesisapproximate-ly1to2gramsdriedmushroom (containingroughly10-25mgpsilo-cybin)whileabout2.5-5gramsdriedcapsandstems (25-50mg psilo-cybin)isconsideredaheavydose.Theeffectsofthesemushroomscantake 20 minutes to 3hours to take effectandcantypicallylastanywherefrom3-7hours

depending on dosage,preparationmethodandpersonalmetabolism.

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Its Implications4

We percieve this lifecycle as a metaphor for the way humans and, more specically,radicals, can choose to view our interactions with each other. We see our spores as the ideaswe have every minute of our lives: those of a better world and freer existence. And while manyof our spores, just like those of our fungal allies, do not immediately nd a solid footing andlay to wait, at times a select few hold on to eventually nd space to thrive.

Over time, our spores encounter ideas owing from like-minded allies and, if found compat-ible, the two inevitably combine with innite variety toward the common goal of survival. In

this way, we see our networks of mutual aid and grassroots organizing form an organic webthrough our communities just as mycorrhizal fungi share nutrients and knowledge across theforest. Slowly, resources are pooled as information is gathered and shared--acts hidden under-ground from the mainstream--until the point that the culmination of all the previous toil leadsto a nal direct action: the projection of a fruiting body.

As this fruiting body thrusts forward with strength and determination, the now unsettled groundreects the change that has occured. The time spent building and working, we now see, wasntfor nothing. Action has happened where it could not be stopped.

And as the fruiting body dies back and the immediacy resolves, it sends out spores all over theworld to inuence, inspire, and grow where they can; to continue the cycle of resistance inthe face of oppressive forces.

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Virtually all of the mushrooms we see are either asco-mycetes or basidiomycetes and are typically divided into oneof the four categories below based on their substrate or role.There are many other classes of fungi (zygomycetes, glomero-mycetes, deuteromycetes and chytridomycetes) which do notproduce mushrooms, but play vital ecological roles as well.

Saprophytic mushrooms break down organic matter as their

main role in nature. They are natures recyclers, the soils re-plenishers, vital to the health of forests. If saprophytic mush-rooms (and the bacteria that help them) didnt decomposeorganic matter, the world would literally be piled high indead trees.

As a byproduct of this decomposition, saprophytes pro-duce nutrient rich soil. And, of course, as plants use this en-riched soil to grow and, in turn, feed the animals, one can seethat, in a very real sense, fungi are at a very fundamental levelin the cycle of life. They are life-givers as well as destroyers.

Necrotrophic (Parasitic) mushrooms, a minority, feed onliving organisms, sometimes destroying and eventually kill-ing them. Once seen as hostile to the long-term health offorests, parasitic mushrooms are now being recognized asactually benecial. They often increase the diversity of plantcommunities by making changes in plant composition andsuccession in a given forest. And they are also responsible forcreating hollow logs which provide homes for wildlife.

Mycorrhizal mushrooms encompass two sub-categories ofmushrooms, both of which form a symbiotic relationshipwith plant roots (myco=fungus, rhiza=root). In ectomycorrhi-zae, the fugal mycelium forms a sheath over the plants rootsbut does not penetrate them. With arbuscular mycorrhizae(or endomycorrhizal species), the mycelium forms a sheathover the plants roots and goes deeper to actually penetratenot only the roots exterior but the roots cell walls as well.

In either situation, the fugus and plant work together in amutually benecial relationship sharing nutrients, water andunknown levels of information. This relationship has been

shown to exist among many plants--from the forest to thedesert to the tundra--and likely exists among all plants.Indeed, many plants will grow less vigorously without

their fungal partner while others wont grow at all. Somemycorrhizal mushrooms are plant/tree specic. Learning toidentify these trees/plants not only helps you to learn moreabout the natural world but also aids in the location andidentication of these fungal friends. Mushroom/plant rela-tionships have also been successfully employed in gardensto signicantly increase fruit and vegetable sizes and yields.Other experiments have shown that, when paired with twodifferent trees, mycorrhizal mushrooms will channel sugarsfrom one tree to the other if the second were to become shad-ed out and unable to photosynthesize! We cover mycorrhizalmushrooms more in the mycorestoration section (pg. 23).Endophytic mushrooms, a controversial category, are simi-lar to mycorrhizal mushrooms but are less understood. Themajority seems to have lost the ability to produce spores andspend their entire existence in a continuous mycelial state.

If there is an equalamount of substrate,mycelium will grow inall directions, pe-riodically producinga circle, or fairyring, of mushroomsabove ground. By av-eragingtheir rate ofgrowth,someringsareestimated to be over600yearsold.Legend

states that they ap-pearwherefairieshavedancedandthatanyonewhodaressteppingin-side thecircle risksbeingtakenbythelit-tlepeople.

Theoldestknownmush-roomfoundinamberhasbeen datedtoover90millionyearsold.

Mycologist Tom Volktheorizesthatmillionsofyearsagotreesde-veloped celluloseandlignin to protectthemselvesagainstthefungi that were con-suming them. As timeprogressed, mushroomsevolved so that theycannowdecomposethesecomponents.Butallthevegetationthatdiedintheinterimjustpiledup,gotcompressed,andaftermillionsofyearsbecame fossil fuels.This iswhy theearthwillneverproduceoilorfossilfuelsagain:becausemushroomswill,forever on, decompose

livingmatter.

Types Of Fungi5

7. Place muslin between mold and deckle and put thesandwich into the mixture in an angled sorta scoopingmotion and lift it up, letting the excess water run off.Moving the screen side to side in the water may helpdisperse it more evenly. See those little chunks? Dont youwish youd ground it longer now?

8. Remove the top part of the form (the mold) to revealyour sheet of paper. Invert the deckle and muslincarefully onto newspaper.

9. Run a rolling pin across the backside of the muslin toatten the paper to remove extra moisture.

10. Remove the piece of muslin from the paper carefully.

11. Lay the sheet between several layers of newspaper andlet it dry. Continue to dry by replacing newspapers andcovering cloths. Ironing gently over a cover cloth canspeed up this process. When dry enough to be easilyhandled, hang to dry or, if you want very at paper, putit under weights.

12. Make stuff with it. Try adding spores from spore printsto ink and writing with the mixture.

SUPPLIES

Woodyshelffungus Shallowtuborbasin-ArtistsConk Papermakingmold&deckle-TurkeyTails Piecesofmuslinslightly-Red-BeltedPolypore biggerthanmold&deckleBlenderorfoodprocessor Sheetsofnewspaper(preferablyindustrialstrength)RollingpinKnife

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1. Tenderize the mushroom with a sledgehammer (10-20good smacks).

2. Soak it in water for a while (hours or days).

3. Smack some more then soak some more for a few hoursor days (Optional, but helps).

4. Remove mushroom(s) and chop them into small pieces.

5. Put chunks into blender with water and grind to create apulp. Once close to a smoothish consistency, grind a lotlonger til all the chunks are gone. This may take a while.(Dont burn out the motor! Stronger/more expensiveblenders work better).

6. Pour the pulp into a shallow tray and add water. Themore water you add, the more dispersed the berswill be and the thinner your nal paper will be.Experiment to nd what works best for you.

Mushroom Paper

An alternative to clearcut or tree plantation-made paper, mushroom paper is an easy, funway to create beautiful, useful and surprisingly durable paper.

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PAPER MAKING STEP-BY-STEP

IDEAS FOR NOTES:

Date

Location

Weather

Abundance

Growthhabit(solitary,scatteredclustered,inrings)

Substrate

Vegetationgrowingwithin50ft(treerootshostingmycorrhizalmushroomscangrowatleastthatfar)

If its growing onwood:

Woodsstageofdecomposition

Typeofwood(hardwoodorconifer)

Treespecies

If growing on theground:

Typeofground(disturbed,compacted,sandy,charred)

As many of the moredesireable mushroomshave relatively dis-tinctappearances,ig-nore theLittle BrownMushrooms (LBMs) whenstartingtheidentifi-cation process. Thesearetheoneswithbrowncap,stalk,andgills.Therearesomanyitcanbeveryfrustratingtotryandidentify themwhenstartingout.

Learning to identify mushrooms can at rst seemlike a giant pain in the ass time killer. With an estimated 1.5million species in the world, its damn hard to know whereto start. But really, learning to spot the more common mush-rooms in your area is actually pretty easy. And once you getthe basics, youll nd yourself becoming more comfortablewith--and looking forward to--learning more species.

In almost all areas of the world there are mushroomsgrowing. Different mushrooms grow in different environmentsand on different surfaces, so even if you dont have a majesticold growth Douglas-Fir forest around the corner, chances areyou can nd some sort of mushroom growing in your localgreenway, park, ravine, or landscaped yard. You just have toget out and look. And if you dont nd anything the rst time,come back later in the season. And if you still dont nd any-thing, you had a great time out of the house/shed/attic withyour friends getting dirty and exploring, right?

Of course, you might also come across mushroomswhen you least expect it. Now, you should try to ID themushrooms as soon as possible, but you probably wont havea guidebook with you. At these times its a good idea to takethorough notes to refer to when you get back home. Note tak-ing not only helps in later identication but it also makes onelearn how to look critically at mushrooms. Even though its

tedious, try it a few times. Hell, some people like mushroomhunting just for the identication aspect.

Wild Identification6


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Some thoughts, some ethics..

ALWAYS DOUBLE ID CHECK! We can not stress thisenough. Always double check descriptions and cross-ref-erence multiple identication books. Go on your rst fewhunts with an experienced friend and have them help withID checks. And if youre unsure, use a real key, like those

from the PNW key council (website in the back of this zine)not just those in your book. And dont assume if two mush-rooms are growing near each other that they are the samespecies. For example, certain types of Psilocybe mushroomscan grow so close to nearly identical, and deadly, Galerinaspecies that the two touch! The only difference between thetwo in this case is their spore colors, an easy thing to miss ifone is being too hasty.

There is, to a certain degree, some debate as to whatcan be considered greedy when hunting wild mushrooms.Considerations should always be made to a species needto perpetuate itself. We recommend not picking a eld ofmushrooms that have yet to open their caps and drop their

spores. Leaving some for the next person (or critter) to en-joy should be weighed against the possibility that someonewont come along before the mushroom begins to rot. Also,consider the risk of over-harvesting, which does occur. InGermany, for instance, the Chanterelle is on the endan-gered species list and in Italy you need to have a permit topick them becasue of over-harvesting problems. In the US,the problem does not seem as severe in most places. Still,respect for natures balance and a fair judgment of onesown needs should always be in mind. This is an opportunityto become closer to the balance of life and see how onesinteraction with the natural world can cause effect.

Dont just pick every mushroom you see. Stick to the onesyou know or try to add a few new species at a time. Blind-

ly picking often leads to a giant dirty pile of wetness thatnobody is going to want to sort through, clean, and thenidentify. This soon leads to a slightly smaller pile of rottingmushrooms, some of which could have been eaten.

If you do nd a nice big patch of mushrooms, write downand remember the spot. Well-established plots typicallyproduce yearly like clockwork. Reliable hunting groundslike these are coveted by mycophiles; ones best spots oftenbeing well guarded secrets.

Forsomemushrooms,youmayneedtogetalookatthe sporecolortoIDit.Todothis,takeaSPORE PRINT bycut-tingoffthemushroomscapandplacingit onwhite paper or glass.Letitsittherefor2-6hoursasthe sporesdrop.Puta bowl overit if you want. Thenpickthecapupanden-joyyourfungalart.If

itwas made onglass,youcanplace anotherpiece of glass overitand seal theedgeswith tape. The printthenremainsviableforyearsatroomtempera-ture,safefromoutsidecontamination and de-structiveUVlight.

Notes / Tips7

Just as plants provide many natural dyes forclothing and hair, so too do some mushrooms. Techniquesof this use of mushrooms date back to at least biblicaltimes but have had a resurgence in the last few decades,especially in the scandanavian countries. The process formaking these fabric and hair mycodyes turns out to befairly simple.

If using fabric, you will likely want to prep it with a mor-dant, a metallic salt used to aid in the setting of a dye tomake it lightfast and colorfast. Different mordants producedifferent colors when combined with the various mush-rooms but we recommend sticking with eitherpotassiumalum or iron sulfate mordants as they are the least toxic forboth you and the environment.

One recipe for an alum mordant bath sufcient to dye 2-3 kgs of yarn consists of 12 grams alum, 4 grams tartaricacid. Place fabric in bath and simmer for about an hour.When the ber is immersed in the hot mordant bath, themetallic salts bond directly to the strands of ber. Whenthe mordanted ber is later put into a dye bath, the pig-ment molecules form a chemical bond with the mordant

on the ber, thereby setting the color. You can reuse oldmordant bath batches by adding 1/2 the quantity of mor-dant (i.e. 6 grams alum, 2 grams tartaric acid). This step ofprepping your fabric is entirely optional..experiment!

Recommended dye fungiand associated colors

with mordants:

Boletopsis griseaGreen/Olive

Cortinarius semisanguineusAlum:OrangeandRed

Dermocybe phoeniceus var.occidentalis

None:PinkAlum:RoseIron:Maroon

Omphalotus olivescensNone:LavenderAlum:PurpleIron:DarkForestGreen

Paxillus atrotomentosus

Phaeolus schweinitziiNone:LightYellowAlum:Gold

Iron:BurntSienna

Pisolithus tinctorius BrownsandGold

Mushroom Dyes28

1. Cut mushrooms into small pieces, soak them in water (enoughto submerge your fabric), heat, and simmer for a few hours.

2. Cool dye bath for a short time (this prevents felting of theyarn). strain and discard mushroom chunks (or use them forpapermaking!).

3. Place pre-mordanted yarn (described above) into the dye bathsolution and return to heat.

4. Reheat to about 175-195F (80-90C) and simmer for a fewhours until desired depth of color is reached.

5. Cool dyebath before removing the yarn.

6. Wash yarn with gentle soap and water then dry.

7. Store non-dyed mordanted yarn wet in plastic bags. This pre-mordanted yarn will keep for 6-8 days.

FABRIC DYEING STEP-BY-STEP


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Apart from food and medicine, human uses formushrooms have extended to all aspects of life. Theseare just a few interesting facts weve discovered.

In 1991, Otzi, a 5,300 year old man frozen in ice, wasdiscovered in the Alps on the border of Austria and Italy.On him was the Tinder Polypore (Fomes fomentarius)which, when dried, makes excellent punk for starting

res and for carrying embers over long distances. TheTinder Polypore has also been used for..

- Cauterization by Hippocrates in 5th century BC)- Remedy against dysmenorrhea, hemorrhoids, andbladder disorders in Europe

- Diuretic, laxative and nerve tonic- Treating cancers of the esophagus, stomach anduterus in China

- Smoking rituals in west Sibera by burning thefruit bodies overnight to banish evil spirits

- As snuff or mixed with tobacco

Bracket fungi, with their strong hyphae, have beenused to sharpen the edges of weapons and tools. Thesmoke of other polypores (such as Turkey Tails) is excel-

lent for deterring insects. Supposedly, some polyporescan even be soaked and pounded into a mass that canbe woven into garments, a tradition still alive today inEastern Europe (we havent found any information onhow this is actually done but it sounds cool).

When you scratch the white pores on the undersideof the Artists Conk (Ganoderma applanatum), the poresrub away and expose the brown hyphae underneath tocreate a drawing of whatever is scratched into it .

The Nlakapamux tribe of Cascadia used the juices ofTricholoma populinum as a wash for newborns to givethem strength and independence like a mushroom. TheJapanese used the sames juices to combat wrinkles.

Haida tribes used the spores of Puffballs (Lycoperdonspp.) as a hemostatic. Other tribes rubbed the spores onthe navals of infants to prevent bed wetting.

The Quileute use the position of shelf fungus on treesto aid in orientation when returning from a walk.

The ash ofPhellinus igniarius was mixed with tobaccoand smoked by the Micmac, Inuit, and Blackfoot. Itshigh pH helps boost the tobaccos effect on the body.

The story of SantaClaus may have comefrom tales of rein-deer herding tribesin northern Siberia.Thesetribesheldcer-emoniesinhonorofthefamousand supposedlyhallucinogenic to the

right personred andwhiteAmanita Muscaria(a.k.a. Fly Agaric)mushroom. The magi-cal compounds foundinthesemushroomsre-mainsinthe urineoftheuser after inges-tion andduring theseceremoniestheSiberi-an shamen would dressin red and white andritualistically dis-tribute their Amanitaladen urine to othertribemembers.

Ethnomycology27 Clean and/or brush the mushroom off before putting

it in your container. This helps in the nal cleaning backhome. Also, keep different species separated with waxpaper, or paper bags (no plastic, which accelerates de-composition) so as not to cross contaminate prior toidentication.

If, like Chanterelles, the mushroom is growing in pairs,cut and take only one so the other may grow to matu-rity. Try to cut all mushrooms at their base, leaving thestem butt intact. If you must dig up the mushroom toaid in identication, be sure to rell the hole with duff.

These practices have been shown to maintain the healthof colonies and ensure future yields.

Lastly, you may consider learning the scientic namesof mushrooms. Yeah, they may seem stupid and boringbut they arent pointless. Many mushroom species haveno common name (or multiple common names) and thescientic name may only way to refer to a certain spe-cies. Some are also really fun to say, like Phlogiotis helvel-loides (the Apricot Jelly Mushroom). Similarly, learningsome of the vocab words used to describe physical char-acteristics will help a long way (check the descriptors wehave running along the bottom of these pages).

TIPS FROM FERAL FORAGER:

Meticulously scan the forest oor, keeping in mindthat some of the choicest quarry is also the best cam-ouaged. Forsake no possible terrestrial hiding places;but scour the piles of last autumns fallen leaves, andexamine the carpets of green moss. Inspect the upturnedroots of wind fallen trees, and observe the rotting logs,for some wonderful delights may be hiding anywhere.

Walk not erect, nor in a straight line, but, rather, staylow and wander aimlessly and in circles. Rememberperspective is everything, and what cannot be seen fromhere must be seen from there. Steal glances above too,

into the trees and at their trunks; for often the object ofyour quest will be hiding there, counting on your eyes tobe too earthbound to spot it in its arboreal sanctuary.

Look, look again, look even once more, and, nally,look again, never counting how many times, for it is therule of the mushroom hunt that they who have not foundany mushrooms have not looked closely enough, norlong enough, nor at enough places, nor from enoughdifferent angles.

STUFF TO TAKEWITH YOU

On Your Body

__Polyesterorwoolclothes(brightcolorsinhuntingseason)

__Rainjacket&pants__Gators__Sturdymoistureproofboots__Hat__Mittens/gloves__Wristwatch__Compass__Whistle__FRSwalkie-talkieradios(DifferentfromCBradiosandMUCHbetterinallrespects.)__GPS

In Your Flat- BottomedBasket

__Waxedpaperbags(noplastic!)__Knife,brightlymarked__Brownpaperbags__Trowelwithbrush

In Your Backpack

__Goodmapofthearea__Food&water__Extraclothes__Sunscreen

__Insectrepellent__Trowelandtoiletpaper__Fieldguides__Notebook&pencil__Sporeprintpaper(blackandwhite)__Photographyequipment__Emergencyblanket__FirstAidKit__Waterproofmatchesorlighter

8


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The following is just a tiny selection of the bounty that awaits in yournearest woodland or yard. We strongly recommend cross-referencing our descrip-tions and crappy black & white photos with other sources (check the recommendedreading section in the back) or with an experienced friend. In fact, ALWAYS DOU-BLE CHECK YOUR IDENTIFICATIONS! Even the pros do it. You can never be toosafe. Seriously. And make sure to check allthe characteristics as some species havenon-edible look alikes. That said, the following shroomies have relatively distinctappearances. These all grow here in the SLFs home base of Cascadia but not nec-

essarily in all parts of the world. So check other resources to nd whats local foryou.

A NOTE ON POISONOUS AND DEADLY MUSHROOMS

Yes, there are deadly mushrooms out there. In the US, about 5. And many morewill make you sick or give you a strong hurtin in the gut. But the poisoning statsarent that bad. In North America, there are an average of 70 mushroom poisoningsand one death per year. 90% of thse occur in California, due in large part to theabundance of the Death Cap Mushroom, Amanita phalloides (see below). Often,these poisonings occur due to human error in identifying a mushroom. If you stickto your guidebooks and cross-check the descriptions, its very unlikely you will getsick from eating mushrooms. Thus, its a good idea to learn the more posionousmushrooms rst and know how to avoid them, just like when learning to identifyplants. Remember: WHEN IN DOUBT, CHUCK IT OUT (or compost it).

Field Guides9

Appearance:CAP-3.5-15cmbroad.Stickywhenmoist.Smooth olive, green-yellow, yellow-brown,orbronze.Marginrarelystriate.Veilremnantsoftenpresentontop.GILLSWhitebecomingcream.Adnatetoadnexedorfree.Coveredbythinwhiteuniversalveilwhenyoung.STALK - 4-18 cm long, 1-3 cm thick.Whitetopaleyellowish.Sometimesbul-bous atbase. Skirt-likeannulusringoftenpresent.Whitesac-likevolvaatbase.SPORE COLOR-WhiteFLESHWhite.Firm,notbruising.ODOR-Slightlypungentbutvariable. Tastemild.

Growing Pattern:Mycorrhizal,foundwithOak,HazelnutandCottonwoodtrees.Oftenfoundincities.

Notes:Responsiblefor45%ofmushroompoisoningsinNorthAmerica,A. phalloides isanim-portantmushroom forbeginnerstolearn.ThisEuropeaninvasivespecieshasmanypoisonousandediblelook-alikes.

DEATH CAP Amanita phalloides

POISONOUS! DO NOT EAT!

METHOD 5

1. Soak 1 long wood dowels for several days, drainthem, then dump in a cardboard box with a few stembutts mixed in.

2. Cover with soaked corrugated cardboard sheets.

3. Leave outside, stirring the box up after 6 months.

4. Once the dowels are well covered with myceliumthey can be harvested and placed into holes drilled into2 x 4 logs and then covered with bees wax.

5. The preferred wood would have been felled in thefall or winter (after the leaves have fallen and all thesugars are concentrated in the wood), between 3 weeksto 3 months prior to use. Hardwoods and broadleaf tree(such as alders, oaks, and maples) are typically preferredover most coniferous species.

6. Kept moist and shaded, these logs will produce mush-rooms in months (up to 16, depending on the specie)and will continue to do so for years.

7. Whatever spawn you grow can be mixed with un-treated moist wood chips in burlap sacks to create bun-ker spawn. These sacks can be used in mycoltrationprojects by being completely submerged in the con-taminated owing water. Or they may be placed alonglogging roads to prevent erosion.

26


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METHOD 3

An easy way to clone a mushroom you nd in the woodsis by directly taking a piece of its mycelium from theground and providing an environment for it to ourishat your home. It goes like this..

1. If you nd a patch of mycelium in the woods collecta strong ropey chunk of it or take a fresh mushroom andcut off the bottom of the stem including the ropey rhizo-morphs (called the stem butt). More is better.

2. Place the stem butts in a moistened paper bag.

3. At home, atten a corrugated cardboard box from theUSA or Canada (boxes from other countries may havetoxins in their glue) and strip one side to reveal the cor-rugations.

4. Wet the cardboard until it is saturated and place themycelium on the corrugated side.

5. Cover with straw.

6. Once 25-50% of the cardboard is covered with my-celium it can be moved to a bed of fresh, moist woodchips, or placed between two burlap sacks full of moist

wood chips or between more moist cardboard sheets.The mycelium will continue to grow as long as moresubstrate is introduced.

METHOD 4

1. Soak cardboard until saturated & exposecorrugations.

2. Place one stem butt from every 16 inches.

3. Sandwich with another panel of corrugation.

4. Soak stem butts and cardboard in water. Drain.

5. Place in a container on the ground, covering with athin wood chip layer.

6. Incubate for 4-8 months before transplanting.

25 SULFUR TUFT Naematoloma/Hypholoma fasciculare

Appearance:CAP Highlyvariable.Smalltomedium,domedtoflatwithage.

Yellow-orange,yellow,orgreen-yellow.Bald,oftenwith brownspotontop.Fleshy.Sometimescarryingsmall partialveilremnants.2-5cmbroad.

GILLS - Yelloworgreen-yellowwhenyoung,grayingwithage. Adnexedandcrowded.

STALK - Slender,yellowortawny.5-12cmlong.SPORE COLOR Deepbrownishpurple.FLESH - Thinandyellow.ODOR - Faintdistinctiveodor.

Growing Pattern: Intuftsorclustersonrottenwood.Onstumpsorburiedroots ofconifersandbroadleafspecies.Growing Season: Springtofirstfrosts.Edibility: Poisonous!DONOTEAT!Notes:

TheSulfurTuftisacommonnon-ediblethatsomemaymistakefortheedibleHoneymushroomiftheydidntreadthedescriptionsforbothclosely.NamefromLatin,meaninginsmallbundles.DistinguishedfromHypholoma capnoidesbyitsgreenishgillsandafiercelybitterflavor.Canbeusedtomakemycodyes.

.


16/22

Appearance:CAP - Mediumtolarge,3-15cm.Fleshy.Varyingbetweenshades

ofyellow,brown,lightpinkandwhite.Maybecoveredin erectbrownhairsspreadingtowardedge.

GILLS - Thegillsareslightlysinuate,decurrentoradnexed; closetosubdistant.Cream-colored,brownishinage.

STALK Fleshytofibrousandstringy.Cortina(cobwebbyveil) present,formingring.Typicallywhitewithreddishor brownishtints.Club-shaped.

SPORE COLOR - White,dustingcapsbeneath.ODOR - Oily.RHIZOMORPHS Dark-colored,shoe-string-like.

Growing Pattern: Widespreadandabundantinclumpsonmanytypesofbothlive anddeadtrees,logs,andstumps.Growing Season: Summer&autumn.Edibility: Cookwell(parboilingrecommended).Goodfordrying.Notes:

HoneyMushroomscompriseseveralsimilarspeciesandarestilloftencalledArmillaria mellea, theoriginalnameattributedtoallofthem.Armillaria nabsona,A. ostoyae,A. sinapena, A. gal-lica,aresomeothersfoundinCascadia.Foranup-to-datekey

checkhttp://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/armkey.html.

TheworldslargestlivingorganismisamycelialmatofArmil-laria ostoyae,estimatedtobe2,385continuousacres,intheMalheurNationalForestinEasternOregon.Avirulentpathogenictree-killingfungus,Armillariasarebeginningtobeappreciatedfortheirecologicalroles.Theyopenupthecanopyforearlierseralspeciesandsaplingstogrowinthesunlight.Andbyat-tackingoneorasmallnumberoftreesatatime,theybreakupthehomogeneityoftheforeststructure,increasingthediversityoflevelsofsuccessionintheforest.

HONEY MUSHROOM Armillaria spp.

While it is histori-cally more common togrow mushrooms in alaboratory type set-ting, the complexityandskill involved inthese techniques isbeyondthesizelimitsofthiszine.Here,we

present simpler, morenatural methods takenfromMyceliumRunning.These techniques usehardier strains takendirectlyfromthefor-estsothatcontamina-tionislesslikelytooccur as themushroomhasbeenacclimatedtopredatory bacteriumandmoldsthatarethebaneoftheindoorcul-tivator.

Sources of myceliumfor remediation:

CommercialgrainorsawdustspawnyoupurchaseSpentcompostfromamushroomfarmTransplantedmyceliumfromwildpatchesCardboardsheet,plug,bunker,orburlapsackspawnSporemassspawn

Oneof thebestmush-rooms for companionplantinginthegardenistheKingorGiantStropharia (Strophar-ia rugoso-annulata).Grown in wood chipsspreadaroundthegar-den, theyaresaidtobenefit certain cropsby making nutrientsavailable for plants,and helping the soilholdontowater.Theyproduceyummyfruitingbodiesaswell.

Cultivation

In this section, we present several simple mush-room growing techniques for the DIY beginner. For amore in-depth explanation and description of this sci-ence, we strongly encourage reading Paul Stamets revo-lutionary text Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms CanHelp Save the Planet (upon which the following sectionis largely based). Or keep an eye out for our dedicatedmycoremediation zine in the future. Other cultivation

books are recommended on page 36.

METHOD 1Of all the common mushrooms commercially

cultivated, the Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) isby far the easiest to grow and the best recommendationfor beginners. It is fast growing on almost any substrate,highly adaptive, and proven capable of effectively andaggressively breaking down petroleum based products.

Oyster spores (collected from a spore print) can be castdirectly onto moist, untreated wheat straw in January (thetemperature should be around 35-55 degrees). Leave thestraw outside and mushrooms should fruit by around

March. Requires minimal maintenance as wet strawdoesnt get moldy for months in colder temperatures.

Oysters can also be grown in the kitchen on used coffeegrounds. Just ll a clean 5 gallon bucket half full withgrounds (ask at a coffee house or just check their dump-ster) that are moist but not dripping when squeezed. Tearup some fresh Oysters from the store or woods and burythe chunks in a small hole dug out of the center of thegrounds and cover with about an inch of grounds. Coverthe bucket with a lid, but dont close it tight. Spray thecontents with water now and then to keep moist. You willneed to experiment with how open or closed the lid iskept, to keep a humid, but not stale, environment in thecontainer. Add more grounds as the old grounds shrinkup from being consumed by the mushrooms. Edible re-

sults in 3-5 weeks.

METHOD 2Boil a gallon of water for 10 minutes, cool it, then pourit in a clean container that has not held chemical or milkproducts. To this add a tsp salt and 1 tbsp of sugar,mixing thoroughly. Add a teaspoon of spores from aspore print. Cover the container and incubate it at roomtemperature, shaking vigorously twice a day. Once nethreads of mycelium are barely noticeable, pour aroundthe base of saplings or plants in your garden.

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A new science has been developing over the last few years revolving around the useof mushrooms to aid in healing damaged natural environments. Termed mycorestoration, thisemerging eld has only just begun to be explored. Through experimentation, the possibilitiesmushrooms hold grow every day. The potential that mycorestoration shows for slowing and/orreversing some of the disastrous impacts humans have made on the natural world in the pastcentury are of great interest to the SLF. Indeed, the spreading of these new revelations wasmain purpose behind the creation of this zine. We hope the following overview inspires youto learn more and maybe put some of the techniques we present to use as a means to directly

contribute to the health of our planet.**************************************

As we have described above, mushrooms play a key role in the health and vitalityof a forest ecosystem. Through the use of powerful enzymes, it has been discovered, certainmushrooms can break down not just organic matter into fertile soil but also many of thetoxic products of industrial civilization into non-toxic compounds. Mushroom species havebeen discovered that can break down petroleum products, effectively cleaning up offshoreoil spills. Other are readily able to soak up and sequester heavy metals such as cadmium,radioactive cesium, mercury, lead, and arsenic from polluted soil; concentrating them into themushrooms fruiting body for easy disposal (thus, NEVER eat a mushrooms that was potentiallygrown on substrates carrying heavy metals). Through the intentional introduction of the rightspecies at the right times, humans can methodically harness the power of our fungal allies toheal damaged environments. Some simple ways to do this in your neighborhood or abroad are

presented in the next few pages and break down into 3 categories:

Mycoltration is the use of mycelium as a membrane for ltering out microorganisms, pol-lutants, and silt from polluted rivers, watersheds and urban water systems. Like Gaias naturallter, one square inch of soil can contain 8 miles worth of mycelial interlaced webbing. As wa-ter passes through these microscopically ne nets, microorganisms and pollutants are trappedand, theoretically, digested by the mycelium.

Mycoforestryis the practice of intentionally introducing specic, often saprophytic, mush-rooms into disturbed or clear-cut forest areas to stimulate decomposition and trigger habitatrecovery. By introducing inoculated woodchips (no smaller than 1/8 inch and to a depth nogreater than a foot) into such areas, the wood debris left over by logging is quickly transformedinto rich soil in a matter of a few years, enabling the damaged environment to recover muchfaster. Examples of application incude introducing mycelium to help prevent erosion (causedby logging roads, for example) and spreading wood chips inoculated with mycorrhizal mush-

rooms around the base of saplings to help them grow faster and stronger.

Mycoremediation, the real showstopper, is the use of mushrooms to break down complextoxins into less toxic chemicals. The enzymes created by certain mushrooms to digest organicmatter have been shown to break chemical bonds found in petroleum products, herbicides,pesticides, dioxins, PCBs, DDT, Agent Orange, and munitions such as TNT. In other words, thefucked up chemicals get turned into not so fucked up ones. One need only to introduce themycelium to an affected environment and let the mushrooms do the work. As great of a discov-ery as this may sound (fucking astonishingly amazing if you ask us!), it is still only slowly gain-ing acceptance and implementation around the world. Wed like to see that change, especiallyin our radical communities. The methods for this form of remediation are extremely cheap,relatively easy, and highly effective when compared to other bioremediation techniques. Thus,hella DIY/DIT (Do It Together!).

Mycorestoration23

Appearance:

CAP-4-15cm,broad.White,tan,gray,pinkish,orbrown. GILLS-White.Crowded,unequal,decurrent. STALK-Short,thick,orabsent. SPORE COLOR-White. FLESH-Thick.White. ODOR-Pleasant.Growing Pattern: Theirgrowingpatternisshelf-like,tendingtogrowingroups ondeadtrees,hay,orstumps.Growing Season: Springandautumntofirstfrost.Reappearingduringmild wintersandinspringandsummerwithrains.Edibility: Delicious(andnutritious)grilledorfried.Checkforgrubs.Medicinal Value:

Oystersarebelievedtohelpreducebloodcholesterolandto haveanti-tumorandHIV-inhibitingproperties.Notes:

ThetermOysterMushroomisusedtodescribeatleast3similarspecies(Pleurotus ostreatus,P. pulmonariusandP. populinus),allofwhichareedible.Therearemanypoisonouslook-alikes,butallbutLentinellus ursinushavedarkspores.AngelWings(Pleurocybella porrigens)andtheElmOyster(Hypsizygus ulmari-us)alsolooksimilar,havewhitesporesandareedible(althoughAngelWingsshouldnotbeconsumedinlargequantities).Ifyoufindaheavilyfruitingloginthewoods,carryithomeandkeepitmoisttocontinueharvesting.

OYSTER MUSHROOM Pleurotus spp.

Arora


18/22

TURKEY TAILS Tramates versicolor

Appearance: CAP-2-7cmbroad.Toughandleathery.Narrowzonesofcolor. TUBES-Whitish,turningbrownwithage. STALK-None. SPORE COLOR-White. FLESH-Thin.Leathery.Whitish.

ODOR-None.Growth Pattern: Growsshelf-likeorinrosettesingroups,rows,orshelving massesondeadandoccasionallylivinghardwoods.Growing Season: Growsallyear.

Edibility: Tootoughforfoodthoughcanbeusedforsoupstock,orchewed asanaturalchewinggumwhilehiking.Medicinal Value:

Immunesystemenhancer,anti-tumor,anti-viral,anti-bacterial,andanti-oxidant.Usefulforinfectionandinflammationoftheupperrespiratory,urinary,anddigestivetracts,andisusedforgeneralimmuneweaknessandtumors.Takeasateaupto20g3x/day.

Notes: Verycommononceyourecognizethem.SourceofPSK(a.k.a. krestin)acommercialanti-cancerdruginAsia.

22Quick Chanterelle Saut

IngredientsChanterelles TarragonSea salt CreamUnsalted butter Shallots

Sprinkle salt into pan, add coarsely broken upchanterelles over high heat and dry saut fora few minutes until the moisture is removed.Add unsalted butter or oil in a good amount,stir, cook for 5 minutes or so, add tarragon,some cream (optional) and some shallots.

Baked Mushrooms

1 to 2 pounds mushrooms, cut in halves Salt and pepper to taste 5 to 6 tablespoons butter About 4 tablespoons heavy cream

Spread the mushrooms in a long baking pan.Dust lightly with salt and pepper and dotwith butter. Cover and bake in a preheated350oven for 25 minutes. Pour the creaminto the pan and bring to a boil on top of thestove.

Mushroom Ketchup

Makes 2 pint jars

2 pounds mushrooms, drained & trimmed 1/4-inch slice fresh ginger peeled, minced 5 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar One 8-ounce can tomato sauce 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1 teaspoon sugar 1-1/2 teaspoons salt or more

Puree the mushrooms, ginger, and garlic insmall amounts in a blender or food processoruntil the mixture becomes pastelike. Place itin a heavy pot. Add the remaining ingredientsand simmer uncovered for 1 hour, stirring oc-casionally. Pack into hot sterilized jars. Pro-cess in a canner for 15 minutes.

Chanterelle Beer Recipe

Tothesecondary

eitherdirectlyadd

cleaned,chopped

Chanterellesorvodka

inwhichChanterelles

havebeensoakingfor

3weeks.

FromRadical Brewing

byRandyMosher


19/22

When cooked right, some wild mushrooms speciestaste fucking dank. If youre into that sort of thing we havesome recommended cookbooks in the back or just follow

these outlines to start with.

DRYING:

Chanterelles, morels, shiitakes, and boletes all dry well. Sliceand dry by hanging or with a dehydrator. Mushrooms shouldbe dried to point of being crispy like a potato chip beforestoring. Store in a clear jar with a tight tting lid. Reconsti-tute with any liquid, the mushrooms will absorb their avor(gravy works well).

PICKLING:

Works best with rm-textured species.

Simmer the following for 15 minutes:1 cup white vinegar 2 bay leaves cup balsamic vinegar 1 tsp peppercornsSome thyme or dill

Add 10 ounces mushrooms and simmer 10 minutes longer.

Pour all ingredients into a jar (sterilize the jar rst by boilingit for a few minutes), seal, and let them pickle.

STOCK:

A good way to make use of damaged, maggoty, or decayingmushrooms or ones that just dont last that long. This stockwill keep for around 5 days in the fridge or about 6 months

in the freezer.

To make 2 quarts:

2 lbs mixed mushrooms Some parsley1 onion, roughly chopped Some thyme2 carrots, roughly chopped Salt and pepper2 stalks of celery, chopped 2 crushed cloves garlic

Put all ingredients in a pot and add enough water to cover.Bring to boil and simmer for an hour and a half. Strain andcool before putting in the fridge or freezer.

Cooking & Preservation

Aurum et argentum facile estboletos mittere difcile est (It is possible to livewithout gold and silver but to abstain from eating mushrooms is difcult)

Martial 43-104 AD

When eating mushroomsthat are new to you

its important to re-member that what onepersoncallsabutteryChanterelle, anothermaycallanallergyin-ducing fungal foe. Asdifferentpeoplereactdifferentlytodiffer-entfoods,werecommendeating a small amountofanymushroomthatisnewtoyoutoseeifyoucan stomach it. Thismeanseatacm3cookedbit then wait a fewhourstodaystoseeifanythinghappens.Itsalsoagoodideatotryonly onenewmushroomat a time. Never eatrawmushrooms as theycanmakeyou sick andyour body cant breakdown their tough cellwallswithoutcooking.Andwhilecookinghelpsincreasedigestibilityovercookingcanremovenutritionalvalue.

Donteatrottenmush-roomsoroverindulgeinany mushroom eating.

And never, NEVER eatanymushroomsgrownonsubstrate that poten-tially carried heavymetals(e.g.mushroomspickedfromthesideoftheroad).Theseprac-ticeswillverylikelygetyoulaidupinthehospital.

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Appearance: CAP-2-14cmbroad.Brightorangetopaleyellow-orange,bald, wavywhenmature. FERTILE RIDGES Distinguishedfromgillsbytheirrounded, bluntedges.Wellspaced,shallow,andthickwithconnecting veinsrunningdownstalk.Typicallyalightershadeofthecap color,sometimespinkish.

STALK-NOThollow,samecolorasgillsandcap,long,tapered towardsbase.Coloredlikecaporpaler.4-8cmlong. SPORE COLOR-Paleyellow. FLESH-Compact,fibrousinstalk.

ODOR-Strong.Likeapricots.Growing Pattern:

Mycorrhizal,oftenfoundingroupsonthegroundbeneathconifersandoaks,NOTinfusedclusters.

Growing Season: Latespringtolateautumn.Edibility:

Popularanddelicious.Allflavoringsaresolubleinfat.Goodifdriedandreconstitutedintoraccoongravy.

Notes:TheOregonstate mushroom,Cantharellus formosusisverydif-ficulttodistinguishfromotherChanterelles,particularly Can-tharellus cibarius var. roseocanusandC. cascadensis.Canthar-

ellus subalbitus,theWhiteChantrelle,isbiggerandwhiter.DontconfusewiththeJack-O-Lantern(thin,crowdedgills)ortheFalseChanterelle(thinner,orangegillsandbrownercap).Oneofthefirstediblesinhistorydiscoveredhundredsofyearsagoandappreciatedbypeasantsandnobilityalike.Namederivedfromthegreekwordkantharos,akindofdrinkingvessel.

CHANTERELLE BUTTER

0.5 1 lb. chanterelles1 cup butter

1) Clean, dry, and thinly slicechanterelles.

2) Melt butter on low, do notbrown.

3) Add mushrooms to meltedbutter, cover and simmer untilmushrooms contain no liquidand are golden.

The cookedchanterelles are now ready to eatand the now flavored butter canbe cooled and stored for later

use. Great on toast.

PACIFIC GOLDEN CHANTERELLE Cantharellus formosus

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RED-BELTED POLYPORE Fomitopsis pinicola

Appearance: CAP-5-40cmbroad,3-22cmthick.Hardsurfacecrust. Reddish,cinnamon,orreddish-black. PORES-Whiteoryellowish.NOTstainingbrownwhenscratched. STALK-None. SPORE COLOR-Paleyellow-white. FLESH-Whiteorpaleyellow.

ODOR-Fragrantwhenfresh.Liketobacco.Growth Pattern:

Saprotrophic,foundaloneoringroupsondeadconifers.Lesslikelyonlivingtreesorconifers.Foundonmorethan100trees

species.Growing Season: Perennial.Growingfromspringtofirstcoldspellinautumn.Edibility: Tootoughtoeat.Medicinal Value: Usedailytoreduceinflammationofdigestivetractandasa cancerpreventative.Amildteacanbemadebysimmeringcutup chunksforatleastanhour.Notes: Whencutopen,showingstratifiedlayers(representingone yearsgrowth).Thisisagreatspeciesformakingmycopaper.

Apart from tasting great, many wild mushrooms provide signicant health benetsfor humans as well. Mushrooms are often low in fat and carbohydrates but high in protein anddietary ber. Many contain varying amounts of Vitamins B, K, A, & D and essential minerals.

Moreover, the medicinal use of mushrooms dates back thousands--if not tens of thousands--ofyears in China and to at least the time of Hippocrates in ancient Greece. Various mushroomspecies naturally excrete high levels of antibiotics to protect themselves from hostile microbesin their habitat. From them, antibiotic compounds useful to humans have been isolated. Re-

search has also shown that various other compounds extracted from some mushrooms havethe ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Other mushrooms have shown serious poten-tial to ght HIV and other serious viral infections and still others can help reduce cholesterol.The research of mycomedicinals, like most branches of mycology, is a relatively new eld inwestern science and new discoveries are made all the time.

A Note On Medicinals20

Source:MycomedicinalsbyPaulStamets

Assomeofthemedicinalpropertiesofmushroomsarealcoholsolubleandothersarewater soluble, a tincture (alcohol-based)anddecoction(water-based)blendisdesirablewhen making mycomedicinals. This 30/70recipewrittenforReishis(Ganoderma lucidum)byMichaelMooreshouldworkwellforother

species. TINCTUREDrymushroom andchop.Recordweight ingrams.PlacechunksinjarandcoverwithpureEverclear(95% alcohol).Use 5mLEverclearforeverygramdriedmushroom.After2weeksstrain,squeeze,andSAVEmushroomasmuchaspossible.Recordvolume(inmL)ofresul-tanttincture.Bottleandlabelthetincture.

DECOCTIONPut strained mushroom chunks in top ofdoubleboilerandaddwater.Use10mLwaterforeverygram originaldry weight ofmush-room.Startcookingdown,butdontboil!Planon 2 hours. Strain of and discard mushroomchunks.Continuecookingdownthedecoction

untilyouhave2.33timesasmuchdecoctionastincture.Example: for 30mLtincture,cookdecoctiondownto70mL.Thisistheamountofdecoctionwhichyouwillneedtoaddtothetincturetogivea30%alcohol/70%decoctionextract.Whendecoction has cooked downtotheamountyouneed,coolthedecoctionandthenaddittothetincture.Storeinadarkglasscontainerandlabel.

MUSHROOM TINCTURE/DECOCTION RECIPE


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Appearance: CAP-5-30cm.Redtopurple-brown,sometimeswithgreenor brown.Broadlydomedtoflat.Stickywhenmoistadhering todebriswhendry. GILLS-Whitishtoyellowishwithbrownishstains,attachedto stalk. STALK-Oftenpartlyorentirelyrosypinkatbase,bruising yellowtobrown.Brittle,snappinglikechalk.Likeany Russula,itwillbursttopieceswhenthrownintoa

tree.Fleshinsidestalkspongytobrownish.Veiland ringabsent. SPORE COLOR -Yellowish. FLESH - Whitish,darkeningwhenexposedtoair.Thick.Soft.

ODOR-Ofcookedcrustaceansorherring.Growing Pattern: Mycorrhizal,foundonthegroundaroundconifersespecially Douglas-firs,hemlock,andpines.Growing Season: Summertolateautumn.Edibility: Delicious.Capscanbesauteed,toasted,stuffed,orbroiled.Notes: Shrimpieshavelotsoflook-alikesthatprobablywontkill

you,butmightupsetyourtummy(andtastebuds!).Makesure thetastewhenrawismild,NOTpeppery,andthestalkturns yellowishthenbrownwhenscratched.Fishyscentwhenold.

SHRIMP MUSHROOM Russula xerampelinaGrowing Pattern:

In groups on the ground under conifers and oaks. NOT in fused clusters.

Growing Season:

Late spring to late autumn.

Appearance:

CAP bright orange to pale yellow-orange, bald and wavy when mature.GILLSwell

spaced, shallow, blunt edged, thick and with connecting veins in between running down stalk.

STALK is NOT hollow and same color as gills and cap.

Edibility:

Extremelypopularanddelicious.Allitsavoringsaresolubleinfatandsomearesoluble

in alcohol and/or water.

Notes:

Dont confuse with Jack-O-Lantern (thinner crowded gills) or False Chanterelle (thin-

ner,orangergillsandbrownercap).Oneoftherstedibles,discoveredhundredsofyearsago,

appreciated by peasants and nobility alike. Name derived from the greek word kantharos, a kind of

drinking vessel.

Appearance: CAP-1.5-4cm.Domedwhenyoung,flattowavywithmaturity. Reddishbrown,darkbrown,caramelbrown,fadingtotan asitdries.Bald,slightlystickywhenmoist. GILLS-Brownanddarkeningwithage. STALK-White,bluingwhenbruised.Fibrousveilpresentwhen young,notformingring.Slender. SPORE COLOR -Deeppurple.NEVERbrown,yellow-orrusty-brown.Growing Pattern: Saprotrophic,foundinwoodchips,landscapedareas,andedges ofwoods.Growing Season: September-November.Edibility:

Stronglyhallucinogenic.Notes:

CanbetrickytoID.Besuretocheckothersourcesaspoisonouslook-alikesdoexist.MycologistandauthorPaulStametshasbeenquotedstatingthatifyoupickamushroomthatbothbruisesblueANDhasapurplesporeprint,eatitbecauseitwilllikelygetyouhigh.SeetheSacredMushroomssectiononpage31formoreinformationaboutthehistoryandeffectsofpsychedelicmush-roomssuchasthese.

POTENT PSILOCYBES Psilocybe cyanescens

drawingsbyKitScatesBarnhart

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Radical Mycology (Imposed)

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