Part 1:    • You’re Doing It Wrong, No Matter What...  

Toxic or Edible, Amanita muscaria. And other Mushroom Forager FAQ, Part 2

Want insight on some frequently asked questions concerning fungi and mushroom foraging? This video is part TWO of THREE in a SERIES of videos addressing mushroom misconceptions, common beginner inquiries and questions that YOU asked via Instagram stories (Thanks for all your submissions!). If you haven’t seen part ONE, be sure to check it out!

I took the opportunity to glean wisdom from all kinds of mushroom loving people when I recently attended the 2018 North America Mycological Association’s Annual Foray. I hope you enjoy hearing from myself, and all kinds of folks who are deeply invested in the world of fungi!

Also, subscribe, like, share and leave a comment of any other questions you may want addressed in the future!

The knife I use! - https://amzn.to/2RTEblc

The books!
Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest - https://amzn.to/2RPKNRt
Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast - https://amzn.to/2B3NAB0
The Complete Mushroom Hunter - Gary Lincoff - https://amzn.to/2TbbWzW

Check out the list of links below! Some resources that follow along with topics covered in the video.

Amanita muscaria, toxic or edible? (Starts at 0:01)
For in depth information about the Amanita muscaria, this is a fantastic article. NOTE: This article states that no deaths have been attributed to A. muscaria, however since its publication a recently released study, "2006-2017 Summary of Mushroom Poisoning Reports in the NAMA Registry" by Michael W Beug, Chair NAMA Toxicology Committee, states a single death attributed to A muscaria (however indications there were likely other factors involved as well).
"A Study of Cultural Bias in Field Guide Determinations of Mushroom Edibility Using the Iconic Mushroom, Amanita muscaria, as an Example” by William Rubel and David Arora
http://davidarora.com/uploads/rubel_a...

Are too many people getting into foraging mushrooms and is it a concern that we are teaching more people to go out and pick mushrooms? (Starts at 6:30)

How can I get involved more with the science and research, do I have to get a degree to do so, how do I find a mentor to help? (Starts at 10:30)
If you aren’t part of a Mycological Society or Mushroom club, head to the North American Mycological Association’s Website and check out their index of clubs all around North America: Namyco.org
Note: Not all clubs are NAMA affiliates, there could be clubs local to you that are not on this list.

Great places to get started in some Citizen Science action (and yes, a full video on this topic has officially been filmed and is in the works!).
iNatrualist.org
MushroomObserver.org
Mycoflora.org

Are the spores of toxic mushrooms toxic for me to breathe? Will I get sick if I have a lot of mushrooms around me and I’m breathing in lots of spores? (Starts at 13:40)

Cryptoccocus gattii articles: (Note, it is the natural wafting of the fungal spores in the air that have affected people, it is not associated with a specific handling of mushrooms, which makes the disease impossible to avoid for both city dwellers or forest folk.)

NPR: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...

NY Times: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytim...

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If you want to catch up with my mushroom life more regularly, be sure to follow me on Instagram.

Yellow Elanor Instagram - www.instagram.com/yellowelanor
Zach Zoller Instagram - www.instagram.com/thezoller

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