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Date/Time
Date(s) - 06/17/2017
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Location
Cooper-Siegel Community Library

Category(ies)


WPMC is pleased to announce this year’s mushroom classes on June 17 at the Cooper-Siegel Library in Fox Chapel. Organized by Education Chair Fluff Berger. The morning classes, suitable for beginners, will focus on local mushrooms, including edible and medicinal species.  The afternoon will include intermediate-level classes, aimed at learning how to identify some of these mushrooms.

Each session is $10; the full day is $20.  A free mushroom walk at nearby Salamander Park will follow.  Here’s the full program:

  • 10:15 a.m. – Registration for Morning-Only and All-Day participants
  • 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. – What’s Hiding Under all those Weeds? (Cecily Franklin)
  • 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Medicinal Mushrooms of Western Pa. (Adam Haritan)
  • 1:15 p.m. – Registration for Afternoon-Only participants
  • 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. – Fungi Features (Richard Jacob)
  • 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. – The “Keys” to the Fungal Kingdom (La Monte Yarroll)
  • 3:30 p.m. – Mushroom Walk at Salamander Park (free)

Space is limited, so don’t delay!
On-line registration, using PayPal or credit card

Or make checks payable to WPMC and send to:
WPMC, c/o Barbara DeRiso,
204 Woodcock Drive, Pittsburgh PA 15215.

Here are the detailed descriptions of each talk:

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. – What’s Hiding Under all those Weeds?
WPMC member Cecily Franklin will explain her Forest Ecology Restoration Project (FERP) and how she transformed three acres of invasive weeds and vines into native wildflowers, shrubs and trees, all without planting anything. As a result of the clean-up, she has discovered more than 100 different mushroom species in her own backyard. She’ll tell you which ones only look like food and which ones she actually eats!

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Medicinal Mushrooms of Western Pennsylvania
WPMC Officer and Identifier Adam Haritan will explain how medicinal mushrooms are the superstars of the fungal kingdom. Plenty of research suggests that these mushrooms demonstrate powerful anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral properties, and many experts consider these particular fungi to be top candidates for immune-system support. In this class, participants will learn how to identify many of the key medicinal mushrooms that inhabit Western Pennsylvania, as well as their medicinal properties and researched health benefits. Additionally, participants will learn a few extraction techniques involved in turning these wild fungi into personal homemade medicines.

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. – Fungi Features
WPMC President Richard Jacob will explain some of the finer features of our fungal friends. Maybe you already know the difference between gills and pores, but do you understand what “reticulation” means? Participants will learn how to look beyond the basic characteristics and identify more mushrooms.

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. – The “Keys” to the Fungal Kingdom
WPMC Mycologist La Monte Yarroll will explain how to use dichotomous (sequential) and synoptic (multi-access) keys to identify mushrooms. Participants will also learn which key to select, in order to begin their identification.

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We request that no one hunts a walk or foray location for at least two weeks prior to a walk or foray. It is only through your cooperation that we can have successful walks and forays. All walks & forays will be held rain or shine. Come 15-30 min early and socialize. All walks start on time, so be early, if you are late we will already be in the woods. If you are a club member and have already joined our Facebook Group you can find last minute additions or changes there.