RANGELEY — The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust will host a workshop on edible and medicinal mushrooms, taught by expert Greg Marley, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 11, at 2424 Main St.
The day-long workshop will be devoted to building the skills needed to identify common mushrooms and to begin a lifetime of wild mushrooming. The class will combine lecture and outdoor experience to look at identification features, ecology and the seasonal occurrence of mushrooms.
“Maine offers a great opportunity to sustainably collect world-class edible mushrooms as you enjoy a walk through the woods and fields,” Marley said. “The only thing standing in the way is having the knowledge and confidence to tell the good edible mushrooms from those that can sicken you. The good news is that there are a handful of common, easily identified, great edibles that can satisfy most people’s hunger for mushrooms.”
The workshop will look at edible as well as common poisonous mushrooms and may end the day by cooking some of the mushrooms found. Focus will be on learning of a few common edible and medicinal mushrooms and building skills for ongoing identification. Participants should be prepared for a hike and to have a fun learning day. Participants are invited to bring fresh specimens of mushrooms from their own property.
Marley has been collecting, studying, eating, growing and teaching mushrooms for more than 45 years. Marley has spread his love of mushrooms to hundreds through walks, talks and classes held across the New England over the past 20 years. He is the founder of Mushrooms for Health, a small company providing medicinal mushroom education and products made with Maine medicinal mushrooms. Marley is the author of “Mushrooms for Health;” “Medicinal Secrets of Northeastern Fungi” and the award-winning “Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares: The Love Lore and Mystic of Mushrooms.” He has been a volunteer mushroom identification consultant to poison centers across New England since 2001, providing expertise in mushroom poisoning cases.
Registration is required to attend this workshop and space is limited. For more information, call 207-864-7311 or email alaliberte@rlht.org; visit rlht.org to register.
PHOTO: Mushroom expert Greg Marley. (Submitted photo)
