PLEASE READ ENTIRE DESCRIPTION BEFORE SINGING UP:
FORAGING SEASON STARTS IN JULY AND ENDS IN OCTOBER! This is a Mushroom identification workshop for those those individuals that are serious about studying mushrooms. We are typically up on the mountain until sunset. You will learn to identify medicinal, edible mushrooms, and poisonous mushrooms. Since I am working alone I can only do 20 people per trip maximum but we will provide a wealth of knowledge and attention to all parties. The event costs $35 per person; CHILDREN 10 AND UNDER GET IN FREE!
If you have a large family and cannot afford the tour message me we may be able to work with you.
For Mt Lemmon We will meet in town at the Le buzz Cafe. Please check in with me for attendance. Pay ahead of time on my Paypal hrcastro1@cox.net or Venmo Desert-alchemist or Zelle using my phone number is 520-981-3056. Mt Lemmon is about a 50 min to an hour drive from Tucson, so make sure that if you are not car pooling that you have enough gas for this trip. We will study every mushrooms we find and our other priority is to clean up our forests and educate people on respecting nature and ethical harvesting etiquette(bring a trash bag). If you RSVP and then cancel last minute, please let me know through text. I want everybody to take my phone number down and communicate with me on the day of the trip so we are not delayed due to lack of communication.
On these forays we cover a lot of rugged terrain in high altitude, this may make walking and breathing difficult so consult your doctor if you have any conditions that may be affected by these factors. We often walk through steep areas and may encounter poison oak/wild life. Please be mindful of where you step as there are wasps' nests up on the mountain. If you are allergic to wasps or bees please do bring your epi-pen. My partners and I will do our best to keep everyone in a relatively close proximity and answer questions. Everyone must be careful and responsible for their own safety when wondering off. With this said no one has ever been hurt in any of my forays so let's keep that way and let's have some fun! Don't forget to wear pants/long socks and long sleeves to protect yourself from being scratched or bitten by bugs.
Please respect mother nature and whenever you harvest Mushrooms only take as much as you need and take 1/3 to 1/2 from a batch leave 2/3 try not to over harvest! Be considerate of the forest and all of the inhabitants that also live off Mushrooms. Personal use harvesting limits are 5 gallon container per year per person. Forest Service has set these guidelines for foraging Mushrooms please adhere to the guidelines.
PLEASE BE SURE TO RSVP AHEAD OF TIME OR LET ME KNOW THAT YOURE COMING IF YOU CANT SIGN UP ON MEETUP. EVENTS WILL BE CANCELLED IF THERE AREN'T AT LEAST 5 PEOPLE REGISTERED AT LEAST 1 DAY PRIOR.
Follow us on Instagram @desert_alchemist or TikTok @desertalchemist for updates on events and to watch videos and start learning ahead of time. I am also on YouTube if you would like to support I would appreciate a subscribe thank you for your support!
Materials recommended for the foray are:
-basket for collecting mushrooms
-Compass
-Pocket knife or hunting knife
-Paintbrush for cleaning mushrooms
-Broken in boots or steel toe shoes or hiking shoes
-Plenty of water
-Bug spray
-A whistle in case someone gets lost
-A mushroom Identification book - such as the Audubon field guide to mushrooms
"Ask permission before taking. Abide by the answer. Never take the first. Never take the last. Take only what you need. Take only that which is given. Never take more than half. Leave some for others. Harvest in a way that minimizes harm. Use it respectfully. Never waste what you have taken. Share. Give thanks for what you have been given. Give a gift, in reciprocity for what you have taken. Sustain the ones who sustain you and the earth will last forever." -Braiding Sweetgrass
