Edible Mushroom Walk

Date/Time
Date(s) - Jul 13th, 2024
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Oyster mushrooms in focus on bark with a blurred background. The cream, white, and tan colored under bellies of the mushrooms is visible and have pleated gills. — *Oyster Mushrooms*

Join Hilltown Land Trust for an Edible Mushroom Walk with Jess Evans from Pioneer Valley Mycological Association (PVMA). This July, we’ll hit the Conwell trails to forage for edible mushrooms. Come learn about mushroom ID and best harvesting practices with an expert forager and current president of PVMA. This fun late Saturday morning walk will clue you into the native funky fungi in Hilltown’s deep forests.

On this two-hour guided walk, we’ll learn about mushroom species we find along the way. Jess will discuss characteristics of mushrooms that aid in mushroom identification. We’ll view our time looking for fungi through a conservation lens; participants will be encouraged to pick fungal specimens with intention rather than abandon. With an emphasis on the complex ecologies of our forests, Jess will teach participants about some common edible mushrooms of Massachusetts as well as discuss toxic lookalikes and inedible species. While there are no guarantees that we’ll find large quantities of edible fungi during this walk, participants will leave with knowledge on mushroom habitats and habits and responsible collection practices.

About Jess Evans

In the woods, Jess Evans stands to the right of the trunk of a large tree covered in bright orange and cream-colored chicken of the woods mushrooms. — Jess Evans to the right of Chicken of the Woods Mushrooms

Jess Evans grew up near Hartford, Connecticut and moved to the Pioneer Valley in 2016 where she now lives with her kiddo Ari in Shutesbury. Jess began seriously studying mushrooms after joining the Pioneer Valley Mycological Association and has been president of the club since 2017. Her passion for mushrooms is expansive. She enjoys mushroom photography and collecting and identifying specimens for citizen science. Jess loves leading walks that include family groups, as Ari, age 13, is an avid mushroomer as well! Jess also leads mushroom walks for local libraries and community groups and gives presentations on a variety of mushroom topics such as Edible Fungi and Poisonous Lookalikes and Fungi and Climate Change.

Although Jess enjoys some edible mushroom species, her primary interests are in broadening her skills at identifying fungi and learning more about fungal ecology. Beyond fungi, Jess is a full-time outdoor educator and camp director at Morse Hill Outdoor Education Center in Shutesbury and enjoys vegetable gardening in the summer and snowshoeing in the winter.

Accessibility Info

Bathroom: There are no facilities at this location.
Distance Traveled: 0.5 to 2 miles, depending on group interest and abilities
Fragrances: To be respectful of those with allergies and environmental sensitivities, we ask that you please refrain from wearing strong fragrances.
Parking: On the side of a dirt and gravel rural country road.
Public transportation: Public transit is not available to Conwell. Contact us if you are interested in coordinating a carpool.
Seating: There is no seating at this event.
Surfaces: On and off-trail forested terrain with roots, rocks, and potential for mud.