How serendipitous! Just one hour ago, I came in from a foray in my local Portland park (I won't name it, in case other hunters are afoot and would dare to forage in my spot) with a sumptuous basket of chantarelles & puffballs. Since then, I've been sitting here laboring over which tasty thing to prepare with them. Question answered!
Growth is a beautiful thing. What a thoughtful, loving gesture for you and your family.
I am also guilty of not appreciating the effort that goes into my food, or always being mindful of where it comes from. I’m sure we could all do better to be more mindful of this, and shop from our local farmers and purveyors, when feasible and affordable. Unfortunately, over time, our convenience culture and capitalistic system has made this type of communal economy the exception, rather than the norm. I feel like that’s changing a bit, though. Foraging is one way to shake up the system!
An old friend of mine has a secret spot in the Coastal Range as well and has had some good harvests this year. I'm hoping this rain will mean he'll have a pile to share.
During my daily dog walks I “forage” for the wild grapes that cover the chain link fence surrounding the local tennis court. Forage is a stretch... it’s almost November and they are still very plentiful. I’ve preached to my dog walking neighbours about the benefits of free, wild food but I seem to be the only one who enjoys the bounty. My inlaws love wild mushrooms too but my wife threatens me to stay away, lest I die.
I love your writing so much! I’m happy to hear of your mushrooming success. Since we lost a huge tree in the ice storm of 2021 there have been hundreds of morels popping up in our yard in the spring around where it lived. I have been enjoying finding these gems and putting them on pizza and cooking them with garlic. If you want some easy morel hunting in March or April just look where trees have fallen, or feel free to drop me a line and I’ll give you some--assuming they show up again. I’m pretty close by to where you are!
Love the smiling chanterelle illustration ❤️ in Swedish they’re often called “skogsguld” which translates to “forest gold” and I think that’s fitting. A small celebration every time one is found!
Love this Carson! Is there anything much better than super duper fresh produce!? We went to Croatia for the first time this year for our summer holiday, and chanterelles must have been in season. They were selling giant boxes at the supermarket for, like €4 and most of the restaurants we went to were selling them, as part of their offerings, alongside the truffles the region is famous for. Have you ever been to a truffle hunting area? I always thought pigs snuffled for truffles (!), but apparently truffle farmers all have truffle dogs, and lots of the houses you pass on walks have yards with dogs tied up, barking furiously at you! Anyway, the combination of fresh chanterelles and fresh truffles is something else! X
I'm from Catalonia, and here the obsession with mushrooms is so great that it's almost laughable. There's even a program with a large audience on public television called "Mushroom hunters". I loved reading about foraging mushrooms in Oregon, now I need to go myself!
There is something quite literary about mushroom foraging, or wild foraging in general. And it encompasses multiple genres. The obvious is mystery/thriller, with the hush hush, covertness of best places to search.... I wouldn’t be at all surprised if specific mushroom hunters had something akin to a treasure map hidden deep in their earthen riddled pockets.
Easily using one’s imagination, you’ve got fantasy (Wildwood, anyone?), science fiction (mycelium and all that jazz) and you obvious horror with your cordyceps. It’s all so wonderfully gorgeous.
1) Ow! Bad wasp!
2) That vehicular error sounded...tiresome!
I've always admired your candor! You're awesome Carson Ellis!
You’re awesome too, Chad Crouch. ♥️
How serendipitous! Just one hour ago, I came in from a foray in my local Portland park (I won't name it, in case other hunters are afoot and would dare to forage in my spot) with a sumptuous basket of chantarelles & puffballs. Since then, I've been sitting here laboring over which tasty thing to prepare with them. Question answered!
Welcome to the more-than-slightly obsessive world of foraging. We are a weird and wonderful bunch of kooks. You belong with us!
Thank you! I think I do.
You're my dream aesthetic 😻😻🦅🦅🦅🦅
CarsonCore
Growth is a beautiful thing. What a thoughtful, loving gesture for you and your family.
I am also guilty of not appreciating the effort that goes into my food, or always being mindful of where it comes from. I’m sure we could all do better to be more mindful of this, and shop from our local farmers and purveyors, when feasible and affordable. Unfortunately, over time, our convenience culture and capitalistic system has made this type of communal economy the exception, rather than the norm. I feel like that’s changing a bit, though. Foraging is one way to shake up the system!
An old friend of mine has a secret spot in the Coastal Range as well and has had some good harvests this year. I'm hoping this rain will mean he'll have a pile to share.
What a cute lil beaut. <3 My latest nerdy mushroom discovery is that you can sauté them in WATER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLPLCmwBLBY
Oh interesting! I like that guy’s vibe.
During my daily dog walks I “forage” for the wild grapes that cover the chain link fence surrounding the local tennis court. Forage is a stretch... it’s almost November and they are still very plentiful. I’ve preached to my dog walking neighbours about the benefits of free, wild food but I seem to be the only one who enjoys the bounty. My inlaws love wild mushrooms too but my wife threatens me to stay away, lest I die.
We have lived next door to a mycologist for years. He looks a bit like a mushroom himself. He has kindly shared some of his mushrooms with us.
I love this whole damm thing
I love your writing so much! I’m happy to hear of your mushrooming success. Since we lost a huge tree in the ice storm of 2021 there have been hundreds of morels popping up in our yard in the spring around where it lived. I have been enjoying finding these gems and putting them on pizza and cooking them with garlic. If you want some easy morel hunting in March or April just look where trees have fallen, or feel free to drop me a line and I’ll give you some--assuming they show up again. I’m pretty close by to where you are!
Love the smiling chanterelle illustration ❤️ in Swedish they’re often called “skogsguld” which translates to “forest gold” and I think that’s fitting. A small celebration every time one is found!
Love this Carson! Is there anything much better than super duper fresh produce!? We went to Croatia for the first time this year for our summer holiday, and chanterelles must have been in season. They were selling giant boxes at the supermarket for, like €4 and most of the restaurants we went to were selling them, as part of their offerings, alongside the truffles the region is famous for. Have you ever been to a truffle hunting area? I always thought pigs snuffled for truffles (!), but apparently truffle farmers all have truffle dogs, and lots of the houses you pass on walks have yards with dogs tied up, barking furiously at you! Anyway, the combination of fresh chanterelles and fresh truffles is something else! X
I'm from Catalonia, and here the obsession with mushrooms is so great that it's almost laughable. There's even a program with a large audience on public television called "Mushroom hunters". I loved reading about foraging mushrooms in Oregon, now I need to go myself!
There is something quite literary about mushroom foraging, or wild foraging in general. And it encompasses multiple genres. The obvious is mystery/thriller, with the hush hush, covertness of best places to search.... I wouldn’t be at all surprised if specific mushroom hunters had something akin to a treasure map hidden deep in their earthen riddled pockets.
Easily using one’s imagination, you’ve got fantasy (Wildwood, anyone?), science fiction (mycelium and all that jazz) and you obvious horror with your cordyceps. It’s all so wonderfully gorgeous.