Virtual Mushroom Identification Class (by Phil and Margaret Carpenter)

This year’s mushroom identification class will be different from those in the past due to the restrictions placed upon us by the Covid-19 pandemic. We are going to try conducting the class using Zoom. The class is aimed at students who have a serious interest in learning how to identify mushrooms and are willing to put in the time and effort to learn. We are planning to hold the class over two separate sessions, the first on January 14th from 7-8 pm and the second on January 19th from 7-9 pm.

In the first session, Phil Carpenter will use the common field guides Mushrooms Demystified and Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast to go through the process of putting names on several mushrooms. Of course, questions and discussions can occur as well. Between the two dates, everyone is required to collect some mushrooms and put names on them as best you can based upon the lessons given in the first session.

The second session will be a discussion of the mushrooms which have been named, going over the process used to arrive at the name, with instruction to correct the identification if it was misnamed.  By necessity this will need to be done one specimen at a time. As many as possible will be covered in the time allotted.

To participate in these sessions, students will need to have access Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora, since it contains the detailed keys that are the most practical way to reach accurate identifications.  Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast  by Christian Schwarz and Noah Siegel is also valuble since it has more up to date names and is focused on the common mushrooms found in our area, but it lacks the detailed keys.  Students will also need a way of taking good quality photographs and sharing  them with the class during the second identification session.

The class will be limited to the first 30 attendees. Register by filling out the form at https://forms.gle/RcrJKy2mnUbE35vz5  After filling out the form, you will be contacted in a few days with the link to the Zoom sessions and more information about the class.