Beginner's guide
How to start mushroom foraging: a beginner's guide
The first time you go mushroom hunting it all seems like luck. It is not: there are rules to know, a little kit, forests to learn to read and a way of picking that leaves the forest as you found it. This guide takes you through it step by step, in six short chapters read in order.
You do not need to know anything about mycology to start. You need patience, respect for the forest and one rule that is not up for debate: only eat a mushroom you know with complete certainty. Everything else is learnt by going out, ideally with someone who knows.
- Permits and rules for picking mushrooms in Spain Who makes the rules, when you need a permit, how many kilos you can pick and what is forbidden.
- What to bring for mushroom foraging The basket, the knife, the clothes and what your rucksack should never be without, to come back with mushrooms and without a scare.
- Where and when to look for mushrooms Every mushroom has its forest and its moment: which trees to look for, how long to wait after rain and why the soil matters.
- How to pick mushrooms without harming the forest Cut or twist, leave the small ones, do not disturb the soil and do not kick over the rest: next season depends on how you pick today.
- Which mushrooms to pick and which to leave Start with very few species, do not trust apps, and leave doubtful ones, buttons and old ones in the forest.
- After the outing: cleaning, identifying and storing mushrooms Clean them, have someone who knows check them, store them well and cook them safely. And what to do if someone feels unwell.
And once you know where to begin
The micomapa map tells you every day in which areas the forest is ready for each mushroom, fifteen days ahead. And if you are curious about what lies behind this pastime, there is the history and culture of mushrooms in Spain, region by region.