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	<title>Mushroom Diary &#187; Equipment</title>
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		<title>Mushrooming Knives</title>
		<link>http://www.mushroomdiary.com/equipment/mushrooming-knives/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mushroomdiary.com/equipment/mushrooming-knives/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:11:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith Eckstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Equipment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mushroomdiary.com/?p=90</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the very nice things about mushrooming as a hobby is the low cost of starting out. A basket, a knife, a few guidebooks &#8211; that&#8217;s about it.
Of all these, perhaps it&#8217;s the knife that becomes the most personal of all. Part of the mushroom collector&#8217;s &#8220;code of honor&#8221; is to take the mushroom [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/mus01081.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-92" style="margin-right: 10px;" title="mus0108" src="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/mus01081-300x225.jpg" alt="mus01081 300x225 Mushrooming Knives" width="300" height="225" /></a>One of the very nice things about mushrooming as a hobby is the low cost of starting out. A basket, a knife, a few guidebooks &#8211; that&#8217;s about it.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Of all these, perhaps it&#8217;s the knife that becomes the most personal of all. Part of the mushroom collector&#8217;s &#8220;code of honor&#8221; is to take the mushroom without disturbing the delicate mycelium, the underground infrastructure of the mushroom.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In order to do this correctly the mushroom collector needs a knife with the right shaped blade. It is also helpful to have a brush to clean the dirt off the mushroom.</p>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Your Knife</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/mus01071.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-94" style="margin-left: 10px;" title="mus0107" src="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/mus01071-300x225.jpg" alt="mus01071 300x225 Mushrooming Knives" width="300" height="225" /></a>A good knife will make your mushrooming trips a pleasure. If possible, it should have a brush on the end so that you can clean the mushrooms before putting them into your basket &#8211; this will help keep the other mushrooms clean, as well. I spent 28 Euros on a beautiful knife (seen here, not quite as clean as it should be).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Whether you spend as much, you should ensure that it is a foldable knife (there&#8217;s no excuse for carrying a hunting knife), that the blade is sharp and thicker near the handle (but thin at the tip) &#8211; mushrooms come in an assortment of shapes and sizes and your knife should be able to handle them all.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I suppose that I should say that your knife will last longer if you keep it clean and sharp but, looking at that photo, it might sound like hypocrisy.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If your knife doesn&#8217;t have a brush, you can make one from a small paintbrush &#8211; just cut the bristles to about an inch long.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">How to choose your knife</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/maserin.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-96" style="margin-right: 10px;" title="maserin" src="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/maserin-300x75.jpg" alt="maserin 300x75 Mushrooming Knives" width="300" height="75" /></a>This picture shows a Maserin mushrooming knife &#8211; probably the best in the world.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">My main knife is a cheaper (much cheaper), version of this one.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/opinel.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-97" style="margin-left: 10px;" title="opinel" src="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/opinel.jpg" alt="opinel Mushrooming Knives" width="200" height="276" /></a>You should expect a good mushrooming knife, if looked after, to last you all your life.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Of course, you may have to change the blade a couple of times and replace the handle once or twice but,&#8230;&#8230;.. it will last you for ever!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The knife on the right is an Opinel (very popular here in France.)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This is a fine medium price mushrooming knife.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">All Opinels need a bit of care to ensure that they don&#8217;t rust.</p>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Anatomy of a mushrooming knife</h2>
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<td width="330" valign="top">There are two basic functional parts of a mushroom knife.</p>
<p>The first is <strong>the blade</strong>.  This needs to be strong enough to cope with the big Ceps that you are hoping for but, also delicate enough to deal with those Chanterelles that are a bonus on a successful mushrooming foray.</td>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><small>For more information about this beautiful mushrooming knife, either double click on the image or the following link..  <a title="Please click here for more information about this book." href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000TFFC8Q/keitheckcom-21">Legnoart PORCINO Mushroom Knife, Designed by Enrico Albertini &#8211; What a knife!</a></small></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Above all, the blade should be sharp.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Many mushrooming knives (including my Maserin) include a scraper on the back of the blade.  This can be a real bonus if you need to clean mushrooms that are embedded with pine needles.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">The second vital part of a mushroom knife is <strong>the brush</strong>.  If your knife doesn&#8217;t have a brush, you can always improvise but&#8230; you do need to carry something to ensure that you&#8230; <strong>Always put clean mushrooms into your basket!</strong></p>
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<p><small>For more information on this Opinel knife, either double click on the image or the following link..  <a title="Please click here for more information about this book." href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000UVGP5S/keitheckcom-21">Opinel Mushrooming Knife</a></small></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Whether your knife has a brush or not, it is worth carrying a kitchen mushroom brush like one of these.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Not only will this help you keep your mushrooms clean, by cleaning your mushrooms first, you will also keep your basket clean.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><small>For more information on this brush, either double click on the image or the following link..  <a title="Please click here for more information about this book." href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001IWXPG/keitheckcom-21">More information</a></small></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Some knives have tweezers.  My Maserin does.  I find these useful for cleaning the mushrooms I find around coniferous trees.  If your knife doesn&#8217;t have a pair of tweezers, you might want to add a pair of Makeup tweezers to your kit list (but Gentlemen, if you plan to borrow your wife&#8217;s makeup tweezers &#8211; please ask first!)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">My knife has a 4&#8243; scale on the side.  I don&#8217;t find myself using this too often but, I dare say that some people find it handy.</p>
<h2>Videos about mushrooming knives</h2>
<p>Here are a couple of videos that might be of interest. The first shows Ray Mears using his mushrooming knife for the purpose for which it was intended.</p>
<p>The second video shows the knife making process.</p>
<h3>Ray Mears Mushrooming Video</h3>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="445" height="364" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dgyB8YCzrHU&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;border=1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="445" height="364" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dgyB8YCzrHU&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;border=1" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<h3>Ray Mears Knifemaking Video</h3>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="445" height="364" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9phlDH4h-eU&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;border=1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="445" height="364" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9phlDH4h-eU&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;border=1" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<h2>Some beautiful mushrooming knives</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The sight of these beautiful knives makes my heart quiver and my wallet run for cover! I&#8217;ve got absolutely no idea where you can buy these lovely knives and, as far as my bank manager is concerned, that&#8217;s a good thing too!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/8001.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-105 alignnone" title="800" src="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/8001.jpg" alt="8001 Mushrooming Knives" width="500" height="300" /></a></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/804.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-106 alignnone" title="804" src="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/804.jpg" alt="804 Mushrooming Knives" width="500" height="300" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/806.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-107 alignnone" title="806" src="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/806.jpg" alt="806 Mushrooming Knives" width="500" height="300" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/809O.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-108 alignnone" title="809O" src="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/809O.jpg" alt="809O Mushrooming Knives" width="500" height="300" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">All the best</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0747589321/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">This handy pocket-sized guide provides quick, accurate and easy identification of over 200 European fungi species. Identifying colours and symbols, it classifies the species according to shape. It contains 320 colour photos that show each species with its characteristic features in its natural habitat. It also features 320 graphics that highlight the typical identifying features of each species, and a calendar wheel, which helps identify the time of year when each species can be found.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1845374746/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007232241/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0007232241.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Collins Complete British Mushrooms and Toadstools</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Collins Complete Guide to British Muchrooms and Toadstools allows everyone to identify mushrooms found in Britain and Ireland. The book is illustrated with beautiful photographs throughout, featuring the species you are most likely to see. By only covering Britain and Ireland, fewer species are included than in many broader European guides, making it quicker and easier for the reader to accurately identify what they have found.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007232241/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1844001636/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1844001636.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Complete Mushroom Book</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There are not many people who have been collecting, cooking and devising recipes for mushrooms for over 60 years, but Antonio Carluccio is one. Known as the &#8216;mushroom man&#8217;, Carluccio&#8217;s Neal Street Restaurant in London&#8217;s Covent Garden is a mecca for mushroom and truffle lovers from all over the world. Carluccio&#8217;s expertise is unrivalled and this book, with over 100 recipes that make the most of readily available mushrooms in dishes ranging from classic to contemporary via oriental and Eastern European, will not disappoint.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1844001636/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007259611/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0007259611.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>How to Identify Edible Mushrooms</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Fully illustrated throughout, this practical guide to identifying edible mushrooms gives you all the details you need to enjoy the adventure of locating and collecting wild mushrooms. The book features all edible species of mushroom, together with those with which they may be confused. Organised by habitat for easy reference, it is beautifully illustrated and includes the best ways to cook and eat the mushrooms you collect.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007259611/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
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<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/000721507X/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/000721507X.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Mushroom Hunting</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This one-stop practical guide will show you how to identify, pick and cook edible mushrooms. To make your progress easier, it comes in a handy format with colour photos and expert advice throughout. From identifying and picking edible mushrooms to growing your own mushrooms, from recipes for seasonal dishes to important information on poisonous species, this book provides all the helpful information you need to relish the exhilarating experience of collecting wild mushrooms.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/000721507X/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0711223793/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0711223793.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>The Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This is the most comprehensive photographic handbook for the dedicated mycologist, general naturalist or mushroom hunter collecting for the cooking pot. It features 1,000 species of higher fungi found in the British Isles and northern Europe, from the most common to the rarest &#8211; including some never hitherto published photographically.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0711223793/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1904943896/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1904943896.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>The Mushroom Feast</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">&#8216;When all&#8217;s said and written, there&#8217;s nothing better than field mushrooms that you have gathered yourself, on toast, for breakfast.&#8217; Jane Grigson, The Mushroom Feast The Mushroom Feast is an indispensable classic for all those who love mushrooms. It is a fine, timeless, literary cookbook. Truffles&#8230;ceps&#8230;morels, they all conjure visions of one of the most intriguing and subtle of all gastronomic treats. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1904943896/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1842158171/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1842158171.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Mushroom Pickers Foolproof Field Guide</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Discover the delicacies that hide in your garden, local woodlands or fields with this fully-illustrated A-Z guide. Learn the identifying features and habits of the most popular edible mushrooms, and try the suggestions for storing and cooking your bounty. Also included is a section on inedible mushrooms, clearly illustrating the poisonous species that you are most likely to come across.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1842158171/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
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<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1592536158/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1592536158.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>The Complete Mushroom Hunter</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Gathering edible wild food is a wonderful way to forge a connection to the earth. Mushrooms are the ultimate local food source; they grow literally everywhere, from Central Park to your own backyard. The Complete Mushroom Hunter invites readers to connect with a hobby that will enrich their understanding of the natural world and build an appreciation for an ancient, but relevant, body of knowledge.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1592536158/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007284640/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0007284640.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Collins Mushroom Miscellany</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Mushroom collecting is becoming increasingly popular, and while a comprehensive identification guide is essential, the folklore, facts and fables, recipes and stories that have accumulated since ancient times create part of the charm of these strange organisms. Oddly, these facts have never been compiled in one book.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007284640/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1845374193/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1845374193.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Field Guide Edible Mushrooms of Britain and Europe</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The fields, woods and gardens of Britain and Europe are home to a wide range of edible mushrooms, a number of which are not simply good but truly excellent to eat. This book is a practical, user-friendly guide to collecting edible wild fungi species across Britain and Europe. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1845374193/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1408101564/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1408101564.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Mushrooms of Britain and Europe</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This indispensable guide to the Mushrooms of Britain and Europe is part of the new Black&#8217;s Nature Guide series. Over 450 species of mushroom are covered, each beautifully illustrated with detailed paintings and clear photographs. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1408101564/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
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<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1405332131/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1405332131.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>The Edible Mushroom Book</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Explores the world of edible mushrooms from the field to kitchen. Focuses on the best edible fungi, providing failsafe identification notes for over 50 choice varieties, and offers over 50 delicious everyday recipes using specific mushrooms and mixed mushrooms. Ideal for the forager and the foodie.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1405332131/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1859749240/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1859749240.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This guide offers information on observing and identifying 150 of the most commonly encountered fungi species in Britain and Europe, all of which can be recognized without the use of a microscope. A concise description details the main features of each species, which is illustrated by a colour painting. The guide explains how fungi grow, what to look for in each family division and how to make a safe identification. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1859749240/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1873674880/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/6155MSAB79L._SS500_.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Mushrooming Without Fear</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Clear, highly accessible guide &#8211; it cuts out all the mushrooms with gills and reduces the field to a group of readily identifiable, edible mushrooms. It includes clear guidelines, encouraging the reader to read the book twice before going out so that they are confident about the principles it explains.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1873674880/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0340827912/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0340827912.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Wild Food</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Ray Mears has travelled the world discovering how native people manage to live on just what nature provides. Whats always frustrated him is not knowing how our own ancestors fed themselves and what we could learn about our own diet.  We know they were hunter-gatherers, but no-one has been able to tell what they ate day to day.  How did they find their calories, week in week out throughout the year? In this book he travels back ten thousand years to a time before farming to learn how our ancestors found, prepared and cooked their food.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0340827912/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
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			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mushroomdiary.com/equipment/mushrooming-knives/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Essential equipment</title>
		<link>http://www.mushroomdiary.com/equipment/essential-equipment/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mushroomdiary.com/equipment/essential-equipment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Aug 2006 13:25:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Keith Eckstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Equipment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mushroomdiary.com/?p=33</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the great things about mushrooming is how little equipment you need.  A basket, a knife, a few guidebooks &#8211; that&#8217;s about it &#8211; or is it?
That makes mushrooming a great hobby compared to fishing for example.  You can fully outfit yourself for less than the price of a half decent rod [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/mus0108.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-34" style="margin-left: 10px;" title="mus0108" src="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/mus0108-300x225.jpg" alt="mus0108 300x225 Essential equipment " width="300" height="225" /></a>One of the great things about mushrooming is how little <strong>equipment</strong> you need.  A basket, a knife, a few guidebooks &#8211; that&#8217;s about it &#8211; or is it?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">That makes mushrooming a great hobby compared to <em>fishing</em> for example.  You can fully outfit yourself for less than the price of a half decent rod and reel.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Take a look at the things that I take with me when I go into the forest in the company of my friends, and the other things I carry when I am alone.</p>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Your Basket</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There&#8217;s no point going mushrooming if you don&#8217;t have something to put your mushrooms in. Even in January and Feburary, when there isn&#8217;t much about, I carry a basket &#8211; the one time I didn&#8217;t, I found about 1kg of Oyster mushrooms &#8211; that taught me a good lesson!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">You shouldn&#8217;t, under any circumstances, use a plastic bag. The mushrooms that you find will need to breath &#8211; in a plastic bag, some might go off (or start to ferment) which might make them dangerous to eat. Besides, being stuffed in a bag isn&#8217;t going to do much for the condition of any but the hardiest of mushrooms. I do meet people in the forest who use open string bags. Their mushrooms tend to be cooked as soon as they get home and then frozen as the basis for a sauce &#8211; thus the physical condition doesn&#8217;t matter too much.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I spent about 15 Euros on my basket. The handle came off after about 1 year&#8217;s hard use. I attached a bit of rope and it works fine for me. You can spend an awful lot on a basket &#8211; one day, I shall. I think that the ideal basket would be kidney shaped with pockets on the outside to hold the notebook, compass, field guides etc.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/mus0107.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-35" style="margin-right: 10px;" title="mus0107" src="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/mus0107-300x225.jpg" alt="mus0107 300x225 Essential equipment " width="300" height="225" /></a>Your Knife</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">A good knife will make your mushrooming trips a pleasure. If possible, it should have a brush on the end so that you can clean the mushrooms before putting them into your basket &#8211; this will help keep the other mushrooms clean, as well. I spent 28 Euros on a beautiful knife (seen here, not quite as clean as it should be).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Whether you spend as much, you should ensure that it is a foldable knife (there&#8217;s no excuse for carrying a hunting knife), that the blade is sharp and thicker near the handle (but thin at the tip) &#8211; mushrooms come in an assortment of shapes and sizes and your knife shold be able to handle them all.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I suppose that I should say that your knife will last longer if you keep it clean and sharp but, looking at that photo, it might sound like hypocrisy.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If your knife doesn&#8217;t have a brush, you can make one from a small paintbrush &#8211; just cut the bristles to about an inch long.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Your Compass</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">You really should carry a compass if you go into a forest. I have been going into the Forest of Lanouee on an almost weekly basis for the last three years and I still get lost. I have an ex-militray compass which cost about 3 pounds at a car boot sale but generally use the Silva (shown in the first photo) &#8211; I found that in the forest on a day when I didn&#8217;t find any mushrooms &#8211; it seemed like it was meant to be. Please don&#8217;t use a <em>toy</em> compass. I used to have one and, on a very hot day in September 2005, it stopped working. I ended going round in circles and getting very dehydrated. Eventually, when I exited the forest, I had no idea where I was and couldn&#8217;t even make an informed guess as to which direction to go in, in order to get home. Eventually I found a small cottage, knocked on the door and was astounded by the kindness from the old couple who lived there. Not only did they give me a glass of water (and then a glass, or two, of something stronger) but they got their car out of the barn and gave me a lift, right to my door. Now I carry both compasses!</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Your Notebook</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It is worth carrying a notebook. Mine gets used to record details of finds (where, when and what) and to note down any ideas I have (the Forest is a great place for thinking). If I go into the interior of the forest (in other words, off the main tracks) I note down where I think am when I leave the track &#8211; this makes getting home for tea just that little bit easier. My notebooks seem to be full of little maps and weird comments &#8211; probably undecipherable to anyone other than me. That&#8217;s good &#8211; I don&#8217;t want anyone else knowing my secret mushrooming spots!</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Your Boots</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I wear wellington boots. I have tried walking boots but, even in the summer, there are parts of the forest that stay wet. What you wear is up to you; you should be aware, however, that the going might be harder than you think &#8211; it would be a shame to spoil a good mushrooming day just because you have sore feet.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Nice thick socks help, as well. I wear two pairs, a thick pair on the outside and a thinner pair on the inside &#8211; this is almost guaranteed to banish the dreaded blister.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/mus0110.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-36" style="margin-left: 10px;" title="mus0110" src="http://www.mushroomdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/mus0110-300x225.jpg" alt="mus0110 300x225 Essential equipment " width="300" height="225" /></a>Field Guides</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I carry two field guides. As you can see from the photo, I have a few to choose from. The two I take with me answer about 80% of my questions. Both of my regular field guides are French &#8211; one is a magazine that comes out once a year, I buy a new one every year but carry the old, tatty one with me when I go into the forest. The other book is the first one that I bought, shortly after I started mushrooming. I have got to know it well and don&#8217;t even have to think about which page to look for an answer (I know, for example, the section on Russulas starts on page 87 &#8211; I have problems identifying Russulas).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I would suggest that you too, carry 2 guides but they should be small enough (and light enough) so that they don&#8217;t become a burden. Of course, if they are cheap, it won&#8217;t hurt so much when you stumble and drop them into that muddy puddle (you will, sooner or later).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The place for the heavier books and encyclopedias is at home, for you to do a second, more detailed check on any mushrooms that you are not 100% sure about.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Most of my field guides are organised by species.  This is useful if you know that you have a <strong>Bolet</strong> but want to be sure which one. They are not so useful if you find a mushroom and you are not too sure which family it belongs to. I do have one encyclopedia that identifies mushrooms by colour. This is too heavy to take with me, although I often bring it along and leave it in the car. Another interesting guide, identifies mushrooms by location (i.e. what are you likely to find near Oak trees?). This hasn&#8217;t, I have to admit, been too accurate &#8211; perhaps the mushrooms in the Forest of Lanouee haven&#8217;t read the book.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The one guide that I haven&#8217;t got and that I would really like is the one that identifies mushrooms by season. In otherwords, what should you look for (and what are you likely to find) in May or June. I suppose that that guide eventually comes from your notebooks and experience &#8211; anyway, it is likely to be different for me here than it would be for you at your local mushroom heaven.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">A Camera</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I carry a small (and cheap) digital camera. This allows me to photograph mushrooms that I&#8217;m not too sure about, so that I can try to identify them later.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It will also come in handy when the Ceps finally arrive. The preserved memories of those dozen mushrooms, around the base of that oak tree will be a handy tonic during the sparse days of February and March when the Ceps have all been eaten</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I would suggest that you don&#8217;t take an expensive camera into the forest with you (unless you&#8217;re as interested in photography as you are in mushrooms) &#8211; you&#8217;ll only drop it into that muddy puddle (or worry about doing so).</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Other Things</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I cart everything arond in a shoulder bag. Rucksacks don&#8217;t work for me, they tend to overbalance me and it is too fiddly to get things out when you need them. Also, because they tend to be bigger than a shoulder bag, I tend to carry too much in them.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">With a shoulder bag on one side and a basket on the other, I am reasonably well balanced and can, thus, enjoy my mushrooming trips that much more.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">A good cane or stick is vital. It will help you keep you balance, is vital for working your way through thick undergrowth and you won&#8217;t find much unless you have a stick to turn over leaves and poke around in the thick layer of camouflage on the forest floor. Also (and this might not be an issue for you), in the Forest of Lanouee there are snakes &#8211; I am much happier disturbing a viper sunning itself on a nice warm rock if it is a good stick&#8217;s length away!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">My stick was just a branch that I found on the forest floor. I took it home, cleaned it up and cut it down to the right size (your height to your belly-button plus 6 inches). Over the last three years, the stick has grown to fit me (or have I grown to fit it?)</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Going In Alone</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I normally go mushrooming on my own.  So, I always carry the following&#8230;<br />
A referee&#8217;s whistle (5 Euros),<br />
A Space Blanket (which I hope I never to have to use),<br />
Some boiled sweets (in case I ever end up using the space blanket),<br />
A length of thin rope (I&#8217;m not really sure why but I do know that the first time I leave it at home, I&#8217;ll find a desperate use for it),<br />
A torch,<br />
Toilet paper (I&#8217;m not going to go into that one!)</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">To sum up</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I hope that you have found this article about my mushrooming equipment useful (and interesting, as well?)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If I lost it all, I could put together a similar package for about 80 Euros &#8211; it&#8217;s the books that cost the most. In other words, cost should never be a barrier to people who want to go mushrooming.</p>
<p><!-- *************** End of Post *************** --></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">All the best</p>
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<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0747589321/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0747589321.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Mushrooms: River Cottage Handbook No.1</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This River Cottage Handbook, `Mushrooms&#8217; by John Wright, is a genuinely funny and hugely informative guide to mushroom and toadstools with some useful cooking tips and recipes too. (Some are even simple enough to try!)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0747589321/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0330442376/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0330442376.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Mushrooms</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Quite simply &#8211; this is the best book of its kind &#8211; superb descriptions and pictures &#8211; the only book required to correctly identify mushrooms in the UK.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0330442376/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1854106317/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1854106317.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>The Easy Edible Mushroom Guide</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Wild mushrooms can be difficult to identify, and many poisonous species look similar to edible ones. An identification guide must therefore leave nothing to doubt, and this book uses both photographs and drawings to present all the essential details</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1854106317/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007183070/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0007183070.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Collins Gem &#8211; Mushrooms</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This handy, practical guide offers a quick way for beginners to identify mushrooms and toadstools Collins Gem Mushrooms describes almost 240 species of mushrooms and toadstools to be commonly found in Britain. Portable and clear, it is the ideal guide for those out foraging for fungi!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007183070/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
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<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1845374746/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1845374746.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Field Guide to Mushrooms</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This handy pocket-sized guide provides quick, accurate and easy identification of over 200 European fungi species. Identifying colours and symbols, it classifies the species according to shape. It contains 320 colour photos that show each species with its characteristic features in its natural habitat. It also features 320 graphics that highlight the typical identifying features of each species, and a calendar wheel, which helps identify the time of year when each species can be found.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1845374746/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007232241/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0007232241.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Collins Complete British Mushrooms and Toadstools</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Collins Complete Guide to British Muchrooms and Toadstools allows everyone to identify mushrooms found in Britain and Ireland. The book is illustrated with beautiful photographs throughout, featuring the species you are most likely to see. By only covering Britain and Ireland, fewer species are included than in many broader European guides, making it quicker and easier for the reader to accurately identify what they have found.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007232241/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1844001636/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1844001636.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Complete Mushroom Book</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There are not many people who have been collecting, cooking and devising recipes for mushrooms for over 60 years, but Antonio Carluccio is one. Known as the &#8216;mushroom man&#8217;, Carluccio&#8217;s Neal Street Restaurant in London&#8217;s Covent Garden is a mecca for mushroom and truffle lovers from all over the world. Carluccio&#8217;s expertise is unrivalled and this book, with over 100 recipes that make the most of readily available mushrooms in dishes ranging from classic to contemporary via oriental and Eastern European, will not disappoint.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1844001636/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007259611/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0007259611.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>How to Identify Edible Mushrooms</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Fully illustrated throughout, this practical guide to identifying edible mushrooms gives you all the details you need to enjoy the adventure of locating and collecting wild mushrooms. The book features all edible species of mushroom, together with those with which they may be confused. Organised by habitat for easy reference, it is beautifully illustrated and includes the best ways to cook and eat the mushrooms you collect.</p>
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<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/000721507X/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/000721507X.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Mushroom Hunting</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This one-stop practical guide will show you how to identify, pick and cook edible mushrooms. To make your progress easier, it comes in a handy format with colour photos and expert advice throughout. From identifying and picking edible mushrooms to growing your own mushrooms, from recipes for seasonal dishes to important information on poisonous species, this book provides all the helpful information you need to relish the exhilarating experience of collecting wild mushrooms.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/000721507X/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0711223793/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0711223793.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>The Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This is the most comprehensive photographic handbook for the dedicated mycologist, general naturalist or mushroom hunter collecting for the cooking pot. It features 1,000 species of higher fungi found in the British Isles and northern Europe, from the most common to the rarest &#8211; including some never hitherto published photographically.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0711223793/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1904943896/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1904943896.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>The Mushroom Feast</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">&#8216;When all&#8217;s said and written, there&#8217;s nothing better than field mushrooms that you have gathered yourself, on toast, for breakfast.&#8217; Jane Grigson, The Mushroom Feast The Mushroom Feast is an indispensable classic for all those who love mushrooms. It is a fine, timeless, literary cookbook. Truffles&#8230;ceps&#8230;morels, they all conjure visions of one of the most intriguing and subtle of all gastronomic treats. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1904943896/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1842158171/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1842158171.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Mushroom Pickers Foolproof Field Guide</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Discover the delicacies that hide in your garden, local woodlands or fields with this fully-illustrated A-Z guide. Learn the identifying features and habits of the most popular edible mushrooms, and try the suggestions for storing and cooking your bounty. Also included is a section on inedible mushrooms, clearly illustrating the poisonous species that you are most likely to come across.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1842158171/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
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<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1592536158/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1592536158.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>The Complete Mushroom Hunter</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Gathering edible wild food is a wonderful way to forge a connection to the earth. Mushrooms are the ultimate local food source; they grow literally everywhere, from Central Park to your own backyard. The Complete Mushroom Hunter invites readers to connect with a hobby that will enrich their understanding of the natural world and build an appreciation for an ancient, but relevant, body of knowledge.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1592536158/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007284640/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0007284640.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Collins Mushroom Miscellany</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Mushroom collecting is becoming increasingly popular, and while a comprehensive identification guide is essential, the folklore, facts and fables, recipes and stories that have accumulated since ancient times create part of the charm of these strange organisms. Oddly, these facts have never been compiled in one book.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007284640/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1845374193/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1845374193.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Field Guide Edible Mushrooms of Britain and Europe</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The fields, woods and gardens of Britain and Europe are home to a wide range of edible mushrooms, a number of which are not simply good but truly excellent to eat. This book is a practical, user-friendly guide to collecting edible wild fungi species across Britain and Europe. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1845374193/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1408101564/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1408101564.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Mushrooms of Britain and Europe</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This indispensable guide to the Mushrooms of Britain and Europe is part of the new Black&#8217;s Nature Guide series. Over 450 species of mushroom are covered, each beautifully illustrated with detailed paintings and clear photographs. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1408101564/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
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<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1405332131/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1405332131.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>The Edible Mushroom Book</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Explores the world of edible mushrooms from the field to kitchen. Focuses on the best edible fungi, providing failsafe identification notes for over 50 choice varieties, and offers over 50 delicious everyday recipes using specific mushrooms and mixed mushrooms. Ideal for the forager and the foodie.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1405332131/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1859749240/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1859749240.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This guide offers information on observing and identifying 150 of the most commonly encountered fungi species in Britain and Europe, all of which can be recognized without the use of a microscope. A concise description details the main features of each species, which is illustrated by a colour painting. The guide explains how fungi grow, what to look for in each family division and how to make a safe identification. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1859749240/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1873674880/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/6155MSAB79L._SS500_.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Mushrooming Without Fear</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Clear, highly accessible guide &#8211; it cuts out all the mushrooms with gills and reduces the field to a group of readily identifiable, edible mushrooms. It includes clear guidelines, encouraging the reader to read the book twice before going out so that they are confident about the principles it explains.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1873674880/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0340827912/keitheckcom-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0340827912.jpg"  alt="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" title="Mushroom Diary - mushrooming in south-west Brittany, France" width="140" border="0" /></a><small><b>Wild Food</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Ray Mears has travelled the world discovering how native people manage to live on just what nature provides. Whats always frustrated him is not knowing how our own ancestors fed themselves and what we could learn about our own diet.  We know they were hunter-gatherers, but no-one has been able to tell what they ate day to day.  How did they find their calories, week in week out throughout the year? In this book he travels back ten thousand years to a time before farming to learn how our ancestors found, prepared and cooked their food.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0340827912/keitheckcom-21" Title="Please click here for more information about this book.">More Information</a></small></td>
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