Mushroom Diary

Old Book – The Mushroom

Keith Eckstein — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:56:02 +0000

I’ve recently been looking at some old mushrooming books that are now, due to their age, in the public domain.

These books are freely available for download from The Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org) but you may also download them from here.

The Musroom; Edible or Otherwise by Miron Elisha Hard MA was first published in 1908 (more details at This book’s page at The Internet Archive.)

The full title of the book is… The mushroom, edible and otherwise, its habitat and its time of growth, with photographic illustrations of nearly all the common species : a guide to the study of mushrooms, with special reference to the edible and poisonous varieties, with a view of opening up to the student of nature a wide field of useful and interesting knowledge. Now, imagine trying to order that over the telephone!

The book is 630 pages long (almost as long as its full title!) and includes hundreds of black and white photographs.

The book starts with this lovely tale….

WHY STUDY MUSHROOMS.

Some years ago, while in charge of the schools of Salem, Ohio, we had worked up quite a general interest in the study of botany.

It was my practice to go out every day after flowers, especially the rarer ones, of which there were many in this county, and bring in specimens for the classes.

There was in the city a wire nail mill, running day and night, whose proprietors brought over, from time to time, large numbers of Bohemians as workers in the mill.

Very frequently, when driving to the country early in the morning, I found the boys and girls of these Bohemian families searching the woods, fields and pastures at some distance from town, although they had not been in this country more than a week or two and could not speak a word of English.

I soon found that they were gathering mushrooms of various kinds and taking them home for food material.

They could not tell me how they knew them, but I quickly learned that they knew them from their general characteristics, in fact, they knew them as we know people and flowers.

The recipe section towards the end of the book contains some very relevant and sensible advice about cooking mushrooms. Such as…The Mushroom Book may be downloaded by right clicking here and choosing to save as (it might read Save Link As on some browsers.)

Old Book – Studies of American Fungi

Keith Eckstein — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:11:55 +0000

I’ve recently been looking at some old mushrooming books that are now, due to their age, in the public domain.

These books are freely available for download from The Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org) but you may also download them from here.

Today I have selected was the Studies of American Fungi by George Francis Atkinson and first published in 1901 (more details at This book’s page at The Internet Archive.)

This 448 page guide contains 250 back and white photographs as well as a number of line illustrations.

The recipe section towards the end of the book contains some very relevant and sensible advice about cooking mushrooms. Such as…

The wild or uncultivated Agaricus campestris, which is usually picked in open fields, will cook in less time than those grown in caves and sold in our markets during the winter and spring.

Cut the stems close to the gills; these may be put aside and used for flavoring sauces or soups.

Wash the mushrooms carefully, keeping the gills down; throw them into a colander until drained.

The section on Selection and Preparation of Mushrooms for the Table is a worthy entry in any mushrooming guide and contains the following timeless advice…

In the selection of mushrooms to eat, great caution should be employed by those who are not reasonably familiar with the means of determination of the species, or those who have not an intimate acquaintance with certain forms.

Rarely should the beginner be encouraged to eat them upon his own determination. It is best at first to consult some one who knows, or to send first specimens away for determination, though in many cases a careful comparison of the plant with the figures and descriptions given in this book will enable a novice to recognize it.

In taking up a species for the first time it would be well to experiment cautiously.

The Mushroom Book may be downloaded by right clicking here and choosing to save as (it might read Save Link As on some browsers.)

Old Book – The Mushroom Book

Keith Eckstein — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:28:18 +0000

I’ve recently been looking at some old mushrooming books that are now, due to their age, in the public domain.

These books are freely available for download from The Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org) but you may also download them from here.

Today I have selected was the The Mushroom Book by Nina L. Marshall and first published in 1901 (more details at This book’s page at The Internet Archive.)

This book (to use its full title…The mushroom book. A popular guide to the identification and study of our commoner fungi, with special emphasis on the edible varieties) is a 276 page book with plenty of illustrative line drawings and mainly black & white photographs.

The few coloured photographs in this edition (the downloadable pdf is, in fact, the 1923 edition) seem to be hand coloured.

I feel that the author may have been more interested in mushrooms from a scientific perspective than from a gastronomic one, as this short and sparse entry for Bloetus Edulis suggests…

Edible Boletus

Boletus edulis

Cap - Convex or nearly plane; smooth, moist; compact, then soft. Greyish red, brownish red, or tawny brown. 4-6 inches broad.

Flesh - White or yellowish; reddish beneath the skin.

Tubes – Convex, nearly free, long, minute, round. White, then yellow and greenish.

Stem - Short or long, straight or curving, sometimes bulbous, stout, covered with network. Just beneath the sterp whitish or brownish. 2-6 inches long.

Habitat Thin woods.

Now, nothing wrong with that accurate description but… it didn’t get me licking my lips.

It must be said though, that the author does start this book with the following words, so I may have misjudged her?

FOR centuries epicures have used certain fungi for food.

The Greeks and Romans esteemed them highly, and gave a great deal of consideration to favourable times and places for gathering them, and to choice methods of preparing them for the table.

Juvenal tells us of one old Roman enthusiast who was so carriedaway by his love for them as to exclaim, “Keep your corn, O Libya, unyoke your oxen, provided only you send us mushrooms!”

Horace says that mushrooms which grow in the fields are the best, and that one can have but little faith in other kinds.

Mushroom eaters of the present day would perhaps not agree with him, for they find edible species in every imaginable place where fungi grow, and are constantly adding to their list new varieties which they esteem delicious.

In conclusion, The Mushroom Book is an interesting read and is well worth the download.

The Mushroom Book may be downloaded by right clicking here and choosing to save as (it might read Save Link As on some browsers.)

All the best

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Mushrooms: River Cottage Handbook No.1 This River Cottage Handbook, `Mushrooms’ 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!) More Information	Mushrooms Quite simply – this is the best book of its kind – superb descriptions and pictures – the only book required to correctly identify mushrooms in the UK. More Information	The Easy Edible Mushroom Guide 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 More Information	Collins Gem – Mushrooms 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! More Information
Field Guide to Mushrooms 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. More Information	Collins Complete British Mushrooms and Toadstools 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. More Information	Complete Mushroom Book 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 ‘mushroom man’, Carluccio’s Neal Street Restaurant in London’s Covent Garden is a mecca for mushroom and truffle lovers from all over the world. Carluccio’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. More Information	How to Identify Edible Mushrooms 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. More Information
Mushroom Hunting 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. More Information	The Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe 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 – including some never hitherto published photographically. More Information	The Mushroom Feast ‘When all’s said and written, there’s nothing better than field mushrooms that you have gathered yourself, on toast, for breakfast.’ 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…ceps…morels, they all conjure visions of one of the most intriguing and subtle of all gastronomic treats. More Information	Mushroom Pickers Foolproof Field Guide 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. More Information
The Complete Mushroom Hunter 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. More Information	Collins Mushroom Miscellany 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. More Information	Field Guide Edible Mushrooms of Britain and Europe 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. More Information	Mushrooms of Britain and Europe This indispensable guide to the Mushrooms of Britain and Europe is part of the new Black’s Nature Guide series. Over 450 species of mushroom are covered, each beautifully illustrated with detailed paintings and clear photographs. More Information
The Edible Mushroom Book 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. More Information	Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe 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. More Information	Mushrooming Without Fear Clear, highly accessible guide – 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. More Information	Wild Food 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. More Information

Old Book – Some Common Mushrooms

Keith Eckstein — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 05:43:26 +0000

I’ve recently been looking at some old mushrooming books that are now, due to their age, in the public domain.

These books are freely available for download from The Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org) but you may also download them from here.

Today I have selected was the Some Common Mushrooms and How to Know Them by Vera Katherine Charles and published in 1931 (more details at The Internet Archive.)

This book contains plenty of black and white photographs and, although I believe that some of the coloured drawings in the older books are better for field identification guides, I can also understand the desire, in 1931, to move forward to new technologies.

The writing is very clear and concise as the entry on Lepiota shows….

The genus Lepiota may be distinguished from Amanita and Amanitopsis by the presence of a ring and the absence of a volva.

The cap is generally scaly or granular and the stem is fleshy and easily separable from the cap, in which it leaves a cuplike depression.

The gills are usually free and are white when young, but certain species are pink or green when mature.

The ring may be fixed or free, and when the plant is young it is readily seen, but before maturity it may have disappeared. This genus contains some of the finest edible species as well as some extremely dangerous ones.

Now, I personally believe that the clarity of the selected text would put many of the writers of today’s mushrooming guides to shame.

And I particularly liked the subtle warning of the last sentence.

The slightly disappointing photography apart, this is a real gem of a book and I’m really rather glad that I came across it.

I wonder what sort of person Vera Katherine Charles was?

And I wonder what prompted her to invest the time in a project that is still a valuable reference today, some eighty years after it was first published?

Some Common Mushrooms and How to Know Them may be downloaded by right clicking here and choosing to save as (it might read Save Link As on some browsers.)

All the best

Reddit Twitter Digg Share on Facebook Stumble Bookmark Email this page to a friend

Mushrooms: River Cottage Handbook No.1 This River Cottage Handbook, `Mushrooms’ 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!) More Information	Mushrooms Quite simply – this is the best book of its kind – superb descriptions and pictures – the only book required to correctly identify mushrooms in the UK. More Information	The Easy Edible Mushroom Guide 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 More Information	Collins Gem – Mushrooms 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! More Information
Field Guide to Mushrooms 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. More Information	Collins Complete British Mushrooms and Toadstools 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. More Information	Complete Mushroom Book 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 ‘mushroom man’, Carluccio’s Neal Street Restaurant in London’s Covent Garden is a mecca for mushroom and truffle lovers from all over the world. Carluccio’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. More Information	How to Identify Edible Mushrooms 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. More Information
Mushroom Hunting 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. More Information	The Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe 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 – including some never hitherto published photographically. More Information	The Mushroom Feast ‘When all’s said and written, there’s nothing better than field mushrooms that you have gathered yourself, on toast, for breakfast.’ 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…ceps…morels, they all conjure visions of one of the most intriguing and subtle of all gastronomic treats. More Information	Mushroom Pickers Foolproof Field Guide 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. More Information
The Complete Mushroom Hunter 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. More Information	Collins Mushroom Miscellany 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. More Information	Field Guide Edible Mushrooms of Britain and Europe 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. More Information	Mushrooms of Britain and Europe This indispensable guide to the Mushrooms of Britain and Europe is part of the new Black’s Nature Guide series. Over 450 species of mushroom are covered, each beautifully illustrated with detailed paintings and clear photographs. More Information
The Edible Mushroom Book 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. More Information	Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe 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. More Information	Mushrooming Without Fear Clear, highly accessible guide – 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. More Information	Wild Food 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. More Information

Old Book – Students Handbook…..

Keith Eckstein — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:36:51 +0000

I’ve recently been looking at some old mushrooming books that are now, due to their age, in the public domain.

These books are freely available for download from The Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org) but you may also download them from here.

Today I have selected was the Students Handbook to Mushrooms of America – Edible and Poisonous by Thomas Taylor M.D. and published in1897 (more details at The Internet Archive.)

This 46 page book contains 6 coloured plates and a simple guide to some of the more common mushrooms that one might come across.

The entry for the Parasol Mushroom (shown in the image to the left) starts like this…

Edible. Cap at first sub-globose, then curved, the surface smooth and satinywhen dry, creamy white gills close and slightly rounded at the inner extremity towards the stem, free from the stem, white; stem white, smooth, hollow, and bulbous at the base ring thick, distinct, movable.

Whilst I don’t think that I would like to have to rely on this slight volume as my only mushrooming guide, it does contain a wealth of information about the history of mushrooming and, as such, is an enjoyable read on a cold winters day when the snow keeps you from going out and searching for those Wood Bluwits.

A Students Handbook to Mushrooms of America – Edible and Poisonous may be downloaded by right clicking here and choosing to save as (it might read Save Link As on some browsers.)

All the best

Reddit Twitter Digg Share on Facebook Stumble Bookmark Email this page to a friend

Mushrooms: River Cottage Handbook No.1 This River Cottage Handbook, `Mushrooms’ 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!) More Information	Mushrooms Quite simply – this is the best book of its kind – superb descriptions and pictures – the only book required to correctly identify mushrooms in the UK. More Information	The Easy Edible Mushroom Guide 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 More Information	Collins Gem – Mushrooms 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! More Information
Field Guide to Mushrooms 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. More Information	Collins Complete British Mushrooms and Toadstools 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. More Information	Complete Mushroom Book 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 ‘mushroom man’, Carluccio’s Neal Street Restaurant in London’s Covent Garden is a mecca for mushroom and truffle lovers from all over the world. Carluccio’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. More Information	How to Identify Edible Mushrooms 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. More Information
Mushroom Hunting 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. More Information	The Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe 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 – including some never hitherto published photographically. More Information	The Mushroom Feast ‘When all’s said and written, there’s nothing better than field mushrooms that you have gathered yourself, on toast, for breakfast.’ 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…ceps…morels, they all conjure visions of one of the most intriguing and subtle of all gastronomic treats. More Information	Mushroom Pickers Foolproof Field Guide 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. More Information
The Complete Mushroom Hunter 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. More Information	Collins Mushroom Miscellany 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. More Information	Field Guide Edible Mushrooms of Britain and Europe 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. More Information	Mushrooms of Britain and Europe This indispensable guide to the Mushrooms of Britain and Europe is part of the new Black’s Nature Guide series. Over 450 species of mushroom are covered, each beautifully illustrated with detailed paintings and clear photographs. More Information
The Edible Mushroom Book 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. More Information	Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe 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. More Information	Mushrooming Without Fear Clear, highly accessible guide – 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. More Information	Wild Food 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. More Information

Old Mushrooming Books

Keith Eckstein — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:22:21 +0000

One of the wonderful things about mushrooming is that, compared to other hobbies and interests, little has changed over the last hundred years or so.

Unlike sailing or mountaineering, there have been few technical innovations and the equipment we use is not so dissimilar to the equipment our grandparents might have used.

And with mushrooming books it is the same.

Sure, nowadays we expect photographs of our prey but, sometimes (and often in my opinion), a well presented drawing is just as good.

I have been looking at some old mushrooming books that are now, due to their age, in the public domain.

These books are freely available for download from The Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org) but you may also download them from here.

The first I selected was the lovely Among the Mushrooms by Caroline A. Burgin and published in 1900 (more details at The Internet Archive.)

The lovely tome contains some beautiful images (see the example on the left) and the text is still relevant today in our iPod, mobile phone enhanced times.

This 206 page volume perhaps has to work harder than modern books to convey the information that we require.

Is this a problem? Well, no I rather think not.

The book starts, rather charmingly with these words…

This book is intended for those who, though ignorant on the subject, desire to know something about mushooms.

The first question that such an one ask upon find a mushroom is, “What is its name?”

If there is no one near to tell him, then follows the second inquiry, “How can I find it out for myself?”

Although I haven’t read the whole book, the pages that I have looked at seem to offer a clear and concise introduction to mushrooming that even 110 years haven’t managed to blunt.

Although I would probably not use this book as my sole mushrooming guide, it is interesting reading and, being in pdf format, could be copied onto an ebook reader or even… a mobile phone!

An example of the quality of the writing is offered here with the entry for….

LACTARIUS PIPERATUS = peppery.

The Peppery Lactarius.

Cap white, 4 to 9 inches broad, fleshy, rigid, depressed in centre when young, reflexed margin, at first involute, when full grown the surface becomes funnel-shaped and regular, even, smooth, without zones; flesh white.

Stem 1 to 2 inches long, 1 to 2 inches thick, solid, obese, equal or obconical, slightly covered with powder (pruinose), white.

Gills decurrent, crowded, narrow, scarcely broader than one line, obtuse at edge, regularly dividing by pairs from below upward (dichotomous), curved like a bow (arcuate), then all extended upward in a straight line, white, with occasional yellow spots.

The milk white, unchangeable, plentiful, and acrid. This is common in woods. The cap in one of our specimens turned yellow when old, and was slightly striate at the margin; it was dry and thick and had no odor. The flesh had a whitish-brownish tinge where the cuticle was peeled off.

Found it only in August.

I can quite imagine Caroline Burgin kneeling down in a wooded glade, 110 years ago, and entering those details into her notebook – just as many of us do these days!

Among the Mushrooms may be downloaded by right clicking here and choosing to save as (it might read Save Link As on some browsers.)

All the best

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Mushrooms: River Cottage Handbook No.1 This River Cottage Handbook, `Mushrooms’ 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!) More Information	Mushrooms Quite simply – this is the best book of its kind – superb descriptions and pictures – the only book required to correctly identify mushrooms in the UK. More Information	The Easy Edible Mushroom Guide 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 More Information	Collins Gem – Mushrooms 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! More Information
Field Guide to Mushrooms 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. More Information	Collins Complete British Mushrooms and Toadstools 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. More Information	Complete Mushroom Book 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 ‘mushroom man’, Carluccio’s Neal Street Restaurant in London’s Covent Garden is a mecca for mushroom and truffle lovers from all over the world. Carluccio’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. More Information	How to Identify Edible Mushrooms 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. More Information
Mushroom Hunting 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. More Information	The Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe 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 – including some never hitherto published photographically. More Information	The Mushroom Feast ‘When all’s said and written, there’s nothing better than field mushrooms that you have gathered yourself, on toast, for breakfast.’ 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…ceps…morels, they all conjure visions of one of the most intriguing and subtle of all gastronomic treats. More Information	Mushroom Pickers Foolproof Field Guide 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. More Information
The Complete Mushroom Hunter 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. More Information	Collins Mushroom Miscellany 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. More Information	Field Guide Edible Mushrooms of Britain and Europe 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. More Information	Mushrooms of Britain and Europe This indispensable guide to the Mushrooms of Britain and Europe is part of the new Black’s Nature Guide series. Over 450 species of mushroom are covered, each beautifully illustrated with detailed paintings and clear photographs. More Information
The Edible Mushroom Book 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. More Information	Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe 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. More Information	Mushrooming Without Fear Clear, highly accessible guide – 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. More Information	Wild Food 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. More Information

Welcome to Mushroom Diary

Keith Eckstein — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:51:01 +0000

www.mushroomdiary.com is an ongoing diary of my mushrooming forays in South West Brittany, France. Whilst I intend to concentrate primarily on mushrooms, no doubt other topics will creep in.

This site was originally launched in the Autumn of 2006. The following year I became ill and the site has lain idle until now.

I have recently moved a few miles south of my old mushrooming grounds and am looking forward to discovering new “petits coins”, meeting new friends and comparing our baskets (hopefully all full of delicious wild mushrooms!)

All the best

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Time for mushrooms

Keith Eckstein — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:14:56 +0000

I’ve been putting off going mushrooming for a while now, as I have an awful lot on with the start of my new business, and anyway, it still seems too warm and dry.

I wasn’t overly confident of finding many mushrooms so I took my smaller basket.

Besides, my large basket is just about at the end of its life having carried, in its time, TONS and TONS of wild mushrooms (perhaps I exaggerate slighlty?)

In the end, the smaller basket was perfect. I found enough to cover the bottom of the basket and I enjoyed a good walk around the back lanes of Cournon.

Cournon

Deer

I was only a hundred yards from home when I saw the first deer.

A Stag and his mate casually crossed the road in front of me.

Then I saw a younger deer wander out of a neighbour’s garden, see me (what a shock that must have been), and scamper away.

A little further up the road, a pheasant came out of the undergrowth on one side of the road, strolled across the road and disappeared into the undergrowth there.

He did this over and over again, always a few yards ahead of me. Perhaps he realised the the stick I was carrying wasn’t a gun and that, as a result, I was no threat to him?

>Larch Bolets

Larch Bolets aren’t everyone’s idea of great mushrooms but they are edible and plentiful at this time of the year (the locals tend to leave them alone.)

I sometimes confuse them with Pepper Bolets. There may be a simpler way of telling the two apart but, a quick bite always works for me.

These are never going to rival Ceps in my affections but, they go well in a soup or, more commonly for me, chicken stew.

Bay Bolets

Although I found no Ceps, there were a few decent sized Bay Bolets about. Once again, not everyone’s idea of a great mushroom but I find them tasty and a useful addition to the basket. The secret is not to overcook them.

At about the halfway point on my walk I met an old boy who was on his way to take a look at his beehives. He inspected my basket and then told me that it had been too dry and that I should wait a bit longer.

Local knowledge is always the best.

Summing Up

Whilst not a wonderful start to the season, I did bring home the dinner!

I also saw some deer and a rather mad pheasant!

And I had a beautiful early morning walk in the beautiful Breton countryside. That’s something that should be available on prescription – it really does cure all almost everything!

And, with magnificent views like this, who could ask for more?

All the best

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Mushrooms: River Cottage Handbook No.1 This River Cottage Handbook, `Mushrooms’ 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!) More Information	Mushrooms Quite simply – this is the best book of its kind – superb descriptions and pictures – the only book required to correctly identify mushrooms in the UK. More Information	The Easy Edible Mushroom Guide 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 More Information	Collins Gem – Mushrooms 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! More Information
Field Guide to Mushrooms 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. More Information	Collins Complete British Mushrooms and Toadstools 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. More Information	Complete Mushroom Book 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 ‘mushroom man’, Carluccio’s Neal Street Restaurant in London’s Covent Garden is a mecca for mushroom and truffle lovers from all over the world. Carluccio’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. More Information	How to Identify Edible Mushrooms 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. More Information
Mushroom Hunting 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. More Information	The Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe 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 – including some never hitherto published photographically. More Information	The Mushroom Feast ‘When all’s said and written, there’s nothing better than field mushrooms that you have gathered yourself, on toast, for breakfast.’ 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…ceps…morels, they all conjure visions of one of the most intriguing and subtle of all gastronomic treats. More Information	Mushroom Pickers Foolproof Field Guide 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. More Information
The Complete Mushroom Hunter 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. More Information	Collins Mushroom Miscellany 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. More Information	Field Guide Edible Mushrooms of Britain and Europe 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. More Information	Mushrooms of Britain and Europe This indispensable guide to the Mushrooms of Britain and Europe is part of the new Black’s Nature Guide series. Over 450 species of mushroom are covered, each beautifully illustrated with detailed paintings and clear photographs. More Information
The Edible Mushroom Book 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. More Information	Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe 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. More Information	Mushrooming Without Fear Clear, highly accessible guide – 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. More Information	Wild Food 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. More Information

The magic of mushrooming

Keith Eckstein — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:38:40 +0000

On Monday, I attended a meeting of the BrittanyGardenersClub (www.BrittanyGardenersClub.com) to give a little speech about why I go mushrooming.

I’m not all that used to Public Speaking (and haven’t been since I was an IT manager in the City of London and had to give speeches to people that I was about to make redundant!)

But, you know, it wasn’t so bad – the people were nice and I sort of enjoyed it! So much so that I’ve decided that if you are part of a group who would like to listen to some guy waffle on about mushrooming – give me a call. All I ask is that you are resident in Brittany, France; that’s where I live now – I’m happy there – I’m not keen to travel too far!

forest_01_pd_602×533.jpg This image is in the Public Domain. For details see… Licenses Contributor = Anon

The magic of mushrooms

At the Gardeners Club that I went to, there was one person who jokingly asked about Magic Mushrooms.

There wasn’t much I could say; I know what they are, I’ve seen them in the forest but, I’ve got far too many socially acceptable problems with beer and cigarettes – I ain’t so interested in Magic Mushrooms.

What I do like (and what I love talking about, however), is the Magic of Mushrooms!

forest_03_cca_2.5_Stefan_Wernli_800×533.jpg Image licensed under the Creative Commons Share Alike Licence V2.5.

For details see… Licenses Contributor = Stefanh Wernli

Deer in the forest!

Perhaps the easiest way to explain is to tell you about the deer in the forest.

One day, in 2004, after cycling the 6km back from work (I couldn’t afford a car at the time), I decided to go for a walk in the woods.

It was early afternoon (I worked shifts way back then), and it was late March or early April.

I didn’t think that there would be many mushrooms about but, I was (and still am), ever optimistic!

deer_01_gfd_1.2_Trachemys_800×600.jpg Image licensed under the GNU Free Documentation Licence V1.2.

For details see… Licenses Contributor = Trachemys

There weren’t any mushrooms that day but, do you know, it didn’t matter because…. that day I saw my first ever deer in the wild!

I was walking along a quiet path, eyes fixed on the ground when, all of a sudden, I looked up. And there, I saw them; a mother deer and her two young.

I don’t know how long I stood there watching them, until they noticed me and scampered off – it may have only been ten seconds or so; to me it was a lifetime!

I walked home happy, that day. My basket was empty but my heart was full. I still get a buzz out of seeing deer in the forest. The young get born in February and March and don’t know that they need to be scared of people. When I say that I’m going mushrooming in March or April, what I really mean is that I’m going to look at the deer – I’ll just happen to be carrying a mushrooming basket as well!

But no sausages!

Or there was that time when I wandered into the forest for a mushrooming session and ended up exiting the forest near the village of Lanouee.

I like Lanouee, partly because many of my friends live there and partly because it has a bar (three bars, to be exact – and I really do think that you have to be exact about these things!)

sausages_01_gfd_1.2_Salim_Fadhley_800×600.jpg Image licensed under the GNU Free Documentation Licence V1.2.

For details see… Licenses Contributor = Salim Fedhley

On this occasion, I hadn’t found any mushrooms and, when asked how my luck had been, I replied…. “Terrible, not a sausage!”

This didn’t translate into French quite as well as it should have done and for the next few years, people would ask me how the sausage hunting in the forest was going!

Complete strangers, even!

In fact, for a long time, I felt that I was being pointed out in the Saturday morning market at Josselin – almost like a tourist attraction – “There goes that weird English man who looks for sausages in the forest!!!”

I even had a phobia about buying sausages in the butchers!

Thankfully I took it all in my stride – you’ve got to have a thick skin if you’re a mushroomer (and a host of stories about the “One that got away!”

If a picture tells a thousand words…

Oyster Mushroom Video

Hunting Chanterelle Mushrooms

The Magic of Mushrooms

So, for me, the real magic of mushrooms is so much more than the trip into the forest. It’s seeing the deer (and the other animals that call the forest their home), it’s talking to complete strangers about what mushrooms are about (and how to cook them), only to find those complete strangers become friends. It’s the gentle ribbing that I get when my basket remains empty and the joy of my neighbours when I pick more than I need and have to share the surplus.

No one can explain why an hour in the forest makes me feel good (and chases any problems away) – the colours, the air? Who knows?

But, that is the magic of mushrooms for me – and I haven’t even got round to mentioning how easy they are to cook and how good they taste… Perhaps that’s for another article?

All the best

Reddit Twitter Digg Share on Facebook Stumble Bookmark Email this page to a friend

Mushrooms: River Cottage Handbook No.1

This River Cottage Handbook, `Mushrooms’ 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!)

More Information

Mushrooms

Quite simply – this is the best book of its kind – superb descriptions and pictures – the only book required to correctly identify mushrooms in the UK.

More Information

The Easy Edible Mushroom Guide

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

More Information

Collins Gem – Mushrooms

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!

More Information

Field Guide to Mushrooms

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.

More Information

Collins Complete British Mushrooms and Toadstools

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.

More Information

Complete Mushroom Book

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 ‘mushroom man’, Carluccio’s Neal Street Restaurant in London’s Covent Garden is a mecca for mushroom and truffle lovers from all over the world. Carluccio’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.

More Information

How to Identify Edible Mushrooms

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.

More Information

Mushroom Hunting

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.

More Information

The Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe

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 – including some never hitherto published photographically.

More Information

The Mushroom Feast

‘When all’s said and written, there’s nothing better than field mushrooms that you have gathered yourself, on toast, for breakfast.’ 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…ceps…morels, they all conjure visions of one of the most intriguing and subtle of all gastronomic treats.

More Information

Mushroom Pickers Foolproof Field Guide

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.

More Information

The Complete Mushroom Hunter

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.

More Information

Collins Mushroom Miscellany

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.

More Information

Field Guide Edible Mushrooms of Britain and Europe

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.

More Information

Mushrooms of Britain and Europe

This indispensable guide to the Mushrooms of Britain and Europe is part of the new Black’s Nature Guide series. Over 450 species of mushroom are covered, each beautifully illustrated with detailed paintings and clear photographs.

More Information

The Edible Mushroom Book

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.

More Information

Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe

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.

More Information

Mushrooming Without Fear

Clear, highly accessible guide – 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.

More Information

Wild Food

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.

More Information

Mushrooming Knives

Keith Eckstein — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:11:28 +0000

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 – that’s about it.

Of all these, perhaps it’s the knife that becomes the most personal of all. Part of the mushroom collector’s “code of honor” is to take the mushroom without disturbing the delicate mycelium, the underground infrastructure of the mushroom.

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.

Your Knife

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 – 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).

Whether you spend as much, you should ensure that it is a foldable knife (there’s no excuse for carrying a hunting knife), that the blade is sharp and thicker near the handle (but thin at the tip) – mushrooms come in an assortment of shapes and sizes and your knife should be able to handle them all.

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.

If your knife doesn’t have a brush, you can make one from a small paintbrush – just cut the bristles to about an inch long.

How to choose your knife

This picture shows a Maserin mushrooming knife – probably the best in the world.

My main knife is a cheaper (much cheaper), version of this one.

You should expect a good mushrooming knife, if looked after, to last you all your life.

Of course, you may have to change the blade a couple of times and replace the handle once or twice but,…….. it will last you for ever!

The knife on the right is an Opinel (very popular here in France.)

This is a fine medium price mushrooming knife.

All Opinels need a bit of care to ensure that they don’t rust.

Anatomy of a mushrooming knife

There are two basic functional parts of a mushroom knife.

The first is the blade. 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.

For more information about this beautiful mushrooming knife, either double click on the image or the following link.. Legnoart PORCINO Mushroom Knife, Designed by Enrico Albertini – What a knife!

Above all, the blade should be sharp.

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.

The second vital part of a mushroom knife is the brush. If your knife doesn’t have a brush, you can always improvise but… you do need to carry something to ensure that you… Always put clean mushrooms into your basket!

For more information on this Opinel knife, either double click on the image or the following link.. Opinel Mushrooming Knife

Whether your knife has a brush or not, it is worth carrying a kitchen mushroom brush like one of these.

Not only will this help you keep your mushrooms clean, by cleaning your mushrooms first, you will also keep your basket clean.

For more information on this brush, either double click on the image or the following link.. More information

Some knives have tweezers. My Maserin does. I find these useful for cleaning the mushrooms I find around coniferous trees. If your knife doesn’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’s makeup tweezers – please ask first!)

My knife has a 4″ scale on the side. I don’t find myself using this too often but, I dare say that some people find it handy.

Videos about mushrooming knives

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.

The second video shows the knife making process.

Ray Mears Mushrooming Video

Ray Mears Knifemaking Video

Some beautiful mushrooming knives

The sight of these beautiful knives makes my heart quiver and my wallet run for cover! I’ve got absolutely no idea where you can buy these lovely knives and, as far as my bank manager is concerned, that’s a good thing too!

All the best

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Mushrooms: River Cottage Handbook No.1 This River Cottage Handbook, `Mushrooms’ 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!) More Information	Mushrooms Quite simply – this is the best book of its kind – superb descriptions and pictures – the only book required to correctly identify mushrooms in the UK. More Information	The Easy Edible Mushroom Guide 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 More Information	Collins Gem – Mushrooms 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! More Information
Field Guide to Mushrooms 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. More Information	Collins Complete British Mushrooms and Toadstools 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. More Information	Complete Mushroom Book 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 ‘mushroom man’, Carluccio’s Neal Street Restaurant in London’s Covent Garden is a mecca for mushroom and truffle lovers from all over the world. Carluccio’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. More Information	How to Identify Edible Mushrooms 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. More Information
Mushroom Hunting 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. More Information	The Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe 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 – including some never hitherto published photographically. More Information	The Mushroom Feast ‘When all’s said and written, there’s nothing better than field mushrooms that you have gathered yourself, on toast, for breakfast.’ 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…ceps…morels, they all conjure visions of one of the most intriguing and subtle of all gastronomic treats. More Information	Mushroom Pickers Foolproof Field Guide 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. More Information
The Complete Mushroom Hunter 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. More Information	Collins Mushroom Miscellany 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. More Information	Field Guide Edible Mushrooms of Britain and Europe 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. More Information	Mushrooms of Britain and Europe This indispensable guide to the Mushrooms of Britain and Europe is part of the new Black’s Nature Guide series. Over 450 species of mushroom are covered, each beautifully illustrated with detailed paintings and clear photographs. More Information
The Edible Mushroom Book 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. More Information	Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe 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. More Information	Mushrooming Without Fear Clear, highly accessible guide – 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. More Information	Wild Food 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. More Information