The forest, whether coastal, boreal, tropical, old-growth, deciduous, or coniferous, provides a sense of wellbeing to those who spend time in it, and offers the nourishment of wild foods that are so different from our everyday meals. Here are some of my photos that honour the medicinal and edible mushrooms that forests have to furnish.
The frog-skin-like texture of wood ear mushrooms may turn most off of trying these flimsy ‘shrooms, but these mushrooms provide many nutrients such as protein, magnesium, zinc, and copper. They sprout from stumps and branches, and grow from live or dead trees. They are said to aid in fighting cancerous cells and tumours from being high in antioxidants, and promote heart health by lowering cholesterol levels.
Morel mushrooms are considered a delicacy by most, from their nutty flavour to their meaty texture. In the spring, mushroom hunters come in the hundreds to known morel locations – either to get their money’s worth in the dark honey-combed mushroom, or to enjoy the ‘shrooms at home fresh and dried. A bucket full of the mushrooms may be worth $200 or more, hence the excitement and eagerness that morel hunters share. That being said, mushrooms, just like plants, herbs, and flowers, should not be picked bare – some should be left for food for others, or future generations to come. Morel mushrooms are high in fibre, and provide high amounts of vitamin D and B.
The mushroom renowned for its properties around the world: turkey tail mushrooms. These mushrooms boost the immune system, lower radiation (in the body and the environment), aid in digestion, and contain vitamins B and D. This mushroom can even be chewed as a gum while walking through the woods (although a rather mushroom-y-tasting gum). It has been used in tonics, powders, pills, and tinctures in many parts of the world.
A common mushroom, though one under-appreciated, is the oyster mushroom. This fleshy, meaty ‘shroom is high in vitamin B, and also contains iron, zinc, and copper. They release nutrients into the soil, providing other organisms with nutrition.
A both beautiful and alien mushroom, crown-tipped coral fungus is edible and is an interesting addition to meals. They contain small amounts of potassium, protein, copper, and magnesium. This mushroom can be consumed raw, but should be eaten in minimal batches, as it can cause an upset stomach in some people. Its antler-like fruiting body resembles fingers reaching from the soil.
Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of mycelium, which is the underground network that runs throughout the soil. In a way, mushrooms are like our own physical bodies, and the mycelium sent out through our “soil” – our community or network – is the connection that we have with each other. Like roots on trees and paws, fins, talons, or feet on animals, our relationship to the earth starts with the base of our body. It is our way of communication and connection.
I have only scratched the surface of the medicinal nourishment that mushrooms bring. They are only a portion of the gifts that the forest provides – herbs, flowers, bark, berries, needles, and roots are some more examples that I hope to cover in my posts.