Foraging Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms: An identification workshop with Greg Marley

Class description for a 6.0 hour in-person workshop-2025
($70 members/$80 non-members) Please call 207-236-2239 to register. Class size limited to 22 people.

Everyone is fascinated by wild mushrooms. From foraging and eating, to medicinal use
and the use of psychedelics to improve creativity and address depression. The only thing
standing in the way is acquiring the knowledge and confidence to tell the good
mushrooms from those that can sicken you. The good news is that there are a handful of
common, easily identified, great edibles or medicinals that can satisfy most peoples
hunger for mushrooms. Maine is home to a number of world-class edible mushrooms
easily found as you enjoy a walk through the woods and fields.

This day-long class helps to build the basic knowledge needed to identify common mushrooms and to begin a lifetime of of wild mushrooming. The class will combine indoor lecture and outdoor experience in the forest to explore identification features, ecology and the seasonal occurrence of mushrooms. We will look at edible as well as common poisonous mushrooms and may end the day by cooking some of the mushrooms we find. Learn a few common edible and medicinal mushrooms and build skills to identify more.

Class Agenda:
1. Introduction: Mushroom Basics
a. Life Cycle of a mushroom-producing fungi
b. Ecological Roles of Mushrooms
c. The major groups of Mushrooms
2. Mushroom Identification features
3. Guidelines for safe and responsible mushrooming
4. Use of Mushrooms:
a. Mushrooms as Food
b. Mushrooms as Medicine
c. Risk of poisoning from mushrooms
Lunch (not provided)
1. Afternoon field learning and collection
2. Concluding remarks and Wrap-up
a. Moving forward as a mushroomer
b. Cooking examples
c. Resources for further learning

Greg A Marley Bio
Greg Marley has been collecting, studying, eating, growing and teaching mushrooms for over 50 years. He shares his knowledge of mushrooms through walks, talks and classes held across the New England and beyond. Marley authored the award-winning book Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares; The Love Lore and Mystic of Mushrooms, (Chelsea Green, 2010). As a volunteer mushroom identification consultant to Poison Centers across New England, he provides expertise in mushroom poisoning cases. He is a frequent lecturer to college groups and an occasional mushrooming foray faculty member. When not mushrooming, Marley works as a mental health clinician specializing in suicide prevention and response after a loss.