Agnes A. Sieger, Editor
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Tuesday, May 8, 2001, at7:30 PM in the Centerfor Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st Street, Seattle
Our speaker this month will bePaul Stamets of Fungi Perfecti, who will discuss both the micro andmacro¾ from the minutest cells tomoving mycelial waves covering thousands of acres, in constantmotion across the face of the planet. Paul believes the mushroommycelium is Earth's natural Internet and is a governing force forhealing the planet from catastrophe. The mushroom genome,especially in the Old Growth forests, has been barely explored.What has been discovered thus far has profound implications for thehealth of people and the planet. This presentation promises to bevisually dynamic and will bridge the use of mushrooms overmillennia, between native cultures from the New and Old Worlds.This talk will introduce a new foundation of knowledge for thosefamiliar or new to the role of mushrooms in nature. Severalcurrent, cutting-edge research projects will befeatured.
Paul Stamets is the author offive books and a world-recognized authority on medicinal mushrooms.Two of his books, Growing Gourmet & Medicinal Mushroomsand The Mushroom Cultivator, are used as textbooksthroughout the world, steering the course of the industry towardthe use of organic methods and using fungi to help repair, sustain,and invigorate ecosystems. He founded Fungi Perfecti(www.fungi.com) in 1980.
Would members with last namesbeginning with A -F please bring a plateof refreshments for the social hour (and consider offering to helphost).
CALENDAR
May 5 Field trip, BullfrogFlats
May 7 Intermediate class formembers who are registered
May 8 Membership meeting,7:30 PM, CUH
May 9 Beginner class for memberswho are registered
May 12 Field trip, Swauk Creek
Mushroom survey, Tall Timbers
May 14 Board meeting, 7:30PM , CUH Board Room
May 15 Beginner class for memberswho are registered
May 16 Intermediate class formembers who are registered
May 19 Field trip, Twenty-NinePines
May 22 Spore Prints deadline
Beginner class for members who are registered
May 23 Intermediate class formembers who are registered
May 28 Intermediate class formembers who are registered
May 29 Beginner class for memberswho are registered
June 2-3 Field trip, Bridge Creek
Forest ServiceConsidering New
Mushroom Policy Mick Mueller, USFS
The U.S. Forest Service isreviewing current policy and advancing new policy concerning theregulation of special forest products. Special forest productstypically collected and that are being included in this review areitems such as boughs, transplants, firewood, and berries, as wellas mushrooms. Historically, National Forests have permitted and, infact, encouraged the public to pick, gather, or collect productsfrom the forests and did not require permits. As populationpressures have increased, so has the utilization of the Forests bythe recreational public. In addition, bioprospecting, thecollection of organic materials for sale (e.g., ginseng,Echinacea, lichens, and mosses, etc.) has becomeincreasingly substantial in its volume and disturbance. Thecollection of edible mushrooms has also become a reliable source ofincome for many people in the Northwest, particularly those who hadhistorically made their living in the woods. At issue are thesustainability of products removed, the collateral damage to otherresources in the removal of the target products, administrationcosts in monitoring and enforcing the regulations intended toenhance and avoid the above effects, respectively, and the public'sexpectation of reimbursement for the approximate value for productsremoved.
The language of H.R. Bill 2466,Section 339, was included in and passed as a rider on HR 3194, thefiscal year 2000 Appropriations Act. This new law outlined a pilotprogram of charges and fees for harvest of forest botanicalproducts. (Currently, authority to charge and collect fees has beenestablished for the fiscal years 2000-2004 only.) It directed the Secretary of Agriculture, the ultimatehead of the Forest Service, to develop and implement a pilotprogram to charge and collect ``not less than fair market value''for forest botanical products harvested on National Forest Systemlands. The intent was to recover all costs associated with thepermit process (granting, monitoring, etc.), including the costs ofenvironmental analyses. These environmental analyses woulddetermine the threshold levels of sustainability that must not beexceeded. Reporting requirements were also cited within the Act inorder to facilitate data collection that might address thesustainability issue. Permits can directly or indirectly record andreport degree or volume of harvest. They can record volume directlythrough the stipulation of reporting requirements upon thetermination of the permit or they can provide harvest informationindirectly simply by the number of permits issued.
Within the language of this Act,waiver authority was given to the Secretary to determine a PersonalUse harvest level for each product, below which a person maycollect an amount for personal
use and not be charged fees. The Forest Service is intending tocollect information on the harvest of special forest productsthrough the issuing of permits, including ``free use'' permitsalong with commercial permits. The free use permit will allow forthe collection of small amounts of products up to a predeterminedvolume or value (currently $20 per person per year) without beingcharged a fee.
Which brings us to today. WithinWashington and Oregon, a wide range of permit systems and feesexist. Direction, particularly as a result of this Act, is to beginto get all forests and ranger districts consistent in their policyand implementation of a special forest products program. The LakeWenatchee/Leavenworth Ranger District in the Wenatchee NationalForest is reformulating its entire forest products policy andprogram now to reflect the anticipated changes in the near future.Free use permits will be available this year for those collectorswho will collect less than three gallons of mushrooms per day(and/or up to twelve matsutake mushrooms if cut in half) and do notintend to sell what they collect. Intent to sell, collection ofmatsutake in excess of a dozen specimens, or over three gallonstotal of any other species will require a commercial permit.(Currently in Region 6, Washington and Oregon, the Forest Servicerecognizes matsutake as a high value forest product and recommendsall the inclusive forests in Region 6 to require a commercialpermit for its collection. Policy also allows for the responsibleofficials within these forests, the Forest Supervisors, to settheir own value for matsutake (and other forest products) based onlocal conditions and rationale. The Wenatchee NF policy differsthis year from the past in allowing the collection of small amountsof matsutake without a commercial permit and in promoting theissuance of ``free use'' permits for 2001. While these free usepermits are not currently required for the recreational collectionof mushrooms in the forest, their issuance is meant to acquaint thepublic with the proposed system and to formally begin the necessarymonitoring of the resource as anticipated in the future.
The public's opportunity forinput is critical and possible at the national and regional levels.A draft of CFRs (Code of Federal Regulations; laws) and ForestService Handbook amendments (policy) has been sent to be publishedin the Federal Register. Once published in the Federal Register,the public will have 60 days to respond with their comments. Theproposed CFRs will outline policy and the penalties for violationsof the permit requirements. Input here will be directed to theWashington, D.C., office of the Forest Service to refine nationalpolicy on special forest products. At the regional level, input tothe Regional Forester in Portland will contribute toward decisionson policy for permits as they relate to ``fair market value,''amounts allowed for personal use, permit necessity and reportingconditions, and other aspects of special forest products permits.Comments and input may be directed to the Regional Forester at anytime. Input may be given to local units (National Forests andRanger Districts) at any time, usually to a Special Forest ProductsCoordinator, who can direct them to appropriate personnel. Thesecomments are usually discussed with the Forest Supervisor as localinput and directed to the Regional Forester for regionalperspective.
These opportunities for commentand input will be important for PSMS. I strongly encourage membersto take the opportunity to give their opinions now before policy isdecided upon. The biggest issues facing PSMS (in my opinion) are:What will the fair market value for mushrooms be? Will it varyaccording to species or other parameters? Will there be provisionsfor free use for educational purposes? Will the personal use value(currently $20 per person per year) be reasonable and allow forcontinued recreational (noncommercial) mushroom picking activities?Individual and concerted efforts at supplying comments arenecessary to assist in the design of a workable special forestproduct program.
PotluckBanquet PatriceBenson
A fun time was had by all at the37th Survivor's Banquet. Many thanks to all who prepared and shareddelightful dishes. This wonderful event was possible because of thespirit of cooperation which our group shares. Thanks especially toLynn Phillips and Russ Kurtz for the beautiful flower arrangementsdonated from their gardens. We had fun and wonderful door prizesthanks to some unknown donors as well as to Sara Clark andHildegard Hendrickson. But the real kudos go to our Golden Mushroomawardee Charlotte Turner Zila and her strong and silent straightman, Bill Zila. Thanks, Charlotte, for all of your ``duff.'' Thebanquet would not have been as lively and colorful and melodicwithout our delightful guest singers, ``Podhale.'' They performedand regaled us with many mushrooming songs from the Tatra Mountainsof Poland. They also had the best costumes! Thanks to you all fromthe bottom of our baskets and we hope that you enjoy yourmembership in the Puget Sound Mycological Society. This banquet wasaffordable, we had lots of space and food, and it was a totallyhappy evening. Let's do it again next year!
UK Poppy-killing fungusdeveloped
Fungifama, South Vancouver Island Myco.Soc., April 2001
Scientists are developing avirulent fungus in an effort to combat the worldwide trade inheroin. The fungus kills opium poppies, the raw material for thedrug. The UK Foreign Office has confirmed a report in The SundayTimes newspaper that Britain is helping to fund the biologicalresearch.
The programme is based inUzbekistan, in central Asia ,
Britain would hope to unleashenough fungus to infect thousands of acres of poppies grown in thecentral Asia region.
I HAD AMOR-ELLUVA TIME RandyRichardson
At the end of June 2000, 1 was ona wilderness-area solo backpacking trip in the Blue Mountains, eastof Walla Walla. After reaching the ridge top, at 5000 ft, I stoppedat the edge of a forest for rest and a lunch. Thinking what theheck, I let my eyes wander as l ate while walking around. Was thatwhat I thought it was? It turned out there were two dozen fineplump, large morels in that area.
Later hiking made me giddy;morels bigger than I had ever seen were often within a foot of thetrail. Owing to processing difficulties and the awful weight of mypack (nearly half my body weight), I had to be increasingly fussyas to which ones I would stop for. Toward the end of the day Icould only praise and thank the morels I saw, leaving them. Thatnight I sliced a dozen of the best to dry in the wind, and added 30(!) to my freeze-dry boiling water (no oil, no fry pan). Blasphemy!By the end of that meal I was sick of morels. And the next day theywere eager to leave my company, too. Was it the quantity or theboiling? In succeeding days I could cut only the most totallyirresistible ones. One I saw had a stalk as thick around as mywrist, and the usual height was 4-5inches. Finally the end of the week came, and it was my chance tospend one whole day harvesting to take home the next morning.Humbled again! I could not find a single one. Earlier I had foundthat I only could stumble onto them, that they would not grow in aspot I picked out as being perfect. Bigger than our Cascade morels,but just as uncooperative.
It turned out they'd had aremarkably heavy rain there two weeks earlier. I couldn't bringmany home, but how exciting!
MUSHROOMHERB BATTER BREAD M.Rogers
MushRumors , Ore. Myco. Soc.,March- April 2001
1¼ C water 2 TBs sugar
2 TBs butter or margarine 2 C whiteflour
¼ C dried mushrooms 1 C whole wheatflour
(boletes, morels, Sparassis) ½ tspnutmeg
1 pkg dry yeast 1 tsp dried sage
2 tsp salt 2 tsp caraway seeds
Heat 1¼ C water with 2 TBsbutter or margarine to 120ºF. Rehydrate mushrooms separately.Mix thoroughly the dry yeast, 2 tsp salt, 2 TBs sugar, and 1 Cwhite flour. Add liquids to dry ingredients and beat at mediumspeed for 2 min. Add ½ C white flour and beat 2 min more.Stir in with a spoon 1 C whole wheat flour, ½ C white flour,½ tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp sage, 2 tsp caraway seeds, and thereconstituted, chopped mushrooms. Scrape batter from sides of bowl.Cover bowl with damp cloth. Place bowl above dish of warm water in85ºF oven until batter has doubled. Beat about 25 strokes.Spread sticky batter evenly in two well-greased medium loaf pans.Pat tops in shape. Let rise until batter reaches ¼ in. fromtops of pans (about 40 minutes). Heat oven to 375ºF. Bake35-45 minutes. Tap for hollow sound.Remove at once. Cool before slicing.
MacDonaldPark Field Trip Brian Luther
We had a good turnout March 31for our first field trip of the season, with 21 intrepidmushroomers and several well-behaved dogs. Thanks to our host,Micala Root (pronounced Michaela), everyone got a warm greeting andhot coffee, hot water, and goodies to further entice ourwoods-bound members. I gave an introductory lecture on PSMS fieldtrips in general and verpas in particular, presented a briefoverview of what an Ascomycete is, and talked about good collectingmethods, the recommended implements, and how to be prepared for thewoods. After that I donned my rain gear, and we all took asuccessful and satisfying hike through the cottonwood groves for acouple hours.
Their eagerness became excitementwhen the first mushroom was found, and I had everybody gatheraround for an inspection. Everyone found at least some Verpa(Ptychoverpa) bohemica, with some finding 20 or more.Afterwards we came back and had a nice little ``show and tell.''Fourteen species of fungi were collected, including Verpa,Trametes versicolor, Exidia sp., a couple of species ofMycena and Psathyrella, a Peziza, aTubaria, Crepidotus, Stereum, Entoloma sericeum, Coprinusmicaceus, and Inky Caps. Unfortunately, nobody found ScarletCups (Sarcoscypha coccinea), which I looked for in vainhoping to show to the group.
Micala remained at the shelterwhile we walked through the woods, but took a brief stroll nearbyand found a beautiful clump of Inky Caps (Coprinusatramentarius) in prime condition, which gave me theopportunity to discuss the edibility of this delicious fungus withthe major qualifier that goes along (no alcohol before or aftereating this mushroom for at least 24 hours!). Just as we werepacking up at the parking lot to leave, Joanne Young (ourPresident) rolled in, not realizing it was an abbreviated fieldtrip. Enthusiasm for this half-day outing was high, and I hope thisspirit of interest will be brought to the other field trips, whichwill be all day events, each with a potluck for thefinale.
Microscopy Class Colin Meyer
During the last weekend of March,21 students enjoyed a two day microscopy workshop presented by JudyRoger. We learned to make sections of mushrooms and mount themunder the microscope to check for details such as spore shape andthe existence of cystidia (sterile cells) on the walls or edges ofgills. Thanks to Dr. Joseph Ammirati and the University ofWashington for lending the space and equipment for the class, andto Brandon Matheny for coordinating and assisting with the class. Abig thanks to Judy Roger for teaching a lively and informativeworkshop.
REMEMBERPSMS BOOK SALES
The PSMS Book Sales committee hasmushroom books for sale at a discount to all members at the regularmonthly meetings. Besides all the standard identification books, wealso have mushroom cookbooks, children's books, and books ofinterest to outdoorsmen. The selection changes from month to month.Take a moment to browse through it and see what's new.
CULTIVATION CORNER
The PSMS Cultivation Group isoffering several classes on mushroom cultivation, beginning ID, andcooking at the Arboretum. They will include basic identification often common mushrooms, how to cook and enjoy edible species, and howto cultivate some favorite mushroom species. The classes will beheld Sunday, May 13, from 10 AM
CALL FORslides ¾WHERE ARE YOU?
The slide library is looking alittle skinny. Do you have slides from the PSMS slide library thatyou may have checked out and forgotten to return? Please return anyslides that you are not currently using.
NEWCOMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS
Meeting Refreshments:Luise Asif has volunteered to take charge of refreshments at themonthly membership meetings. Thank you, Luise.
Database: New board memberPacita Roberts will take over management of the PSMSdatabase/mailing list. Noel Studer will step down to have more timeto devote to graduate school, work, and her busy life. Thanks toboth of you!
PSMS Members' E-MailList: To join, send a blank message to psms-members-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.To post to the list, send the message to psms-members@yahoogroups.com.