THE MUSHROOMS WORLD

(Image: Dall-e-2) A n NCAD Graphic Design Student named Niamh Kinch has created an interactive project on Mushrooms in Ireland.  She describes it here:  "  This project focuses on the power of fungi within Ireland’s green spaces. It aims to show the full potential of fungi in an Irish setting through a communication design lens. It explores the well-known uses of fungi while also diving into the lesser-known but extremely fascinating world of the fungi kingdom in an effort to shine a light on the remarkable uses of these organisms. We are fortunate enough to live in a lush, flourishing country full of forests, fields and parks, all teeming with an array of fungi, so why not utilise this amazing natural material? This project portrays fungi’s important role in our fight against climate change, while also taking a more fun approach through forest fungi hunts and outdoor activities. It aims to provide a balance between work and pleasure in the fungi kingdom and to get people...

Having fresh, hand-picked mushrooms available at your fingertips is much easier than most people initially think. All you need is a few materials and the right environment and you will be able to grow most of your favorite mushrooms all year-round. Mushrooms are not a one-size fits all type of organism to grow. The type of mushroom you are growing will determine what substrate is needed to cultivate the spores best. Most common mushrooms grown at home include:  🍄 Shiitake 🍄 White Button 🍄 Maitake 🍄 Oyster  🍄 Portobello The importance of the right growing substrate cannot be understated when attempting to grow mushrooms at home. Like plants, mushrooms have their preferences for their growing medium; if these preferences are not met, they might grow poorly.  Shiitake mushrooms prefer to grow on hardwood sawdust or wood chip substrate and would not grow well in compost or manure-type substrate. Alternatively, straw works well for oyster mushrooms, and compost or manur...

Mushroom identification is not an easy task, even for experts, as there  are hundreds of thousands of species of wild mushrooms. Some mushrooms are edible, a few can send you on a mystical journey, and several will try and kill you. So how are we supposed to tell them all apart? Experience, and careful practice, honed over many years, is the best way to really learn how to identify mushrooms. However, there are some helpful mushroom identification apps that can lend a hand along the way. It is not a good idea to leave the final decision of whether to eat mushrooms to an identification app. Still, they can be useful when you just want a general idea of what you are looking at.  Many of these apps also rely on you being able to get a high-quality photo of the mushroom. So if you’re unable to do that, your results might not be accurate.  Mushroom identification apps are convenient. And they are an excellent tool for novice mushroom foragers who want to orient themselves to t...

There are more than 2,000 species of edible and medicinal mushrooms in the world, and considering we can find only a dozen or so kinds at the supermarket, it makes you wonder: what else is out there? The good news is, it’s totally within your power to find out - by foraging! Hunting or foraging for wild mushrooms can be a very rewarding experience, not only are they tasty and  healthy  when eaten but foraging also helps keep you mind and body active, it allows you to immerse yourself in the outdoors, and continually teaches you new things about the natural world. You don’t need much in the way of equipment to find and pick mushrooms, but there are a few key items and resources that will help you find what you’re looking for as well as keep you safe, from both accidentally poisoning yourself and getting lost in unfamiliar terrain. In this guide, we will share some tips and tools for edible mushroom foraging: 🍄 Tips for Mushroom Foraging: Be 110% certain of what you are picking...

For those new to the field, identifying mushrooms may seem intimidating. But knowing just a few of the key characteristics to look for can go a long way in helping you learn how to identify the different mushroom species. Below are six key characteristics you should try to observe when identifying a mushroom: 01. Cap The cap is, usually, the first feature to catch the mushroom foragers eye. Sitting atop the mushroom’s stalk, caps vary tremendously in size, shape, and color , and each of these features may change as a mushroom grows and develops. The shape of a mushroom cap is unique from species to species, which is helpful for identification.  02. Mushroom Cap Undersides Beneath the cap of many common mushrooms, you’ll find either gills, pores, ridges, or teeth. These are the parts of a mushroom’s anatomy that produce and release spores. These parts of a mushroom are important for identification because many species look similar based on the appearance of their cap. The underside ...

Ireland has an abundance of wild mushrooms that you can safely learn to identify and enjoy for their culinary properties, medicinal qualities or just deepen your connection to nature.  We have compiled a brief list of some of the most commonly found mushrooms in Ireland to help get you curious enough to start exploring. *Never rely on one source for mushroom identification, and never eat anything unless you are 110% sure it is edible. 1. Chanterelle 🕐 When can I find them? August - September - October - November - December - January 🔍 Where can I find them? Chanterelle can be found in woodlands, growing from the ground or decaying wood. They are likely to reappear in the same place every year, so if you find a good spot, you should be able to find them there in upcoming years as well. 👀 What do they look like? Chanterelle are orange or yellow, meaty and funnel-shaped. Chanterelles have blunt gill-like ridges which run down the stem of the mushroom.  🍴 What do they smell an...