General Meeting — Thursday May 10th, 2012
The Cascade Mycological Society May meeting speaker is Dr. Skye Weintraub, ND, who will present a photographic journey of the spring mushrooms of the Jack Creek and Suttle Lake areas in the Central Oregon Cascades. Dr. Weintraub is a Naturopathic physician and has practiced medicine in Eugene for 23 years. She is also the author of several health books including “The Parasite Menace.” She became interested in mushrooms during the early 80s when she took a class from Freeman Rowe at LCC. As a member of CMS, as well as being on the Board of Directors, she is interested in promoting mushroom education.
The meeting will be May 10th 2012. Meet at 7:00 pm, room 115, Science Building (Building 16) at Lane Community College in Eugene. The talk is free and open to the public.
General Meeting — Thursday April 12th, 2012
The Cascade Mycological Society April meeting speaker is Dr. Matt Trappe.
Dr. Matt Trappe is a forest ecologist specializing in mycology, disturbance ecology, nutrient cycling, and soil microbiology. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and a M.S. in Forest Science, both from Oregon State University. His Master’s thesis was on the ecology of winter chanterelles in western Oregon, and his Doctoral dissertation examined the effects of natural and man-caused disturbance on mycorrhizal fungi at Crater Lake National Park. He currently works in the OSU College of Forestry on forest carbon cycling research.
He will be giving a talk titled ‘Lichens: Fungi in Disguise’. The meeting will be April 12th 2012. Meet at 7:00 pm, room 115, Science Building (Building 16) at Lane Community College in Eugene. The talk is free and open to the public.
General Meeting — Thursday March 8th, 2012
The March CMS speaker is “Toby the Truffler.” He’ll be sharing some of his experience in harvesting mushrooms and truffles commerically. Just about anyone who has ever logged into the “Fungal Forum” (on the CMS website) is familar with “chicken of the woods” Toby. He has engaged the online fungal community and shared mushroom information with friends and strangers from all over the world.
Toby was the sole proveyer of truffles at the world famous Oregon Truffle Festival this year. And, along with his truffle dog, Apa, he has even made an apperance in the magazine Fungi (Winter 2011).
Please join CMS in welcoming Toby the Truffler as the invited guest speaker for the March 2012 monthly meeting. Meet at 7:00 pm, room 115, Science Building (Building 16) at Lane Community College in Eugene. The talk is free and open to the public.
General Meeting — Thursday February 9th, 2012
The Cascade Mycological Society February meeting speaker is Chris Melotti. He will be giving a presentation on beginning mushrooming, with a focus on edible species. The meeting will be February 9th, 2012. Meet at 7:00 pm, room 115, Science Building (Building 16) at Lane Community College in Eugene. The talk is free and open to the public.
General Meeting — Thursday January 12th, 2012
The Cascade Mycological Society presents Dr. Charles LeFevre. He will be discussing the Oregon truffle industry and upcoming truffle festival. January 12th, 2012. Meet at 7:00 pm, room 115, Science Building (Building 16) at Lane Community College in Eugene. The talk is free and open to the public.
Speaker Background: Born and raised in Oregon, Charles’ abiding interest in forest ecosystems generally, and in wild edible mushrooms in particular, led to both undergraduate and graduate degrees in biology and mycology. He received his Ph.D. in Forest Mycology at Oregon State University in 2002, conducting research on the host associations of the American Matsutake mushroom. He was President of the North American Truffling Society for almost 10 years, and has been an invited speaker at a number of national and international conferences on the North American truffles, most recently as a plenary speaker at the 3rd International Congress on Truffles in Spoleto Italy. He has published technical articles on the Oregon truffles and cultivation of the celebrated European species.
General Meeting — Thursday December 8th, 2011
The Cascade Mycological Society presents Daniel Winkler. He will be discussing his new book ‘A Field Guide to Edible Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest’. December 8th, 2011. Meet at 7:00 pm, room 115, Science Building (Building 16) at Lane Community College in Eugene. The talk is free and open to the public.
Speaker Background: Daniel grew up in Munich, Bavaria, and started hunting Steinpilz (Boletus edulis) with his family at age 3. Finding mushrooms was just as exciting as finding Easter eggs, an excitement that is still to be had each time hunting for mushrooms. Later Daniel studied geography, ecology and botany in order to work on environmental issues in the Himalayas and Tibet, where he has been researching and consulting for twenty years.
In 1996, Daniel moved to Seattle and joined the Puget Sound Mycological Society. Being part of PSMS enticed him to take his life-long love for mushrooms to a whole new level. Daniel trained to become an expert mushroom identifier for the club and teaches classes.
Daniel has collected edible mushrooms on three continents and is an organizer of mushroom tours [www.MushRoaming.com]. He keeps venturing out into new and old habitats and cultures to feed his curiosity and his family, along the way capturing images and gathering stories to share in his writings and presentations.
Photo Contest Winners
We received many beautiful photos of mushrooms for the contest and selected three for display at the festival. Here they are in case you didn’t get a chance to see the prints there. We’ll also be looking at some photos (time-permitting) at November’s general meeting.
The three winners are:
- Joaquin Romero, who sent this picture of Mycena seinesii from Vizcaya, Spain
- Stewart Meyers, who sent a picture of Amanita muscaria from Honeyman State Park, OR.
- Kevin Hups, who sent a picture of oyster mushrooms fruiting from a plywood deck in a shipping container that had been sealed up for a decade, in Colorado.
(You may click on the photos for a higher resolution version)
General Meeting — Thursday November 10th, 2011
Geoffrey Johnson on Mycoremediation at the Oregon Country Fair.
The Cascade Mycological Society presents Geoffrey Johnson. He will be discussing his mycoremediation project on a site at the Oregon Country Fair. November 10th, 2011. Meet at 7:00 pm, room 115, Science Building (Building 16) at Lane Community College in Eugene.
Geoffrey has been involved with the Oregon Country Fair’s Mycological Restoration Project since 2010. As an environmental science major at the University of Oregon, he is committed to the process of expanding functional knowledge into sustainable human societies. Geoffrey is particularly interested in partnering with Fungi as biological allies in the design of systems for dealing responsibly with waste streams and effluent.
Meet at 7:00 pm, room 115, Science Building (Building 16) at Lane Community College in Eugene.
CMS Keynote Speaker – Steve Trudell — Friday, October 28th
“Why Mushrooms Matter”
Come hear Steve Trudell’s important message Friday, October 28th, 7pm, at the LCC forum building.
Steve Trudell is a forest ecologist and educator who has been hunting, photographing, and learning about mushrooms for over 35 years. Author of “Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest” with Joe Ammirati, he has taught mycology, botany, and biology at the University of Washington, Evergreen State College, Bastyr University, and Santa Barbara City College, as well as workshops at many NAMA and local mushroom club forays. His particular interest is in understanding why there is such a tremendous diversity of mushroom-fungi and the roles that they play in forest carbon and nutrient cycling.
The PNW is home to a wide array of colorful, beautiful, bizarre, and edible mushrooms. Few realize that, without these mushrooms, there would be no forests. Come hear why and get a glimpse of some of the Northwest’s most popular edible and most dangerous toxic fungi. Donations accepted.
Also find Steve at the Mt. Pisgah Mushroom Festival, Sunday, October 30th. He will have copies of his book for sale, as will be helping with mushroom identification.
Mushroom Madness Week! — Sunday, Oct. 30th – Sunday, Nov. 6th 2011K
Plus, Special Guest Appearance on KLCC’s “Food for Thought” from Peg Boulay – 12 – 1 PM
Mycological events are coming at us fast and furious. You’ll want to check back on our website frequently so you don’t miss anything!
On Sunday, Oct. 23rd’s “Food for Thought,” Peg Boulay will be talking about mushrooms, and a special upcoming event that is a partnership between the CMS and several local restaurants with a focus on local sourcing and mushroom cuisine.
The CMS is proud to announce that 8 restaurants have coordinated with us for the 30th anniversary of the Mt. Pisgah Arboretum Mushroom Festival to offer their own takes on delicious mushroom fare starting on the day of the festival, Oct. 30th and continuing through the following Sunday.
Celebrate the delicious diversity of Oregon’s wild mushrooms! Visit these fine restaurants (and brewery) to enjoy their fabulous featured mushroom dishes, created especially for Mushroom Madness Week.
King Estate with Chef Michael Landsberg: Wild Oregon mushroom ragout with Yukon gold potato gnocchi, lamb meatballs, roasted tomato leek vinaigrette with parmesan cheese and crispy artichoke hearts. 80854 Territorial Hwy, 541-942-9874.
Chef’s Kitchen with Chef Bruno: Mushroom medley of 5 or 6 mushrooms cooked in a sherry-cream reduction in a way that you can taste their distinct flavors. 3443 Hilyard St, 541-687-2433.
Holy Cow with Chef Anton Ferrara: Ricotta gnocchi with wild mushroom sauce. 2621 Willamette St only, 541-852-4659.
Cafe Soriah with Chef Pierce Kieffer: 3 course mushroom dinner: appetizer is a mushroom strudel with goat’s cheese and madeira reduction; salad of marinated chanterelles and spiced walnuts with frisee and sherry vinaigrette; main dish of porcini encrusted chicken with a wild mushroom butter sauce. 384 W. 13th Ave, 541-342-4410.
Cafe Zenon with Chef Cory Brader: Oregon wild mushroom savory pudding with chanterelles, porcini and truffle oil, along with grilled house baked bread. 898 Pearl St, 541-684-4000.
Friendly Street Cafe with Chef Mario Tucci: gnocchi with lamb meatballs and chanterelles in a light mushroom sauce. 2757 Friendly St, 541-343-3460.
Excelsior Inn & A Taste of Ristorante Italiano with Chef Mauritzio Paparo: pasta with 4 mushrooms; a dish that is called Pappardelli ai Quattro funghi in Italian. 754 E. 13th Ave, 541-342-6963.
Rogue Public House–Track Town Ales with Brewer Nate Samson: Porcini Scotch Ale. 844 Olive St, 541-345-4155.
30th Anniversary Photo Contest
LAST CALL FOR PHOTOS!!!
Deadline extended to Oct. 24th, last chance to send in your photos!
As some of you might know, this year’s Mt. Pisgah Arboretum Mushroom Festival will be the 30th! The Cascade Mycological Society has been a big part of this festival from the beginning and we are excited to be bringing a number of special events and activities to celebrate.
The first of these we are proud to announce is a mushroom photography contest. Any and all are free to contribute photos related to mushrooms, mushroom culture, and our fungal pals in general. The best of the bunch will be selected for a special display at the festival and the winners will receive recognition and prizes from the CMS.
The rules are simple, just send up to 3 digital photos to photocontest@cascademyco.org. In your email include your full name as you’d want it to appear next to your prize winning photo and any details you might want us to know about the photo and what it means to you. Note that we greatly prefer digital files but if you have a picture that you must submit and don’t have in digital form, you can send us an email and we’ll try to help with other arrangements. Please send pictures as JPG files at full resolution, so that prints of the images look their best.
The photos need to be in by Oct 24th so they can be judged before the show.
Fine print stuff:By sending us your pictures, you grant the CMS a license to use your photo for contest purposes and to display your photo at the festival and at later dates in CMS communications including this website. If your image is used for CMS communication, you will be credited as the photographer.
Two Mushroom Excursions — Oct 21st – 23rd, November 4th-6th
Hemlock Ridge Excursions is offering two mushroom workshops this fall, a Cascades trip at Clear Lake Resort on October 21st-23rd, and a coast trip at Tugman State Park on November 4th-6th. These weekend workshops are hosted at beautiful sites selected for their proximity to great mushroom hunting locations. Participants are introduced to all aspects of “mushrooming” culture, from field identification techniques, family characteristics, wild edible harvesting, mushroom dyeing and cooking, and basic cultivation techniques.
Link below is a flyer with information on the dates and prices for the two weekend excursions:
For more information, see the Hemlock Ridge Excursions website