Back Roads Bill set out looking for sources on heritage wooden boats and ended up on Wabatongushi Lake, learning the basics of black morel hunting, from disturbed ground and spring rains to safe, careful harvesting<\/p>\n
Look down, not up. Went morel pickin\u2019 by chance. But it is more like hunting.<\/p>\n
Unlike the gold panning story.<\/a><\/p>\n Black morel mushrooms are among the most prized forages. In northern Ontario, they emerge in late spring – following sustained warm temperatures and spring rains. We\u2019ve had sort of weather recently; the wildland fires have begun. They thrive in areas with disturbed soil, particularly around logging sites in the transitional boreal forest.<\/p>\n Fortuitous.<\/p>\n Why?<\/p>\n There will be a story about the five-generation cedar strip boat-building family. Giesler Boats<\/a> – AI says – is the last of its kind in the world. Could be, but certainly in Canada. So, started looking for testimonials about this heritage business, certainly a thriving legend in the north. More to come on that.<\/p>\n But I found a wilderness fishing lodge that has a flotilla of the beautiful wooden Giesler Boats.<\/p>\n Bingo. They would furnish a quote.<\/p>\n So, I surfed around Loch Island Lodge<\/a>, located on the border of the Chapleau Game Preserve, and then inadvertently clicked on the Game Preserve tab \u2013 Morel Hunting.<\/p>\n What?<\/p>\n This seems a bit out of place for a fishing lodge, owned by an American and that caters primarily to our neighbours.<\/p>\n I am not really a fisher; some might think so. More curious about what is on and around the lakes and rivers of the back roads. An explorer.<\/p>\n There was even an invitation on the website. \u201cIf you have any questions or would like to book a trip, please don\u2019t hesitate to contact us.\u201d I didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n I reached out to the owners, Andy and Amy Wilson of Soo\u00a0Michigan, through the usual media query.<\/p>\n There was no hesitation from Andy; an invitation to \u201ccome up and go morel hunting.\u201d I\u2019m in another avocation activity.<\/p>\n Mycology<\/p>\n Mycology is the branch of biology devoted to the scientific study of fungi, including mushrooms, moulds, and yeasts. It explores their vital ecological roles as decomposers, as well as their practical applications in medicine, food production, and agriculture.<\/p>\n Monika Fischer (PH. D) one of Canada\u2019s leading mycologists,\u00a0is a professor at the University of British Columbia. Monika is passionate about understanding the biological mechanisms that drive ecological processes.<\/p>\n \u201cMy first passion was food, and I worked in kitchens for several years before landing an internship at a farm-to-table restaurant (The Herbfarm<\/a>) just outside Seattle, where I learned from the farmers all about the soil microbiome and mycorrhizal fungi” she said.\u00a0“We also collaborated with local mushroom foragers, and I got very involved with the local mycological society. Simply put, I got bit by the fungal bug, and there was no turning back.\u201d<\/p>\n I asked about disturbed areas regarding morels.<\/p>\n \u201cSome mushrooms are triggered to grow by disturbance (e.g. oyster mushrooms – if you have a kit that’s not fruiting, just kick it around a little bit and it will start to fruit)… but not all mushrooms. In my experience, the fire-following morels seem to be exceptionally picky about having exactly the right combination of time-since-fire, moisture, temperature, soil type, etc\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cBurn morels are one of my favourite mushrooms to eat, though I must confess I’ve never been very good at hunting for them because I get so distracted by all the other cute fungi that often co-occur with morels.<\/p>\n “I’m really passionate about understanding the molecular mechanisms that enable fungi to interact with each other and their environment. Some of those other fungi (e.g. Pyronema and Neurospora) that also fruit at the same time as morels are fabulous molecular model systems that are easy to work with in the lab so we can better understand their specific adaptations to post-fire environments, like heat-triggered spore germination, or the ability to eat charcoal. We grow morel mycelia in the lab, but it grows pretty slowly and isn’t a major focus of our research.\u201d<\/p>\n And do you pick and consume wild mushrooms?<\/p>\n \u201cYes! Though I always make sure I know exactly what I’m picking and eating – especially making sure I know how to differentiate mushrooms I’ve collected from possible poisonous look-alikes. I’m not super adventurous, and I’m not too keen to risk gastrointestinal upset for a foraged meal, though I love to at least taste any well-established edible mushroom!<\/p>\n “I’ll also add that I make sure to only pick mushrooms in areas where it’s legal to forage – it’s important to respect protected areas.\u201d<\/p>\n Mushroom guide<\/p>\n You need a mushroom resource.<\/p>\n One of the Loch Island employees was so passionate about going morel hunting with Back Roads Bill. There was an unattributed remark about one\u2019s \u201cmorel compass.\u201d (I think it was Andy.)<\/p>\n Georgina Atkins is a younger Back Roads\u2019 follower, especially a fan of the BRBill podcast.<\/a>\u00a0She had\u00a0a very detailed guidebook I had not seen before, Edible Mushrooms: Safe to Pick, Good to Eat,<\/a>\u00a0that she won as a door prize at one of her forest ecology courses. The two featured authors used the fact-checking of Michael Krikorev of Ljugarn, Sweden.<\/p>\n Like looking for elusive morels, I had to find this aficionado, and I did. I found out he was a mushroom professional like no other. Ljugarn\u00a0is a coastal community on the island of Gotland, south of Stockholm on the Baltic Sea.<\/p>\n He is a member of the Swedish Mushroom Consultants Association and the Swedish Mycological Association. He currently works as a mycologist at the Swedish Species Information Centre (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences data bank) and regularly gives lectures and mushroom courses<\/p>\n Go on to his website; it is truly exemplary. By northern latitude, the Nordic countries have very similar forests and mushroom species.<\/p>\n Svampguiden is the largest website<\/a> about mushrooms, with around 10,000 visitors per day and around 250,000 visitors per month during the Nordic hunting mushroom seasons. It was started by Michael in 1997.<\/p>\n He said, \u201cI have long been fascinated by fungi, strange organisms that always manage to puzzle me.\u201d<\/p>\n He has published the books Our 20 Best Food Mushrooms (2013) and The Best Food Mushrooms (2008), which, in addition to Swedish, have also been translated into Norwegian, Finnish, Danish and Estonian. In the Nordic countries, the black morel is referred to as the top morel for its distinctive shape.<\/p>\n And for some clarification. Fun-guy (FUN-gye) is the most common pronunciation in North American English. Fun-gee (FUN-gee) is widely preferred in British English and is also frequently used worldwide, particularly among mycologists.<\/p>\n Mushroom diet<\/p>\n Jeremy St. Onge, a biology professor at Canadore College, went to the extreme limits when it comes to wild edibles. He is more than a keen morel hunter and mushroom picker.<\/p>\n He did something unique when it comes to wild edibles \u2013 taking what we say to another level.<\/p>\n He \u201cslowly wrapped up the Big Wild Year by eventually completing my MSc Kinesiology at Nipissing University.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wild Big Year includes staying on a wild edible diet for an entire year while assessing the physiological and biochemical changes occurring with two healthy adults. The thesis and the results of this experiment are accessible here<\/a>.<\/p>\n One branch of his research investigated aspects of hunter-gatherer lifestyles \u201cas these groups typically exhibit lower incidence of overweight and metabolic diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the keys to mushroom hunting is knowing one\u2019s trees and basic habitat types. Many species grow in close association with a host. Morels are known to grow in a variety of habitats, but most of my personal success has been picking them where chip mulch has been used in landscaping and targeting large white ash trees in loamy hardwood forests. They are also prolific in pine forests in the year following a forest fire.\u201d<\/p>\n Some tips. He said, \u201cI think for folks who want to pick mushrooms, there are a few basic guidelines to follow. Importantly, to learn from someone who knows. Additionally, not pick them unless you plan to use them. I still see a lot of social media posts of baskets of mushrooms with the question: can I eat these? There are lots of good paper guides out there, and the phone apps are good but not reliable.\u201d<\/p>\n Sage advice.<\/p>\n Fungi eyes<\/p>\n And another unique find.<\/p>\n A Loch Island employee was working on the island\u2019s waterfront \u2013 dock duty – when we departed early evening on Wabatongushi (Wah-batong-gush -ee) Lake. Rowan Gallican presented us with Fungi Eyes\u00a0glasses as we were leaving the docks in a wooden wonder – the Giesler 22\u2019 Georgian model.<\/p>\n Not only do you need scissors or a knife,\u00a0a mesh net satchel but special eyeglasses help!<\/p>\n Fungeyes have been engineered to enhance the contrast between mushrooms and their surrounding landscape. They make morels easier to spot on the forest floor because of the unique lenses.<\/p>\n Justin Fowler is the inventor of fungi glasses<\/a>. He is an entrepreneur and outdoorsman from Finleyville, Pennsylvania (a Pittsburgh suburb).<\/p>\n Another what moment?<\/p>\n So, Justin, the obvious question: how did Fungeyes get started?<\/p>\n \u201cI get asked this question all the time. To put everything in context, I will start from the beginning when I would go hunting morels when I was a kid.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first time I saw a morel was at the age of seven. I remember my Uncle Dan emerging from the woods with a five-gallon bucket full of ‘brains’\u00a0as I called them. I was bursting with questions and begged to be taken along on his next trip.<\/p>\n “He agreed, but the next time, his bounty wasn\u2019t nearly as fruitful. We didn\u2019t find a single mushroom. I couldn\u2019t understand. Why didn\u2019t we just go back to the same place and fill up the bucket again, I thought? This frustration only intensified my early obsession with these elusive mushrooms.<\/p>\n “Over thirty years later, I\u2019m still an avid hunter of morels. To me, hunting morels is both challenging and rewarding. It is an escape from the busy monotony of daily life. I cherish the opportunity to step back from my hectic life and enjoy peaceful time in nature. I\u2019ve found happiness in the beautiful woods and the close-knit community of morel hunters like myself.\u201d<\/p>\n What about the glasses?<\/p>\n \u201cPeople have always asked me how I find so many mushrooms while they continue to struggle. I tell them all the same thing: look down, not up. Once you have proper soil temperature in the spring, keep your eyes down and find other mushrooms first. Morels grow where other mushrooms grow. Look for moss. Moss signals an area with lots of moisture. It doesn\u2019t matter how perfect the tree is.\u201d<\/p>\n As his harvests increased, so did the number of people who asked for Justin\u2019s help.<\/p>\n \u201cAt first, I was hesitant since most morel hunters are so secretive about their spots.\u201d He began to share his knowledge with others.<\/p>\n \u201cHundreds of people found their first morel by following my advice. This led me to challenge myself. Rather than preserving my secret spots, I show everyone where I have found morels.\u201d<\/p>\n He said morels are easiest to spot in the early morning and the late evening, as opposed to sunny midday conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough sunglasses can help block the light, they will not aid in making mushrooms appear more vivid against the green and brown backdrop. I knew colored-lens technology was the key. I have spent years perfecting a lens to enhance the appearance of a mushroom compared to its lush forest surroundings. After a long journey of research and development.\u201d<\/p>\n Fungeyes finally took shape.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople think I am lying when I tell them of my massive hauls during Morel season. Cheating a little, maybe, but lying, no.<\/p>\n “As I began showing fellow mushroom hunters the lenses we had created, I got the same amazed response every time. Their excited requests for a pair of my glasses led me to the decision to bring the glasses to market and share my secret with mushroom hunters worldwide.\u201c<\/p>\n He wasn\u2019t fibbing; it works.<\/p>\n Setting<\/p>\n Maybe it is a little like fishin\u2019 \u2013 you have to try.<\/p>\n In this case, you are going to wander around the Jack pine forest in disturbed areas like sand pits and logging roads, especially the ones that have become somewhat overgrown.<\/p>\n