Today’s column has been prompted by the return of the Fungus Fair, organized by the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz. This event, scheduled for Jan. 12-14, will be the 50th offering of this richly educational event.
The fair includes impressive and intriguing displays of many varieties of mushrooms, numerous talks by expert mycologists, and sales of food, books, fresh and dried wild mushrooms, growing kits, artwork, mushroom-dyed silks, jewelry, etc. The event includes an after-hours mushroom dinner, already sold out. Go to ffsc.us/fair/2024/about for program details.
This occasion might be regarded as a departure from residential gardening because mushrooms grow in natural surroundings and are generally gathered through foraging. A gardener could also cultivate mushrooms at home (see below), so there is a link to gardening.
Let’s launch into an introduction to mushrooms, including reasons for gardeners to learn more about these multicellular organisms, as they are properly called.
The major groups of multicellular organisms are animals, plants, and fungi. All members of these three groups are identified through binomial nomenclature (genus and species).
“A characteristic that places fungi in a different kingdom from plants, bacteria, and some protists is chitin in their cell walls.” Chitin “is a primary component of cell walls in fungi, the exoskeletons of arthropods such as crustaceans and insects, [and parts of some other organisms]. (Wikipedia)
Interactions
Animals, plants and fungi operate with many interactions, both within and between groups. Without going into these numerous complex interactions, some that are still being discovered and studied, we will cite the best-known way that people interact with mushrooms: eating them.
The act of consuming mushrooms dates back to ancient times. “Edible mushroom species have been found in association with 13,000-year-old archaeological sites in Chile.” (Wikipedia).
In addition to their varied culinary uses, people have medicinal and psychedelic applications of mushrooms.
Mushrooms can be described in three groups: edible, non-palatable and poisonous. There exists a large number of edible mushroom varieties that are either harvested wild or cultivated. For a lengthy list of edible mushrooms, visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edible_mushroom.
People foraging for wild mushrooms as a food source will want to recognize the differences between edible, non-palatable and poisonous mushrooms.
Mushrooms in California
Northern California has been recognized as a home to diverse varieties of rich, nutritious and edible wild mushrooms that grow year-round.
One of the Fungus Fair’s speakers, Christian Schwarz, has been quoted saying that there are tens of thousands of species of fungi in California, most of which remain undescribed by science. Schwarz teaches Natural History of Fungi at UC Santa Cruz and is co-author of “Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast” and the upcoming “Mushrooms of Cascadia.”
The most common species of wild mushrooms growing in the rugged coastal and forested regions of California are porcini, candy caps and chanterelles.
Examples of these three varieties are included in today’s photo gallery. Photos were contributed by Freddy Menge and Marisa Gomez, who are among the organizers of the 2024 Fungus Fair. Thanks!
California’s official state mushroom
In October 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 261, which establishes the California Colden Chanterelle as California’s official state mushroom. This action places this mushroom (Cantharellus californicus) in the company of the state’s official state flower, the California Golden Poppy (Eschscholzia californica).
AB 261 states, “Since time immemorial, diverse human cultures have treasured and utilized mushrooms. Increasingly, we look to mushrooms and fungi for innovative environmental solutions, ranging from the creation of sustainable materials and food sources to the implementation of low-cost bioremediation of toxic waste and contaminated soils.”
The bill also describes the California Golden Chanterelle as “a unique endemic species” and “a symbol of the rich and special biodiversity of California.”
Gardening with mushrooms
The interested gardener could grow mushrooms at home. According to the North American Mycological Association (NAMA), “It’s easier than you think!”
NAMA’s website includes basic information on mushroom cultivation, including links to sources of home cultivation supplies.
To get started in this very different form of gardening, visit namyco.org/interests/cultivation/grow-mushrooms-at-home/.
Advance your gardening knowledge
The 2024 Fungus Fair is an excellent opportunity to advance your knowledge of this very large and varied group of multicellular organisms.
Resolutions for gardeners
These resolutions reflect this column’s oft-stated components of good gardening and include links for reliable information. They could guide gardening practices for 2024 and the following years.
Use Water Wisely (prioritize drop irrigation and drought-tolerant plants): water.ca.gov/water-basics/conservation-tips/plant-and-landscape-guide.
Control Pests Naturally: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based strategy for controlling landscape pests: ipm.ucanr.edu (search for “seasonal IPM checklist”).
Support Wildlife: www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Wildlife.
Grow California Native Plants Local to Your Garden: calscape.org/.
Practice Real Gardening: www.gardenersworld.com/plants/five-methods-of-plant-propagation/.
Defend Against Fire (if your garden is in a fire-prone area): www.readyforwildfire.org/.
Tom Karwin is a past president of Friends of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and the Monterey Bay Iris Society, a past president and Lifetime Member of the Monterey Bay Area Cactus & Succulent Society, and a Lifetime UC Master Gardener (Certified 1999–2009). He is now a board member of the Santa Cruz Hostel Society, and active with the Pacific Horticultural Society. To view photos from his garden, https://www.facebook.com/ongardeningcom-566511763375123/ . For garden coaching info and an archive of On Gardening columns, visit ongardening.com for earlier columns or visit www.santacruzsentinel.com/ and search for “Karwin” for more recent columns. Email comments or questions to gardening@karwin.com.
