One of the best ways to beat the COVID-19 isolation blues is to get out and enjoy nature, and ISU Extension and Outreach is offering a free online workshop for a fun activity to do while outside this spring: mushroom hunting.
The two-part online class will teach participants about identifying and foraging local mushrooms. The first workshop will be held May 5th from 6-7 p.m. through a Zoom meeting. The program is limited to 300 participants, with registration required by May 1st. The second part will be offered in the fall, with a date to be determined. Participants in the virtual workshop will discuss proper identification traits, foraging safety, distinguishing between edible and non-edible mushrooms, best harvesting practices, and how to avoid post-harvest contamination.
The class is free to attend, and those who register for both the spring and fall workshops will receive a free copy of the soon-to-be-released “Safe Mushroom Foraging Guide,” which was developed and published by the class’s instructor Lina Rodriguez-Salamanca. To learn more or to sign-up, click the link below.