Slow Mushrooming: A Foray through Fungal Realms
A Walk with Alison Pouliot
25.10.2024 10:00 – 13:00
Location: meeting point to be announced
Fungi are diverse, delicious, and sometimes deadly. With interest in foraging for wild food on the rise, learning to accurately identify fungi reduces both poisoning risk to humans and harm to the environment. Developing the skills to find fungi requires slowness, not speed. Following the notion of “ecological foraging”—an approach based on care, conservation, and an understanding of ecosystem dynamics—participants will head to the English Garden and engage multiple senses to identify both edible and toxic fungi.
But beyond culinary mushrooms, fungi underpin the healthy functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. They create and stabilize soils, recycle organic matter, unite with plants, and provide vital nourishment for numerous creatures. During the foray, participants will look not just for mushrooms, but for the tracks and traces that reveal the presence of fungi and their workings in the subterrain.
What do fungi tell us about forest and soil health? How can we foster their flourishing in our local parks and gardens? Can fungi provide valuable metaphors to rethink human systems and actions?
As we wander, participants will consider fungi through many lenses to elaborate their ecological, cultural, social, philosophical, ecocritical, and other significances.
The foray will be followed by a shared picnic lunch and a discussion and marvel at all things fungal.
There is only a limited number of spots and preference will be given to doctoral students. Thanks for understanding!
To register, please send an email to Lotta Ortheil at lotta.ortheil@gmx.de.
Presenter
Over the last 25 years, Alison Pouliot has divided her time between hemispheres, working with both fungi and their followers. She is actively involved in fungal conservation, research, teaching, and land restoration, and is author of The Allure of Fungi, Wild Mushrooming, Underground Lovers, Meetings with Remarkable Mushrooms, and the forthcoming Funga Obscura and Mushroom Day.
Alison is the Volkswagen Foundation Visiting Professor at the Rachel Carson Centre until the end of 2024.
Downloads
- Workshop "Slow Mushrooming" Poster (455 KByte)