Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with mushrooms

When should I revisit my porcini patch?

quasistoic — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:20:26 -0800

How quickly do porcini grow? The first fall rains came to Marin county (north of San Francisco) slightly less than two weeks ago, which means bolete season is about to begin - folk wisdom in this area is two to four weeks after the first fall rains. I got into foraging for mushrooms about a year ago, at the tail of last year's season, and by the time I was out and about most of the boletes were already blown (too old to eat, maggoty, etc).

Yesterday on a recon hike I found a clump of very young boletes in an area with mixed pines and oak and medium/high humidity. Each mushroom was no larger than my thumb, so I resisted picking.

The question is: when should I go back?

I do imagine the answer depends at least slightly on the weather, as more rain should mean faster growth. I've heard tell of porcini sprouting and growing to full size within a day during a heavy rain, but I haven't heard anything about how quickly they grow under our current conditions: when the ground contains enough moisture to feel loamy and not crunchy, but there's no rain in the near future.

I know I'll be going back this weekend for sure, but I'm considering taking a day off of work in the middle of the week, as I'm afraid my patch may fall prey to other boletivores. Now that the season is on, I have the bug. :)

Can I mail fresh chanterelles?

scose — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:51:38 -0800

How can I mail chanterelles? Will freshly picked chanterelles hold up unrefrigerated in a cardboard box for 3-5 days? If not, will sauteed and vacuum-sealed ones make it? I would like to send some fresh as a gift, but not if they show up rotten and slimy.

How long do mushrooms remain in your system?

twirlypen — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:20:47 -0800

How long do magic mushrooms remain in your system? If one were to spend an evening with some magical fun guys, how long would it be before a drug test returned a negative result? Our hypothetical person is an average male of average weight, having an average amount.

I'm also told that drug tests rarely test for mushrooms- is that correct?

I've googled around a bit, but have come across a pretty wide range of answers.

This is in Australia, if it's relevant.

(asking for a worried friend)

Did this really happen? Have you heard a version of the story?

idiopath — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:55:42 -0800

Help me find out more about this urban legend. I was at a restaurant alone, and overheard someone telling this story to her friend. I want to know about other versions you may have heard, and whether it is based on a real event. Here is the story:

A group of kids goes out to the woods to find 'shrooms. They proceed to find some 'shrooms and start tripping in the woods. One of the kids disappears for a while, and the others try to find him. Eventually he leads them to a magical gnome, who talks in a weird gnome language. They all hang out with the gnome for a while, and then it is getting dark so they decide to drive back home, but they decide to take the gnome with them. As they start to sober up they realize the gnome is still there, and freak out. Eventually they realize that it is a toddler with downs syndrome, and they bring the child to the authorities, who figure out that it had been intentionally abandoned by its parents.

I heard a second variation recently, where the detail about downs syndrome was not included, and there was an added detail about the kids being celebrated as heroes. Have you heard a version of this, what variations? What part of what country? I heard the story in Portland, Oregon, USA, my friend heard the story in Olympia, Washington, USA.

Why do I always lose everything important?

soleiluna — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:41:34 -0800

Recipe filter: mushroom and scallop pot pie recipe. Dinner party rapidly approaching, and boyfriend or I managed to lose the recipe. Help! My friend (who is co-hosting this party) clipped this recipe from a magazine or newspaper quite awhile ago (probably at least 10 years ago). I cannot find the clipping for the life of me, and my google-fu is failing me. Friend will be quite mad if I did indeed manage to lose this recipe two days before our dinner party. Do you have this recipe, or something similar?

What I can remember about the mushroom and scallop pot pie recipe:

It definitely included scallops, morel mushrooms (fresh i think), mixed wild mushrooms (fresh), puff pastry, and herbs (thyme?). There were probably shallots or onion, and since it was a creamy white sauce there was a massive amount of dairy in it, perhaps white wine. No extraneous veggies - no peppers, peas, carrots, etc at all. There could possibly be other pantry/fridge staple ingredients involved, but nothing big.

We made the recipe once, and it was VERY tasty. That's why I'm reluctant to use an altered imperfect google-found substitute (ie the Emeril scallop recipe, etc). Do you have my missing recipe, or something very similar?

I know this is kind a shot in the dark, but I've seen metafilter answer equally random questions, so it's worth a try!

What are these weird things?

Beautiful Screaming Lady — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:52:31 -0800

Weird stuff I found in Canada: what kind of mushrooms are these? What kind of sea creatures are these? Mushrooms are large (I'd say around 6 inches or so in diameter, on average), browny black and abundant. Time: October. Location: woodland in the Rockies. You can't see this from the photo, but instead of gills, they have dark tan spines. They're weird and big and meaty and spiny.

The sea creatures are from Vancouver Island, and are likely just bejewelled elephant's feet stuck on the end of carrots. But in the event they're not - the ends are hard and mother-of-pearly, and end in a dark red ridge. Are they anemones? What kind?

mushroom mushroom

Pants! — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:12:06 -0800

Making my own mushroom plugs? So I'm about to start my oak log mushroom garden by putting colonized mushroom plugs in a fresh oak log. I had to buy all of my plugs, which appear to be a wooden dowel that has been colonized by fungi of my choice.

Can I make my own mushroom plugs by putting a fresh dowel in a previously colonized log, or is there more to it than that?

shrooms and nutritional value?

assasinatdbeauty — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:54:11 -0800

Do shrooms have any nutritional value? Do mushrooms, as in the hallucenogenic variety, have any nutritional value whatsoever?

Is canned air safe for use on food?

kalneva — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:18:54 -0800

Is it safe to clean the loose dirt off mushrooms using canned air? I came up with this idea the other night, and it works very well, but canned air is a different gas than compressed air.

Which came first, the mushroom or the spore?

samph — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:58:04 -0800

How do psychoactive mushroom spore vendors not get in trouble? So there are internet vendors that sell magic mushroom spores "for microscopy purposes only" (wink wink). I know that the spores themselves contain no active chemicals and are legal in most states.

I know of a particular vendor is located in my state where the shrooms don't grow in the wild. So I'm assuming they are growing the mushrooms, and I'm wondering how they get around the legality of that. I mean isn't it pretty obvious to Johnny Law what they must be doing?

Pondering Mycological Mysteries in the North Woods--book recommendations?

RedEmma — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:23:33 -0800

What field guide for mushrooms should I get? I've got the local Fascinating Fungi of the North Woods, but it's limited. So it's between the big Mushrooms Demystified, which I looked over long ago and liked... or the Peterson's Guide for my region. Or something else? What would you recommend for a hobbyist mycologist who isn't afraid of reading things I don't understand (yet)?

A basket of Morels and a stick of butter, now what?

Toekneesan — Sun, 11 May 2008 12:51:50 -0800

My girls and I just came across these Morels in the backyard. How should we eat them? I've found and eaten Morels before but they were always much smaller. These are 6 to 8 inches long. I've never found them this large. In the past I've sauteed them in butter and thrown them in pasta or stew. But these are like steaks. Any idea how to maximize this bounty?

Yes, the stem and cap are hollow.

They don't look magical...

kaseijin — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:22:58 -0800

Calling all mycologists, mycophiles, and mychowhatsists! What are these mushrooms that are growing like crazy in my front yard? A few years back, a large tree was cut down in our front yard. This was before we bought our home, so I couldn't tell you what sort of tree it was, but there are still decaying roots underground.

Several times now, whenever the morning weather is around about 65-70 degrees and humid, we get outbreaks of these mushrooms (pics following). They come up in clusters, are each about the size of a US half dollar, are brackish gray (sometimes with spots), and smell like something died.

I am assuming that they are not edible. Nothing that smells like these do would entice me to eat it.

But what *are* they?

Pic 1, Pic 2, and Pic 3

Not a portabello...

progosk — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 11:31:26 -0800

Is this a mushroom? Just found this here in Italy, and haven't been able to find a match on mushroom sites.

Any experts with an idea? If it's not a mushroom, what is it?

P.S.: my son Jonas (who found it) says: if nobody knows it, then I'll name it after myself!

Do mushrooms need peeling?

These Premises Are Alarmed — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 07:41:13 -0800

My wife, and her family, insist that "white" supermarket mushrooms must be "peeled" (or, barring that, washed) prior to eating. I always ate the things right out of the package, possibly using a brush to get the black stuff (dirt? mushroom grower poop?) off, if I think of it. Do mushrooms need to be peeled or cleaned?

Into the Rabbit Hole? Looking for Messed Up Cinematography

radgardener — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 08:16:01 -0800

I'm looking for films similar to Jan Švankmajer's Alice and Faust. I watched Alice in July, and two nights ago I watched Faust under the influence of some hallucinogenics. I'm especially interested in movies similar to Faust. Some philosophical content would be awesome. What do you got?

Where to go mushroom picking in NYC area?

zavulon — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 15:30:34 -0800

Where to go mushroom picking in the NYC area? What are some recommended places to go mushroom picking within reasonable driving time from NYC?

And since I'm a first-timer... it IS legal, right? :-) And are there any permissions we have to get?

Why did my friend temporarily lose his mind?

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:33:18 -0800

MushroomsFilter: What causes a person to "lose their mind" temporarily on magic mushrooms? This weekend, a large group of my friends and I went up north to a cottage here in Ontario.
On Saturday night, one of my friends announced that he had brought magic mushrooms, and about 10 of us did them. Most did 1 gram or less, and had a great time.
My friend who brought them, and myself, both did about 3 and a half grams (or an eighth of an ounce). We're both around 220lbs, and have both done mushrooms many times in the past.
I had a great time, remember it all, and felt very in control the whole time.

However, after about 3 hours, my friend lost it. We were just sitting around chatting under the stars, and he started sweating profusely. Before we knew it, he started pacing back and forth, making odd sounds then ranting continually about "the establishment" and repeating various inane sentences like "Am I established? I'm established." and "The establishment is the cause and the reason". Interspersed with various swearing and odd noisemaking.
This included rolling around on the ground, and at one point eating dirt (which we stopped him from doing).

We took him inside and laid him down on the couch and stayed with him. It continued, all-told, for almost an hour, then he just snapped out of it.

Spent the next 20 minutes extremely paranoid and asking what happened, convinced at first that it was a dream and then that there was something we weren't telling him.

Now, I've had bad trips on mushrooms before but nothing like this, however I've heard of it happening before. I knew that he would be okay, and we stayed with him and kept him drinking water.

However, without discussing the positive and negative effects of poisoning ourselves with magic mushrooms, I'm wondering if someone can explain to me why this happens?

Did the drugs make his mind go into a state of dreaming, where he had no control? What causes it?

Seeking Tassili Cave Painting Photograph

prostyle — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 09:39:06 -0800

Seeking Tasilli Cave Painting photograph I would like to find a relatively high resolution copy of the photograph used as a basis for this depiction.

I have only been able to find it referenced in out of print books and I am hesitant to purchase anything dead tree online as I do not know the contents or if this specific painting is even featured.

Images I have found online focus on other paintings in the caves, dancing rituals, fertility depictions, hunting resources and other standards.

Relevant excerpt: Ancient paintings of mushroom-ed humanoids dating to 5,000 B.C. have been found in caves on the Tassili plateau of Northern Algeria.

Kill me, drug me, heal me, or fill me?

shokod — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 23:21:52 -0800

Can I eat these mushrooms growing in my front yard here in sunny Brisbane, Australia?Flickr photo set

Make Room for the Make Room For The Mushrooms Ad

criticalbill — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 02:30:02 -0800

I have been searching for video of a 1980s UK advert quite possibly for mushrooms, which featured lines of mushrooms marching towards the viewer chanting "Make Room For The Mushrooms!" I have looked on YouTube, etc and searched vaguely around torrent sites. Does anyone have it on VHS just waiting to be capped and uploaded or (more realistically) any ideas where I might find it or where else I might ask

Dude, what happened to my buzz?

elr — Tue, 09 May 2006 03:00:14 -0800

Why can't I get high like I used to? (and a bevy of semirelated drug questions) When I was younger, say 14-16 and 18-20, I smoked a lot of pot (in between I quit for a girl). It was great, my friends and I would giggle ourselves red at the ridiculousness of...everything. Somewhere around twenty, smoking marijuana became more and more unpleasant. I would get quiet and inarticulate, and overly aware of the fact that I was quiet and inarticulate, and paranoid that everyone would think I was creepy because of it. Along with that, I wouldn't feel comfortable in my own skin, in that literally I was itchy everywhere.

I believe that these are all manifestations of problems I'd dealt with before: depression, low-self image, and hypersensitivity early on. I smoke once every six months now, and unless I've been drinking, I don't enjoy it. I'm fine with not smoking anymore, but I would like to know what changed.

Also, was it just me, or is it everyone? I'm still close to all of my old smoking buddies who are now all functional potheads with jobs and almost every time I see them, they're toking up, but I never see them having giggle fits anymore. They're either really lazy and couchbound or they seem exactly the same as they do when they're sober. Does marijuana affect you differently as you age?

Also, while we're on the subject of drugs, are there any findings that relate heroin to creativity? I'm not looking for a new thing, I'm just curious. Are crerative people drawn to heroin, or does heroin somehow aid in creativity?

And, one more, what are legal [drugs] I could be enjoying? I don't like salvia because the high (for me) is too much like pot, datura seeds have given me some intense dreams but haven't done anything for me while I'm awake, I puked up all my amanitas muscaria, and the cactus took too long to dry. Links are always helpful, but if it's coming from erowid, I probably already saw it.

I apologize if it's gauche to ask all these questions under one header, or if gauche is not really the word I'm looking for.

Chanterelle recipes

oneirodynia — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 18:29:00 -0800

What are your favorite recipes using chanterelles? I gathered a half pound of chanterelles yesterday. I need some suggestions for something yummy.

How do I grow mushrooms at home?

bcveen — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 11:41:50 -0800

Has anyone tried growing edible mushrooms in their garden? I can't find much info online apart from commercial sites selling fairly expensive growing kits (and a heap of sites on psychedelica). I figured there must be a more economical method ...

Do medicinal mushrooms have beneficial impacts for you?

arimathea — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 13:06:42 -0800

Tell me more about medicinal mushrooms! I've recently become interested in the potential uses of mushrooms for medicinal (not psychoactive) purposes. Some of the medical studies have proved very illuminating lately. In particular, i'm interested in hearing more about Ganoderma lucidum and Hericium erinaceus, but i'm also very interested in folks who have used any medicinal mushrooms and have experienced concrete neurological or digestive effects, positive or negative. I seem to be having a little bit of a hard time finding additional resources or unbiased accounts from consumers. Can you help?