By Karie Lee Knoke
Cover photo courtesy of Karie Lee Knoke
There’s something about walking through a forest in the fall that stirs the soul. The earth softens underfoot, the scent of damp leaves fills the air, and, if you slow down enough, the wild begins to reveal its secrets. One of those gifts is mushrooms, popping up in the quiet places, nourished by rain and decay. Fall is the season when fungi call us to pay attention, to harvest with gentleness, and to remember our place in the web of life.
Mushrooms are a gift from the forest floor. They provide us with food and medicine. In their own mysterious way, they are teachers and connectors between life and death. They break down the old to nourish the new. In the fall, when the rains return, mushrooms emerge, reminding us that even in a season of dying back, there is abundance.
This is the time to lace up your boots, carry a sharp knife, bring a basket or woven mesh bag (never plastic), and head into the woods with curiosity, care and respect. I prefer a mesh bag to allow the spores to sprinkle to the forest ground as I walk, replenishing next year’s harvest.
Five of my Favorite Mushrooms to Know This Fall
- Hen of the woods (Grifola frondosa)
Also known as maitake, often growing in generous clusters at the base of oaks, this beautiful mushroom fans out like layered feathers. It’s meaty, grounding and deeply nourishing. I often find it in the same place year after year, like an old friend returning. Sauté it slowly, and let the earthy flavor shine.
- Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus)
Not to be mistaken with hen of the woods, these are so called because of their slightly lemony taste with the texture of chicken when cooked. They can be found growing on dead or dying stumps or tree trunks of hardwood trees. It’s best to harvest this mushroom when it is young and tender, before it gets chalky. I like to sauté them in butter or add to soups or use as a chicken substitute in any recipe.
- Chanterelles (Cantharellus spp.)
Golden and elegant, chanterelles are often found tucked into mossy glades beneath fir and hemlock. Their fruity aroma and delicate ridges make them unmistakable, once you truly get to know them. Don’t rush. Look closely. A poisonous lookalike, the jack-o’-lantern, grows in similar habitats. Learn the differences well before tasting.
- Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus)
These pale, soft fans grow on dying trees, such as birch, poplar and other hardwoods. They come in flushes, sometimes covering a log with soft, edible blooms. They cook up tender and mild and are among the easier mushrooms to identify. Still, know what you’re looking for. Nature rewards those who move slowly and pay attention.
- Puffballs (Calvatia spp.)
When young and firm, puffballs are wonderful sliced and sautéed. Just be sure to cut them open and look inside. They should be pure white with no signs of gills or inner structure. If you see anything developing inside, leave it. That’s nature telling you it’s not edible.
A Practice in Awareness
Foraging mushrooms is not something to dabble in casually. It’s a practice. Some mushrooms can kill you, some can heal you, and many live in the mystery between. Go slow. Use more than one field guide. Taste nothing until you are absolutely sure.
Harvesting with Respect
Only take what you need. Leave plenty for the deer, the insects, the spores and the soil. Cut mushrooms cleanly at the base, and disturb as little as possible. The mycelium, the real body of the mushroom, is underground, and we are merely gathering its fruit. Be gentle.
For me, fall foraging is about remembering. That we are part of nature. That the Earth provides. That there is still wildness to be found, if we walk with humbleness and reverence.
Karie Lee Knoke is a wilderness and primitive skills instructor and founder of Sacred Cedars Wilderness School. She was a contestant on the reality survival TV show, Alone Season 9, on the History Channel. Go to Karieleeknoke.com for more information, or follow her on Facebook @SacredCedarsWildernessSchool or Instagram @karie_lee_knoke.
