Session 1: Introduction to Mycology

The first session of a 3 part series will be held Saturday, June 8th from 1:30pm-4:30pm ($30) 

Optional meal / Q&A: 4:30-5pm. Pack in a dinner and stick around after the class to ask additional questions and hang out with the instructors and other students. 

In this class, we'll learn the basics of fungal morphology (their structural descriptions: cap, gills, stipe, hyphae, etc). We'll explore habitats, varieties, nomenclature, early relationship with humans, spore printing, microscopy, and tips for safe foraging, sharing interactive examples of each subject. We’ll supplement the class with a plethora of suggested readings, books and websites.

We will also explore the history of fungi identification, how it came to be recognized as a kingdom of its own and the immense progress that’s been made in the field since then. During the class, we'll take an hour walk through the woodlands of Horn Farm Center to collect specimens and identify the trees that they are associated with. At the end of this class, we'll come together and attempt to identify the mushrooms with reference books and spore prints. 

Other topics that may be lightly covered or included in follow-up include: mycoremediation, mycoforestry, and alternative uses like water filtration, fiber, dye, building materials, and packaging. While the class covers mycological basics, new and exploratory science in the field of mycology may also be shared. 

*Note: we recommend this class for anyone interested in a primer on mushroom identification and mycology! If you are simply lookng for an introduction to fungi and/or cannot commit to the full series, this class will spotlight all the basics and set you up for further exploration. 

**Online pre-registration is required to attend.  Visit this link to register https://hornfarmcenter.org/civimessages/event/info/?reset=1&id=1076