winter 2024 dates are here!
Do you long to engage your myco-curious nature and expand your ecological literacy?
We are so elated to walk alongside you as we open ourselves to the teachings of fungi!
Join us for a day-long adventure into the verdant coastal California forests and learn about the fungi that entangle us in webs of relationship from the soil to the sea.
Well-behaved/friendly dogs (on leash if needed) are welcome!
Kiddos under 10 are free! We aim to help raise more future mycologists and understand the challenge of finding/affording kiddo-care for parents!
Have questions? This page will probably answer them! We encourage you to read everything below before registering.
Bryan Bramlett of @healingecosystems and I pondering with Hygrocybe acutoconica
The land is alive! Gracing our feet every time we walk are living, breathing, communicating mycelial networks that connect entire ecosystems; they are the axons of rhizospheric intelligence, the neural network of our living Earth.
Over the years, we have had the honor of walking through many fungal-filled forests, listening intently to the myriad life forms that call these places home.
Through this process, we have come to understand many expressions of forests through the lenses of fungal biology and holistic ecology. For us, this means we focus on mushroom identification, ecology, conservation and regenerative ecological participation. We also share some of our plant identification/ecological awareness.
Most walks take place in the Ohlone, Coast Miwok, Southern Pomo, Kishaya Pomo territories (the “greater bay area region”), ecologies which we have learned from and grown in relationship with over the years.
Fungi, like forests, are dynamic, complex, ever-evolving entities. What we’ll see depends on when, where and how we go. The abundance and diversity of fungal species varies greatly throughout the rainy season depending on the bioregion, specific type of ecology, moisture levels, and time since harvesting and/or disturbance. Even patches of Earth 100 feet apart can yield completely unique expressions on the forest canvas!
On these co-created journeys, you can expect to:
Learn fungal species with an emphasis on rare, medicinal, edible, poisonous/deadly species. We will also point out mushrooms used for myco-pigments and other applied uses. We usually just end up talking about each mushroom we find because we love all of them!
Gain an understanding of fungal taxonomy, biology and ecology.
Deepen in understanding of forest ecology, tree species and plant-fungal symbioses.
Learn how to make high quality observations of fungi and contribute to the growing field of community science.
Learn and practice honorable harvesting techniques and ecologically regenerative ways of participating in the health of the forest.
Eat tasty treats and some medicinal mushroom infusions we bring, as well as a cooking demo & tasting of select edibles we find. Season- and weather-dependent.
Have deep, long breaths of clean coastal air, opportunity for connection & contemplation, and be encompassed in gentle forest symphonies.
Impact Statement:
When large groups of people go to gather mushrooms and/or plants, the disturbance of our presence can have potentially detrimental impacts on an ecosystem.
These participatory experiences are predominantly opportunities for listening and learning. This is a low-impact educational experience where our intention is to relish in the fungal abundance and diversity we encounter, not pick all the eye can see. That said, we will definitely enjoy harvesting edible and medicinal species if they reveal themselves; we simply cannot know what we will discover until we go looking!
We go slowly and tread lightly, leaving intact forest habitat and fungal populations for the next folks to visit as well as the forest-dwelling creatures that rely on fungi. Additionally, the health and genetic diversity of the forest and future fungal populations depends on our mindful, reciprocal participation.
10% of all procceeds will go towards The Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians' current efforts to protect the redwoods, oaks and sacred sites located in their ancestral territory, lands which today are commonly known as Jackson State Demonstration Forest.
* We try to keep our classes as affordable as possible while still supporting ourselves and our work. However, we offer free walks for all California Indigenous communities and anyone who simply cannot afford the cost. Please reach out via the contact form below. *
What to consider brining:
warm layers & good, comfortable hiking shoes (ideally waterproof/resistant)
rain gear (boots, pants, rain jacket) or walking aids if necessary
reusable vessel for water and/or yummy hot beverages for chilly days
snacks (single-use plastic free please!)
field guide, notebook, and pen/cil
a camera and/or phone
basket, backpack, or both
a knife (especially a mushroom knife with a brush if you have one)
handkerchiefs and/or rags
paper or cloth bags
a hand lens (or extra to share)
Fun-guides:
Taylor Bright & Ryath Beauchene
Together we have a combined 20+ years of intently observing, studying, harvesting, cultivating, eating, working with and utmost devotion to fungi!
Born and raised in CA, Ryath has deep familiarity and relationship with California ecologies. His focus in the field is oriented towards tasting and smelling almost every mushroom he finds, attempting identification, loving anatomy, photography and reciprocal harvesting practices. During the rainy season, you cannot keep him out of the forest!
Taylor is a certified CA naturalist and a curious prospector of ecological processes from the micro to the macro. In the field she focuses on fungal ecological roles, medicinal species, mycorrhizal dynamics, fungi’s role in ecological remediation/regeneration, community science engagement as well as edible species and other fun fungi with ethnomycological importance such as mushrooms for dying fabric and making art!
If you’d like to read more about us and our perspectives, check out our About page.
Questions?
Testimonials
“Taylor and Ryath lead a funtastic foray into the forest. They are obviously intelligent in their technical understandings of the mycelial world, all while they are also committed to being in good relationship with the forest, while they share, from their hearts, the deeper stories of the ecosystems that mycelium grow within, and how we are a part of that story. I would recommend any friend of mine, with any level of personal exposure to the vast forms of mycelium to take a mushroom walk with Taylor and Ryath, because they will have fun and learn something surprising to them. It's wonderful to have both Taylor and Ryath leading the walk, as each one could do it alone, yet by collaborating together they are able to offer so much more.”
- Eric Spiegel
"Deep appreciation, gratitude and respect for Taye & Ryath for being such top tier ambassadors of the mushroom culture and massively influencing all my networks with a lifetime of informational nutrients!"
- Chris Marcinkowski
“Taylor’s enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge knows no bounds—and both are contagious. 45 minutes in and I was intoxicated with forest-loving glee. That may be my nature, but absorbing the scientific nomenclature and categorization is not. And yet, it seemed to happen by osmosis! A skilled naturalist and guide, Taylor knows how to read the room just as well as the ecology. From timing, to topics, to team building, everything felt titillatingly seamless and organic. What’s more: the forest was treated expertly, respectfully, and left cleaner than how we found it. And we similarly left informed, happy, and renewed.”
- Anonymous
“Taye and Ryath's mushroom walks are incredible! These walks EASILY pay for themselves once you start applying the knowledge you gain. You'll come away at the end of the day feeling like you've discovered a whole new world of magic that's always existed right beneath your feet—and in front of your eyes. However much you think you know about mushrooms already, you will learn so much about not just identifying mushrooms but about knowing where and when to find them, how to love & cultivate them, and how to make healthful and delicious food from them with little to no effort. Worst-case scenario, you don't learn anything, but you get to hang out with some reaaaally cool people all day. 100% recommend, 100% life-changing.
- Nick Thayer
“A walk in the woods is great for the body, the mind and the soul. A walk in the woods with Taylor and Ryath is super duper great and then some. I learned so much from them on my mushroom walk, and my heart opened to a world that they have fallen deeply in love with; the world of our fungi kin, co-inhabitants and companions on of our living planet. After my first walk with them, two weeks later, I did it again! I’m looking forward with gleeful anticipation to my next walk in the woods with Taylor and Ryath. The deep love they have for this kingdom is matched by their encyclopedic knowledge. They will share that with you as you walk, talk, witness, taste, and enjoy what our mushroom kin have to offer.”
- Henry DeNicola
“Taylor was a brilliant guide to our first mushroom walk experience. She made us feel comfortable, grounded, and appreciative of all there was to take in. Her enthusiasm and knowledge about every mushroom we encountered were endless. We came back with more wonder and are eager to dive in deeper into the understanding of mushrooms!”
- Anonymous
“I attended a mushroom walk in Feb 2023 with these 2 sweet, personable and extremely knowledgable guides at Stewarts Point. I enjoyed every moment of it. They clearly explained the fungal diversity, ways to identify, how to locate certain species and I came away hungry to learn more. I appREISHIated the delicious warm beverage and the cooking demo at the end and valued the day I spent in the field. I came away with an even greater respect for these mighty magical mushroom kin and keep a lookout whenever I'm walking. It's important to remember to admire them and not forage every single time. People can get greedy and I really liked that this walk wasnt heavily focussed on foraging but more just admiring, respecting and identifying. Thank you Taye and Ryath and hope to join you again soon!”
- Ambreen Satia
“Walking on land that is protected and uncontaminated was extraordinary. Both presenters were very knowledgeable and inclusive and we felt held in their embrace and we are now part of a community of mushroom people. Hope they continue their journey with us.”
- Harriet Katz
“This walk was amazing! So much wonderful information. Taye & Ryath are both very knowledgeable and fun. We will definitely be doing this again next year!”
- Carie Krumme