On with the tour! We went in Rosaire’s car where he had a hot tisane waiting for me made from a blend of herbs and flowers he foraged, and we went out to his secret spots in the woods. Don’t ask me where they are. I wasn’t driving, and I probably wouldn’t tell you anyway.

He brought baskets, retractable knives and a paintbrush. We cut the mushrooms with the knives and peeled off the dirty parts of each one before adding it to the basket. The paintbrush is for brushing off any loose dirt. Rosaire likes to clean them as he collects them because otherwise it’s a really big job at the end.

Before I show you all the cool mushrooms we found, I want to clarify that I’m not an expert so please don’t go rummaging around in the woods collecting mushrooms without consulting an expert. Some poisonous varieties look a lot like edible varieties, but I’m sure you already knew that. I had a great time on my mushroom tour and I highly recommend that you hire an expert to get started. It’s absolutely worth it.

I hope I’ve encouraged you to learn about mushrooms, but please consult an expert. There might be a mycological society in your area that can help you. The Nova Scotia Mycological Society holds an annual Foray with workshops and tours. Follow them to find out when the next one is.