Yogis,
Mycophobia. The fear of mushrooms. I am pretty sure I have had
a touch of this for most of my life.
Unlike the beautiful mushroom booths at today’s farmer’s markets,
growing up I only remember one basic type of mushroom that would try to sneak
into my food. The memory is of them being a nondescript grayish brown and
slimy. In a gravy. Sliced onto pizza. The consistency creepy in my mouth and
rare that they made it passed my tongue and down my throat. I disliked mushrooms
and couldn’t understand them.
Being advised not to touch them. Knocking them over if they grew with that poof
that sometimes erupts from who knows where. And somehow learning never, never
ever pick and eat them. Some might be ok, but others able to strike you down
with a quick and painful death. There are those that can literally change your
mind while in fairy tales the mushrooms never played a good role. And looking
like that, how can they be a friend?
As we sleep they push up through the soil from a dark unknown
place below, some reaching quite remarkable sizes. Others in shapes that remind
you of …….oh my. Then a few days or even
hours later they vanish. How can we possibly have a chance to get to know them?
The mysterious mushroom.
Over these last couple years however, the mushrooms around
me have been waving to get my attention. As a nature lover I decided it is finally
time to introduce myself and pay more attention. What I have discovered is fascinating.
A mushroom is the spore bearing fruit of the up to 5 million
different forms of fungi that live beneath our feet. Paul Stammets, a mycologist,
was a guest on a Joe Rogan podcast and explains how we, as well as all animals,
evolved from fungi and carry some of the same DNA. His mission is to bring fungi
and mushrooms to the forefront of research as potential cures for disease,
mental illness and even climate change.
I decided to take a mushroom walk to get better acquainted.
As Phoebe and I strolled I sent my attention to the ground and within a half
hour I easily saw 20 different types. Some tiny while others huge. Browns,
grays, yellow, red and even purple. Smooth ones, frilly ones, tall and short.
Standing alone or gathered in family groups. Each unique.
In this new journey I began recognizing an edible type named
‘Chicken of the Woods’ on my way to the creek. A beauty of various golds and
oranges she grows on fallen trees. I investigated further and found ideas for cooking.
I brought my bag, harvested a few, chopped them and sauteed with olive oil,
garlic and thyme. Now I haven’t eaten chicken in 30 years, but I do believe it
does indeed taste like chicken……although doesn’t everything? Quite yummy.
I realize now that mushrooms are not to be feared but do
deserve our deep respect. She has much to teach us.
I think my mycophobia may have been conquered.
Bowing to the mushroom,
SARAH
SARAH