South Coast sees magnificent conditions for wild mushroom foraging
It’s been an especially good fall for wild mushroom foraging on B.C.’s South Coast.
Wet weather and warm temperatures have created "perfect" conditions, according to Bill Jones at Deerholme Farm in the Cowichan Valley.
Jones is also a chef, who cooks multi-course meals focussed around mushrooms. He’s been a self-described "fan of fungi" for a quarter century, writing four of his cookbooks about them. And he’s noticed that eating and harvesting them has grown in popularity in recent years.
“The pandemic was a huge part of it because people had to find ways to amuse themselves, and when you’re out foraging with a partner or someone in your inner circle it's pretty safe,” said Jones, who took a group foraging this past Saturday.
Not only are mushrooms tasty, some types — like the pine mushroom — have rumoured aphrodisiac properties. Many mushrooms are recognized for their health benefits — something increasingly being touted.
“There’s been a lot of evidence recently to show that mushrooms have properties for people in terms of health and wellness,” said Dr. Jasmine Janes, a professor at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo.
Despite all the mouth watering, tantalizing reasons to forage for mushrooms, experts say it’s critical to know what you're picking and eating, because some wild mushrooms can cause serious gastrointestinal illness, and others — notably the death cap mushroom -- can be fatal.
“Anyone interested in going out doing mushroom foraging should really get a couple identification books, (or) join a society or forum that helps people with identification,” said Janes.
Foraging season ends around the beginning of December on B.C.’s south coast.
So, for those who know what to look for, there’s a few more weeks left in this particularly prodigious mushroom season.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.