I knew I had faeries living in my garden!
At Eat Alberta last April, Robert Rogers spoke about The Top Ten Edible Plants within our city limits and I overheard one of his session participants on her way into lunch exclaiming that she had no idea that fairyring mushrooms were edible! What? Nor had I. Is it possible?
I asked Thea Moss who is a member of the Alberta Mycological Society and she just nodded matter-of-factly that most are edible, and she added, “And one of the most delicious varieties, too!” But, you do have to know what to look for. As always, with mushrooms. This is why I was so stunned. I had been taught, and believed, that most were poison and that I would die if I ate them. Actually, most are edible. It is the few deadly poisonous ones that one has to learn about. Truly, it is lack of knowledge that has kept me from harvesting the throngs that have been growing in our grass this year, until now.
We are still trying to rigorously rid our lawn of them, but in the meantime…. here is a small harvest.
The exceptionally long winter and wet summer has led to the worst infestation we have ever experienced. I am actually not nearly as upset about it now that I know mine are edible. They smell deeply delicious. The aroma is earthy and umami filled. My mouth was watering just taking the aroma in.
Thea explained the tests, but I actually took them over and showed them to her before I was sure I had edible mushrooms. The stem is fibrous and will not make a clean snap or break. It bends, and when you pull it apart to sever it, there will be fibrous strands coming from both parts of the break. The cap is not attached to the stem.
The underside of the cap has one long and one short “bit” pattern. You can possibly see that in the top broken cap below.
She said they dry beautifully, and they are fast. Here is the entire bowl of caps the day after.
I don’t care that it is such a little bit. I am thrilled with my new discovery. Knowledge is a beautiful thing and inspired me consistently to learn more. I am definitely going to be doing that. What fun!
Who knew? Personally, I think this is further evidence that faeries actually do live in my garden. 🙂
There is a mushroom event at the Devonian gardens in a week or so. I put up the link incase you are interested
🙂
http://www.ales.ualberta.ca/ALES%20Events/2011/08/WildMushroomExposition.aspx
Thank you, Kelly! Of course I am interested, as I am sure many of my readers are! I really appreciate it!
Thank you 🙂
Valerie
Maybe it’s the “architecture,” but there is something so fascinating about mushroom caps to me.
Lucky you for having all these mushrooms in your garden. Thay would make a delicious addition to many dishes.
What a wonderful discovery, from garden pests they have become hidden treasures in a matter of minutes. Thank goodness for the fairies.
Late in September I hope to go on a mushroom hunt in the Sicamous area. Seeking mihsrooms with experts seems like a fun way to spend a few hours to me!
Now I must gather the courage! I have mushrooms in my lawn so should check them out.
Oh! This is news to me too. I love mushrooms cooked any way. That is great to hear that these fairy ring mushrooms are edible. Although like you, I’d still want to check with someone that the mushrooms growing on my lawn are indeed edible – good call. I remember picking these as a child and playing with them pretending they were magic mushrooms. Teehee.
They are edible. However they do contain cyanide, so don’t eat too much 🙂
Thanks, Budd!
Isn’t it true that you would have to eat a whole lot for the amount in them to affect you?
🙂
V
Thanks for the response Val! Yes I imagine you would have to eat lots and lots. I just found a ton of them on a conservation site and ate a bunch, and have been digging around for hours in research papers and the like. Cyanide does interfere with cell oxygen absorption and increases the likelihood of health issues like heart attacks. However our body apparently processes the cyanide and expels it over time, so its really not a serious danger or anything, but a mycologist did tell me to moderate my intake of fairy ring mushrooms.
Hilarious! And great to know!
🙂
Valerie