Linn County residents are invited to take part in a fun and educational program on safe mushroom foraging on Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 6–7:30 p.m. at 1770 Boyson Road, Hiawatha, Iowa, Room 900.

The session will be led by Gina Buelow, Natural Resources Field Specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, who will introduce participants to fungi, cover the basics of mushroom identification, and share tips on foraging safely and responsibly. Attendees will also learn about common seasonal edible mushrooms.

“It’s important to understand the tools and resources used to identify mushrooms, because the consequences of unsafe foraging and misidentification are severe,” Buelow said. “If you eat a poisonous mushroom, you could experience mild gastrointestinal symptoms, you could become seriously ill, or you could die, depending on the species, the amount of the mushroom you consumed and your overall health.”

This program is open to the public and welcomes participants of all ages. It is especially geared toward Iowans who are currently foraging or are curious about exploring the outdoors in new ways. The registration fee is $20 per person, each person will walk away with a Safe Mushroom Foraging Field Guide. Register today online at: https://go.iastate.edu/KRO6UJ or by calling 319-377-9839.

For more information, contact JD Otterbein at [email protected].

This program is not part of the Wild Mushroom Identification Certification, also operated by ISU Extension and Outreach, which is a needed credential to sell wild harvested mushrooms.

The fees for service will be used to offset direct expenses and to support the Agriculture and Natural Resources County Extension Program.