🍄 Edible Mushrooms of the Piedmont: Foraging & Growing

One-Day Intensive Workshop

Hosted by Vine and Fig Tree Homestead

Course Overview

This one-day intensive workshop introduces participants to safe identification, ethical foraging, and beginner-friendly cultivation of edible mushrooms native to the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Participants will learn how to identify common edible species, recognize poisonous look-alikes, understand fungal ecology, and cultivate select mushrooms at home. The workshop combines classroom instruction, hands-on identification practice, and a guided foraging walk.

• Target Audience: Beginners, homesteaders, herbalists, outdoor enthusiasts

• Duration: 1 day (8 hours, including breaks)

• Format: Classroom learning, hands-on ID practice, guided foraging walk, cultivation demo

Schedule & Content Outline

9:00–9:30 AM - Welcome & Orientation

  • Introductions, safety review, fungal ecology basics.

  • Discussion

  • Understand workshop goals and safety expectations.

9:30–10:30 AM - Session 1: Mushroom Ecology & Identification Basics

  • Fungal biology, mushroom structures, spore prints, key ID features.

  • Lecture + Demo

  • Identify mushrooms using anatomy and ecological indicators.

10:30–11:30 AM - Session 2: Edible Mushrooms of the NC Piedmont

  • Common edible species: morels, chanterelles, oysters, lion’s mane, chicken of the woods.

  • Demo + Practice

  • Recognize local edible species and their habitats.

11:30 AM–12:15 PM - Session 3: Poisonous Mushrooms & Look-Alikes

  • Dangerous species: death cap, jack-o’-lantern, false morels; how to avoid mistakes.

  • Lecture + Visual ID

  • Differentiate edible species from toxic look-alikes.

12:15–1:00 PM - Lunch Break

  • Optional tasting of cultivated edible mushrooms.

  • Discussion

  • Explore flavor profiles and responsible harvesting.

1:00–2:30 PM - Session 4: Guided Foraging Walk

  • Habitat exploration, identifying live specimens, using field tools.

  • Hands-On Experience

  • Locate, identify, and document wild mushrooms safely.

2:30–3:30 PM - Session 5: Mushroom Cultivation for Beginners

  • Growing oysters and lion’s mane on logs, bags, and buckets; substrate prep.

  • Demo + Practice

  • Prepare and inoculate a take-home mushroom kit.

3:30–4:30 PM - Session 6: Harvesting, Storing & Using Mushrooms

  • Drying, freezing, cooking, medicinal uses; shelf life and safety guidelines.

  • Demo

  • Store and prepare mushrooms safely.

4:30–5:00 PM - Wrap Up

  • Review, Q&A, resource sharing, certificate distribution.

  • Discussion

  • Demonstrate readiness for safe foraging and cultivation.

Sustainability Integration

  • Foraging with minimal ecosystem impact
    Encouraging fungal biodiversity through log inoculation
    Reducing store-bought mushroom waste via home cultivation
    Teaching responsible, leave-no-trace practices

Materials Provided

• Printed mushroom ID charts and toxicity guides
• Samples of preserved mushrooms
• Spore print demonstration materials
• Mushroom cultivation starter kit (oyster or lion’s mane)
• Access to follow-up videos and growing guides

Participants Should Bring

• Notebook and pen
• Water bottle
• Weather-appropriate outdoor clothing
• Walking shoes or boots
• Optional: basket or mesh bag for specimens

Assessment & Certification

Criteria

Excellent (5 pts)

Good (3 pts)

Needs Improvement (1 pt)

Mushroom Identification

Confidently identifies edible species

Minor errors

Struggles with ID

Safety Awareness

Applies all safety rules and avoids risks

Occasional reminders

Needs supervision

Foraging Practices

Demonstrates ethical, sustainable harvesting

Inconsistent application

Needs reinforcement

Cultivation Technique

Accurately prepares/inoculates substrate

Minor errors

Needs assistance

Engagement

Participates actively during walk and demos

Moderately engaged

Minimal participation

Recommended Reading & Resources

• Mushrooms of the Southeast — Todd Elliott & Steven Stephenson
• The Complete Mushroom Hunter — Gary Lincoff
• NC State Extension: Fungi & Forest Resources
• Foraging-focused YouTube channels curated by the instructor

Post-Workshop Support

• Private online mushroom ID and growing community
• Monthly virtual Q&A sessions
• Optional advanced workshops on medicinal mushrooms and advanced cultivation


Vine and Fig Tree Homestead Workshop Series
Promoting Sustainable Living, Self-Reliance, and Community Learning.