Beginners Guide to Wild Mushroom Foraging - 2024

Have you ever wanted to learn how to forage for wild mushrooms? Where do you start? This video is for you! Aaron Hilliard, mycology educator, will take us through the things you'll need to know to get started.
Mushroom Wonderland covers a wide variety of topics around mushrooms. This particular episode is aimed at the beginner forager, naturalist, or whoever is curious about exploring the outdoor world.
Edible mushrooms can be intimidating to pick confidently for the dinner table, so let Aaron show you some tips and some of the mushrooms you can learn to forage for yourself.

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We will not accept any responsibility for negligence or accidental ingestion of poisonous mushrooms or plants. These videos are not intended to be a definitive field guide, but rather a starting point to become familiar with habitat, Everyone is encouraged to do their own studies, acquire literature or internet resources to safely and confidently identify wild foods before they eat them. When eating a new wild mushroom, it is advised to start with only a small amount, and make sure that it is fresh and that it is cooked thoroughly. Some mushrooms do not agree with certain individuals, and this is typically discovered on a case-by-case basis. Even the most edible of mushrooms contain compounds that can be tough for the human digestive tract to handle. Some “edible” species have small amounts of certain toxins that will easily break down with cooking. Fungi contains a molecule known as chitin that is the same thing that makes the exoskeleton of shellfish so hard, and cannot be broken down by the human digestive system, so it is another good reason to thoroughly cook mushrooms. All the ideas expressed in the comments should be taken with a large grain of salt. I don’t think there is any other field of study or science that has more misinformation being shared so freely and boldly. Mushroom Wonderland and Aaron himself have no opinion and neither encourage nor discourage the use of mushrooms containing mind-altering compounds. These mushrooms contain powerful chemicals and should be treated with a high level of responsibility. Any video topics on the habitat, natural distribution, and morphological features of psychoactive mushrooms portrayed on this channel are purely for scientific and educational purposes.

[Ashoffungi]

Aaron you inspired me to go to my closest state park and find mushrooms and it was so much fun!! Im not exactly sure what all i found but just looking out for them really does make every hike as exciting as a treasure hunt! Thank you for sharing your passion with those of us who want to learn!!!

[japanesemaplepruning]

This is my new favorite channel on all of YouTube

[natedizzy]

Truly an inspirational video for learning and appreciating mushrooms 🍄

[Sphicks]

SO accurate about the way in which you learn to be able to see them in the wild better. At first it was just happenstance and NOW I can fairly easily find those which I've found before. So interesting

[whoe_whate]

Thanks so much for getting me into mycology Aaron. It all started with videos like this! I hope this also inspires more people!

[jizzaymz]

Loving your videos!!! It's been a good year for foraging on my end (in Northeastern Ontario 🇨🇦) ✌🏼

[Gitgudm]

I've been following your channel for a long time and I think your production value has gone up by so much! Great vid!

[KokoraLife]

Thanks for taking the time to do a beginners video!

[kyuubi]

to clarify at 1:56 plants breath oxygen too and that is how they utilize the energy they produce from photosynthesis using co2.

[marthathompson]

I love this! Your content is so awesome and inspiring! I’m not even a fan of eating mushrooms, but I’m glued to your videos! Amazing! Thank you for your excellent education and presentation! Your images are fabulous, and you never waste my time! Thanks so much, Aaron!

[DrReginaldFinleySr]

Your energy is infectious, sir. I'm beginning to feel quite competent thanks to how your present this. Your experience as an educator is evident. Thanks again!!

[chrisnotyou]

The only thing you REALLY need to know is how to bruise them.
Just give em a little pinch and wait a few minutes if they turn black or dark blue. THOSE ARE THE REALLY GOOD MUSHROOMS!

[sherryjones]

Thank you for this a friend gave me some chanterelles and I was not sure but thanks to your video I am cooking the 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[lindsaybabcock]

You’re such a wonderful teacher, Aaron! Thank you for your fun and informative videos! 🙏

[EricTecce]

Wonderful guide! Will share to assist the educational expansion Mushrooms birth by their beautiful Being ❂

[lossixtiesevens]

Great fun and educational... Thank you so much 👊😁

[kaitlynshorett]

Great job on this video! Packed with so much helpful information for people just getting into foraging. Thank you! Keep up the amazing work.

[GeorgeLeshko]

Thank you for all the info you put out .. very helpful to me i love eating mushrooms and hunting for them great video

[BeckyDaniels-dbbc]

You are really helping me I've always been terrified of picking something that's going to kill me if I eat it thank you so very much for helping me I'm a very slow learner so I'm going to have to repeat watching your videos

[bouncerslabrealnature]

The delicious Maitake are on their way back to my kitchen. (Hens make life better.) Sasquatch is always watching 👁️ to make sure you don't harvest too many. 😳