It's April and time for hunting the elusive morel mushroom! Wildcrafting for the edible morel mushroom is exciting and can be like a sport of it's own. Mushroom hunters are known to keep their hunting grounds kept secret, not daring to disclose their coveted woodland territory.
Hunting morels is a great activity for spending time with family and getting the kids outside. My dad introduced to me morel mushroom hunting, and it's something we still do together each spring. It's addictive and the morels are pretty tasty fried up in butter. The past couple of years, I've even brought my oldest daughter who is now four years old. This not only gives us a chance to spend time together, but she gets to explore nature as we trek along deep into the woods. She found many places where fairies might live, an animal skull, and even an old abandoned truck. Of course her imagination soars with the possibilities that maybe a house and a family used to live there a long long time ago.
If you're new to morel mushroom hunting, I recommend a few basic tips before heading out with the kids:
1. Make sure to wear pants, and consider wearing long sleeved shirts. This will not only help to keep the bugs off your skin, but also protect your skin from getting poked and scratched by thorn bushes and tree limbs.
2. Don't wear your flip flops out into the woods, obviously. Boots or a sturdy pair of tennis shoes will do just fine.
3. Bug spray! Ticks are out as soon as the weather warms up, and they will be easy to pick up while mushroom hunting.
4. Bring a mesh bag, like those leftover from produce, to store your mushroom loot.
Once you have gathered your bounty, it's time to take them back to the house and prepare them in whichever method you prefer. We soak them in cold salt water before cooking, but people tend to argue about preparation methods, so you might want to research more on soaking and recipes. Here is a helpful link for cooking morels: https://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/morel-mushroom-hunting.html
Here is a link to more detailed information on hunting morels such as location, and mushroom safety: https://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/morel-mushroom-hunting.html
Happy Mushroom Hunting!
-Christy