Slow Mushrooming – An Ecological Approach to Foraging   Foraging for fungi is on the rise in Australia. The thrill of the ‘hunt’ is deeply instinctive offering the chance to discover old traditions, new terrains, and tasty fare. It is also controversial. Unlike in other countries, we have only scant knowledge of the edibility and toxicity of Australian fungi. This dearth of information brings with it both the risk of poisoning and environmental harm.   How can we develop an ethic and understanding around foraging in Australia that prioritises the protection of fungi and their habitats and minimises poisoning risk to foragers?   Slow mushrooming is a careful and considered approach to foraging that advocates learning fewer species thoroughly rather than many superficially. It encourages a deep understanding of ecosystem dynamics and the potential implications of foraging. It explores ways to unite conservation and foraging by examining Australia’s unique mycota and conservation initiatives informed by knowledge and foraging practices internationally.   In the presentation Alison will share her experiences of living across hemispheres, working alongside mycologists and ecologists, foragers and forayers, conservationists, traditional owners and others and the many different approaches to understanding and foraging for fungi.   This in exciting time where foragers and other mycophiles have the opportunity to shape the way foraging will unfold Downunder. In doing so, we have the possibility to avert the environmental, social and cultural issues that have arisen elsewhere in the world.     Alison Pouliot Bio Alison Pouliot is an ecologist, author and environmental photographer with a focus on fungi. She is active in Australian and international fungal conservation and her writing and images appear in both academic and popular literature (alisonpouliot.com). Her recent book The Allure of Fungi (CSIRO Publishing) poses fundamental questions about human-fungus liaisons. Her upcoming book co-authored with Tom May is the first guide to edible fungi in Australia and will be published in early 2021.   This event is a fundraiser for the Wild Fungi DNA project. Any donation is very much appreciated. The Zoom link will be sent out 15 minutes before the event. Please download and install Zoom before hand.

Just one cubic centimetre of soil can contain up to 1km of fungal hyphae! Soil fungi vary from root symbiotic, mycorrhizal types, to decomposers both playing essential roles in the soil food web. Not only do they ensure plant nutrition, immunity and soil health but also the sequestration of large amounts of atmospheric carbon into soils. Learn how we can work with soil fungi to regenerate our soils and ecosystems. Dr. Sandra Tuszynska is an agricultural scientist who specialises in soil microbiology with a special interest in fungi and their wondrous mycelium. During her PhD research, Sandra studied the cellular mechanisms of tree symbiotic root fungi and their ability to detoxify heavy metals. She has great respect for the power of fungi as nature’s feeders, regenerators, protectors and innovators. As a passionate public speaker and educator, Sandra hopes to inspire others to work with fungi and all the other super organisms which support life on Earth. All profits go to the Wild Fungi DNA project. Any donation is very much appreciated. The Zoom link will be sent out 15 minutes before the event. Please download and install Zoom before hand.

Exploring biofabricated materials made from fungi we will be taking a closer look at the performance and processing of mycelium and myco-leather based mycomaterials. Amanda Morglund is a fashion designer and founder of Mycelium Made. She creates fabrics using discarded textiles and mycelium through a process called Mycotailoring. Zoom links will be sent out 15 minutes before the event. Please download and install Zoom before hand. All profit goes to the citizen science project Wild Fungi DNA.

Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher has extensive experience as a field mycologist and ecologist, including researching the impact of fire on fungi. She is currently researching the endangered Tea Tree Fingers and working on Fungi4Land, a practical guide for land managers working with fungi. This event is a fundraiser for the non-profit projects Fungi4Land and the Wild Fungi DNA project. We are asking for a recommended donation of $25, however all donations are appreciated. Once you sign up you should receive a ticket. We will email out Zoom links the day of the event. Please download Zoom ahead of time. https://funfungiecology.com/fungi-for-land/ http://myco.org.au/wild-dna-project/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261411714_Fungi_and_fire_in_Australian_ecosystems_A_review_of_current_knowledge_management_implications_and_future_directions

Volunteers training workshop. Find out about MYCOmmunity and the Wild Fungi DNA project. There will be a talk about fungal ecology as well as training in hygeine to avoid spreading invasive species and training on how to record sigtings of fungi. 

Because so many fungi are symbiotic with plants, knowing how to identify near by trees is an important part of surveying and identifying mushrooms. This workshop will teach you the basics of plant identification focussing on Eucalyptus. Michael has worked in various  environmental management roles in Melbourne for the last 5 years – managing ecosystems and threatened species. He is currently teaching conservation land management at Melbourne Polytechnic covering field research, soils and restoration units. Michael has a keen interest in biodiversity relationships, one of those being, the relationship between fungi and plants. The proceeds of this events will go towards the Wild Fungi DNA project and the BioQuisitive community laboratory. http://myco.org.au/wild-dna-project/ https://www.bioquisitive.org.au The Zoom link will be sent out 15 minutes before the event starts. Please download and install Zoom before hand.

Peter is an amateur research engineer currently co-writing an academy research proposal on applied fungi in treatment wetlands whilst working for Kääpä Biotech - a super neat, 3 year old, "all-things-mushroom" startup based in southern-Finland. Peter met one of the co-founders in 2017 at a Finnish mushroom day event (or 'sienipäivä' in Finnish) where he first saw oyster-colonised toilet paper roles and oyster-colonised used cigarette butts. After just having quit his PhD, Peter was asked to come and do an internship at Kääpä on mushroom cultivation, production and research methods. The timing was opportune, but surely a sign from the mushroom gods?.. The company now works more and more on incorporating fungi into the Finnish agroforestry sector and other fungi-related R&D for the future, and Peter is eyes-open to what comes pops-up next in terms of mushrooms, while living with his partner in Finland, where the land is full of forest, berries ... and fungi!The presentation will touch on how to become a "mycological engineer" - an engineer that solves problems using fungi - with particular focus on applied fungal methods for potentially treating heavy metals in contaminated sites, recovering rare resources from waste streams, and improving the growth, functionality and performance of plants in agriculture, forestry and other phytotechnologies. As an amateur himself, Peter will briefly touch on the key steps required in identifying the problems at hand and seeking out the fungi in nature that can potentially help solve the problems. The journey's purpose in Peter's head is to help us get as as close as we can to a true bio-circular world. Where our industries and economies utilise the gifts of fungi and nature for the benefit of the whole. All profits go to support the Wild Fungi DNA project. Tickets will be sent out 15 minutes before the meeting starts. Please make sure you download and still zoom before hand.

Fungal mycelium has great potential as an sustainable and biodegradeable construction material. It also has potential to turn industrial and agricultural wastes into high value end products. Adjusting it's growing conditions can affect properties such as strength, heat and sound insulation and fire-resistance. This talk will discuss the different uses, properties and potential of myco-materials. Ema Corro is completing her honours at RMIT where she developed sound insulating materials made from fungi.  Tickets by donation, available here: http://tdy.cl/se/7s5Fhd0 Profits from this event go to the Wild Fungi DNA project.

Learn to divert waste and valuable resources from landfill by cultivating mushrooms with what you have at home. Amanda Morglund is a fashion designer and founder of Mycelium Made. She creates fabrics using discarded textiles and mycelium through a process called Mycotailoring. Zoom links will be sent out 15 minutes before the event. Please download and install Zoom before hand. All profit goes to the citizen science project Wild Fungi DNA.

Learn the basics of using fungi to preserve food with personal chef Natasha Vorogushin. Topics in this workshop include: kombucha, lacto-fermentation, brewing alcohol, fermenting garlic, sourdough starters and more... Zoom links will be sent out on the day. Please make sure you have downloaded and installed zoom before hand. All profits go to citizen science and conservation projects. http://myco.org.au/wild-dna-project/

The relationship between orchids and their mycorrhizal partners is generally accepted to be asymmetrical. All orchids require fungi for seed germination under natural conditions and in some orchids the dependence on fungi for nutrition persists throughout the orchid’s life cycle while the orchid mycorrhizal fungi derive no apparent benefit from the relationship. The role of fungi in orchid life cycles and the nature of the relationship between fungi and orchids raises broader questions about the role of fungi in ecosystems. About the speaker: Athulya Palliparambil is completing her honours studying the mycorrhizae of endangered Australian orchids at RMIT. Tickets are by donation. Proceeds go to citizen science and fungal conservation projects and all donations are appreciated. The Zoom link will be emailed out just before the talk. Please make sure you download Zoom before hand.

Delve into the fascinating world of Cordyceps with Melvin Xu, a mycologist researching Cordyceps at Melbourne University. Cordyceps are known for turning insects into zombies. But they also play an important role in the ecosystem and have a mysterious life-cycle often living as plant endophytes. They have also been used by humans in traditional medicine and as bio-control. Learn about their life-cycles, role in the environment, human uses and threats to their ecology. Tickets are by donation. Proceeds go to citizen science and fungal conservation projects and all donations are appreciated. The Zoom link will be emailed out just before the talk. Please make sure you download Zoom before hand.