Morel Mushrooms
(03-26-2009)
Call them mollymoochers, dry-land fish, sponges or haystacks, there is one thing that we all call them, great to eat! Nothing gets West Virginia residents as excited as the annual hunt for morel mushrooms. Men, women and children all enjoy going out and searching for this edible delight. Avid “shroomers” live a lifetime without giving away their favorite places to find them. Mushrooms and other fungi have an intriguing ecology, and are absolutely essential elements of a healthy ecosystem. West Virginia is truly a treasure trove of fungal delights.
This spring, between early-April and mid-May, take your family out on a mission to find morels. It is a great time to scout for turkeys and enjoy the beautiful springtime woods. The best places to find them are near apple, ash, pine, elm and poplar trees in moist hollows and creek bottoms. Remember to bring a basket or potato sack to carry the mushrooms in. The spores will fall out of the bottom so you can find them there next year. Never eat a mushroom without first identifying which species it is! Those who want to forage for edible mushrooms should learn the safe edibles one by one, either from an experienced mushroom hunter or by studying a mushroom field guide.
