Saturday, August 30, 2025
9am-3pm

Everyone is fascinated by wild mushrooms. From foraging and eating, to medicinal use and the use of psychedelics to improve creativity and address depression. The only thing standing in the way is acquiring the knowledge and confidence to tell the good mushrooms from those that can sicken you. The good news is that there are a handful of common, easily identified, great edibles or medicinals that can satisfy most peoples hunger for mushrooms. Maine is home to a number of world-class edible mushrooms easily found as you enjoy a walk through the woods and fields.

This day-long class, led by Mycologist Greg Marley, helps to build the basic knowledge needed to identify common mushrooms and to begin a lifetime of of wild mushrooming. The class will combine indoor lecture and outdoor experience in the forest to explore identification features, ecology and the seasonal occurrence of mushrooms. We will look at edible as well as common poisonous mushrooms and may end the day by cooking some of the mushrooms we find. Learn a few common edible and medicinal mushrooms and build skills to identify more.

In the morning, we will cover mushroom basics, identification features, guidelines for safe & responsible mushrooming, and their uses.  After a lunch break, we will take a guided walk in the Shaker Woods where we will be field learning and collecting.  We will gather back in the classroom to wrap up and maybe even cook up some of our finds!

Greg Marley has been collecting, studying, eating, growing and teaching mushrooms for over 50 years. He shares his knowledge of mushrooms through walks, talks and classes held across the New England and beyond. Marley authored the award-winning book Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares; The Love Lore and Mystic of Mushrooms, (Chelsea Green, 2010). As a volunteer mushroom identification consultant to Poison Centers across New England, he provides expertise in mushroom poisoning cases. He is a frequent lecturer to college groups and an occasional mushrooming foray faculty member. When not mushrooming, Marley works as a mental health clinician specializing in suicide prevention and response after a loss.

Minimum participants: 10
Maximum participants: 22

Did you know that current members of The Friends of the Shakers receive $5 off each workshop? Sign up or renew today to claim your discount!