To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Stacey Estabrook

Guide & Instructor at FLXMUSHROOMS

I'm Stacey Estabrook, the founder of FLXMUSHROOMS. I am a certified wild mushroom forager with many year's worth of knowledge and experience to share with you. I received my certification from Tradd Cotter at Mushroom Mountain. I teach classes that are designed to provide the hands-on education you need to begin safely foraging wild mushrooms.

FLXMUSHROOMS has new offerings this year!

In addition to my Top 10 edible mushrooms identification class, I'll be holding both public and private mushroom foraging excursions. I'll also be hosting inoculation workshops so you can grow your own mushrooms outdoors too. There are two different workshops, a garden mushroom workshop and a log inoculation workshop. *details below.

Mushroom identification classes begin on Saturday, April 27th, which is a little earlier than usual. This gives you more time to learn about these delicious mushrooms before the season begins. The schedule for April, May and June can be found in the drop-down menu. There will be more classes and workshops in July, August, Septer and October, that will be posted soon-ish. For those of you that received a gift certificate for a class this year, please email me to let me know when you would like to attend.

My Top 10 edible mushrooms class is as in-depth, in-person identification class. These mushrooms were chosen because they are safe, easy to identify, delicious and can be found reliably in our area. This class is designed to teach you everything you need to know about these mushrooms so that by the end of the class, you can feel comfortable collecting and eating them on your own. We begin with information about where you are legally allowed to forage, where to find mushrooms, sustainability and general safety.

About

We then cover mushroom anatomy and the steps of observation, including how to take a spore print. Next, we apply that observation process to the mushrooms we are learning to establish a complete identification for each mushroom. We also discuss where and when to find them, how to prepare and preserve them and go over any potential look-a-likes they may have. None of my Top 10 mushrooms have deadly look-alikes.

You’ll learn to identify my Top 10 mushrooms, plus their different varieties, and the most common poisonous mushrooms in our area.

The class is held indoors and presented in a slideshow format with lots of photos and a big packet of information to take home. You also will receive a link to the slide show for future reference.

The Top 10 mushrooms class lasts for 3.5 hours and is $125 per person. Chaga mushroom tea and light snacks are provided. No experience is required, and the class is open to anyone 16 or older. If the weather cooperates, there will be an optional mushroom walk after the class.

My Top 10 mushrooms are...

Morels (Morchella genus) 3 species
Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus genus) 3 species
Lion's Mane (Herecium genus) 3 species
Oyster Mushrooms (Plurotus genus) 5 species
Chanterelle mushrooms (cantharellus) 5 species
Black Trumpets (Craterellus cornucopioides)
Hen of the woods a.k.a. Maitake (Grifola frondose)
Hedgehogs (Hydenum repandum)
Pheasant’s Back a.k.a. Dryad’s Saddle (Polyporus squamosus)
Lobster Mushrooms (Hypomyces lacifluorum)

Let’s hunt mushrooms together!!

FLXMUSHROOMS will begin hosting public foraging excursions this September, during peak fall mushroom hunting season. I will take you on some of my favorite trails to look for mushrooms and other wild edibles while sharing my foraging knowledge with you. The location changes but most hikes will be within a 20-minute drive of Ithaca. Outings start at 9:30 am and end around noon. The difficulty level of the terrain varies but I aim for moderate and not difficult. Group size is limited to 10 people, so sign up early. Public forays will still be held if it is sprinkling but not if it is raining hard. If it’s rained out, refunds will be given, or you can come on a different day. No experience is required. Public forays are open to ages 10 and above.

Private foraging excursions are also available and can be customized to meet your needs, including the option for a picnic lunch. You can choose the general or specific location, the time and the hiking difficulty level. You can also direct the overall focus of the foray towards your interests such as nature photography, cooking with wild edibles, medicinal mushrooms and plants etc. All ages are welcome. This is an exciting and fun activity for families and groups of friends. Email me with any questions and to get more information at www.flxmushroom@gmail.com

Don’t miss out on a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of foraging for wild mushrooms under the supervision of a knowledgeable guide. Sign-ups for public forays will be posted here in July. Contact me anytime to arrange a private excursion.

During a Garden Mushroom workshop, participants learn how to make, and care for, a Wine Cap mushroom bed (Stropharia rugosoannulata). Wine Caps are also known as Garden Giants because they can grow quite large. They are similar to portabella mushrooms but with a red wine-colored cap. They are easy to grow and prolific producers. When cared for properly, they will spread throughout the garden and will continue to produce indefinitely. Wine Caps also improve the soil quality where they grow. Participants take home a 5# bag of Wine Cap spawn to start their own patch. The Garden Mushroom workshop lasts for approximately 1.5 hours and is $50 per person.

During a log inoculation workshop, participants learn about a wide variety of methods for growing their own mushrooms, both outdoors and indoors. During the workshop, you will inoculate your own log to take home. I provide the pre-cut/drilled logs and the spawn. The three types of mushrooms that I use for log inoculations are Oysters (3 varieties to choose from), Shiitake and Lion’s Mane mushrooms. They are all easy to grow and, when cared for properly, the logs will continue to produce for 6 years or more. You will also receive detailed care instructions for your mushroom log. The log inoculation workshop lasts for approximately 2- 2.5 hours and is $85 per person. *I usually have pre-inoculated logs for sale for $65, if anyone would like to purchase one.

If anyone has any questions or is interested in hosting a workshop, either public or private, please let me know.

I hope to see you in a class, workshop or in the woods this year!