Hunting morels in the spring is a common tradition for many in our region, and a handful of other choice edible wild mushrooms are gaining in popularity. Few seem to be aware however that there are truly dozens of varieties of edible and/or medicinal mushrooms that grow throughout the year here in the Appalachian mountains. This talk will provide an overview, with some virtual show-and-tell, about hunting, identifying, and preparing some of the more common edible/medicinal species, with attention to potentially dangerous look-alikes.

All registrants will receive a zoom link to the event.

About the Presenter: Willie Dodson is a mushroom hunter and grower from Southwest Virginia, currently living in Johnson City, Tennessee. He first learned about identifying wild mushrooms from a neighbor while a student at Berea College in Kentucky. For his day job, Willie works as the Central Appalachian Field Coordinator for Appalachian Voices, where he focuses on environmental justice and ecological remediation in coal-mining areas, as well as efforts to secure healthcare funding for coal-miners with black lung disease.