Join Crop Swap Sydney and renowned sustainable practitioner Margaret Mossakowska as we return to the Pine Forests of Hampton for another very special wild mushroom foraging tour. In previous years, with perfect conditions, we have responsibly foraged for over 100kg of mushrooms between 25 people!
The most popular edible mushroom species growing near Sydney were introduced from the Northern Hemisphere, and colonised pine plantation forests in cooler areas, such as the highlands beyond the Blue Mountains. There are two varieties that we hope to find on the day, both of which are highly prized by chefs and are hard to buy. These are known as Red Pine Mushrooms (Saffron Milk Caps) and Slippery Jack.
Participants will meet at 10am at Hampton, 150km West of Sydney and travel as a group to the mushroom forests to begin our tour. During the morning you will learn how to recognise and pick wild edible mushrooms as well as run a safety check on the contents of your forage basket. Lunch will then be prepared using the fresh ingredients from our harvest.
In the early afternoon participate in a mushroom preserving mini-workshop which is a great opportunity to learn about drying, pickling and fermenting.
At the end of the day you will come back not only with what you have found, but also with confidence to safely recognise two varieties of edible mushrooms, and knowledge about how to preserve them.
A fact sheet and further instructions about what to bring on the day will be provided once your booking has been confirmed.
Children under 12 attend the tour free however we ask for a $5 contribution to lunch per child, payable on the day. There is also the option of travelling from Katoomba train station to the forest via mini bus. This is offered at cost for $30 per person and is payable after your booking. Please just email hello@cropswap.sydney if you are interested in this option
