January 13-15, 2007
SOMA Camp was packed to the brim with mushroom forays, specimen tables, slide shows, workshops, and speakers. The list below is a sample of some of the many activities that SOMA Campers enjoyed.
Featured Speakers
This year's featured evening speakers were Gary Lincoff and Elio Schaechter.
Gary Lincoff photographing specimens. © Don Bryant.
Dr. Elio Schaechter inspecting the ID tables. © Don Bryant.
Feasting
The kitchen staff dressed to serve the Mexican Feast presented by the SOMA Culinary Group under the direction of MycoChef, Patrick Hamilton. © Don Bryant.
"The Cheese Dude," Mark Todd, presents his annual delicious array of choice cheeses at The Feast. © Don Bryant.
Food preparation with Jill Nussinow and Gene Broderick. © Darvin DeShazer.
dessert tamales served to the tables by Danielle Murray. © Don Bryant.
Activities
forays
Forays were held in the woods immediately surrounding the SOMA Camp, at other local foraging haunts, as well as north up the coast to Salt Point State Park and south to Tomales State Park and Pt. Reyes Nat'l Seashore. Though weather had been cold and dry for the several weeks before camp, a wide representation of local fungi was collected to be identified by Darvin DeShazer with the help of Mike Wood, Nathan Wilson, and other visiting mycologists.
Check out the 2007 species list »
Taking a close look. © Don Bryant.
What's that fragrance? © Don Bryant.
Searching for truffles. © Don Bryant.
mushroom ID tables
After forays, fungal finds were sorted onto individual paper plates for identification, discussion and explanation by the Camp Mycologists.
Camp Mycologists Mike Wood, Norm Andreasen, Darvin DeShazer. © Don Bryant.
Are they all candy caps? © Don Bryant.
Amanita phalloides. © Don Bryant.
Surveying fungi. © Mike Wood.
Mike Wood examining a specimen. © Don Bryant.
raffle
This was a raffle of mushroom "stuff", including many mushroom books, donated by SOMA members to help raise funds for the SOMA Scholarship Fund. The drawing held after the Sunday night dinner extravaganza raised almost $800!
Workshops
mushroom identification
During the day, Dr. Else Vellinga and John Lennie presented a lively class called "Mushrooms, Toadstools & Beyond the Basics," Dr. Mike Davis lectured on Russula species, Nathan Wilson explained the new Mushroom Observer website, its function, and how to submit photos, and Mia Maltz gave a lecture about "Myco-Remediation."
Dr. Else Vellinga and John Lennie. © Don Bryant.
Nathan Wilson. © Gary Lincoff.
Dr. Mike Davis. © Don Bryant.
cooking with mushrooms
The preparation of local forest edible fungi with methods that allowed the participants to appreciate the particular flavors of each, were demonstrated by SOMA chefs Patrick Hamilton (“Myco-chef”), Elissa Rubin-Mahon, and Jeanie and David Campbell.
Jeanne and David Campbell teach a class in cooking with Foray Fruits. © Don Bryant.
Jeanie Porcini shares some recipe secrets. © Gary Lincoff.
mushroom photography
Out on the Photography foray. . . .
Mushroom photographer. © Don Bryant.
Nathan Wilson shooting Hygrocybes. © Don Bryant.
mushroom dyes
A basic class was taught by Dorothy Beebee about making natural dyes with fresh and dried mushrooms, and the use of mordants to set the colors.
Advanced Mushroom dye class in mordant painting. © Darvin DeShazer
Mushroom-dyed yarn.
papermaking with polypores
A class with Catherine Wesley. Polypore mushrooms (shelf fungi) were used to create beautiful handmade paper.
other presentations
Lawrence Millman gave a lively and entertaining talk about "Making Fire with Fomes - Cree Indian Divination." © Mike Wood.
Chris Bailey, from Gourmet Mushrooms, spoke about mushroom cultivation. © Don Bryant.
In a lighter moment, Gary Lincoff and friends presented a play. © Don Bryant.