Get ready to level up your fungi knowledge with expert Christian Schwarz, co-author of Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast, back for a fungi-tastic evening! Last year’s Fungi Fundamentals event was so popular that we couldn’t cap it there. Christian returns to share his expertise and passion for Bay Area mushrooms in a brand-new session that’ll take you deeper into the fungi kingdom. You don’t need to watch Part I to enjoy Part II, but when you register for Part II, we’ll send you Part I, which focuses on the science of mushrooms, so you can explore more while you wait for Part II to premiere on Thursday, January 9!
This live, interactive event will cover everything you need to know about the Bay Area’s top mushrooms, from critical ID tips and look-alikes to flavor profiles and cooking ideas that will elevate your culinary game.
Here’s what this event has in spore for you:
- Interactive quiz to test your mushroom knowledge
- Live Q&A with Christian Schwarz, where you can ask your burning questions and get expert insights!
Topics we’ll cover for each mushroom species:
- Key identification features and close imposters to keep you from falling for fungal fakes.
- Habitat and seasonality to know when and where to find these woodland wonders.
- Flavor profile and brief cooking tips for adding umami to your meals.
Whether you’re an experienced forager or just mushroom-curious, this event is bound to be fungi-lightful. Don’t miss the chance to learn from one of the Bay Area’s top experts.
Register now for a live mushroom online event on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 7 PM (PST). Join us as we uncover the top 10 mushrooms of the Bay Area.
Christian Schwarz studied Ecology and Evolution at UC Santa Cruz, where his interest in the world of fungi became irrevocable – their seemingly endless forms (from the grotesque to the bizarre to the sublime) feed his curiosity. He is co-author of Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast, and now spends his time seeking, photographing, collecting, teaching about, and publishing research on the macrofungi of California and Arizona. He is the Collections Lead for the California Fungal Diversity Survey and is a research associate of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. He has also served on the IUCN Red List Working Group for North American Fungi, advocating for habitat conservation focused on fungi. He is passionate about biodiversity in general, and especially in the philosophy and practice of community science (especially through the use of iNaturalist).
