Join Hidden Valley Nature Center (HVNC) and noted mushroom enthusiast David Spahr for an “Introduction to Mushroom Foraging” workshop at HVNC in Jefferson on Saturday, September 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mushrooms are revered in many other cultures for their medicinal and nutritional properties, as well as their essential and fascinating role in local ecologies. In the U.S. mushrooms are just beginning the get the widespread respect and attention they deserve.

David Spahr has been an active member in this transformation. He has collected countless amounts of wild mushrooms for restaurants across the state; he leads regular workshops about growing, identifying, and cooking mushrooms; and he is the author of "Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms of New England and Eastern Canada," available in many bookstores and libraries in Maine and online.

Participants will get an introduction to mushroom ecology and the basics of foraging during a short presentation. Following the presentation David will lead the group on a foray into HVNC’s forest on the hunt for local mushroom treasure. Past forays have turned up many noteworthy species, some edible, and some just really fascinating.

Pre-registration is required for this workshop and is available online at: http://hvnc.org/registration. Tuition is $45 for HVNC, PWA, SVCA, SWLA, and DLWA members; $55 for all others.

The preceding week, Saturday September 12, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. HVNC is hosting a “Gathering Basket Making Workshop” with Wanda Garland. Come and make the perfect basket for collecting wild mushrooms.

For more information about HVNC’s events, or to find out how you can support HVNC visit www.hvnc.org, write to info@hvnc.org, or call 207-200-8840.