Logging your finds

A simple log turns random walks into learning. It also gives an expert what they need to help you.

What to record

• Date and weather. Note recent rain and temperature if you can.
• Location. General area and habitat. A GPS point is useful for your own records.
• Habitat details. Trees nearby, what the mushroom was growing on, whether it grew alone or in clusters.
• Features. Cap, underside, stem, base, flesh, smell, and spore print color. See Lesson 4.
• Photos. Top, side, underside, cut section, base and surroundings.
• What you decided, and who confirmed it. Write down the name you were told and who said it. Do not write “edible” next to a find you have not had confirmed in person.

Keep your spots private

Foraging locations are often precious, and sharing exact coordinates can lead to over-picking and trampling. When you share finds online, share an approximate area rather than an exact point, and take care not to include location data in photos. If you use a notes app or a spreadsheet, keep exact coordinates in a private place.

Review each season

At the end of the season, look back through your log. Which species did you see? Where and when? What did you get wrong, and what did an expert correct? This is how most foragers get good.

A find log with private spots and season stats is planned for this site. For now, any notebook or app works.