VMS Meeting May 8 – Emma Harrower
The Usual: VanDusen, Floral Hall 5151 Oak St, Vancouver, BC, CanadaOur next meeting is May 8th, 7:30pm in the Floral Hall at VanDusen Botanical Garden. Emma Harrower will present "Long-distance Dispersal and Speciation in the Cortinarius violaceus Group". Emma is a recent PhD graduate from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Her interest in Cortinarius mushroom taxonomy began in Vancouver where she was fascinated by how many mushroom species there are, and how poorly understood they are. This talk willexamine the evolution and biogeography of a beautiful (and easy to identify) subgenus within Cortinarius.
Growing Oyster Mushrooms on Upcycled Materials
Italian Cultural Centre 3075 Slocan St, Vancouver, BC, CanadaOyster mushrooms are some of the quickest, easiest and most satisfying mushrooms to grow – and they aren’t picky eaters! In this hands-on workshop we will grow them on one or more types of agricultural or urban waste products, creating delicious, nutrient-dense food-medicine. Each participant will make their own fruiting kit to take home, capable of producing at least two flushes of mushrooms. Participants will learn the life cycle, medicinal properties, identifying features and natural habitat of oyster mushrooms, and how to care for their mushroom kit, ensuring continued harvests. There will be an explanation of how the spawn was made, to give a more complete picture of the cultivation process. The workshop will conclude with a tasting of sautéed oyster mushrooms. Info and Registration: https://italianculturalcentre.ca/blog/events/growing-oyster-mushrooms-on-upcycled-materials/
Herbarium Workshop at UBC
Beaty Biodiverstiy Museum 2212 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada“From field to fungarium: making collections that expand our knowledge”. This is a workshop being developed with Prof. Mary Berbee to review the purpose and achievements of great herbaria, and to go over the proper procedures for making collections of our local fungi for deposit and contribution to the Beaty Biodiversity Museum. It will likely be no cost, but space will be limited and there will be registration; it will be for VMS members only. If you are interested, please email info@vanmyco.com to get on the mailing list.
VMS June Meeting
The Usual: VanDusen, Floral Hall 5151 Oak St, Vancouver, BC, Canada
VMS Meeting June 12 – Mark Haden
The Usual: VanDusen, Floral Hall 5151 Oak St, Vancouver, BC, CanadaOur June 12th meeting is at 7:30pm in the Floral Hall at VanDusen Garden. Mark Haden will present "Psilocybin: Reflections of past and future research" and lead a discussion on the topic. Mark is Adjunct Professor at the UBC School of Public and Population Health and Executive Director of MAPS Canada (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies). He has provided public education on drugs and drug policy for over 20 years, and worked with such entities as the Justice Institute of BC, the Vancouver Police Department, and has been invited to speak all over the world. In 2013 he was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for drug policy reform work.
3 Week Undergraduate Field Mycology Course
Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre 100 Pachena Rd, Bamfield, BC, CanadaThe Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (located in Bamfield, British Columbia and owned by UVIC, UBC, SFU, UAlberta, and UCalgary) is proud to offer a new course: Field Mycology this summer from August 13 - 31, 2018. The course will be taught by Dr. John Klironomos (UBC Okanagan) Scholarships are available to undergraduate students who apply by March 1, 2018. More information including a course description and prerequisite information: http://www.bamfieldmsc.com/education/prospective-students/courses/detail/field-mycology Information on how to apply: http://www.bamfieldmsc.com/education/prospective-students/how-to-apply Please call or email Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre with any questions.
VMS Meeting September – Paul Kroeger
The Usual: VanDusen, Floral Hall 5151 Oak St, Vancouver, BC, CanadaPaul Kroeger will present on Common Mushrooms. Presentation starts at 7:30pm. Paul Kroeger has studied mushrooms for over thirty-five years and is a founding member of Vancouver Mycological Society. He is considered a leading expert in field identification of mushrooms of western Canada. Paul has made a special study of “little brown mushrooms” including magic mushrooms and their relatives. He has been involved in many projects and studies about diverse aspects of mushrooms, gaining knowledge about fungal biology and ecology, and biochemistry of toxic, hallucinogenic, medicinal and edible mushrooms. Years of experience create unique insights and understanding of fungal life-ways and interactions in temperate ecosystems.
Manning Park Foray 2018
Manning ParkThe VMS returns to Manning Park for our annual weekend foray! September 21-23, 2018. Join us for a weekend of guided mushroom walks, catered meals, expert presentations, and socializing with all your favourite mushroom nerds. Early-bird tickets are now available to VMS members: Food and Lodging ($150), Food-only ($100), and Kitchen Work-Trade ($75)
VMS Meeting October – Eric DeChaine
The Usual: VanDusen, Floral Hall 5151 Oak St, Vancouver, BC, CanadaEric DeChaine will visit us from Bellingham, Washington to present "The Promises and Pitfalls of Inventorying Fungi in Cascadia". DeChaine is interested in the evolution and biogeography of arctic-alpine plants and fungi. He studies the effects of historic and future climates on the distribution and diversity of these organisms with the goal of identifying processes underlying speciation and endemism around the North Pacific Rim.
Fungus Among Us Festival
Organized by the Whistler Naturalists, the Fungus Among Us Festival is a great event with lots to offer! Click here for more details and to buy tickets.