Amanita Phalloides Photos Courtesy of the Mushroomobserver.Org

April 2016

SOMAFrom the Sonoma County Mycological AssociationNEWS

The Most Dangerous Mushroom By Cat Adams

Monthly Speaker for April Jackie Shay (See page 10)

Amanita phalloides Photos Courtesy of the mushroomobserver.org

NEED EMERGENCY MUSHROOM POISONING ID? After seeking medical attention, contact Darvin DeShazer for identification at (707) 829-0596. Email photos to: [email protected] and be sure to photograph all sides, cap and of the mushroom. Please do not send photos taken with older cell phones – the resolution is simply too poor to allow accurate identification.

Volume 28:8 Amanita phalloides

Photo Courtesy of the mushroomobserver.org The Most Dangerous Mushroom The death cap is spreading. It looks, smells, and tastes delicious. By Cat Adams he death cap mush- Eventually she’ll suffer from Meanwhile, the poison stealth- room likely kills and abdominal cramps, vomiting, ily destroys her liver. It binds poisons more peo- and severely dehydrating di- ple every year than arrhea. This delay means her Many people who anyT other mushroom. Now symptoms might not be associ- there finally appears to be ated with mushrooms, and she are poisoned claim an effective treatment—but may be diagnosed with a more the mushroom was few doctors know about it. benign illness like stomach flu. When someone eats To make matters worse, the most delicious Amanita phalloides, she typi- if the patient is somewhat hy- they’ve ever eaten. cally won’t experience symp- drated, her symptoms may toms for at least six and some- lessen and she will enter the to and disables an enzyme times as many as 24 hours. so-called honeymoon phase. responsible for making new

2 SOMA | APRIL 2016 proteins. Without this enzyme, rooms. In California, a number intact kidney function and cells can’t function, and liver of immigrants have confused was started on the drug failure results. Without prop- it with the edible paddy straw within 96 hours has lived. er, prompt treatment, the vic- mushroom Volvariella volva- To keep the amatoxins tim can experience rapid or- cea, which is harvested in Asia. from causing damage, a drug gan failure, coma, and death. Upon ingestion of death cap, would have to protect the liver A few mouthfuls of death about 60 percent of the ab- while the kidneys eliminated cap mushroom can kill. Many sorbed amatoxins travel direct- the poison. A nationwide clini- people who are poisoned claim ly to the liver. Both poisoned cal trial is testing a new treat- the mushroom was the most and healthy liver cells spit out ment for amatoxin poisoning: delicious they’ve ever eaten. amatoxins into bile, which is silibinin, a drug derived from Extremely adventurous mush- then concentrated in the gall the plant milk thistle, Silybum room connoisseurs have sup- bladder. After each meal, the posedly removed toxins from gall bladder releases bile into slightly poisonous mushrooms the gut, and the amatoxins Every patient who such as the fly agaric, Amanita travel with salts in the bile. At still had intact muscaria—the archetypal red the end of the small intestine, and white polka-dotted mush- most the bile gets reabsorbed kidney function room beloved by Nintendo back into the liver. Amatoxins and was started video game enthusiasts and re-enter the liver via the same nature artists. A complicated receptors as the bile salts, and on the drug with- boiling process is said to al- the poisoning cycle repeats. low the nutty-tasting mushroom The other 40 percent of in 96 hours has to be enjoyed with no harm. absorbed amatoxins initially lived. Despite folklore to the make a beeline to the kidneys, contrary, the death cap’s which serve as the blood-waste marianum. When administered deadliest toxins, called am- treatment center of the body. intravenously, the compound atoxins, cannot be removed Healthy kidneys can extract sits on and blocks the receptors this way. Amatoxins cannot be amatoxins from the blood and that bring amatoxin into the liv- destroyed by any convention- send them to the bladder—an er, thus corralling the amatox- al cooking method, including ability that is rare for liver poi- ins into the blood stream so the boiling or baking. Freezing or sons. Until the kidneys kick out kidneys can expel them faster. drying the mushrooms also every last bit of poison, amatox- S. Todd Mitchell of Dominican fails to remove any amount ins continue damaging the liv- Hospital in Santa Cruz, Calif., of amatoxin, instead preserv- er. The kidneys can continue to and his team have treated more ing it to wreak havoc later. function only if the victim stays than 60 patients suffering from The death cap doesn’t sufficiently hydrated. Without amatoxin poisonings. Every pa- taste remotely like death—many aggressive hydration, amatox- tient who still had intact kidney people who are poisoned claim ins poison the kidneys as well. function and was started on the the mushroom was the most After the kidneys fail, rapid or- drug within 96 hours of eating delicious they’ve ever eaten. gan failure is not far behind. mushrooms has lived. Only Its appearance doesn’t scream But if the patient still has liv- a few patients sought treat- deadly, either: In its early “but- er and kidney function, and ment later and did not survive. ton” stage, it closely resembles enough fluid to urinate - reg The research hasn’t been pub- immature edible white species, ularly, she can essentially lished yet—60 patients aren’t including the common field pass the still-intact amatox- enough to confirm that silibinin mushroom Agaricus campestris. ins out in urine, like the small- really is the liver savior it seems Full-size death cap is reminis- est, deadliest kidney stone. to be—but the researchers cent of other innocuous mush- Every patient who still had are confident. “When we pres-

3 SOMA | APRIL 2016 SOMA OFFICERS SOMA is an all-volunteer organization, to which many in- PRESIDENT dividuals offer their time and energy for the greater good. Jim Wheeler As we grow as a club, and seek to expand the informa- [email protected] tion and impact we have on the public, we have need VICE PRESIDENT for more help from more individuals with special skills. Rachel Zierdt Eduardo is one who has recently answered the call. We SOMAvicepresident welcome him, and appreciate his efforts, wholeheartedly. @SOMAmushrooms.org -- Chaz SECRETARY Gene Zierdt [email protected] TREASURER Introducing Eduardo Astudillo Judith Tye-Angell [email protected] One day- COMMITTEES & BOARDS when walking in EPICUREAN GROUP the Ferry Building in Chris Murray S.F., I came across [email protected] a small mushroom FORAYS shop where they Patrick Hamilton had all sorts of edi- [email protected] ble mushrooms and MEMBERSHIP mushroom growing George Riner kits. I was immedi- SOMAmembership @SOMAmushrooms.org ately fascinated by them. That evening MUSHROOM DYE COORDINATOR I bought my dinner SOMA Newsletter Designer Dorothy Beebee Eduardo Astudillo SOMAmushroomdyes there and a mush- @SOMAmushrooms.org room growing kit. SCHOLARSHIPS Ever since that day I have been intrigued by the Rachel Zierdt vast world of mushrooms. While trying to research mush- [email protected] rooms in the Bay Area I came across SOMA and soon SCIENTIFIC ADVISORS joined. Darvin DeShazer (707) 829-0596 I am a Visual Designer with a focus on UI/UX De- [email protected] sign. This is my last semester at the Academy of Art Uni- versity in S.F. and will be graduating with a BFA in Web Chris Kjeldsen, Ph.D. (707) 544-3091 Design & New Media in May 2016. [email protected] I learned about the volunteer position through the SOMA CAMP REGISTRAR newsletter and I more than happy to dedicate time to a Chris Murray cause that I believe in. I look forward in working with all of [email protected] you and will work hard to modernize all media for SOMA. SOMA NEWS EDITOR Thank you for the opportunity. Charles W. Thurston SOMA NEWSLETTER DESIGNER Eduardo Astudillo Eduardo Astudillo eduardoastudillo.com [email protected] SOMA WEB MASTER Martin Beebee [email protected] VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR OPEN POSITION [email protected]

4 SOMA | APRIL 2016 ent to FDA, it will be a slam atoxins: aggressive hydration. dunk for approval,” Mitchell Part of the challenge of says. “The drug has virtually recognizing the symptoms of no side effects, it’s very well amatoxin poisoning and prop- tolerated, and if used correct- erly treating it is that mushroom ly it’s awesomely effective.” poisonings are relatively rare. After ingesting amatoxins, “pa- The first time a physician treats tients go into early renal failure a patient for amatoxin poison- for two reasons,” Mitchell ex- ing, Mitchell explains, is like- plains. “One, they just present ly to be her last. Doctors may so late that their kidneys have be encountering more cases already shut down. Or two, in the near future, however. more commonly, they’re just not The death cap mush- aggressively hydrated enough room is an invasive species from by the treating physicians.” Europe, now present on every Medical treatment often goes continent except Antarctica. It awry in the early stages of am- became such a world traveler atoxin poisoning. Poison con- because humans spread the trol centers generally recom- mushroom’s spores around like mend three main treatments, glitter at a kids’ glitter party. none of which is effective. Fungi such as the death cap First, activated charcoal is are ectomycorrhizal, mean- recommended to prevent poi- ing that they live symbiotically sons from being absorbed by on the roots of trees. The fun- the gastrointestinal tract and gus extends from the roots causing liver damage. This to form a network in the soil, works well for most poisonings, called a mycelium, which is but by the time a patient usu- much finer than tree roots. ally seeks medical assistance The mycelium can more easi- for amatoxins, the poison has ly reach nutrients like nitrogen traveled well past the GI tract. and phosphorous than the tree Similarly, centers often recom- can, and it trades these nutri- mend pumping the patient’s ents with the tree in exchange stomach, which is hard on the for sugars, which the tree body and does nothing to re- makes using photosynthesis. move the amatoxins damaging A mushroom is the the liver. Third, acetylcysteine lovechild of two sexually com- is often prescribed. It is very patible mycelia. Mushrooms effective at preventing liver in turn make tiny spores damage in acetaminophen that easily disperse and poisoning. But in amatoxin can grow into new mycelia. poisonings, it is completely in- A shift from partnering with effective, thins the blood un- a deciduous oak to a co- necessarily, and gives mislead- niferous pine tree is a very ing liver-function test results. large step for a fungus. These recommendations In the 19th century, peo- make the patient sicker while di- ple tried introducing their fa- verting attention from the most vorite trees to new continents. effective weapon against am- Photos Courtesy of the mushroomobserver.org continued Amanita phalloides

5 SOMA | APRIL 2016 Amanita phalloides

Seeds were planted but quickly Anne Pringle became Bruns dropped some not-so- died. Nothing seemed to help interested in the death cap as subtle hints that she should until someone had the bright a postdoctoral fellow studying investigate, such as leav- idea to bring seedlings in pots fungi at the University of Cal- ing drawings of a skull and with their native soil. The soil ifornia–Berkeley. (Disclosure: crossbones on her desk. worked like a charm. The trees She later became my graduate Pringle quickly learned that grew smashingly, but people adviser.) She was learning the scientists in the early 20th cen- didn’t know they had spread local mushrooms by collecting tury had been using descrip- fungal spores and other soil them in the small canyon be- tions to identify death cap that microbes along with the trees. hind her house. She brought were so broad they encom- A few researchers in the one sample to an adviser, Tom passed several other species. mid-20th century did notice Bruns, who identified it as Am- By sequencing the DNA of old, that some mushrooms seemed anita phalloides. He then hinted dried specimens in collections to have appeared in new areas, about an enticing rumor among across the country, she found but because they lacked a his- the amateur mycological com- that all specimens labeled be- torical baseline for fungal diver- munity that the death cap wasn’t fore 1938 were actually dif- sity, nothing could be proved. actually native to California. ferent species of Amanita. Most scientists simply assumed Pringle admitted the While other North American the death cap was native to both idea was interesting but didn’t mushrooms had long records Europe and the United States. think too much about it until in herbaria, the death cap

6 SOMA | APRIL 2016 made a sudden appearance I joined the Pringle lab. I am One thing that makes in 1938 and became increas- currently conducting a litera- this mushroom especial- ingly common after that year. ture review of research on Am- ly dangerous is that it com- Pringle also sequenced the anita phalloides and hope to monly grows among Agari- DNA of wild A. phalloides mush- eventually uncover the cellular cus campestris, the meadow rooms picked in the United mechanism by which the death mushroom, which it closely re- States and Europe. She found cap was able to switch hosts. sembles to the untrained eye. much less genetic variation in The death cap is now Even very experienced mush- U.S. mushrooms. That indicated widely distributed in the United room hunters aware of both that the species had started in States. Based on the weather the historical confusion and Europe and that the U.S. mush- patterns within its native range, the death cap’s resemblance rooms had undergone a “pop- it appears to have spread as far to edible fungi have been poi- ulation bottleneck” in which as tolerable conditions allow on soned by Amanita phalloides. a mere handful of individuals the East Coast. But there are still Because the mushroom is so had colonized the continent. areas in the Pacific Northwest deadly and can grow side by Why were most scien- and Canada that it should be side with edible species, one tists wrong about the death able to live in but where it hasn’t wrong mushroom picked in the cap? Prior to Pringle’s discov- yet been recorded. The mush- failing light can invite disaster. ery, known invasive fungi fell room is spreading in Ohio, and If you ever suspect you may exclusively into the category marching south into Mexico. be suffering from mushroom of plant or animal diseases, With this long history of poisoning, ask your doctor to such as the one that wiped out confusion about whether or not call Mitchell in Santa Cruz and the American chestnut. These the death cap is native, com- request to be enrolled in the fungi were ones we can usu- bined with the fact that it’s still milk thistle treatment study. ally see on the host, and they spreading, it’s not surprising He will ship silibinin to any- cause obvious symptoms. that people accidentally harvest one, anywhere in the world. The death cap can’t live with- and eat it. Similarly, it’s no won- And remember to stay out its tree host. In order to be- der that people intentionally eat hydrated if you want to live. come invasive, A. phalloides it: It’s large and meaty, it’s often underwent something incredi- plentiful, and it smells delicious. bly rare: a host shift. The fungus somehow switched from being able to grow only on Eu- Death cap is still moving ropean oak roots to growing on a completely different oak species, the California live oak. Not only was it able to colonize a new species of oak, but in the United States it has also been found to grow on native pines. A shift from partnering with a deciduous oak to canoodling with a coniferous pine tree is a very large step for a fungus. Pringle’s discovery shook up scientists’ ideas of what it means to be a symbiont. The death cap story intrigued me, and it is one of the reasons

7 SOMA | APRIL 2016 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

The Most Dangerous Mushroom 2 Catharine Adams

SOMA Voulnteer Board 9 Open Positions

Monthly Speaker: 10 Adventures in Madagascar Jakie Shay

City of Gold 11 Lee McCarthy-Smith

Recipe of the Month 12 Avocado-stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Foragers Report 13 Patrick Hamilton

Between Phaleolus and Fritillaria 14 Dorthy Beebee 15 Image of the Month 16 SOMA Anouncements 17 Community Composting James Johnson 18 Healdsburg School Science Fair Rachel Zierdt 19 Directions and Map 20 Myco Art of the Month

Credit SOMA staff photo

8 SOMA | APRIL 2016 VOLUNTEER BOARD

OPEN POSITIONS

SOMA Website Manager SOMA’s new website is being completed by an outside builder and the delivery date is not far away. We need someone with a bit of experience managing a website, including very basic HTML. Hopefully, the new site will be far more user friendly than the old one. Responsibilities would be to post new announcements, notices, photos, stories, etc., and coordinate with the Board for any membership tasks. Please contact Jim Wheeler at [email protected].

SOMA News Editor

We are seeking a new editor of the monthly newsletter to assist in all phases of material gathering and editing, layout and distribution. The position can be fulfilled from your home office, using your computer and phone, and our software, and would require approximately one day per month. The primary software is Word for documents, and In Design for layout. We currently use Excel and Mail Chimp for distribution, but are open to other methods/software. The website is currently being rebuilt, and hopefully will incorporate more automation for the newsletter production and distribution in the near future. The position would also be to contribute new ideas in coverage and/or channel distribution that will help spread our readership and drive new members for SOMA, wherever they may be located. If you are interested, please send an email to me, Chaz Thurston, at [email protected] stating your situation and any skills that would ease your learning curve.

SOMA Director of Communications We are also seeking candidates for a new position, director of communications, to work closely with the director of public relations and the board to enhance contact and information flow between club members, members of the board, prospective members, event participants, other clubs and the mycological world at large. The position requires someone comfortable with speak- ing to anyone or any group about almost anything, and the ability to electronically communicate through various channels. The position will likely be incorporated into the board composition, sooner or later, and would require about one day per month, apart from monthly board meetings. If you are interested, please send an email to Patrick Hamilton at [email protected], describing your experience, skills and ability to donate time.

9 SOMA | APRIL 2016 ADVENTURES IN MADAGASCAR

A Hunt for Marasmius “By Jakie Shay”

(Jackie Shay will speak at the next SOMA monthly meeting on Adventures in Madagasgar, at 7:00 at the Sonoma County Farm Bureau; see map below for orientation.)

“Adventures in Madagascar: Madagascar. In 2014, I spent A Hunt for Marasmius”I have the better part of January and spent the last four years un- February on my hands and der the tutelage of Dr. Dennis knees looking for the smallest Desjardin of San Francisco of mushrooms responsible State University’s Department for decomposing plant litter: of Biology. During that time, Marasmius. These beautiful I havehad the great fortune little fungi are essential in the of being introduced to the health and maintenance of rain wonderful world of fungi, and forest ecosystems, but little is it has led me on a series of known about their diversityand adventures that have inspired evolution from this part of the and motivated me to under- world. This is my mission, and Jakie Shay stand the evolution and ecol- I am excited to share these San Francisco State University ogy of fungi worldwide. For findings with you! Join me, Department of Biology my Master’s thesis, I started as I take you to Madagascar a Kickstarter campaign to and back,while diving into the raise awareness and funds taxonomy and phylogenetics to explore the exquisite trop- of this lovely genus of Basidio- ical paradise of the island of mycota.

Anyone wishing to submit stories, notices, photos, drawings or other content is welcome, and should address them to Editor Chaz Thurston at [email protected]. We print all the news and then some. Please direct any comments to the Editor.

10 SOMA | APRIL 2016 CITY OF GOLD

Discovering the world one mushroom at a time. By Lee McCarthy-Smith can also be a great way to connect with different people and learn more about them and their culture. At SOMA’s last foray, for example, we met a fam- ily from Russia that talked about how to pickle the short- stalked white Russula; Russu- la brevipes (in Russian called “sukhoy gruzhd”). They talked about how this mushroom is choice there, where they are from. Before meeting them, I didn’t know anyone ate Rus- sela brevipes and definitely never thought anyone would think they were “choice”. Ap- parently they can taste pretty good pickled. After talking to them, I not only now want to try eating pickled Russulas, I found myself wanting to be invited over to their house to learn how to pickle them. If you have a chance to eat in order to live. The movie With spring upon us, see the movie “City of Gold”, went on to talk about different the mushroom season in a Sundance Film festival types of restaurants and cul- Sonoma County is waning. movie, I highly recommend tures and how food bridges We have just one more SOMA it. The movie is about Pulitzer the cultural divides between foray this month, the final one Prize Winer, LA food critic us. for the season. Not only am Jonathan Gold. It does an What does this have to I looking forward to seeing excellent job conveying how, do with mushrooms? Mush- what mushrooms we find, I in a world where there are so rooms as a food is the same; look forward to the potluck many dividers, so many “us different cultures value differ- afterwards. To the amazing versus them” segregators, ent mushrooms and use them cuisine that a diverse group that food is a beautiful com- in their cuisine differently. of people who are interest- monality. Food after all is Trying different mushrooms, ed in mushrooms will bring. what makes us all the same; prepared in different ways Hope to see you there! we are human, we all need to can be fun and exciting, it

11 SOMA | APRIL 2016 Recipe of the Month Recipe from recipes.wikia.com

Avocado-stuffed Portobello Mushrooms INGREDIENTS | Serves 4 8 small or 4 large portobello Avocado-stuffed mushrooms 2 tbsp butter Portobello 2 leeks, sliced 1 garlic clove, pressed Mushrooms 2 large California avocados, peeled and chopped 1 tsp chopped fresh or dried rosemary 1 tbsp lime juice ¼ tsp salt 4 oz goat cheese 3 tbsp chopped walnuts 2 tbsp olive oil garnish: fresh rosemary sprigs

DIRECTIONS Remove brown gills from the under- sides of mushrooms using a spoon; discard gills. Remove stems, if necessary, and reserve for another use, if desired. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add leek and garlic, and saute until tender. Remove from heat, and cool. Stir together avocado and next 3 ingredients in a medium bowl; stir in leek mixture. Press goat cheese evenly into mushroom caps; top evenly with avocado mixture. Sprinkle with walnuts, and drizzle with olive oil. Place on rack in a broiler pan. Bake at 400 °F for 5 minutes; cover loosely with aluminum foil, and bake 5 more minutes. Serve immediately. Recipe and Photo: http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/Avocado-stuffed_Portobello_Mushrooms

12 SOMA | APRIL 2016 APRIL 2016 FORGERS REPORT

“Nice and Nicer (Or The Other Way Around?)” By Patrick Hamilton Lately a whole lot of Princes year drought strangled some have been found and/or late- mycelium? Sweet tooth have ly a whole lot of Princesses been sweetly arriving (and have been found. oh so very tasty). I’ve lost track of the way to But it’s just about time to tell the differences, appar- look east: “Go East young ently--or I don’t really care. man!” was a famous state- Reading the literature you ment made here near Cotati see real similarities and some years ago by a famous having them in hand you do morel merry maker. too. But rarely do you get I heard it myself. to have them both in your So let’s focus on the possession at the same time. mountains, check the soil I think. temperatures, look for in- But recently up and down dicator fungi, dogwoods the coast folks have been blooming, elderberry too, finding them (one or the and report back here next other) more this year than in month. my ever experience. I get For good looks at the emails asking me to help i.d. prince and princess see My- them from pics but unless koweb: you smell them and maybe http://www.mykoweb.com/ rub them too they are hard CAF/species/Agaricus_per- Amanita augusta to discern. For me. But they obscurus.html both taste real good. http://www.mykoweb.com/ Credit: Wikipedia Another oddity so far this CAF/species/Agaricus_au- long mushroom season is gustus.html Dimitar’s Yellow-Frocked Amanita (a.k.a. augusta) that - - p.s.: I capitalized “Prince” hasn’t yet stopped fruiting. and “Princess” in the first It’s been seen up at SPSP sentence just because I since the first fungi came up wanted to, for emphasis. and it continues. Very cool. I’ve never seen the true rule Still a very bad black about such for names of trumpet year. Same as for mushrooms--seen the every yellowfoot and belly button which way--so I sometimes hedgehogs. Maybe the four do and sometimes don’t. Recipe and Photo: http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/Avocado-stuffed_Portobello_Mushrooms

13 SOMA | APRIL 2016 CALENDER NOTICES & EVENTS

Between Phaeolus and Fritillaria From a Dyers Journal…..by Dorothy Beebee

This is the time of year think that those orange-gilled ecules, which in turn release a when I’m again torn again in Dermocybe actually may be 2 more brilliant color. I’m sure a two different botanical direc- different species – D. cinna- dye chemist could/would cor- tions – between Phaeolus and momea and D. malicoria. But rect owr elucidate this in more Fritillaria…… Julie brought in a until a few weeks ago, I had complete chemical terms... prime specimen of the former never had a chance to make But you know what? from the recent SOMA Foray any kind of detailed color No matter what “They” call a at Salt Point, and the latter drawings of them. One group mushroom, the dyes don’t lie! are sprouting their little pointy has bright orange gills when They either contain a certain leaves just down my road. A young – the other has yellow/ pigment(s) – (which reacts to solitary walk in February 2003 gold gills, so picking a few a certain mordant) or not, and in overcast Armstrong Woods really young ones with their that is what counts! To heck looking for “Trillium” and brilliantly colored gills, prefer- with the “names”!!! A dye “Calypso orchids”, revealed ably with the cortina intact, is mushroom is a dye mus- only one blooming “Redwood requisite for ID purposes. room, no matter by what Sorrel “ next to a brilliant red At first I thought that the name we mortals call it………. waxy mushroom, Hygrophorus yellow-gold gilled specimens punicicea… Wait a minute! Is were just immature stages of this article for the California the orange-gilled ones – but Native Plant Society or for the now every February over the Sonoma Mycological Associa- last 6 years. I have collected tion? You can see the dilem- enough young ones to note ma… that they do have distinctly And then, as if to fur- differently colored gills. The ther complicate my impend- dyes over these years from ing schizophrenia, I picked a both the yellow/gold-gilled small bucket full of little cin- ones and the orange-gilled namon colored orange-gilled mushrooms are consistent and Dermocybes growing in grass similar, year after year – a sort under Monterey Pine down at of “warm peachy-beige” using Patrick’s rancho in Cotati, to both alum and iron mordants. dry and save for SOMA Camp BUT, if ones adds a dollop next year! Usually there are of white vinegar to “acidify” lots of these little guys up in (changing the pH of the dye- time to use for the dye baths bath from “normal” 7pH down at SOMA Camp, but NOT to pH4), the colors turn toward this year – no, nary a one… brilliant, almost “neon orange” This is a “population” that I’ve in hue. My understanding is been picking and studying that adding the acid strips the for 6 years now. Darvin and I glucose from the pigment mol-

14 SOMA | APRIL 2016 CALENDER NOTICES & EVENTS IMAGE OF THE MONTH

Prince Agaricus augustus

Credit SOMA staff photo

15 SOMA | APRIL 2016 ANNOUNCEMENTS

Red Barn Show

“Secrets of the Forrest - Portraits of Wild Mushrooms”

Paintings by Lucy Martin April 4 - June 29, 2016 Red Barn Point Reyes National Seashore

Artist Reception Saturday April 9, 11am-4pm

Red Barn Point Reyes National Seashore

One Bear Valley Road Olema, CA In the Red Barn at the Entrance of the National Park Headquaters

Gallery Open by Appointment Call (415) 464-5125 for more information

16 SOMA | APRIL 2016 COMMUNITY COMPOSTING

The Ground Rules: A Manual to Reconnect Soil and Soul

Jacob Blecher, Brett Bloom, Martin Brown, Evon Izquier- do, Erik Newman, and Victoria Thurmond. Purchase at: http://socialecologies.net/tgrman- ual/ $13.68 for 1-4 copies Less for bulk orders. Social Ecologies

Written for any urban grower or inhabitant, The Ground Rules: A Manual to Connect Soil and Soul is both a document of The Ground Rules Excerpted by James Johnson process and a guide to community composting and DIY The Ground Rules: A There are four case studies soil remediation. As a practi- Manual to Reconnect Soil and from 4 Chicago neighbor- cal guide the manual is full of Soul is a newly published man- hoods. detailed information on how to ual on community compost- The manual would have bene- research a garden site, how ing. Based on the pioneering fited from one final proofread- to test your soil for toxins, and work of Nance (pronounced ing, but that will not distract how to heal the soil through Nancy) Klehm and many most users. phyto- and mycoremediation. others, the 72-page maga- Because public policy But it reaches beyond the how- zine-style manual is: on community composting var- to’s as well, to talk about the -- ecologically produced ies so much across the country, whys, with essays on restor- (newsprint) the authors wisely did not try to ative justice and deep map- -- well-organized include comprehensive infor- ping, and histories of the Chi- -- filled with the information mation on local policy. There cago neighborhoods in which that any neighborhood or com- is a useful chapter on working we work. Encouraging learning munity can follow to soil- and with the EPA from a community through observation, the manu- community-building success perspective. al asks at every juncture, “How -- visually attractive, well-de- The Ground Rules: A is your body connected to that signed with many photographs Manual to Reconnect Soil and which is underneath your feet and line-drawings of plants, in- Soul and supporting every step? spiring and practical language. By: Nance Klehm with

17 SOMA | APRIL 2016 HEALDSBURG SCIENCE FAIR

By Rachel Zierdt A blustery evening in early March found SOMA scholarship judges Jim Wheeler, Lee McCarthy Smith and Rachel Zierdt in the quaint town of Healds- burg to judge projects at the town’s science fair. Un- like the Sonoma County Fair which takes projects from 7-12 grade, Healdsburg tries to encourage every student to participate whether they are in Kindergarten or in any other grade up through 12th. Using our own scor- ing tools(at the county where named Ants Vs. Cucumbers. lin a 10th grader at Healds- they wanted us to use theirs) They had done some research burg High studied factors that we walked through the hall and discovered that certain might affect rates of fermenta- which contained only Nat- products repelled ants...cina- tion. For these two young men, ural Sciences. (There is an mmon, lemon juice, pepper- we decided, in lieu of a cash additional hall that contains mint, borax. Cucumber was award, to offer an opportuni- projects dealing with the perhaps a new arrival on that ty to attend a day at SOMA’s Physical Sciences.) Many of list. What we appreciated was mushroom camp in January. the projects were similar...... when they created the exper- The SOMA’s Board How to best sprout seeds?, iment and found that the as- also decided to offer $250 to What is the best liquid to wa- sumption was false, they didn’t the Healdsburg Science Fair ter plants?, How does music stop there. They continued on Foundation to help continue affect learning? They were investigating and trying per- their efforts in sponsoring sci- well done, physically ap- mutations of cucumber and ence fairs. pealing and based in sound other products listed above.... The upcoming job of the scientific practices. that demonstrated additional scholarship committee will be Amid these projects curiosity and use of problem reading and evaluating grad- we found a few with very solving techniques. uate level research. Those ap- unique ideas. One that we We also singled out two plications are due at the end chose to recognize was cre- other projects that related to of May. Thank you camp at- ated by two 8th grade boys studies of yeast. Jack Dippel, tendees for helping fund all of from Healdsburg School, a 7th grader at Healdsburg these awards. You help SOMA Rik Van Hoorn and Josephy School tested different yeast make a difference in the study Headley. Their project was powders and Ted Tomer- of science.

18 SOMA | APRIL 2016 DIRECTIONS & MAP

Your membership in the Sonoma County Mycological Association, or SOMA, is a great way to meet and interact with other mushroom enthusiasts. Head to http://somamushrooms.org/membership and sign up; the season is just beginning!

SOMA Monthly Meeting Directions & Map SOMA usually meets on the third Thursday of the month throughout the year (September through May), at the Sonoma County Farm Bureau , 970 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, California, 94931. Fungi are displayed at 7 PM, and speakers begin around 7:30 PM. Bring in your baffling fungi to be identified!

Directions to the Sonoma County Farm Bureau From the south: • Go north on Hwy 101 • Pass the Steel Lane exit then take the Bicentennial Way exit • Go over Hwy 101 (heading west) and then right on Range Ave • Turn left on Piner Rd. and go about 1/4 mile • Turn left into Farm Bureau parking lot at 970 Piner Road From the north: • Go south on Hwy 101 • Take the first Santa Rosa exit for Hopper Ave/ Mendocino Ave • Stay left on the frontage road (it becomes Cleveland Ave) • Turn right on Piner Rd. and go about 1/4 mile • Turn left into Farm Bureau parking lot at 970 Piner! Rd.

19 SOMA | APRIL 2016 MYCO ART OF THE MONTH

20 SOMA | APRIL 2016