FFSC mushroom experts will be available throughout the fair to identify the mushrooms you’ve found. Bring yours, ideally stored in a paper bag rather than plastic. Paper allows fungi to "breathe" and keeps them fresher!
The habitat display area will present hundreds of mushroom species commonly found in the Santa Cruz/San Francisco/Monterey Bay area.
Visit the Kid's Room for mushroom activities such as clay sculpture, water colors, face painting, mushroom art and making mushroom dyed fabric. Peruse the fungus exploration area and look at spores through a microscope.
Schedule Of Events
Room 3 Talks:
No extra fee, no reservations. General Admission stamp still required.
9:30 am-10:30am - Noah Siegel
Adventures of a Mycohobo
Ever wonder what mushrooms occur in the jungles of tropical Africa and South America, or the dripping, moss covered Antarctic Beech forests of New Zealand, or across North America? We will take a photo safari of some of the places I have been working, and highlight my favorite mushrooms and ecosystems.
11:15 am-12:15pm - Christopher Hobbs, Ph.D.
Magic Mushroom Microdosing
Magic mushroom microdosing is gaining global attention, with growing scientific research and personal testimonials highlighting its benefits for cognitive health, brain plasticity, neurogenesis, and enhancing brain immune function. This talk will explore the emerging science and practical applications of microdosing, led by a speaker with 40 years of experience.
1:00 pm-2:00pm - Thea Chesney
Fungal Range Maps: How We Build Them and Why They Matter
Understanding where an organism lives, and why, is an essential part of understanding its life history and ecology, yet we have been lacking in data for the geographic distribution of many fungi in our rapidly changing world. We will discuss the historical and current state of knowledge, as well as recent efforts to improve these data and discoveries that are both helping and sometimes confounding our understanding of fungal species distribution.
2:45 pm-4:00pm - Chad Hyatt and Jeff Emery
A Mushroom Tasting with Wine Pairing:
Chef Chad Hyatt will demonstrate his cooking techniques and his creations will be paired with exquisite wines provided by vintner Jeff Emery of Santa Cruz Mountain Vinyard. There will be a small extra fee to cover the cost of ingredients. All ages are welcome, but you must be over 21 to taste the wine.
4:30 pm-5:30pm - Christian Schwarz
Two Years of the California Fungal Diversity Study: What Have We Learned?
Over the past two years, the CA FUNDIS organization has undertaken a remarkable effort to get to know the mushrooms of California more deeply. We’ll talk about the results of this effort by reviewing some of some of the discoveries made by this dedicated crew, and talk about how this non-profit organization has accomplished so much in such a short time. We’ll end by discussing how you can help support us, or even get involved directly. You’ll come away with a sneak peek at some cutting-edge knowledge about the mushrooms in our amazing state
Room 1 Talks:
No extra fee, no reservations. General Admission stamp still required.
10:00 am-11:00am - Alan Rockefeller
Decoding the Forest Floor: The Art of Mushroom Recognition
11:30 am-12:30pm - Bill Schoenbart
Medicinal Mushrooms – Traditional Usage and Modern Science
1:00 pm-2:00pm - Douglas Smith
Common Mushrooms of the San Francisco Bay Area
2:30 pm-3:30pm - Phil Carpenter
An Introduction to Mushroom Identification
4:00 pm-5:00pm - Kyle Garrone
Mushroom Cultivation
