SEMINAR/WORKSHOP – The fascinating world of fungi
Once overlooked, fungi are the exhilarating new poster organisms reconfiguring our understanding of the natural word and capturing the public imagination.
Although little known, the roots of almost every plant in the Australian landscape are intimately entwined with fungi. These clandestine relationships extend beyond trees to include every orchid and most shrubs and grasses. Symbioses are the secret to success in our highly variable climate and nutrient-deficient soils.
Fungi not only help plants access water and nutrients, but also increase their resistance to drought and disease. They build architecture in soils, aerate them, and allow water to gently percolate to deeper horizons. They offer a vital buffer against the effects of climate change. Despite this, ‘the third F’ slips through ideas about nature and conservation that focus on flora and fauna. Fungi not only contravene the frameworks we use to understand life, but also inspire the innovative thinking needed to navigate an uncertain future.
The workshop begins with the opportunity for participants to explore a specimen table of mushrooms and other fungus resources. This is followed by an illustrated and interactive seminar where Alison will share insights from over two decades spent in the field with fungi, both locally and across hemispheres. She will also share some of the first-hand stories – from the Australian desert to Iceland’s glaciers to America’s Cascade Mountains – experienced during the writing of her new book, Underground Lovers: Encounters with Fungi.
This is followed by a question and answer session and conversation and concludes with the opportunity for participants to purchase a signed copy of Alison’s books, The Allure of Fungi, Wild Mushrooming and Underground Lovers.
Further workshops can be viewed at this link.
FULLY BOOKED
DATE: THURSDAY 23 MARCH 2023
BALLARAT, VIC
TIME: 7pm – 9:30pm
COST: $20-
FULLY BOOKED