WORKSHOP – Fungi & Soil Health

Workshop: Fungi and Soil Health

Relative to plants and animals, the diversity and significance of fungi is little known. Yet fungi are vital in creating and stabilising soils, nourishing and interconnecting plants, recycling nutrients, retaining and filtering water, restoring environmental damage and essentially underpinning ecosystem health and resilience.

This workshop introduces participants to the diversity of the Kingdom Fungi and the basic principles of fungus identification, including fungi from the various local habitat types and those from further afield. In addition to their ecological significance, we will also discuss various cultural aspects of fungi and their use in land restoration.

Following an interactive indoor session around the specimen table, we will then head to a local field site to search for fungi of interest.

Also be a part of an interactive soil pit discussion with Geoff Minchin, Local Land Services, including understanding and improving soil health.

Alison’s books, The Allure of Fungi, Wild Mushrooming, Underground Lovers and Funga Obscura will be available for purchase at the workshop.

This event is kindly sponsored by Bidgee West Landcare.

Further workshops can be viewed at this link.

FULLY BOOKED

DATE: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY 2025

LOCATION: Mawambul Training Centre, Nathan Cobb Dr, Estella NSW 2650

TIME: 10:00am–3pm

MORE INFO: Nicole Maher nmaher@mli.org.au

BOOKINGS

FORAY, DINNER & TALK – Fungus Discovery

Yea River Catchment Landcaremushroom, foray, heritage garden

Fungus Discovery Workshop – Field Foray and Interactive Seminar

Relative to plants and animals, the diversity and significance of fungi is little known. Yet fungi are vital in creating and stabilising soils, nourishing and interconnecting plants, recycling nutrients, retaining and filtering water, restoring environmental damage and underpinning ecosystem health and resilience.

The foray begins with an exciting field trip to local environments to search for fungus species of interest, followed by dinner and an evening interactive seminar that includes a specimen table of fungi to examine and explore.

Participants will be introduced to the diversity of the Kingdom Fungi and the basic principles of fungus identification, with the opportunity to handle and examine fungi from the various local habitat types and those from further afield.

In addition to the ecological and mycological aspects, we will also look at cultural aspects of fungi such as edibility and toxicity and their various utilitarian uses.

There will be ample opportunity for questions and conversations.

Alison’s books, The Allure of Fungi, Wild Mushrooming, Underground Lovers and Funga Obscura will be available for purchase at the workshop.

This event is kindly sponsored by Mitta2Murray Landcare Network.

Further workshops can be viewed at this link.

FULLY BOOKED

DATE: THURSDAY 15 MAY 2025

LOCATION: TALLANGATTA, NSW

TIME: 3PM–8PM

BOOKINGS: Simon Feillafe 0438 190 999 or sfeillafe@outlook.com

WORKSHOP – Reading the Fungal Landscape

Reading the Fungal Landscape Workshop

Relative to plants and animals, the diversity and significance of fungi is little known. Yet fungi are vital in creating and stabilising soils, nourishing and interconnecting plants, recycling nutrients, retaining and filtering water, restoring environmental damage and underpinning ecosystem health and resilience.

But even when fungi aren’t producing mushrooms, their ‘tracks and traces’ are present in the environment. We’ll examine various habitat types like old wood, living trees and soils to look for clues of the processes and functions performed by fungi in the environment. What do they tell us about tree and ecosystem health? Which are indicators of old growth? And how do fungi respond to fire, soil compaction and other environmental stresses? You’ll get to do the detective work to ‘read’ the environment through a fungal lens!

In addition to the ecological and mycological aspects, we will also look at cultural aspects of fungi such as edibility and toxicity and their various utilitarian uses.

There will be ample opportunity for questions and conversations.

Alison’s books, The Allure of Fungi, Wild Mushrooming, Underground Lovers and Funga Obscura will be available for purchase at the workshop.

This event is kindly sponsored by Wooragee Landcare,

Wodonga Landcare, and Mid-ovens Landcare.

Further workshops can be viewed at this link.

FULLY BOOKED

DATE: SATURDAY 17 MAY 2025

LOCATION: Wooragee Hall & Community Centre, 1001 Beechworth-Wodonga Rd, Wooragee VIC 3747, Australia

TIME: 10AM–3PM

COST: $60

BOOKINGS

WORKSHOP – Slow Mushrooming

wooragee landcare

Slow Mushrooming: Mushroom Identification Workshop

Fungi are diverse, delicious and sometimes deadly. With interest in foraging for wild food on the rise, learning to accurately identify fungi reduces both poisoning risk to humans and harm to the environment.

Developing the skills to find fungi requires slowness, not speed. The workshop will focus on assisting participants to identify a few edible species thoroughly, rather than many superficially.

We will engage multiple senses to examine the major diagnostic features of edible fungi alongside their toxic lookalikes. We will also follow the principles of ‘ecological foraging’ – an approach based on care, conservation and an understanding of ecosystem dynamics.

Following an interactive indoor identification session around a specimen table we will then head to the field to search for fungi.

This workshop is of value to those who want to learn to identify any fungi, not just edible species.

Please note that although we won’t be collecting fungi during the foray, as we may be in areas where collecting is forbidden, you’ll get to learn many skills for finding and identifying fungi and have a memorable foray!

Participants are welcome to bring fungus specimens to the workshop for identification.

There will be ample opportunity for questions and conversations.

Alison’s books, The Allure of Fungi, Wild Mushrooming, Underground Lovers and Funga Obscura will be available for purchase at the workshop.

This event is kindly sponsored by Wooragee Landcare

Further workshops can be viewed at this link.

BOOKINGS

FULLY BOOKED BUT JOIN WAIT LIST ABOVE

DATE: SUNDAY 18 MAY 2025

LOCATION: Wooragee Hall & Community Centre, 1001 Beechworth-Wodonga Rd, Wooragee VIC 3747, Australia

TIME: 10AM–3PM

COST: $60-

BOOKINGS

BOOK LAUNCH – Funga Obscura

daylesford

Book Launch: Funga Obscura

Alison’s latest book is about fungi, and the photography of fungi.

The title – Funga Obscura – unites the two.

Beginning in elemental landscapes of ice and rock, the book traces the evolutionary path of fungi as enablers of life on land, and creators of soils and forests.

Crossing continents and ecosystems, we navigate lichen-covered landscapes, crawl in the fungal undergrowth, scale glacial extremes and duck between rainforest shadows.

Please join us at INK BOOKSHOP in Mansfield to celebrate the launch of her book and hear some stories of her adventures during the photographing and writing of the book.

Funga Obscura and Alison’s previous titles will be available for purchase.

For the full listing of further launches and events, please see here.

 

ALL WELCOME!

DATE: TUESDAY 20 MAY 2025

LOCATION: INK BOOKSHOP, 53 High St, Mansfield VIC 3722

TIME: 6PM – 7PM

ALL WELCOME!

 

LIGHT PROJECTION – Bioluminescence

BIOLUMINESCENCE LIGHT PROJECTION

Bioluminescence Light Projection launches the 2025 Festival of Fungi. This magical light projection takes you into the world of the Kingdom Fungi. Artistic fungal interpretations are projected onto the exterior of Euroa’s North Eastern Hotel and surrounding structures.

You’ll enjoy glimpses of the amazing subterranean lives of fungi and their symbiotic relationships with forest dwellers.

The light projection installation is produced by the Little Projector Company with artistic input from many local primary and secondary students.

The event is organised by Strathbogie Ranges Conservation and funded by a Victorian Landcare Grant.

There will also be food vans on site.

Event suitable for all ages & families welcome.

This event is free but please register HERE

You might also like to catch some video highlights from the last festival at this link. 2025 promises to be an equally magical festival. See you there!

Further workshops can be viewed at this link.

BOOKINGS

DATE: FRIDAY 23 MAY 2025

LOCATION: North Eastern Hotel, 2 De Boos Street Euroa, VIC 3666

TIME: 6PM – 9PM

COST: Free to attend but please book.

BOOKINGS

WORKSHOP – Fungus Discovery Workshop

FUNGUS DISCOVERY WORKSHOP & FORAY

As part of the fabulous STRATHBOGIE FESTIVAL OF FUNGI please join us again for this signature workshop to discover all things fungal.

Relative to plants and animals, the diversity and significance of fungi is little known. Yet fungi are vital in creating and stabilising soils, nourishing and interconnecting plants, recycling nutrients, retaining and filtering water, restoring environmental damage and essentially underpinning ecosystem health and resilience.

In this workshop you’ll be treated to a display of amazing fungi collected from the region and further afield and learn about the basic principles of fungus identification, their ecological significance, and cultural aspects  such as edibility and toxicity and their use in land restoration.

Following an interactive indoor session around the specimen table, we’ll then head to Mount Wombat on an exciting hunt for fungi.

You might also like to catch some video highlights from the last festival at this link. 2025 promises to be an equally magical festival. See you there!

Further workshops can be viewed at this link.

FULLY BOOKED

DATE: SATURDAY 24 MAY 2025

LOCATION: Strathbogie Memorial Hall, Main Street, Strathbogie, VIC

TIME: 10am – 2pm

COST: $28-

BOOKINGS

BOOK LAUNCH – Funga Obscura

Funga Obscura Book Launch

Alison’s new book, is both about fungi, and the photography of fungi. The title – Funga Obscura – unites the two.

Through her stories we’ll cross continents and ecosystems, navigate lichen-covered landscapes, crawl in the fungal undergrowth, scale glacial extremes and duck between rainforest shadows.

Alison will share some stories of her adventures during the photographing and writing of the book. You’ll also have the opportunity to purchase signed copies of Alison’s books, The Allure of Fungi, Wild Mushrooming, Underground Lovers and Funga Obscura.

This event if part of the Strathbogie Festival of Fungi.

You might like to catch some video highlights from the last festival at this link. 2025 promises to be an equally magical festival. See you there!

Further workshops can be viewed at this link.

FULLY BOOKED

DATE: SUNDAY 25 MAY 2025

LOCATION: U3A, 19 Kirkland Avenue, Euroa

TIME: 10am-11am

COST: Free to attend but please register

BOOKINGS

LUNCH & TALK – Cafe Champignon

MUSHROOM LUNCH & TALK

Café Champignon: Lunch, Talk & Conversation 

Following in the French tradition of Café Philosophique, Café Champignon brings the curiosities of the Kingdom Fungi into active conversation.

While enjoying a fabulous fungus-inspired lunch Alison will introduce us to the wonders of the Kingdom Fungi. She’ll share her experiences across hemispheres in pursuit of fungi and their followers.

We will also launch Alison’s new book, which is both about fungi, and the photography of fungi. The title – Funga Obscura – unites the two.

Through her stories we’ll cross continents and ecosystems, navigate lichen-covered landscapes, crawl in the fungal undergrowth, scale glacial extremes and duck between rainforest shadows.

You’ll also have the opportunity to purchase signed copies of Alison’s books, The Allure of Fungi, Wild Mushrooming, Underground Lovers and Funga Obscura.

This event if part of the Strathbogie Festival of Fungi. You might like to catch some video highlights from the last festival at this link. 2025 promises to be an equally magical festival. See you there!

Further workshops can be viewed at this link.

FULLY BOOKED

DATE: SUNDAY 25 MAY 2025

LOCATION: Northern Republic 17 Kirkland Avenue West, Euroa

TIME: 12 midday to 2:30pm

COST: $66.50, includes lunch, talk and conversation

BOOKINGS

WORKSHOP – Fungus Discovery Workshop

Fungus Discovery Workshop
What are all those fungi doing there in the landscape?

How do they help ecosystems function?

And which are delicious and which are deadly?

This workshop introduces participants to the diversity, ecology and curiosities of the Kingdom Fungi, specific to fungi found in the region but also within wider Australian and global contexts.

This workshop includes an interactive session on the basics of fungus identification, where participants will get to handle, examine and identify various fungi.

Participants will also learn to recognise the various diagnostic characteristics used to identify fungi in the field. Fungi will be discussed in regard to their ecological roles and also cultural aspects such as edibility and toxicity and the importance of fungi in biodiversity conservation.

We will then partake in an exciting foray through various local ecosystems to search for species of interest.

Participants are encouraged to bring along mushrooms for identification at the workshop.

Further workshops can be viewed at this link.

BOOKINGS

DATE: TUESDAY 27 MAY 2025

LOCATION: Whittlesea, VIC

TIME: 10:30am–2:30pm

BOOKINGS

 Free to attend but places are limited and bookings essential.