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Inspired by 4rum's oyster postings.


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I got out for a walk yesterday and inspired by 4rum's oyster postings decided to post a few of my own. By the way, I went to the local market and saw the oyster mushrooms were priced at $2.99 for a whopping 3.5 oz. the first are normal sized oyster mushrooms.

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The next are really large. The ones on the left of the log are 8 to10 in. My boots in the other photo are size 10.5 .

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I did harvest a few smaller ones off the log in the photo.

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Wow, some of those oysters are huge. As for morels, this being my first year mushroom hunting, I've been wondering if they grow here in eastern Massachusetts. I guess I'll find out in the spring. It's currently 19 degrees here so I'm giving the woods a break this weekend. Thanks for sharing.

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No telling when I'll have my annual morel dream during these next few months. Usually it's about some spot about a mile or so beyond an actual local landmark but existing only within my imagination, and I'm trying to find my way back.

My guess is that eastern MA is not a hotbed for morels, Sugaree. If you find an area with elm, then you may get lucky. But I think your best chances may be found in some old apple orchard. But beware, some of the large commercial orchards in eastern NA had used a dangerous pesticide --lead arsenate-- for many years. The practice was made illegal --I think during the 1960s-- but some old orchards are now badly polluted. I expect the problem also exists here in PA. My approach has been to test soil for lead... under the supposition that "if no lead then also no arsenic." (It's expensive to test soil for arsenic; needs to done in a lab.) I've tested 4 different orchards, each <= 4 acres. I have found no lead contamination in any of these small plots, adjuncts to larger dairy or corn farms. A study addressing this problem identified one large orchard in eastern upstate NY that had contaminated soil. Morels from such an orchard should not be eaten.

Sorry about relating this nightmare... but it's real.

Some other types of areas to look for are forests with large Tulip Poplar and/or White Ash. Also, some people collect eastern NA morels under White Pine or Sycamore. And you never know when you just might find a dozen or so growing in ornamental wood chips.

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Been wicked cold here. We're forecast a few days above freezing later this week and into the week end. I may venture out but don't expect to find much. It's been too cold too long.

Last few years morels have been in decline here. I found less than a dozen total last year. Seems to get less every year. I have picked bushels. We've only had one really good year in the last 15 or so.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I enjoy xx-skiing. It's good exercise and the sensation of gliding across the snow is enjoyable. I see a lot of different types of animal tracks. Mostly I go out to trails on state game lands, where I usually need to break trail. We've got about 18" on the ground up here and more snow is forecast for Sunday/Monday. This Saturday I plan to ski at a private pay-per facility that offers 25 miles of variably difficult groomed trails. I also maintain a small double-loop path on my 4 acre property for summer walks and winter skiing.

South of here, there's not a lot of interest in this activity. Where I live is just about far enough north.

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That's right, John. When I'm trudging up and down a ridge looking for those elusive Black Morels in April --the first good edibles of pretty much any year around here-- it's the snow in February that I can thank for that last half-mile or so. But "great shape" is a bit over the top :penguin:

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