Welcome
Welcome to the Mushroom Club of Georgia's website!
Purpose
The Mushroom Club of Georgia is an educational organization. Our purpose is to promote the enjoyment, study, and exchange of information about wild mushrooms. Everyone who has an interest in wild mushrooms is welcome to become a member.
To achieve our purpose we sponsor activities that include:
- Organized walks and forays to find wild mushrooms, led by knowledgeable Club members and/or expert mycologists.
- Regular programs and classes to teach scientific methods for identifying wild mushrooms.
- Recipe exchanges and special dinners to experience the culinary delights of cultivated mushrooms.
- Participation in programs to educate the public about the many aspects of mushrooms.
- Promote the cultivation of edible mushrooms.
History
The Mushroom Club of Georgia was organized in response to a growing interest in the unusual pastime of wild mushroom hunting. For many years, botany professor David Porter, Ph.D., (University of Georgia, Athens [now emeritus]) gave presentations throughout the region on the subject of wild mushrooms. As a result of his efforts and enthusiasm, by the late 1990's, many people began to show an interest in learning more about this long-neglected kingdom of living things.
Dr. Porter recognized the value of a mushroom club as a means to foster a safer environment in which to learn about wild mushrooms, as well as providing a venue for shared enjoyment and appreciation. Porter's November 2003 mushroom presentation at the Georgia Native Plant Society was the catalyst: when he called for someone to start such a club in the Atlanta area, Mary Woehrel stepped forward to begin discussions about establishing a mushroom club.
Mary Woehrel had recently moved to Atlanta from Pittsburgh, PA, where she had been a long-time leader of the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club. Her life-long study of mushrooms - coupled with her leadership in the Pennsylvania Club - and her position on the staff of the Atlanta Botanical Garden (where she serves as Manager of Volunteers) combined to position Mary as a credible and effective leader of a new club. Under Mary's leadership, the Mushroom Club of Georgia was founded in January 2004, and has since grown to more than 100 members