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Well it’s not simple. You need to first figure out which types of mushrooms you are interested in picking, then you need to figure out which trees they grow with, then you need to figure out which forest zones in your area have those types of trees, then you need to visit those areas throughout the appropriate “season” for the mushrooms you are looking for (here in the pnw we have a fall and spring mushroom season both feature distinctly different types of mushrooms, in different areas, with different tree hosts) to see if there are actually mushrooms fruiting in that place at that time. It actually takes years to develop this knowledge and skill set but you should invest in a couple books to help you along your way: this and this. As far as actually seeing where to “dig” for porcinis, there will usually be a more mature specimen in the area that is protruding above the ground and serves as a “flag” to signal where to look for a patch (which isn’t always forthcoming). There will be bumps in the ground where the growing mushrooms are pushing up the surface and that is where you will find the primo specimens to harvest to eat. Hope that helps.
This will be good. If you have interest in this topic and famous Brits, you should read Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams (Author of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy).
He travels the world and experiences some of the most endangered animals and writes about them and the experience in the way that ONLY he can. (it was written in the late 80s, so some species he writes about are in fact now extinct)
A friend took me when I was a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed college kid. I took our findings to a mycologist on campus who spent 20 minutes describing proper browning-in-butter protocol. I was hooked- both on mushrooming and the goofy people involved. I already collect field identification books, so I have a shelf in my bookcase just for mushroom ID and foraging. Every time i go out i try to ID a new mushie. Anything im super lost on i take to a mycologist friend in town, or i email the prof at OSU (which is 30 minutes drive) and bug them with it.
I also have permits for personal collection of mushrooms in all the local national forests (most were free) and researched the county and state park rules for collection on their property. Gotta be responsible, yo.
I recommend picking up All That Rain Promises and More (link) and the unabridged Mushrooms Demystified link2 because i reference both a TON, The first one is waterproof, and David is a certified goofball.
Try reading, Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan. It will make you realize plants have been manipulating us. You'll never look at them the same again.
Not a new thing in my reality. I remember reading about the origins of corn in Charles Mann's "1491" book, where it is described to be very colorful
Regarding autism you can start here for example. For the wider aspect of what we lost when we broke up with nature I recommend the classic book Food of the gods by ethnobotanist Terence McKenna. The starting point is psychedelic plants but it's really a book about communication and dialogue between primitive humans and nature and how it influenced our intellectual and genetic evolution.
Have you guys ever read The World Without Us ? If I remember correctly, the Pyramids could last a million years, Mount Rushmore over 2 million. By far the oldest human structures.
You should read 1491 and America Before. Also there a numerous journal entries that have been published about the true history of Columbus and westward expansion.
Edit: words and formatting
Like the buildings are described in the book, The World Without Us but with people still living in the buildings. The moisture and the roots will get into the cracks in the concrete and tear the building's apart. This will be a shitshow.
https://www.amazon.com/All-That-Rain-Promises-More/dp/0898153883 And this is the west coast mushroom hunters’ bible. It has all the info you need to know which mushrooms to pick, and what time of year to look for them!
Buy this book. And the answer is yes, but it will take time.
Ecology of the Planted Aquarium: A Practical Manual and Scientific Treatise for the Home Aquarist
Imma shill this book in a parent comment as well because it deserves it. It questions and addresses a lot of misconceptions about the Americas before European contact - especially in regards to population size and levels of "advancement" of civilizations in the hemisphere. Also because I'm passionate about all things history related and in general, a nerd.
1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles Mann.
Probably my favorite book I read in college because it's genuinely interesting and written for a broad audience.
1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus is well regarded and very readable.
He also wrote a long-form essay on it for The Atlantic if you want a bit of the flavor before purchasing: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2002/03/1491/302445/
Since you have a love of plants, you might enjoy a low-tech, natural planted aquarium. Diana Walstad’s book <em>Ecology of the Planted Aquarium</em> is what got me into the hobby. This method appeals to me because it attempts to replicate the plants’ natural environment and avoids extra equipment, additives, and maintenance. It’s basically potted plants under water. In fact, she keeps some aquariums with plants in terracotta pots.
There’s definitely tradeoffs which Walstad points out in the book. Natural tanks aren’t going to look like pristine, untouched islands. There’s soil and decomposition involved but I think that’s it’s own kind of beauty.
One aspect of planted aquariums I find fascinating is how to deal with algae. Walstad details how to find plants to complement the ones you already have to create a balanced ecosystem that out-competes algae for the limited resources that all plants need. It gets quite nerdy if you want to go deeper. Most of the science and chemistry sections go over my head but it’s fascinating nonetheless. At it’s core, the book is full of practical, specific advice written for people who want to keep aquatic plants successfully.
Good luck! This is a fun hobby. 😄
This wouldn't surprise, they have the tech, but this pandemic is a hoax
A book called the Invisible Rainbow about the Spanish flu pandemic suggests it was caused by the new radio towers that were going up everywhere at the time. We're roughly 70% water, obviously radiation can have an adverse effect on us.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Invisible-Rainbow-History-Electricity-Life/dp/1645020096
From what I understand, there is a reasonable amount of evidence that there was a relatively large civilization living in the Amazon. 1491 talks about it.
The way of life that they must have lived was relatively different from what is described by /u/firedrops. For one thing, cutting down a tree with a stone axe is terribly difficult, and clearing an area large enough to farm takes far too long to be useful - you'd basically be spending all your time chopping down trees.
Instead, precolumbian Indians discovered how to make very productive soil and planted large orchards.
You could have a PhD...doesn't mean you know the health implications!
And many PhDs, make that the vast majority - have zero clue.
but try that...
https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Rainbow-History-Electricity-Life/dp/1645020096
Depends on what region you are in. For the one where I live this is the best book and for mushroom identification and general information if you are on the west coast, this is your bible
There are a couple of interesting books regarding the latest discoveries in the American continents:
1491 toches the population topic for example https://www.amazon.com/1491-Revelations-Americas-Before-Columbus/dp/1400032059
Are you experienced with Aquariums in general?
And what the heck is that lady's name that wrote the book decades ago about this? Dang, if I figure it out I will post back.
EDIT: Found it... https://www.amazon.com/Ecology-Planted-Aquarium-Diana-Walstad/dp/0967377366
Try your local library to see if they can locate a copy for you to borrow to see if it is something you would want to buy as a reference moving forward.
This book isn’t nano specific, but I keep a 3 gallons and a 10 gallon tank, and this book has been super helpful
I also really like the aquarium co-op website blog. I linked a specific article here about 5 gallon stocking ideas, but they pretty much always give solid advice about everything.
Beautiful! I hope you get it sorted out haha, I love blue dream shrimp. Also, I’ve found this book pretty helpful in dealing with my tiny 3 gallon planted tank, if you’re interested.
Good luck!
This might be a bit advanced for high school (depending on students of course), but its worth a read regardless. 1491 by Charles Mann. Here's an Atlantic article about it. Here's the Amazon link to his book.
The links in the reddit sidebar and Advancedplantedtank are free resources.
Diana Walstad's <em>Ecology of the Planted Aquarium</em> can be bought on amazon and is more textbook like.
I highly recommend 1491 by Charles C Mann. Ironically from Amazon.com for more info about pre-Columbian societies. He has a whole section on the Amazon and how the plants are purposefully selected, not completely wild as many assumed.
For anyone looking for literature on this particular subject (colonization's effects on the native population and what the Americas were like pre European contact), I highly recommend1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles Mann.
It's a great read, accessible, and very informative.
If you're interested in this, you may like the book <em>The World Without Us</em> by Alan Weisman. It looks at how long signs of our civilization would endure if all humans disappeared overnight.
If there is anyone who hasn't acquired any new information on Native Americans since high school (in particular, but it's universally useful and fascinating information) I super suggest you read about the people who use to dominate these continents - it's fucking awesome. 1491 by Charles Mann is a really broad and informative read that works great as an American Anthropology Sparknotes.
The older ones have read Mushroom Rain Promises. I flipped when I read it, and prescribed it. They geeked out, too. Then, naturally, the little kids to follow..
Excellent and engaging book! Even though, unfortunately, it's not for my region. The enthusiasm is contagious. And the reference to a bigger book are useful!
https://www.amazon.com/All-That-Rain-Promises-More/dp/0898153883