4 ms·

I'll admit that I simply don't understand people's passion for foraging mushrooms. You walk around and find these things that taste good (with a slight risk of

I'll admit that I simply don't understand people's passion for foraging mushrooms. You walk around and find these things that taste good (with a slight risk of illness)... so, ok? I go to Whole Foods every week where I'm surrounded by thousands of amazing delicacies, more than I'll ever be able to sample, yet no one makes foraging at Whole Foods their hobby. Would love to hear from anyone who's passionate about mushrooms, to understand where it comes from.

cyberbanjo 5y ago
Foraging at Whole Foods is shoplifting and people do that.
halpert 5y ago
People like to enjoy nature in their own way. Some people like to rock climb, which is a very dangerous activity. Others like to forage mushrooms, which comes with its own danger.
throwawayboise 5y ago
I don't get it either. My wife's side of the family goes crazy about morels. They have secret hunting spots whose location is carefully protected. I've tried them, they just taste like .... mushrooms. I don't get the infatuation. Along with the risk of illness/death if you mistakenly pick the wrong one. I'll stick to cultivated mushrooms from the supermarket.
dkjaudyeqooe 5y ago
> with a slight risk of illness Unless you pick up very innocent looking Death Cap or Destroying Angel mushrooms, then it's certain death. The only danger in Wholefoods is to your wallet.
- postalrat 5y ago
  Seems like every year some people end up dying from some sort of mass food poisoning.
Guest19023892 5y ago
I have some older family friends that frequently go mushroom picking. I went with them one day and had a great time. We spent the afternoon walking through a beautiful forest enjoying the weather, bonding, and collecting mushrooms. We then went home and they cooked up a tasty meal with the mushrooms from the day. It reminded me of going out fishing with my father, where we'd spend the day on the lake just talking and tossing some lines in the water. Every once in a while we'd catch a fish, occasionally there would be some excitement and we'd catch a large or unusual fish, and then we'd go home and fry them up for the family. Sure, we could have went to the grocery store and bought a few fillets, but that was never the point of the day out in the first place.
- ycIsGarbage 5y ago
  Did you ever catch a fish that was toxic, and eating it killed someone?
  - Guest19023892 5y ago
    You're right, the fish are safer to eat. However, I know a relative that died ice fishing and a friend of my fathers that died in a boating accident. Being on the water comes with its own set of risks.
  - vidarh 5y ago
    I've never picked a toxic mushroom. So while it's a risk one should be aware of, and you should know how to do it right, it's not that dangerous if you follow the safety advice. Just like most people don't get killed by sharks or fall of anboat.and drown when going fishing.
vinnymac 5y ago
I got into it from hiking. I enjoy the outdoors, and eventually discovered some mushrooms when I was younger. Over the years, I began to become familiar with the differences, and more courageous with what I was willing to explore with them. I imagine most become fascinated with them because of how different they are from other food, and how they can be a rare and interesting find.
SoylentYellow 5y ago
If you like hiking in the woods, hunting for morels is challenging but also a lot of fun.
kragen 5y ago
Hobbies need to have the right amount of challenge and surprise, and usually also be intrinsically pleasant, though that is less important. Shopping at a grocery store generally has none of those things. Mushroom hunting has all of them, at least if you don't get poisoned. (I haven't been in many years, but I remember it as the real-life experience most similar to playing Minetest, only more beautiful.)
vidarh 5y ago
Most of these mushrooms are never found in Whole Foods and many are rarely found in markets. Lots of people do like "foraging" in shops or markets, but it's an entirely different experience, and limit yourself to one and there are many things you'll never get to taste.

cyberbanjo 5y ago

Foraging at Whole Foods is shoplifting and people do that.

halpert 5y ago

People like to enjoy nature in their own way. Some people like to rock climb, which is a very dangerous activity. Others like to forage mushrooms, which comes with its own danger.

throwawayboise 5y ago

I don't get it either. My wife's side of the family goes crazy about morels. They have secret hunting spots whose location is carefully protected. I've tried them, they just taste like .... mushrooms. I don't get the infatuation. Along with the risk of illness/death if you mistakenly pick the wrong one. I'll stick to cultivated mushrooms from the supermarket.

dkjaudyeqooe 5y ago

> with a slight risk of illness Unless you pick up very innocent looking Death Cap or Destroying Angel mushrooms, then it's certain death. The only danger in Wholefoods is to your wallet.

postalrat 5y ago
Seems like every year some people end up dying from some sort of mass food poisoning.

Guest19023892 5y ago

I have some older family friends that frequently go mushroom picking. I went with them one day and had a great time. We spent the afternoon walking through a beautiful forest enjoying the weather, bonding, and collecting mushrooms. We then went home and they cooked up a tasty meal with the mushrooms from the day. It reminded me of going out fishing with my father, where we'd spend the day on the lake just talking and tossing some lines in the water. Every once in a while we'd catch a fish, occasionally there would be some excitement and we'd catch a large or unusual fish, and then we'd go home and fry them up for the family. Sure, we could have went to the grocery store and bought a few fillets, but that was never the point of the day out in the first place.

ycIsGarbage 5y ago
Did you ever catch a fish that was toxic, and eating it killed someone?
- Guest19023892 5y ago
  You're right, the fish are safer to eat. However, I know a relative that died ice fishing and a friend of my fathers that died in a boating accident. Being on the water comes with its own set of risks.
- vidarh 5y ago
  I've never picked a toxic mushroom. So while it's a risk one should be aware of, and you should know how to do it right, it's not that dangerous if you follow the safety advice. Just like most people don't get killed by sharks or fall of anboat.and drown when going fishing.

vinnymac 5y ago

I got into it from hiking. I enjoy the outdoors, and eventually discovered some mushrooms when I was younger. Over the years, I began to become familiar with the differences, and more courageous with what I was willing to explore with them. I imagine most become fascinated with them because of how different they are from other food, and how they can be a rare and interesting find.

SoylentYellow 5y ago

If you like hiking in the woods, hunting for morels is challenging but also a lot of fun.

kragen 5y ago

Hobbies need to have the right amount of challenge and surprise, and usually also be intrinsically pleasant, though that is less important. Shopping at a grocery store generally has none of those things. Mushroom hunting has all of them, at least if you don't get poisoned. (I haven't been in many years, but I remember it as the real-life experience most similar to playing Minetest, only more beautiful.)

vidarh 5y ago

Most of these mushrooms are never found in Whole Foods and many are rarely found in markets. Lots of people do like "foraging" in shops or markets, but it's an entirely different experience, and limit yourself to one and there are many things you'll never get to taste.