Join us for a interesting evening on the topic of ‘Mushrooms – Wild & Wonderful’ with Julia Tchervova and John Caswell. Mushrooms are far more than just food. They are ecological engineers, chemical innovators, and one of the most misunderstood kingdoms of life. Let’s explore their hidden world together. John and Julia would like to share not only the art and science of mushroom foraging, but also the fascinating world of fungi — organisms that form vast “wood wide web” networks, support plant and animal life, produce powerful medicines, and even help restore damaged environments.
Julia’s journey into the world of mushrooms began when she was six years old, walking through the forests with her grandfather, who was an avid forager. What started as childhood curiosity grew into a lifelong passion for fungi — from identifying wild edible species to understanding the incredible underground networks that connect entire ecosystems.
When Julia met John, he expressed an interest in wild mushrooms. Julia began mentoring him, and he took the initiative getting a guidebook, venturing into the woods, and learning to confidently identify his findings. They both have a deep passion for the woods, and there’s nothing better than exploring the forest and discovering wild edible and medicinal mushrooms.
Since 2018, they started collecting mushrooms for sale and selling at numerous farmer’s markets. For 5 years now they lead practical classes – wild mushrooms foray, where they share their knowledge with their students on how to identify mushrooms, how to search for them, introducing the students to the unseeing world of fungi that is right under our feet.
Bring your questions and learn more about the wonderful world of fungi!
Also this evening starts the flower show season. All members are invited to bring in their garden treasures to wow the judge for the April Flower Show! All entries to be in place by 7pm for the start of judging.Doors open at 6:30pm.