If you enjoyed our last zoom that focused on the key mushroom hunting skill of accessing and using precipitation data, this is the next part in the series of sharpening your skills. Join us on Wednesday, December 23rd at 6:30 p.m. to learn about mushroom preservation from Kristen and Trent Blizzard from Modern Forager. They will help us learn different methods for preparing and preserving the season's finds. While it is one thing to find all those delicious and delectable fungi, knowing your preservation methods and tools is key so you can enjoy and share them all year long.

Self proclaimed “modern foragers” Trent and Kristen Blizzard reside in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. They have been trekking the forests of Colorado, the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest for years mostly with wild, edible mushrooms in mind. At first a hobby, the hunt for mushrooms quickly became nothing short of an obsession for these two mycophiles, both of whom are certified Wild Mushroom Identification Experts in their home state of Colorado.

They are the authors of two books: Burn Morels: A Modern Forager's Guide to Finding Mushrooms and  Wild Mushrooms: A Cookbook and Foraging Guide. Whether you are a seasoned forager or new to the wild and wonderful word of edible forest fungi, their new book on Wild Mushroom has something for you! You will find a wealth of tips and tricks for harvesting each mushroom, along with general cooking techniques and preservation methods. They endeavor to explore not only a selection of delicious cuisine and new methods of cooking these wild edibles, but the question of how to preserve and enjoy your harvests all year long. The book is also a celebration of people they have met over the years.

 Regardless of what mushroom they are after or where they are searching, Trent and Kristen often have their two crazy doodles (Benzie and Lulu) helping out. They also employ a wide range of technologies that bring a modern twist to an ancient practice. As modern foragers, they utilize digital mapping, social media, GPS, phone apps, and even satellite internet while on the road. You will find them blogging about their adventures at modernforager.com.