foraging Archives * The Hunter Gatherer Society

Hen of the woods mushroom (Grifola frondosa) growing in a large gray-brown rosette at the base of a tree

Hen of the Woods Identification Guide: Edibility, Lookalikes, Harvesting & Uses

Hen of the woods is one of those mushrooms that can make you stop in the middle of a fall walk and stare. At first glance, a large cluster looks almost like a pile of gray and brown leaves gathered around the base of a tree. Get closer, though, and the structure becomes much more interesting. Dozens of small, overlapping caps rise from one thick, branching base. Each cap looks like a little fan, spoon, or feather. Together, they form the ruffled shape that gives hen of the woods its name. The scientific name is Grifola frondosa. You may also know it as maitake, especially when you see cultivated versions in grocery stores or restaurants. For foragers, hen of the[…]

Lion’s mane mushroom growing on a hardwood tree with long white hanging teeth

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Identification Guide: Edibility, Lookalikes, Harvesting, and Complete Field Guide

September 10, 2026 rpolipnick Foraging, Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms

Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) is one of the most distinctive wild edible mushrooms you can find. Instead of a traditional cap and gills, a fresh lion’s mane looks like a white shaggy ball growing directly from wood, covered with long, soft teeth that hang downward like tiny icicles. For beginning mushroom foragers, that unusual structure is useful. Once mature enough to show its characteristic long teeth, lion’s mane has relatively few convincing lookalikes. The species most likely to be confused with it are other members of the genus Hericium, including comb tooth and bear’s head tooth mushrooms. Fortunately, these close relatives are also generally regarded as edible when young and fresh. That does not mean you should identify lion’s mane[…]

Common purslane identification showing fleshy green leaves, reddish stems, and yellow flowers

Purslane Identification Guide: Edibility, Uses, Harvesting, and Complete Field Guide

September 3, 2026 rpolipnick Foraging, Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms, Wild Edible Plants Foraging and Identification Guides

Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is one of those wild edible plants that can be hiding in plain sight. It grows low to the ground in gardens, disturbed soil, sidewalk cracks, farm fields, and other sunny places, where its thick leaves and reddish succulent stems are often dismissed as weeds. For foragers, purslane is much more interesting. The tender leaves and stems are edible raw or cooked, with a pleasantly tart, slightly salty flavor and a crisp, succulent texture. Purslane also has a long history as a food plant and is still eaten in many parts of the world. It can be an excellent beginner wild edible, but there is one particularly important identification lesson: learn to distinguish purslane from prostrate[…]

King bolete identification guide showing a mature Boletus edulis with a brown cap and thick reticulate stem

King Bolete Identification Guide: Edibility, Uses, Harvesting, and Complete Field Guide

August 27, 2026 rpolipnick Foraging, Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms, Wild Edible Mushrooms Foraging Guides

This king bolete identification guide explains how to recognize Boletus edulis and closely related North American porcini. It also covers habitat, lookalikes, harvesting, cooking, preservation, and safety. Because several mushrooms share the classic porcini shape, confirm the full combination of pores, stem netting, flesh color, staining, habitat, and maturity before eating one. Quick Answers Is king bolete edible?Yes. King bolete is a highly prized edible mushroom. However, cook it thoroughly before eating it. What is its scientific name?The traditional scientific name is Boletus edulis. In North America, however, “king bolete” and “porcini” may also refer to several closely related species. What does a king bolete look like?Look for a rounded brown cap, a thick pale stem, fine white netting near[…]

Basket of responsibly harvested wild mushrooms on a mossy forest floor

Responsible Mushroom Foraging: How to Harvest Wild Mushrooms Sustainably

August 20, 2026 rpolipnick Foraging, Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms

Finding a productive patch of wild mushrooms can turn an ordinary walk into a very good day. One moment you are wandering through the woods. The next, you are kneeling beside a flush of chanterelles, oyster mushrooms, boletes, or puffballs while mentally planning dinner. That excitement is part of mushroom foraging. However, a productive patch is more than an outdoor grocery shelf. It belongs to a larger fungal system connected to soil, trees, decaying wood, insects, wildlife, and the surrounding habitat. Responsible mushroom foraging means enjoying the harvest without damaging the conditions that helped create it. Harvest mushrooms responsibly. Take what you will use, protect the habitat, and leave enough for others to enjoy. Quick Answers About Responsible Mushroom Foraging[…]