SVIMS is interested in all aspects of mycology and mushroom appreciation. Our club meets September through May (except January) at 7:00 pm at the Pacific Forestry Centre. Visitors welcome.
LIst of previous speakers. Upcoming speakers:
Scroll down to see recent posts.
SVIMS is hosting the documentary “Fantastic Fungi.”
In this film, Gary Lincoff, Paul Stamets and many other mycologists and professionals share their wealth of knowledge and perspectives relating to fungi and our Mother Earth and everything on it.
The film trailer can be viewed at:
November 17th
Cinecenta, University of Victoria, Student Union Building.
10:00 AM
Online until November 16th, at:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/fantastic-fungi-tickets-79375555423
If not sold out, then 45 minutes prior to showing tickets will be sold at door of theatre. If you are planning to buy tickets at the door, contact Melanie Hess the morning of Nov 17 to see if tickets are available.
22$ + fees/tax.
“Fantastic Fungi takes us on an immersive journey into the magical earth beneath our feet: an underground network with the potential to heal and save our planet. Through the eyes of renowned scientists and mycologists like Paul Stamets, best-selling authors Michael Pollan, Eugenia Bone, Andrew Weil and others, we become aware of the beauty, intelligence and solutions the fungi kingdom offers us in response to some of our most pressing medical, therapeutic, and environmental challenges.When so many are struggling for connection, inspiration and hope, Fantastic Fungi brings us together as interconnected creators of our world. * Imagine an organism that feeds you, heals you, reveals secrets of the universe and could help save the planet. ‘Fantastic Fungi’ is a revelatory time-lapse journey, from 2019 Maui Film Festival Visionary Award honoree and director Louie Schwartzberg, about the magical, mysterious and medicinal world of fungi and their power to heal, sustain and contribute to the regeneration of life on Earth that began 3.5 billion years ago. Better yet, you’ll see it through the eyes of mycologists, like renowned Paul Stamets talking about the unlimited potential of fungi in the fields of food, medicine, expanding consciousness, bioremediation, neurogenesis and treating end-of-life anxiety. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
The SVIMS mushroom show took place on Sunday, November 3, at the Cordova Bay 55 Plus Centre. Another rolicking good time for visitors and SVIMS members. (Click on pictures to enlarge)
Over 600 visitors came by during the 6 hours of the show. You can see a short video report on CHEK news at this location (starts at 5:54). CHEK also has a written report with pictures.
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Some of the mushrooms on display.
The main display room: a noisy, crowded, joyful, educational place.
The SVIMS Cowichan Lake 2019 Foray was a wild celebration of fungi and friends. Forty people signed up for the whole weekend, many others joined the group on Saturday for the forays.
We stayed, as in previous years, at the Cowichan Research Station and Conference Centre.
Five different forays in the Cowichan Lake area yielded a bounty of mushrooms for the display table.
Morning mist over the lake:
A gallery of some of the more interesting and beautiful mushooms on the table. Click to scroll or enlarge.
In the evenings, participants gathered for a singfest. Instuments seem to appear out of nowhere. A fiddle, a mandolin, guitars, a harmonica.
SVIMS secretary Gillian Phillips wrote a song for the group called “Weekend Away Again in Amanitaville.” We sang it to the tune of “Wasting Away Again in Margaritaville.” Click on the lyrics above to see a larger image.
The gang enjoyed wonderful meals cooked by the kitchen staff.
Finally, some candid pics from the event, courtesy of Kurt and Lise (click to enlarge).
A very informative meeting with Dr Bérubé, talking about genetics in mycology, DNA sequencing, mammal fungal diets and emerging forest diseases. Also, there was quite the display of recently harvested fungi. Don’t forget about the Mushroom Show coming up soon in November.
The Cowichan Lake foray is a very educational weekend and a great way to get to know people in the club. For information and registration, scroll down on the Events menu above to Cowichan Foray.
We now have details of the time and place of the ID course to be held at UVic. It will take place in Hickman 116 from 8:30-5:20 each day. The closest parking is the Stadium parking lot (Lot 4), which is a bit of a walk. If you have a lot to carry, you could probably drop stuff off in the disabled parking spot to the north of Sedgewick Building. See the UVic map.
SVIMS Secretary David Walde has responded to all the confirmed registrants (30 of them) and to those who are on the wait list (25 of them) individually. He has also contacted all the mentors (9 of them) who will be assisting Shannon.
See the earlier post on this site for the schedule, homework, and what to bring. Any specimens (edibles or otherwise) that you can bring to the sessions would be much appreciated.
As cancellations happen, people on the wait list will be contacted, right up to the day before the classes on the 28th –29th September. If you are confirmed, and do have to cancel, please contact David Walde at davidwalde@icloud.com as soon as possible.
