Screening of Fantastic Fungi

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:

https://youtu.be/bxABOiay6oA

When?  

November 17th

Where?

Cinecenta, University of Victoria, Student Union Building.

Time?

10:00 AM

Tickets? 

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.

Price?

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.”

SVIMS Mushroom Show 2019

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.

 

Ringmaster Andrew directs the three ring extravaganza
Hundreds of mushrooms laid out, labeled, and awaiting hundreds of visitors
Calendar woman Mary Jane and Secretary Gillian woman offer guests two bargains: SVIMS membership and the SVIMS calendar
David shows a showstopper: Sandie's King Bolete
Oluna and her friendly smile work the table where guests bring in their mushrooms for identification.
A table of crafts for the younger guests
Vice president Mel and President of Vice Sinclair field questions about edible and toxic mushrooms
President Andy responds to questions from one of the hundreds of guests
Duane Sept sells and signs his books, including the popular Common Mushrooms of the Northwest
Among the vendors and display, a wonderful sampling of mushroom-dyed fibres
John and Renata explain about non-gilled mushrooms
Richard answers deep and complex mycological queries, such as "Can I eat it?"
Four crowded talks at the show; people are lined up 5 deep outside the hall to hear Andy's talk on the Death Cap mushroom
A visitor shows off the best mushroom t-shirt of the day

Some of the mushrooms on display.

The main display room: a noisy, crowded, joyful, educational place.

Cowichan Lake Foray 2019

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:

IMG_20191026_193838
IMG_20191026_205003
IMG_20191026_203014
IMG_20191026_184306
IMG_20191026_184242
IMG_20191026_184216
IMG_20191026_184016
IMG_20191026_183951
IMG_20191026_183946
IMG_20191026_183655
IMG_20191026_183100
IMG_20191026_183128
IMG_20191026_183153
IMG_20191026_183214
IMG_20191026_183224
IMG_20191026_183243
IMG_20191026_183426
IMG_20191026_183445
IMG_20191026_183458
IMG_20191026_183552
IMG_20191026_183040
IMG_20191026_182935
IMG_20191026_182915
IMG_20191026_182900

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.

Ringing the dinner bell

Finally, some candid pics from the event, courtesy of Kurt and Lise (click to enlarge).

Kurt pic 3
Kurt pic 4
Kurt pic 5
Lise pic 1
Lise pic 2
Lise pic 3
Kurt pic 1
Kurt pic 2
Cowichan foray displayed mushroom 2019 by Kurt Raeder
Cowichan foray displayed mushroom 2019 by Kurt Raeder 2

Juliet Pendray Talk — Thur, Sept 5, 2019

Fall is almost here. Time for another year of great SVIMS talks. To get us started, we have our own Juliet Pendray. She will be doing a presentation on lichens, our secret mushrooms. Come and be amazed at the versatility and variety of this compound life form.

Mushroom microscopy course postponed

Please note that the mushroom microscopy course with Oluna and Adolf Ceska for Sept 13-15 has been postponed until after the fall mushroom season. Further information at the regular SVIMS meetings. (This is not, by the way, the mushroom ID course mentioned in the previous post.)