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Mushroom Gathering
Mr. Ueda sets down his crate of fresh mushrooms. His bamboo collecting basket sits next to the crate. 99.10.20/ Temperature: 8C/ Weather: Rain
Start: Lake Shikotsu, Chitose /Latitude: 42 43 29 N /Longitude: 141 49 05 E
Destination: Nishikioka, Tomakomai/ Latitude: 42 37 07 N /Longitude: 141 30 09 E
Distance Traveled: 29.6 kmTraveling through the back roads of the Lake Shikotsu Toya National Park, I seldom came across another soul on this rainy October day. The only sign of others in this young forest was a few cars parked alongside the road and a few fall mushroom gathers.
I caught only a glimpse of two middle-aged men carrying plastic bags going into the forest. They are no doubt headed after the plentiful mushrooms that the forest bears. No attention was paid to me as I walked by, but the plastic bags they carried turned my thoughts to a man I met near Lake Shikaribetsu. I have spoken and seen many gatherers. None of them quite match-up to Mr. Ueda.
Mr. Ueda is a member of the Japan Fungi Association. Two large golf ball sized bear bells were attached to his vest. "The forest is full of mushrooms at this time of year," he told me while pulling out a large Styrofoam crate full of wild mushrooms. There were all kinds of mushrooms; fox mushrooms and golden mushrooms, not to mention all of the others that I wasn't quick enough to put down in my notes.
"There are a lot of mushroom gatherers out this year and they don't always know the proper way to gather. If you take mushrooms out by the roots, they are unlikely to grow again next year. Also, many people use plastic to collect. This prevents bacteria from falling off the mushroom onto the soil. With no bacteria, there is no way for mushrooms to grow." "Look at my basket," he told me while holding up his weaved bamboo basket. "Bacteria slides through the slots on the bottom and is spread around as you walk in the forest. This way mushrooms are sure to grow again next year."
This kind of foresight has taken care of the forests and its mushrooms here in Hokkaido for years. "Mushrooms are a giant link in the ecosystem of the forest," explained Mr. Ueda. "They help decompose organic material and create nutrients for the soil. A good forest will have lots of mushrooms," said Mr. Ueda.
Judging from the number of cars I saw parked on the roadside, the forest today must be fairly healthy. Unfortunately, if too many people carry all the mushrooms and leave behind no bacteria for next year, I worry what shall happen to this rich forest.
I think what Mr. Ueda was trying to communicate to me is that people know where to find mushrooms but many of them have yet to learn how to gather without too much impact on the environment. My encounters today are proof that there are some people unaware of how to gather mushrooms in harmony with nature. Also, minor as mushrooms may be, they are very important for the forest as well as for humans.
Little tricks like Mr. Ueda's basket, along with more awareness of the big role little mushrooms play may seem minor. It may be the compilation of all of these little things from which we will discover wisdom.
Are there any similar tricks in your region that help protect your forests?
Greg
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