We've been excitedly getting to know our land in Molise, Italy, by mostly observing, whilst we settle into our first year-cycle here. One of the areas we (
and I) are most enthusiastic about is mycology, and watching new fruiting bodies pop up unexpectedly through the changing seasons...
...And this pile of logs that we uncovered from beneath the brambles, is yielding one particular beauty, full of Turkey Tail mushrooms!! These are a powerfully medicinal funghi, and one that we are extremely pleased to have nearby to work with.
We were told by Raffaele who we bought the land from, that there are also truffels here, though we're yet to suss out where they are nestled in. And the cinghiali seem to have priority for them - they leave new snuffle-holes every day, where they're rooting up something or other. They don't seem the type of guys to miss a tartufo 🤗
We've found myriad 'jelly ear' mushrooms - aurecularia aurecula judae - which are on multiple nut trunks that have fallen and developed beautiful funghi crops on.
In fact, we're gathering large and small log piles around our property, allowing for these perfect microclimates to develop natural mushroom farms.
I have extensive experience with edible mushrooms from Scotland and England, but I've built up a slow, careful, respectful relationship with them here in Italy, where there is still a fabulous grounded relationship between local folks and foraging.
The mountains near my last home were big for porcini hunting, and I knew where to find parasols and amanitas for eating. But this new zone of high Molise is quite a contrast, and as we are right next to a quite wild and ancient woodland, we have multiple new mushrooms to identify and get familiar with. It will take at least a couple of years to know them well enough to use them confidently.
We've met elderly locals hunting nearby our land, who are giving us clues to which are best for eating, and are walking the woods at length in each season, to make sure we can see what's new.
This is the first time I'm exploring a fungo for its medicinal properties. Along with the Chaga, the Turkey Tails seem to be gaining in popularity amongst online communties, for their potent anti-myriad properties.
Vincent and I have been working with both homeopathy and a specific zeolite remedy by Masterpeace (which we may share more about in the future), but we're feeling more and more drawn to working with the plant life on our land and in our immediate area for our holistic wellbeing. There is much to learn through listening deeply, directly to the plant, animal, insect, fungo, and hearing their guidance or inspiration. I take a long time in building up this rapporto, which has its own pace and alchemy.
Looking forward to learning more and healing through Natural Law.
My contribution to FungiFriday by 
Many good wishes to all in this community, as we evolve our relationship with the amazing mycology of our world.
