Upcoming Events for October

May ~ June ~ July
August ~ September ~November

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October 3rd

15 tickets available.

Hen of the Woods

Hen of the Woods, also known as Maitake, is one of the largest wild edible mushrooms outside of the Giant Puffball. They can weigh up to several pounds and are quite easy to identify, looking like a large mass of fused caribou antlers. Highly prized in both the Culinary and Medicinal communities. They can be grilled like a steak or chopped into smaller pieces and added to pasta, soups, stews . . . OR . . . simply sautee them in garlic and butter. Hen of the Woods also contain chemicals that help fight tumors, stimulate the immune system, and lower blood sugar levels.

We will be searching for these as well as Honey Mushrooms, Gem Studded Puffballs, Pear Shaped Puffballs and more.

Start time: 10:30 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: Kitchener/Waterloo Area.
Please phone or email for exact location.
Cost: $35.00/person

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October 4th

15 tickets available.

Velvet Foot Mushrooms

These mushrooms begin to appear in late September and last right through the Winter until March. Velvet Foot (also known as Velvet Shank) evolve from a network of veins beneath the bark of dead hardwoods. They grow in clusters, have sticky caps and very active white spores. That stickiness dissipates in the cooking along with the spores. Velvet Foot make a wonderful addition to risotto and pasta dishes. One great advantage to the Velvet Foot is that they are so easy to dry and store. Simply leave them on the counter for a day or two until they turn black and store them in a Mason Jar. When you are ready to use them again just reconstitute them in water and Voila!.

We'll be foraging for these lovely fungi along with Wild Ginger, Day Lily Tubers, Wild Leek Bulbs and an assortment of other wild fungi in season.

Start time: 10:00 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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October 10th Forage and Feast
Hen of the Woods Bourguignon

16 tickets available.

We're in the early days of Autumn as those tree shadows seem just a bit longer while the rich green of the forest floor begins to fade. Nonetheless there are rich wild edibles to be found on trails only minutes from Stratford. Oyster Mushrooms, Puffballs, Boletes to name but a few. We'll collect these along with wild ginger, wild leek bulbs and watercress before returning to Stratford Tea Leaves where a hearty four course meal awaits us. The menu begins with Truffle Gouda from Mountain Oak Cheese accompanied with baskets of fresh baguettes from The Downie Street Bakehouse. A light wood sorrel soup is next on the agenda followed by the main course, Hen of the Woods Bourguignon served over mashed potatoes. Dessert will be provided by The Black Angus Bakery while beverages will include craft beer from Black Swan Brewery and wines from Niagara.

An Autumn afternoon can't get better than this.

Each participant will receive one Hen of the Woods mushroom
for their cooking pleasure.

Start time: 9:45 am
Where: Packham Sports Complex
Cost: $80 per person.

Tickets can be purchased through e-transfer or PayPal. For more information phone 519-271-3726 or email us at pucksplenty@gmail.com

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October 11th

15 tickets available.

The Lactarius

Lactarius Delicios is an Autumn mushroom that stands out on the forest floor only because of its colour. Orange! Highly prized in Polland these fungi will compliment any meal.

On another subject we've only just begun to scratch the surface (so to speak) on wild herbs but there are plenty that Mother Nature has to offer. Three herbs from the Mustard Family are on the agenda. Wild Watercress found in shallow creeks and streams, Marsh Yellowcress growing in damp foothill areas and Peppergrass along waste sites and roadsides. The deeper we go into Autumn Watercress becomes more peppery while Yellowcress and Peppergrass are milder but quite pleasant. All three can work wonders in various recipes including stuffing for your turkey.

Along with the Lactarius Mushroom and wild herbs we will be foraging for mushrooms such as Blewits, large tasty Lepistas as well as Pear Shaped and Gem Studded Puffballs.

Start time: 10:00 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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October 12th

15 tickets available.

The Blewit

Imagine you are a novice mushroom hunter and come across a mushroom that is strikingly blue. The first thought that comes to mind: "Keep walking." Ah, but that would be a mistake. For these radiant fungi are rated "choice" by National Audubon's Field Guide to Mushrooms. They are meaty, large and a plus to any meal. Thankfully we can find them right here in Stratford, many a time growing alongside such wonderful edibles as the Lactarius Deliciosus and, later in the Autumn, the Lepista Irina and the Fawn mushroom.

After our local search we will move on to trails only fiftenn minutes from town to collect Honey and Oyster Mushrooms along with wild edible plants and herbs.

Puck's Plenty Tours been rated as one of the top foraging adventures in the world by Marriott International and Travel and Leisure Magazine.

Join us and out why!

Start time: 10:00 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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October 17th

15 tickets available.

Shaggy Manes

Yet another choice mushroom, Shaggy Manes are found in fields, lawns and waste sites. This very delicate fungi does not last very long so you need to harvest them when young before they begin to turn black. We believe the best way to prepare them is sauteed gently in butter with a dash of garlic. We know it's a standard recipe but if it works it works!

Our harvest begins right here in Stratford where we will also collect other varieties of mushrooms such as Blewits, Lactarius and Velvet Foot. Then we move on to the Avon Trail fifteen minutes from town to search for Lepista Irina, Pear Shaped Puffballs and Fawn Mushrooms.

Find out why the number one newspaper from Down Under, The Australian, included Puck's Plenty in their article on wild food earlier this year.

Start time: 10:00 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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October 18th

15 tickets available.

Fall Oysters

Unlike its Summer counterpart the Fall Oyster is quite meaty and manages to cling to dead hardwood for weeks. These Oysters come in three colours, metalic grey, yellow/tan and, believe it or not, olive green. Because they arrive so late in the season they have no real invaders. No worms, no bugs. Another great mushroom for soups, stews and risotto. We find these growing in well shaded hardwood forests right here in Stratford and also on the Avon Trail. We will also be foraging for Wild Watercress and Wood Sorrel along with other mushrooms such as Velevet Foots, Fawns, Lepista Irinas and Gem Studded Puffballs.

Start time: 10:00 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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October 24th

6 tickets available.

The Fawn Mushroom

These lovelies are one of the most delicious and numerous mushrooms of late October and early November. You can find them mostly under Pines. They own a beautiful contrast of grey and white. About the size of button mushrooms The Fawns will literally cover a ground of pine needles and are sitting there begging to be picked. We will be harvesting these choice edibles along with Velvet Foot, Lepista Irina, Blewits and Coral mushrooms along trails in and around our wonderful town of Stratford.

So? . . . Why not join us? It will be an adventure you will not forget. Start time: 10:00 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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October 25th

8 tickets available.

Lepista Irina

These wonderful mushrooms begin to appear in late September right through until mid November. They are large, sweet tasting and oh so numerous, found under both hardwood and conifers. Their distinct quality? Endurance. They manage to stay fresh on the forest floor for up to 3 weeks.

We will be searching for these along with their sister mushrooms the blue Blewits. Not to mention the Velvet Foot, Pear Shaped Puffballs and Autumn Oysters.

Start time: 10:00 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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October 31st

15 tickets available.

The Fawn Mushroom

These lovelies are one of the most delicious and numerous mushrooms of late October and early November. You can find them mostly under Pines. They own a beautiful contrast of grey and white. About the size of button mushrooms The Fawns will literally cover a ground of pine needles and are sitting there begging to be picked. We will be harvesting these choice edibles along with Velvet Foot, Lepista Irina, Blewits and Coral mushrooms along trails in and around our wonderful town of Stratford.

So? . . . Why not join us? It will be an adventure you will not forget. Start time: 10:00 am. Duration: approx. 3hrs
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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