Foraging Friends Inc.

11/22/2025

Hello Foraging Friends, I am sharing a bit of the beginning phases of the analysis at the Spruce and Pearl Train Depot.

We are "Exploring" the soil, meaning learning the health of it. This week we tried out the XRF Supplied by Bucknell University, to see what elements are present and it gave some clues to the amounts of elements. In A few weeks the Professor who's department teaches about the use of the XRF machine will visit and give a better analysis and gain more insights.
The soil there is so dark and lovely! It is such a beautiful space. Lots of , a few baby ., mixed in with brambles and poison ivy. Most of the trees are struggling for space and need care. The main trees I am interested in are the . I would love to keep them and relocate them they attract so many pollinators to the area and we will need them in the coming years to produce food in Shamokin and the surrounding areas.

11/21/2025

Enjoying indigenous month; I enjoyed the Wisdom of Lorinda Johns, shared with me by my dear friend Professor Shaunna Barnhart. Thank you 🙏🏾

Based in Gowanda, New York, the Cattaraugus Territory of the [...]

11/15/2025

Oh, my ! Have you ever seen Mullein grow from brick like this?! I' have seen it on roadsides and fields but not directly from a brick, I can't wait to see the second year stalk lol . I think it is due to the thickness of its leave, being very close to succulents and succulents can grow out of a rock1 I mean, literally they don't need much rooting just a place to hold onto that give them the sun and capture the rain in their leaves and they thrive!

Nonetheless, there it is growing, as a matter of fact once I saw one noticed others.

I like to prepare Mullen as a tea but I found it very effective in tincture and in infusion. The picture below you'll see that I have it ready for teabags that I make and share with friends..
Many people talk about smoking it, but I think inhaling it as a steam and having it's properties go directly to your lungs would be more beneficial than having to go to your stomach then have to travel to get to your lungs, which are largely in our back, or having some kind of smog go into your lungs, which is beneficial for many. It doesn't deal with the underlying problem that is in the lung area where the mucus or the blockages may need the medicinal properties that are in Mullen heal as well.

I want to try an infusion with rabbit tobacco,(I am still researching) and mullein used with a nebulizer. As stated in the video below a nebulizer goes directly to the source, it is like taking in a steam bath but aiming where it is needed.
If anyone has one or has tried this method I would love to hear about your experience.
Below is a YouTube video on the subject that is really thorough and educational.

https://youtu.be/sGYtbtKi6yc?si=QloA19t18ihQd7hC

11/15/2025

Know this first, study first, ask someone first. We are here together to do better. 🤗

11/08/2025

My neighbor and I went foraging today. Here’s what we saw.
The first 3. People to correctly state where we were in the comments, can pick up a free, Oyster mushroom kit at the Shamokin Coal township library on Mushroom Monday November 10th.

11/08/2025

Do you know about Permission in Place? It’s acknowledging the life in the spaces you travel and asking for permission to trek there or take anything. We often take life for granted in certain spaces, but nature speaks softly, even when we forget where we are and the life around us. This has consequences in our current environmental situations. It’s important to ask for permission and bring awareness to our footprint.

My group was enthusiastic about asking for permission before our forage. Kevin shared his bag to collect trash, and we found some puffballs and Maria found a gem of a rock. We ran out of time to go deeper into the wooded trail, before some had to return to work. But we returned unused items to the Earth before we left, to complete their decomposition. We plan to go out before Winter and the holidays.

Consider Permission in Place when foraging see if you notice a marked difference. I'd love to hear about your experience.

Enjoy your weekend.

Look here for a notice about our next Foraging event, and Foraging Friends newsletter.

11/04/2025

Can. I. get. a witness????)))) YES!
Music to my ears and 🌎soul🥰

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQEpWICgNpW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

11/03/2025

Mushroom Mondays
Pear shaped Puff balls
While out surveying the fifth Ward tracks a few weeks ago, Professor Olyssa spotted some sporing puff balls. I looked them up and they were the pear shaped puffballs. Their scientific name is apioperdon pyiforme (pronounced ay-pee-oh-PER-dun peer-i-FOR-mee)

Since they were so far gone with spores, I just released the spores my tapping on them. This is fun watching the ghoulish green puff of smoke disperse.
Though releasing the spores means that at some point I’ll find pear shaped mushrooms on some other part of that area on rotted wood matter.
I hope to find these delicate morsels when they’re firm and white inside, for a nice snack to add to onions or other vegetable stir fry.

If you didn’t know I am hosting another forage, November 5, the time and information is pinned to this page. Registration is required to help me better serve those who want to attend. Knowing who is coming is like sending out invitations to a party. It also helps Foraging Friends plan and get funding for future events. If you appreciate and respect, my work at Foraging Friends. Please register for events, email your questions to thebeautiful5th@outlook.com.

Bountiful harvest and see you on the Trail.

11/01/2025

🙏🏾Thank you!

10/31/2025

So much leaf matter but are the trees hosting mushrooms or anything nearby?🧐

10/31/2025

I was riding along a road and looking for that might have 🍄‍🟫 🍄‍🟫