Fungi foray
Much like beauty, if you really look for it, fungus is everywhere.
Ed and I took a guided walk organised by the Southborough Society to explore the funtastical world of fungi that, when you really look, is everywhere around us. It was a nice way to start a Saturday morning and mushroom hunting, in particular, is always a great way to forget about the bullshit that fills our lives and focus the mind on seeing. The goal wasn’t to forage (as is my usual goal when mushrooming) but rather to open ourselves to the wonder of the natural world. Or that’s what I took away from it, anyway.
Though I’m far from an expert on fungi or the expansive world of mushrooms, I’m keen to learn more and am always interested in research that suggests that these types of organisms might help us to heal our bodies, minds, and environments. Though the news is filled with stories of ecological degradation and destruction, there are some hopeful stories out there - like this one:
“Scientists are increasingly looking at microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, to help tackle some of the most pressing challenges of the modern age, including the rising tide of plastic pollution. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 400 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced annually, with a steep increase in levels of plastic pollution since the 1970s… To date, 436 species of fungi and bacteria have been found to degrade plastic and Kew scientists and partners believe their latest findings could lead to the development of efficient enzymes designed to biologically degrade plastic waste.”
It’s such a bummer that the billionaires of the world are more focused on water-guzzling data centres than plastic-eating fungi, that the average person is more likely to fill their brain with ai slop than eat a lion’s mane mushroom, but there are glimmers of hope, and though I would have loved to see more young people represented on our fungi foray yesterday, it’s encouraging that a group of 12-15 people showed up on a Saturday morning to really look around and learn a thing or two about something that might just be the key to our sustained survival on this dying planet.