Hunting for Mushrooms

I love this time of the year.  Spring has finally shaken itself from the grasp of winter.  Birds are chirping, trees are budding, flowers are blooming and best of all, the morel mushroom is springing forth from the soil.  For those who are unaware, the morel mushroom is a highly sought after fungus.  It is considered a delicacy by many.

I have generally relied on the kindness of friends to provide me a few tasty morsels each spring, but this year I am fortunate enough to have friends who have land on which we are able to hunt mushrooms.

So far this year we’ve gone out  twice and both times have come back with enough for a substantial side dish to our meals.  This is a great way of returning to a primitive method of procuring sustinence.

It isn’t only about the mushrooms.  More importantly is the time spent being in nature.  I love being out in the woods.  It is peaceful and calm, something I could use a lot more of.

When I am outside amongst the trees I am not overwhelmed with concerns of my responsibilities, deadlines or money.  I do not think about buying things nor am I longing for the latest and greatest widget on the market.  None of it matters out there.  All that matters is the clean air, the song of a nearby bird, the sun against my face and the wind in my hair.

There is a great sense of freedom when I am searching for mushrooms.  I don’t feel tied down to one location, it is as if I could wander the earth forever so long as I had the land to provide for my needs.  Being out there makes me contemplate an entirely different existance than the one I live today; one which is much more simple.

Spring has sprung and summer is just around the corner.  With the wonderful weather of summer comes hiking, camping and more time spent in the great outdoors.  I’m so happy it has finally arrived!