Chaga Hunting - How to find it and what to look for

[@SilverDragonCloud64]

I was taught to only harvest some of the chaga and always leave some on a tree so that the chaga will continue to grow that to me is a WISE thing to do with all wild foraging. Chaga takes a few years to grow and doesn't grow on all the trees .... so lets not get greedy and always make sure to leave some there to regrow. 🙏🏼 plus you can brew chaga for making tea a few times and not only once....so a small piece go a loooong way! 💚

[@verysurvival]

Have you ever harvested a part of a fish?

[@jaynorthfield5581]

@@verysurvival awesome video dude love that people are spreading knowledge about the natural world 🌎 ✌ however it is good to leave half behind as that conk will regreow much quicker and aids sustainable harvesting.

[@AlphaaaYeti]

@@verysurvival Now this is just a very ignorant comment

[@georgehowson6922]

@@verysurvival 🤣

[@jimmynight7619]

@@verysurvival Comparing apples to Oranges is super retarded. Mushrooms can regenerate. I'm only a novice and I understand enough to leave a couple inches of Chaga on the tree so it can regrow and spread to other trees as well. You've mentioned how hard it is to find Chaga. Maybe it's so hard to find because you've been overharvesting them and not leaving enough for it to regrow. I have an over abundance of it in my small forest because it's being left to grow and spread.

[@LouiseAdie-zm2jf]

We've learned so much more in the past 6 years since your video came out. I'm hoping our newer understanding of chaga collecting is becoming more widespread. Some of the info in this vid is obsolete. 1. First and most important is to never remove the entire chaga. Leave half for regeneration. Don't be greedy. 2. Use the entire chaga for medicinal use. 3. If using chunks to make tea re-use them up to 5-6 times until all the color is gone. I hope this newer and fresher code of honor will be recognized and employed. There's a real danger of the chaga becoming over harvested if we don't exercise a bit of restraint.

[@margaretadler6162]

This is the first video that thoroughly describes chaga and how to use it thank you so much. You earned a new subscriber

[@verysurvival]

Thanks

[@rhondaclark716]

@@verysurvival Thankyou I enjoyed your show. 🤗

[@tomthomas334]

I am obsessed with chaga, just love watching how it grows.

[@supernova1976]

You must be a very patient man 😊

[@timothylongmore7325]

@@supernova1976 good one

[@timothylongmore7325]

I've been watching the first one I found and harvested. Think I'll swing by and Take a photo. It's been about five years now. I hauled a lot of chaga out of that gulf. I harvest and sell. I take only mature and no real high ones. I've removed a few small off small trees to see what happens. Nothing diffinetive yet. I have seen trees that seem to have shed the mushroom. Don't know why.

[@lisahanlin5317]

Great info thank you. I am going Chaga hunting tomorrow. You have inspired me with confidence in identifying it. I love drinking it but it is too costly to buy and we do have it in our area. We are in Atlantic Canada. Thanks again.

[@timothylongmore7325]

That's where the best chaga is. Cheers.

[@anthonylezoraine8109]

i can sell you chaga 60$/kg it s from quebec fresh harvest

[@inthemountainswithmeachum3256]

First video of ever seen of a chaga hunt or anything chaga related which is cool I have a freezer full of it

[@dianeibsen5994]

I am in Washington state can you find chaga here?

[@ratslayer110]

What state are you in

[@inthemountainswithmeachum3256]

@@ratslayer110 upstate NY I'm in the woods a lot hiking, hunting etc. I find it in certain areas

[@theresapelham1918]

Chaga tea... although I brew it for a few hours...makes a dark rich liquid that I jar up and heat it and send through my coffee grinds in my pour over in the morning! Soooo good. Amazing medicine. Thank you for this fun cowboy brew technique!

[@verysurvival]

Great tip!

[@WaspMedia3D]

Yeah same - I mix a concentrated tea in with my coffee, blends super nicely together and adds a slight earthy / nuttiness flavour.

[@mirikira8632]

I use it as coffee with coconut milk. Yum! I also give it to my dogs as well.

[@billybeck]

Great video, love your friendly presenting style. Looking forward to going out chaga hunting myself👍🏻 All the best.

[@verysurvival]

Cheers good luck hunting

[@eddyluger3180]

Great video, Realy answered my questions and confirmed my observations. Thanks!

[@mflintjersolid]

Interesting. As a hunter, I’ve seen this in various parts of the country (Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New York State), yet never knew what it was. I just thought it was a burl type growth, like you see on Walnut, Ash or Maple. Was clued to it by Don VonGun (has a bushcraft channel). So I did a bit of looking, when I saw his one video. The beauty of your video shows the novice what to look for, whereas, his does not. Maybe that’s the part that’s supposed to get you to research and learn. ;) Nice video mate.

[@verysurvival]

awesome to hear tales from afar

[@ashlibradford1821]

I love your accent and I love the raw, rich, woods brew! Probably one of my favorite chaga videos!!

[@verysurvival]

Ashli Bradford thanks

[@hughjanus4371]

Proper Swedish accent that ;-)

[@mightbebatman3659]

Headed on an Alaskan Chaga harvest tomorrow. This video was great!

[@verysurvival]

Good luck!

[@mightbebatman3659]

@@verysurvival success! It was a prolific fungus hunt!

[@elizabethokland5265]

Found out what this is today and excited to look for some and try it out, I hope its good for my thyroid, i love tea so this’ll be good!

[@ilkkasaarinen9812]

Good revealing presentation just in front of the start for day's hunt for the chaga. The great mucis bonus, too! Who's playing?

[@verysurvival]

It’s just some free KZbin music

[@massachusettsprepper]

Excellent tutorial indeed my friend and thank you so much for sharing

[@verysurvival]

thanks MP

[@Fishforage]

Does the chaga grow exclusively on birch trees or can it be found on other species of trees?

[@maryannwegner3739]

I'm new to your channel and I love it!! You are very relatable and the quality of your videos are spot on.

[@verysurvival]

thank you

[@Cyriljayant]

Amazing CHAGA hunt !! Enjoy your wild tea!!!!

[@verysurvival]

Thank you kindly

[@RayRift]

Ive been finding lots of chaga this year. Great video production man.

[@verysurvival]

+Ray OfMinneapolis awesome. Great to hear brother

[@neanderthaloutdoors9202]

Just found you during my quest for Chaga info, I'm still looking out for the stuff on my walks but no luck as of yet, this video is good information bud, nice one and atb, Paul. You have a new sub 👍🏻🇬🇧

[@verysurvival]

+Neanderthal Outdoors good luck hunting!

[@daleval2182]

Go farther north. Were it's snowy and cold.

[@paulmint1858]

Down to earth and likeable chap. Thank you for the info’.

[@jasonmay6670]

Great video! I could not help but giggle as the the first stage chaga looked like the D and B....Too funny! Hope I'm not the only one

[@verysurvival]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kaytomascom]

Great vid! That tea at the end looks like a sweet reward for the job. Im going to the woods tomorrow. I was suprised to hear you were from sweden! You dont sound like a swede at all! :P

[@verysurvival]

Thanks alot ! glad you liked it

[@backwoods_barbarian4134]

Nice video, my wife and I have have started going out to look for it here in Vermont. I've heard that if you leave about a hands thickness of the chaga that it will regrow in the 3-4 years. I don't know if it's true but if it is it could lead to a semi-reliable supply.

[@verysurvival]

I nearly always leave some part of it on the tree, you can leave a corner or some part of it that will keep growing. However I've seen people scrape off every last part of it, which I think is pointless for two reasons, A - it is less likely to grow back so you can't harvest it again and B - the parts of it closest to the tree contain the rotten wood of the tree, it is a transition from fungus to tree and that stuff I don't want.

[@verysurvival]

I wanted to check out the growing back so I went to a tree that was completely stripped of its large chaga about 18 months ago, and I think it is growing back, it is not 100% clear but I think it is, there is a black layer . in one more year will be clearer still. This is not a fast hobby :-)

[@verysurvival]

he's a good guy

[@thrif-teaannie7128]

I think you found an old Tree tap for Sap or water that would explain the scarring of the chaga.

[@timaddison307]

I knew I liked this guy when he described the discoloration on the tree from the beginning stage of the mushroom as the stains on a person's fingers who smokes a lot.

[@pupper5580]

Fun video, thanks for sharing. You sound, seem and look Australian. Awesome stuff, take care.

[@verysurvival]

Beers and cheers

[@mirikira8632]

I'm watching this as I'm literally making birch polypore, chaga and ginger decoction. 😂 I found about 4 chagas. I went to a birch forest ( as in only birch trees) and all of the chagas I found were super high. As we were going hone, we found a small one that wasn't that high, I was able to hit it and it fell off. Found another 3 in a mixed forest and they were super hard to remove.

[@TheNederlander1986]

Just came across your vid and enjoyed it very much. I go on a chaga hunt this weekend, (in northern Holland) and hope to find some and try out the tea. Nice surroundings too, I love Sweden and go there often. Have a nice day.

[@verysurvival]

Good luck

[@mm700]

See chaga almost every birch I see here in Labrador. Might have to give this a try

[@patriciagerschler3283]

I was in the Uintas today in a birch forest. There were many dark chunks on the trees. Is this an infection in the forest, orrrr? I'm not sure burls would grow like what I saw.

[@jewelhodson7715]

Were they birch or quakies?

[@genevieveandriver]

Wow. Looking in Montana! Thx!!

[@verysurvival]

🤞 good luck!

[@medmanbrand]

Sweet vid bruv....from my experience....a proper 8 to 10 foot branch saw w an aluminum ladder helps a ton when harvesting.

[@outdoors-university]

Great video! Thank you for sharing my brother! Stay safe and keep having fun!

[@verysurvival]

Thanks, you too!

[@merlecrandall1709]

Thank you for the video. Is there a specfic time of the year to pick chaga

[@verysurvival]

As far as I can tell it tastes the same all year round

[@PaulOutdoors]

A great watch and listen. Chaga hunting is on my growing list of things to do and this has helped greatly. Thank you. Paul :)

[@verysurvival]

hope you find it bro!

[@PaulOutdoors]

Humble Trekker I will thanks to you :)

[@3nails1cross65]

I am looking forward to finding chaga now when I'm trekking along, however, I have a question if u remove the whole part will it regrow or should u just remove enough for a few cups so that it continues to grow?

[@verysurvival]

even If you remove all of it . It will grow back eventually. like any living thing that can vary, but normally you can't stop it. I've tested this by watching chaga conks literally for years, be cut and grow back. But of course if you just take a little bit you are doing much less damage, take what you need is the best for the Chaga. On the other hand the Chaga eventually kills the tree as it grows ;-)

[@timothylongmore7325]

Good video. I'm finding lots in my home area. Nobodies heard of it and I've seen little evidence of anyone harvesting. Maybe one time. Chaga was flat and crusted black and the tree had what looked like a faint paint mark on the tree? Thats the only one I've seen that looked picked. Can't wait to start looking again. snows still way to deep in the woods. 3- 6 foot base and it's just starting to thaw. They thought lake ontario was high last year , wait till this melts , wow!

[@verysurvival]

good luck hunting!

[@micheloff-grid4248]

Good teaching I harvest chaga only on a life tree and in February anfter lots of cold days For maximum medicinal valu February and life tree only …lots here on the 55 latitude N Canada

[@timothylongmore7325]

people say don't take chaga off a dead tree. I always check. Many times it's still good. If questionable at all I save for tinder. I don't use it for that but for bug repellent incense. Usually during spring and summer when cleaning chaga or reishi I'll light up a corner of a couple chunks and place up-wind. The bugs hate it , smells great.

[@alexhanna3857]

To my understanding Chaga only grows on dying trees

[@timothylongmore7325]

@@alexhanna3857 Nope. It grows and lives on live trees. When the tree dies that's when the chaga reproduces. Some say chaga kills the tree and in some cases it leads to the trees demise. My belief is more complicated than that.

[@sunflower-ic6hc]

Awesome video! Close up images, texture and info was amazing!!! What is the best way to dry it out & can it be harvested in any season? Thank you for sharing your knowledge:)

[@verysurvival]

It tastes the same all year around according to my taste

[@verysurvival]

Just leave it in airy place to dry it . The only thing you should worry about is if it wet and damp , Mould might grow on it

[@sunflower-ic6hc]

@@verysurvival thanks:)

[@timothylongmore7325]

wood stoves work good. Sun works great and will boost vitiman D. Don't let it get wet though. Sun will fade colors though.

[@MichaelTravis12c27]

Great tutorial David. I think people will find this very helpful.

[@verysurvival]

cheers mike

[@rufusintenn648]

I've heard that snow on the ground is the best time to harvest it (nutrients being most plentiful when it is dormant), but opinions on this fungus are plentiful. Good vid, Dave

[@verysurvival]

lucky days. when i didn't have my camera I found another 4lbs. one conker was the size of my head.

[@rufusintenn648]

that's a fair sized chunk then as you have a rather fat head.

[@mistersmith3986]

BWUAAAHAAA!!!

[@timothylongmore7325]

nonsense , easier to find and haul out in winter. That's all.

[@klayvonisme]

I like how at 6:27 the snare beat is synchronized with the hatchet wack. Don’t know if you did that edit on purpose or not. Great video! Cheers!

[@verysurvival]

accident

[@WarGrrl3]

fantastic vid, very informative. Thank you. I didn't know chaga was ingestable or medicinal. would a walnut size piece be enough for a good size cup of tea?

[@verysurvival]

A walnut piece is too much for one cup of tea. two pea size pieces is about enough for one cup IMHO, ofcourse tastes vary.

[@WarGrrl3]

Humble Trekker Bushcraft perfect, thank you. I can't wait to try it.

[@kramrentip7528]

Fantastic vid, brother!

[@verysurvival]

cheers friend!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jodibudd6303]

I got a question...which kind of trees wpuld you look for chaga on?

[@verysurvival]

Birch 🌳

[@Flazhness]

Wasn't looking at the screen when the video came to conclusion, jumped out my chair when the metal started playing. Had rather high volume on the stereo ! :D

[@verysurvival]

Sorry about that

[@waymarkerbushcraft]

@@verysurvival But what band was it? I quite liked it - and the video by the way.

[@antoniopacelli]

I actually saw MANY video and the division between good part and fire part seems contrasting: outside part seems to be more full of Betulin, that have some benefits for health apparently. But the inside part it's full of the more fungi/mico compounds and there are apparently more than 200 or so. So they both are good.

[@jaynorthfield5581]

It's full of betulinic acid in short it kills cancer cells, activates apoptosos which is the death of a cell and it does this to cancer cells so good stuff

[@dianadesmarais4464]

Thank you for the tutorial!

[@JonMcCroskey]

Phenomenal Video!

[@verysurvival]

cheers!

[@VoilierFuligule]

Very useful, thnaks for sharing!

[@verysurvival]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@pictlandpickers1171]

Just found a load of this. Not sure it was on a birch though but just like this. Black crusty outer later antique oak colour inside. Looks like a charred piece of oak. Smells lovely when burning bit like tobacco smell.

[@verysurvival]

probably is!

[@reinab8168]

Theres baby chaga growing on three trees outside my apartment..woah. I ❤mycology

[@dianeibsen5994]

Where are you located? Lucky!

[@nightwalker5278]

Great upload, both interesting and informative. Thanks for sharing ATB

[@verysurvival]

Cheers mate

[@IsleofWightBushcraft]

Great great video, I drink chaga tea, and tincture everyday. Love the flavour. Do you live in Sweden, or just visiting. I got a great harvest from Norway in January.

[@verysurvival]

I've lived in Sweden many years ago, originally from Pompey ;-)

[@markrick911]

Great presentation I learned a lot and I now can confidently identify the mushroom that I picked off of a downed birch tree I prepared it just as you have thanks I will also try an alcohol extraction tomorrow

[@untamedfeast]

you probably just said "downed tree" to avoid the trolls, but...dont use chaga from dead down trees, you can get sick, use that chaga for making fire, you want living chaga off a living tree for medicine

[@timothylongmore7325]

sometimes they;re still good but yeah , watch out for dead chaga.

[@suezaple4950]

Thanks for the video very helpful we have a lot of birch trees here in Ontario, and always wondered what that was on the tree

[@verysurvival]

Yeah should be plenty where you live

[@isaaclevy7469]

Thanks för sharing, very educational!

[@therespectedlex9794]

I had no idea, until about nine minutes in, that you're in Sweden, not the UK.

[@frankwebster2876]

Great video.. hey since you're in Sweden, why don't you do a video on the Varustelka Scrama bush knife?

[@verysurvival]

TBH, I was into the bush knife 2 years ago already and now it has been picked up by the big YT channels in the U.S I don't really have much to add to those videos. so probably you'll never see me do a vid ;-)

[@aaronlbuchanan9861]

Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@verysurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@kimlau6662]

how to you leave a 1/3 of chaga in the tree for future? harvest methods?

[@verysurvival]

No need .

Where could I go to get some fresh Chaga? I’m not even close to it but wouldn’t mind driving somewhere who sells it

[@electrominded8372]

You're located in Sweden? Awesome, I've found chaga near Stockholm too ✌️😎👍👍

[@verysurvival]

Cool 👍

[@bulletman124XXL]

Great video thanks for sharing 👍

[@verysurvival]

Thanks for the visit

[@jbarlow8110]

Love your bush pot. Especially that it has a screw off lid. What brand is it?

[@verysurvival]

It is a swedish army canteenset , you can find them surplus . Google Swedish army canteen set and you should find it. The bottle is French army type reproduction

[@ang8282]

Great information video thank you!!

[@stealthysteve1]

Don't live where it grows can I buy it

[@verysurvival]

You can buy it on my website

[@stealthysteve1]

Awesome been wanting to find it.

[@alexhanna3857]

I live in Otis Maine, do you guys think I can find some out here? There are lots of birch trees and locals say there is. I just moved here.

[@verysurvival]

follow the locals advice!

[@rawcoco8321]

Thanks for that nice informative video.

[@verysurvival]

thanks!

[@adhikariindia]

Sir how many time u drink chaga soup a day? I mean how much chaga someone can consume in stress anxiety?any side effect

[@verysurvival]

A couple of cups a day. Once a woman overdosed on it

[@frankwebster2876]

Thanks for information. Great video.

[@verysurvival]

cheers

[@shauntuck4731]

What is the likely hood of it growing in the uk? Is there some chance? Or none at all? Thanks

[@verysurvival]

Shaun Tuck chances in north of Scotland

[@verysurvival]

Shaun Tuck any where else very rare to find

[@sosteve9113]

great video,very informative you had a good find at the end of your search

[@verysurvival]

does it grow in Belgium?

[@sosteve9113]

i think it does,we have the same kind of envoirement here but to find it,you have to look very carefully just like the king alfreds cake there is a lot of forest management done by politicians not always good in my opinion Your forests are much more attractive, if I want to go to real ancient forests, I go to the Ardennes its almost a 3 hour drive but I will look for it the next time

[@chrismass9761]

Chaga...the golden woody....thanks for the video bud

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Good video. I would like to try this, but I'm not sure it grows near me here in Idaho USA. We don't have birch trees here. Does it grow on any other tree? We have aspens and cottonwood trees....

[@verysurvival]

No you need the birch. You can get stuff like it on other tress but it is rare . We have a lot of aspen here and I’ve definitely never seen it in them

[@MuskratOutdoors]

@@verysurvival Thank you. That is what I thought. We have two birch trees in our yard we planted, but no native ones anywhere near here that I know of.

[@kookamunga2458]

My hunch is chaga attacks weak birch . Weak birch probably can be found near northern cities . All trees have been shown to be more disease prone near large cities. I think poor soil nutrition could also weaken birch trees . So check around those areas and leave some on the tree for the next generation to use .

[@hildamorrison2003]

I have heard of it but can honestly say I have never tasted chaga tea/coffee - I'd love to try it! Do you sell it? Thanks for the info.

[@verysurvival]

I don’t sell it . Sorry

[@gastondeveaux3783]

Great video. It's wonderful to be out in the fresh air any day. Are you originally from the U.K. ?

[@verysurvival]

Gaston Deveaux yes sir

[@musicotto11]

I’ve been told that chaga only grows on live trees...is that a myth?

[@verysurvival]

its true

[@marythomson295]

Did you recognise that the stump was birch or does it matter ?

[@verysurvival]

I recognized it as birch

[@georgecuyler7563]

Chaga is a Turtle island word. What is your English term for this medicine?

[@verysurvival]

I’ve never heard anyone talk Turtle Island. Say some things for me.

[@Bestoftheworst6909]

Great Info thanks man🤙🤙 also whos the outro music???

[@verysurvival]

Sorry I can’t remember

[@celestaronin]

Off to go do it now. :) just had some nettle tea but you can’t have to many cups of that. 👍🏻 subscribed.

[@verysurvival]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@ingridhinton1091]

When you say it grows in the northern hemisphere - did you ever find it in the uk?

[@verysurvival]

No

[@dralodolitle5420]

I live up North West UK I find it impossible to find

[@alfredpoitras6017]

It here in New Brunswick Iam thinking of geting some for my self and thanks for the video wasn’t shour what it looked like

[@verysurvival]

Good luck

[@joesephpatterson3472]

Humble treckker what's the brand of that sweater and where can I find one ?

[@verysurvival]

McKenzie, I bought it from XXL in Sweden

[@zeez9053]

Which country is this video ? Is this uk Chaga?

[@BlindOwl-Outdoors]

very nice video and good information

[@verysurvival]

glad you liked it . thanks

[@chadleyhollas4742]

Odd question, but what are those boots you have? Also thanks for sharing. Just went on my first chaga hunt and was unsuccessful. Tomorrow is a new day!

[@verysurvival]

They are DeWalt Rigger boots

[@PatrickPierceBateman]

A great, great video.

[@verysurvival]

thanks!

[@lourdesalmeida6273]

Patrick Bateman chagas das mãos de jesus

[@thenomadsurvivalist4459]

Good video it kept me watching. a+ from me!

[@verysurvival]

+The Nomad Survivalist - Daniel Martin cheers!

[@binhle8244]

Thank you video. Is very good drinking.

[@verysurvival]

thanks

[@JonnyParker-]

Can I ask you a question mate ,is chaga the same as that horses hoof fungus you can get on birch in the UK ? Thanks.

[@verysurvival]

no they are different fungus.

[@JonnyParker-]

@@verysurvival ok cheers man. I want to try and find some chaga to make the tea for health reasons. Hopefully will come across some in northern UK if the latitude is right like you said . Just found your channel today going through a few videos I'm digging the content mate, will subscribe .

[@verysurvival]

You probably have to go up to Scotland . Drop me an email and I will send you some to try

[@JonnyParker-]

@@verysurvival ah right fair play and thanks for the offer I'll email you soon !

[@nietzsche7384]

I live in Sweden and got so suprised when u saif that u found the chaga here. Lol i thought u were in America. :D

[@heavymetalworks6375]

what time of year is the best to look for chaga?

[@verysurvival]

Hi, You can find it all year around. It is very slow growing it doesn't just pop up but sits there on the tree all the time. I have read on the internet some people say it has the most nutrients in it during the early spring. But, I have never seen any scientific reports or studies proving this so no idea if it is true. Personally I think it probably has the same value all year around and any seasonal variations would be marginal

[@daleval2182]

I preferences winter Chaga no bugs around

[@SpencerOilChangeLOL]

thats the english for ya, putting themselves through great inconvenience on a sunday just to have their "coppotea"

[@guachingman]

you

[@dianeibsen5994]

Inconvenience!?.. it looks like great fun😀

[@lincolnmurphy969]

Great Job my Man.....Way to bush bounce...Mother Nature Loves Us, and takes care of Us....and She's accending to the 5th Density, and, taking everone with that Vib with Her.....😐✌✌✌😃🤗❤✌ Peace Bro.

[@verysurvival]

Peace back at you