What are Mushrooms? - 1 Year of Searching and I Finally FOUND them!

Learn about fungi and mushrooms and your eyes will be opened to another world!
Check out my Instagram - / alex_smith1809
Business enquiries - [e-mail]

[@volodymyr7214]

For us Ukrainians (and for all Slavs in general) collecting mushrooms is like a national obsession, we have been used to it since childhood. This fall I had a wonderful time in the countryside picking and preserving white mushrooms (porcini mushrooms). Looking forward to the next mushroom season.😀

[@Legend-rv6sm]

What's Ukraine like ?

[@volodymyr7214]

@@Legend-rv6sm Ukraine is like a country waging a war for freedom.

[@Lilulalilula]

i can only agree. at the beggining of the video i was accualy confused why he was acting like mushroom hunting was some sort of a myth.

[@volodymyr7214]

@@darukineo Yes, it is.

[@tomdemay6147]

@@volodymyr7214 freedom for who? so they can be the EU and Joe Biden's little puppet?

[@mimiashford5544]

NEVER lose or let go of your amazing sense of wonder, appreciation for nature or adventure, Alex. You are what the world needs more of!!

[@ashasealey7585]

your literally living my dream life, beekeeping, mushroom hunting OMG!!!!!!!! love it

[@user-mb4hd7sw7n]

☝️👆☝️👆 Deals with psychedelic mushrooms, acids, and edibles..🍄

[@TheDemonAngel28]

You have a million subscriber potential, I hope the algorithm goes in your favor, you post really amazing and interesting topics, you deserve more!

[@corunax3212]

Ah, a kindred spirit. My friends always make fun of me going foraging for mushrooms, but I used to do that with my parent since I was a small child, so I enjoy it a lot and it is also connected to some fond childhood memories for me. I live in Germany and we call the penny buns Steinpilze - stone mushrooms, because of their firm texture. It is nice to see somebody else discovering the joy of foraging and the world of mushrooms. What a fun video!

[@michalpiskot4325]

Great time watching someone learning mushrooming in adult age. Here in Czech Republic, we are taught mushrooming in elementary schools because it is something like proud national activity. You could visit Czech Rep sometimes, we have got beautiful forests where you can find a lot of mushrooms and a lot of places to go fishing as well.

[@thelazychefuk4410]

'All Fungi are edible. Some fungi are only edible once.' Terry Pratchett 😄

[@user-zy7on7gk9u]

your literally living my dream life, beekeeping, mushroom hunting OMG!!!!!!!! love it. your literally living my dream life, beekeeping, mushroom hunting OMG!!!!!!!! love it.

[@chrisrive4874]

Remember, when you have a huge crop of mushrooms you can string them up and dry them. Then you can rehydrate them to use them later in the year. Plus, I have the book you used too. Awesome book. Highly recommended.

[@levankonig6673]

Hi, to identify whether you're collecting a blusher or a panthercap just check the ring on the stem. The blusher has little rills running from the stem to the outer end of the ring. They're barely visible but the panthercap doesn't have these rills. I personally collect blushers if i find any :)

[@sweetidruin]

I just recently discovered your channel and I’m loving every single video! This particular one really hit home with me! It reminded me so much of the first time I found Morels in an area I walk nearly every day! Mushrooms are a rarity in Oklahoma! Thank you for sharing and putting a little smile on my face during this cold winter season!

[@pcfekarlos]

Absolutely loved this video mate. Very similar back story to myself how I got into mushroom foraging then started buying books and watching videos lol its a very slippery slope haha 😄 and now I grow and cultivate my own. Also I'm yet to find any Ceps still but I was just as excited when I first found Chicken of the Woods as you were with those Ceps. Love it!

[@frenchyadamson]

Legendary video. Watching this when you first put it out was definitely a contributing factor to my mushroom obsession. Can't wait to see more of your content!

[@araven3888]

One thing I've found really helpful was taking my spore prints on glass. This way I can put black or white paper underneath to help check the colours more efficiently. Gotta love foraging and growing mushrooms. Can't wait to temp warms up so I can get the pink oysters growing again ...

[@Treezy-07]

the nettle patch those puff balls were growing in is also edible if cooked first and super healthy. I wouldn't say Panther cap is "deadly" but not a trip you want to go on either. As someone who has been gathering wild mushrooms since childhood and growing them for 3 years now I greatly enjoyed watching your enthusiasm and excitement in discovering a wonderful new hobby

[@eyetok_alot]

I live in Slovakia, picking mushrooms is a big thing here, if you want you can come along to some mushroom hunting. most of my friends go out during the mushroom time, early in the morning, and come back with a few buckets full

[@TheDawlight]

I feel like I'm watching a video of myself from this year. I've been foraging for chanterelles on and off for a handful of years which is basically a national obsession in Sweden at this point. Everyone knows what they look like, everyone loves them and they grow absolutely everywhere. It's just about finding a great spot - your spot. But then a collegue mentioned the "horn of plenty" mushroom, which I'd never heard about, and which can be somewhat rare in central Sweden depending on the weather conditions. The rarity of it was what piqued my interest, and the hunt was on. I started researching and learning all about what they look like, where they grow, what kind of trees they like, what kind of soil they prefer. I bought three books on identification, cooking and preservation, looked on national maps over forest type and soil composition. I was compeltely obsessed. And at the end of their usual season, I finally found some! Not a lot, but it was such a great experience finally having your research and acquired intuition pay off! The thrill of finding exactly what you are looking for will never wear off, I expect. And now I know there are a LOT of edible mushrooms here that I'd never even heard about. I kind of missed the penny bun "season" this year. It's a super common mushroom here, but knowing it's considered to be such a culinary treasure around the world makes me long for next year!

[@marchoney5777]

I love your passion for the outdoors and the natural world. I don’t know anyone personally around my age who shares this passion, so it’s really good to know that you also have such a fascination with the outdoors. I shall be watching every single one of your videos ✌🏼❤️

[@rollingwolf9360]

I thought the same :), im drying out some turkey tails atm. i havent seen any for a couple seasons and i told myself i would try next time as they have a abundance of health benefits. Anyone tried?

[@rollingwolf9360]

p.s iv still never found a chicken of the woods. I'd be excited too

[@Ghoast]

I have been binge watching your content for 6 hours now. I love it. keep up the great work :)

[@y-yyy]

The excitement of the two of you over those puffballs :))) As a mushroom person I felt you so much. I can't wait for the summer

[@santanauk7]

Man, you are pure oxygen for my inner fire. God bless you

[@1DreadedAngel]

Awesome vid mate. i totally get your excitement though, last year at the end of autumn i went to a new area for me on the hunt for mushrooms. Up until this point, the sort after Penny Bun had eluded me, even after hundreds of trips over 2 years. I had been walking round this forest for about 3 hours and although I'd found plenty of different species, including some ginormous Amanita Muscaria (Fly Agaric), I'd not found any Ceps. But then as i walked back to my bike to go home and was about 50 yards from the car park on the path, i saw what i knew was a bolete. As i got closer and saw it was not only part of a large patch but also one of my sought after species, The Penny Bun. Unlike you though, i couldn't keep a lid on my excitement and was shouting and screaming i was so happy. Now i just have Chicken of The Woods and Chanterelles to find 😁

[@just_alex]

haha I love that finding mushrooms can make a person so happy and excited!

[@1DreadedAngel]

@Just Alex honestly mate I never thought I'd get so excited over fungus 🤣

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

im growing mushrooms for the 1st time OUTSIDE I am so exicted about having them as an addition to my garden/allotment. im so excited!

[@hectormico2112]

You shouldn't use a paper bag, you need to carry the muhsrroms in a wicker basket so the spores can spread while you walk, it is really important for the survival of the species

[@notme1345]

Humans will go extinct before mushrooms ever will

[@blue2mato312]

Just found your channel and it’s great! Good quality filming, editing and narrating. Made me want to start learning and picking mushrooms now. I’m glad you mentioned letting some penny buttons (porcini?) stay to release their spores, there’s always a danger overforaging will deplete our forests/nature of the most popular mushroom species. Here in Norway that would mostly be chantarelles as people mostly pick them above any other. Sustainable foraging, would be great if you would mention that again in the future 🍄

[@zedimo8980]

I’m afraid you owe me a new phone. Absolutely SHIT myself at 17:47. I’m in bed half awake watching this and see a spider on my screen 😂 I’ve smashed the back of my phone 😂😂😂

[@just_alex]

Sorry but I laughed when I read your comment. I feel bad about your broken phone...

[@proskipper1]

Great to see the natural enthusiasm you have - well done for branching off in your own direction - keep up the good work, lovely cinematography as usual you have a great photogenic eye.

[@just_alex]

Thanks!

[@TheLasse1985]

In danish, the penny bun is called Karl Johan and is widely found in pinewoods. The motto of collecting mushrooms is, when in doubt, throw it out. 😊

[@bratkochunky]

Here in Germany we got "Pilzsachverständige" Mushroom Experts . If you have concerns if the Mushroom is poisonous you can show them your yield and they will identify the species . Even in the small city i live in we got some Mushroom Experts . They helped me a lot :)

[@dajodemol9596]

Amazing to see how truly happy you are when doing this. You just made my day!

[@balaclava351]

My name is also Alex and I also like fishing and looking for mushrooms. My personal favourite mushroom is the Liberty Cap :) (p.s. you should give the cap a few flicks before you pick it so it drops its spores).

[@katerachel-boslem3153]

Thank you so much Alex. I've been watching some of your other videos as you've been going through Europe including the one in Slovenia where you stayed in that amazing little Hut in the mountains. The views are stunning. But what I'm really thanking you for is your enthusiasm for Mushrooms so much so that I've ordered the book you mentioned and ordered myself a Mushroom Knife too. The Penny Buttons do look absolutely gorgeous and the question asked about a Girlfriend or Mushrooms made me chuckle. A great Mushroom Video Alex...keep up the good work....

[@erkfx4154]

This is one of the most random videos I have come across, but I clicked, watched, and enjoyed it all! Good stuff!

[@amdo5873]

Hi from Switzerland. I started to get interested in mushroom foraging back in 2017. I reckon by now you know to look for the proper trees that penny buns form symbiosis? If not here they are: Spruce, Oak, Beech, Birch and Pine trees. The ground plants are also very telling. Moss, Gras and Blueberries are good places. Places with Blackberry vines can be skipped all in all. Also you don’t need to wait until Fall. The summer cep can also be found as early as July :).

[@12345KNB]

I can’t wait to see what interesting videos you bring out. Your mushroom videos are very interesting.

[@jessicafalconmetcalfe3959]

This is what I want to do so badly. We moved from Australia to France a couple of years ago and have 17 acres of forest in Brittany. I see mushrooms all the time but don't know enough to try picking them.

[@natureisallpowerful]

Get yourself a book that's how I started. Good luck 👍

[@nostringsattached2388]

man your videos are amazing man! i really hope you get more subs, you eserve it!!

[@deadhead657]

Get that big Fly Agaric down ya neck lad haha... Good luck on the new channel Alex mate you got my sub!

[@-hello-1728]

this video was so interesting and entertaining to watch keep up the great work i love learning new things and your videos are the perfect way to do so

[@HannahBananaknits]

hi alex!!! i'm back to watching your videos, albeit from a different account. love your content! thanks for bringing this into the world

[@neiloultram8104]

keep the videos up buddy . i really enjoy them

[@trevsweb]

Amazing video. Really informative and well shot. Started watching your van life vid but now super interested in bees an mushroom

[@just_alex]

Awesome. Glad you hear you enjoy the videos! :)

[@dannymooren9160]

This was so fun whilst whatching!! Great work, Alex!

[@just_alex]

Cheers for watching!

[@dannymooren9160]

@@just_alex it’s simply extraordinaire!! I have always loved spotting mushrooms, they are beautiful organisms!!

[@quindouglas-johnson896]

Big up Roger Phillips... R.I.P

[@L0B0P1R4T4]

Where I live, we have like 1600 different varieties of mushrooms, more then half of them are edible, and I have a sweet spot for chantarells, I showed some friends and one of them goes out on mushroom hunt every fall and winter to get some. It is nice to share this spot, otherwise I would alone there, so i am with a friend and there is enough for 2 families and even to deshidrate for other time of the year... So, don't fight for the pleasure, share it and then its more pleasure!

[@SwahiliSpicE]

Love this video, packed full of adventure!

[@jaynedavis3388]

You don’t take the whole mushroom when it’s “Chicken of the forest”. You cut bits off & it will grow in another direction & feed someone else

[@redkitegaming289]

I have the same amount of passion of the outdoors as you but I just need to get out there more

[@TheSenselessName]

They can be found in mixed woods.....they pop up when there is wet and rainy weather ;)

[@Menji_x]

I found 2 puff mushrooms in my yard last fall. I accidentally ran over it with my ride on lawnmower and I just see a poof of dust come out. Glad you were able to find your mushrooms!

[@neuralwarp]

I'm working my way through species of mushrooms and meats. Next on my list are morels, chicken-of-the-woods, blewitts, and pennybuns. They're remarkably difficult to source in shops.

[@pazopazo21]

I found the Yellow Stainer. It smelled good. This confused me and I try a very small piece it was OK (I was aware about the type of mushroom). We place the Yellow Stainer into a alergic toxic mushroom. It can cause some stomacheache (and some more inconvient states, but not severe/death) a some peoples. The mushroom looked like amanita rubescens 15:38 (in america not recomendent edible; Europe - edible after cooking {damage hemoglobine} but i would leave it i am not 100% sure it is small. Pennybun - if the pores are green the pores are decay.

[@Pinkmistressvixen]

Using a mesh bag for your harvest will spread spores so that you can find more next year.

[@MartinWiderlov]

Oh man Kantareller as theyre known in sweden is one of the best mushrooms ever, youre definately lucky to find one!

[@pauldawson2711]

Great video Alex and Carl 👍

[@hatimelallouli3129]

Very pleasant content ! One of the best vlogers ever !

[@yaneejitkaeo]

Hi, there. I love watching your videos, I’m passionate about mushrooms and I love foraging for wild mushrooms in the uk as well 👍

[@fishingbrigade]

Alex, absolutly awsome Video. Funny too the that Maxi, Joshi and Victor are the reason you fellt in Love with Mush picking..... Check out an old Video on my Channel Fishing Brigade that I made some years ago in norway.....would be great fun to see what you think about :-) Greets from Scotland

[@ermao2715]

"Get someone who looks at you, like Alex looks at his mushrooms." ❤️😂😂😂

[@chervilgoacher4499]

Love this Alex. My dad gave me a puff ball mushroom to cook up , it was fantastic 🤌. He gets as excited as you about shrooming! I want to find chicken in the woods after watching that!

[@just_alex]

That is awesome!

[@batzpfsaddict2806]

Good video mate something i am just exploring myself

[@funthingsartillery3563]

I just jove nature food and fishing and i don't feel bad about living the life that i want. It is never selfish to have yourself some good time in nature whille we still got it !

[@antnewbon2673]

I made a 3kg batch of shooms soup. From high Brandon. Always when the black grouse were showing. Also between Stanhope and rookhope the tops are filled with them.

[@qlevy7132]

Back when i was a lil kid, i was cycling to School near near the forest and i was always looking for mushrooms while riding back home. Almost 20 years have passed and i still cycle (or walk, its not that far) to this place in search for Porcini or chicken of the woods :) Foraging mushrooms is a great experience once you get into it!

[@prolyhigh]

"You can be whoever you want to be. You can like men, women,......mushrooms" - just alex 2022

[@justmeowth9697]

In the Philippines, some young teens start eating a certain kind of shroom that grows on top of a cow's manure. Apparently, it's psychedelic...

[@lelandpeck4585]

VERY interesting indeed, Alex.

[@nesavonoru]

In Lithuania September, October is prime months for mushroom picking. Me and mom would always go to different forests to pic them. But we would NEVER just RIP the mushroom from the ground. Just cut it as close to the ground as you can. She told me after years of doing that, that i you lucky next year they going to be in the same place. If you take mushroom with "roots" its basically like ripping flower with roots, its not going to grow in that place next time.

[@MrAshprice]

Nice video Alex 👍👍

[@LukeLottering]

Hey I use to forage too From South Africa Penny buns are nice 👌 Yeh sticking to the eadable

[@4Abaddon4]

At 17:36 is a Birch polypore, which is a medicinal mushroom!

[@krzysztofdudek7933]

Algorithm took me here and :) I Love it ! I go mushroom hunting all the time !

[@user-mb4hd7sw7n]

☝️👆☝️👆 Deals with psychedelic mushrooms, acids, and edibles..🍄

[@willewiking98]

i love seeing someone else having this enthusiasm for mushrooms omg

[@wilhelm2398]

Would love to start looking for wild mushrooms but I am a bit afraid of Poisoning myself. Would love a video on the easiest to distinguish mushrooms in the uk and what types of area they grow. Ie woodland field dead wood etc

[@katharinedarbishire7664]

Loved this video, very cool. 🍄

[@just_alex]

Thanks!

[@johannastarck9601]

If you ever want to go Truffel-hunting in switzerland let me know 😁 me and my pup are ready to show you how to finde them, how to cook with them and even on how to train a dog

[@just_alex]

Wow that sounds amazing. What's the best way to message you? Do you have instagram?

[@user-mb4hd7sw7n]

☝️👆☝️👆 Deals with psychedelic mushrooms, acids, and edibles..🍄

[@Mike-jx2uj]

I would recommend Lions Mane mushrooms, incredible side benefits

[@Anonymous...............]

ps wonderful video mate, keep it up!

[@natureisallpowerful]

Love this stuff alex,just subscribed to your channel, cant wait to find my first chicken of the woods

[@just_alex]

Thanks and good luck with the mushroom hunting!

[@natureisallpowerful]

@@just_alex also alex ive been drinking Turkey tail tea lately and I swear I feel loads better, I am Addict in recovery who found a way out through nature, wildcamping and foraging. So for you at such a young age to find this stuff is amazing. 👍🌳🐟🥕🌿🌍⛺

[@Scen1One]

You should never use a plastic bucket or bowl when collecting mushrooms, it will stop the spores from falling and spreading through the forest! Better using a woven basket

[@Anonymous...............]

i hope you never dont get excited thats the true blessing we have of this magnificent gift called life.

[@redkitegaming289]

This vid is so inspiring!

[@_rio_2965]

Tip: cover up the root of the mushroom with some leaves or moss after you picked the mushroom it to keep it warm and safe so it can regrow.

[@jovani71]

love love love your videous.... thanks

[@NoonVia]

never pull the entire shroom from the ground, that kills the mycelium and it won't regrow in the same place or it yield will be 1/5 from previous year. Cut near the ground, always :D

[@kevinstory872]

a hobby that takes you into nature on leasurely walks and rewards you with delicious ingredients, dont know of a better hobby.

[@MorganCourt-cv2eq]

love your videos!

[@melonous9821]

hope the algorithm blesses your channel!

[@themolotokok]

you can caning some species of mushrooms and it is very tasty

[@MelissaM83]

Loved this video ❤️

[@just_alex]

Thank you!!

[@tinkruhak4211]

You are experiencing my life story. Only fishing and mushroom searching can make me excited like that. :D You should come to Croatia, i will take you to best fishing and mushroom foraging place here, Lake Lokve in Gorski Kotar, Croatia. If you want to feel the excitement of catching a huge trout or finding hundreds of amazing types of mushrooms, or even finding a Boletus regius, Royal bolete, the most fascinating kind of boletus, feel free to contact me, it would be my honor to accommodate you ;)

[@just_alex]

Sounds awesome! Can I find you on Instagram?

[@markozecevic992]

You should try buying and trainiging truffle dog me and my dad live in Serbia and we love searching for truffles and mushrooms.

[@sticknmix]

About time you head back to the same spot to see if more have grown back this year 😊

[@just_alex]

I would do but currently in in Slovenia. But the mushroom hunting is amazing here!

[@sticknmix]

@@just_alex yeah might be a little difficult to get back there quickly 😅 either way I'm sure your happy as a pig in mud looking for mushrooms over there haha

[@shannonwhitlatch5101]

Such a nice voice and speaking style :-)

[@willewiking98]

22:08 great life philosophy

[@niko8798]

tip for the next time, don't pick it out of the ground with the bottom, cause that is how they grow next year, out of little stem root part. rather cut it with a knife and leave the root part in the ground.

[@elmstreet7982]

i love this dude

[@amvbusspotting845]

17:45 that spider scared the life out of me

[@thatrandomguy2374]

great video

[@sibb323]

Mushrooms grow behind my house by the riverside. I can't really identify them and i usually just like to punt them into the river lol