The Courier
NEWS
Mushrooms Find a Home in Richfield
Fungus is everywhere, and thank goodness it is. Without fungus, dead things (plants and animals) would lie around for a long time making our world very unattractive, and... elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus provided by decomposition would be unavailable to growing plants. There are an estimated 2.2 to 3.8 million different species of fungus, which includes yeasts, rusts, smuts, mildews, molds, and the one some of us are interested in eating - mushrooms. The most common type of edible mushrooms you’ll find at the store are Button and/or Portobello mushrooms (they're actually the same mushroom - button are young and Portobello are mature). Depending on where you shop, you might find Oyster mushrooms or Shiitake (these are often dried). If you are into Asian food, Enoki and Maitake mushrooms are a must have addition to your meal. And, of course, there is the prized Morel mushroom which only grows in the wild, making it a hot commodity amongst chefs. While mushrooms are a delicious way to add lots of nutrition to your diet, as well as new flavors and textures to your food, they are not without risk. Edible mushrooms can look very similar to mushrooms that are poisonous, some of which will cause an agonizing and horrible death. So, how do we avoid this unpleasantness? By finding someone - an expert - who can identify and grow edible mushrooms... someone like Zackary Wood at Ironwood Mycology in Richfield. Zack grew up in Richfield, Idaho, and enjoyed the agriculture life as well as spending many hours outdoors hunting and fishing. After high school, he earned a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Arizona State University. He then worked for several aerospace companies around the country, fabricating electric thrusters for satellites and spacecraft, as well as researching state-of-the-art electric propulsion. While living and working in Massachusetts, Zack fell in love with mushrooms. In the dense forest behind his house, Zack foraged edible mushrooms of every variety. It was there he started thinking, "Could this be a business?" Then, about two years ago, his wife Lahela started teaching English at the Richfield School. Soon after, they had the opportunity to purchase the old LDS church on Main Street. The old boiler-room was a perfect place to start growing mushrooms. Ironwood Mycology is just starting but you can find their products at Friday's Market in Richfield, or beginning in June, at the Shoshone Farmers Market. You can also get your edible fungus direct from the source by calling Zack at (808) 285-8255 or by visiting his website: ironwoodmycology.com You can see a ton of beautiful photos on his facebook page along with lots of ideas for enjoying and eating this wonderful, locally grown treat.
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
May 3, 2023
Vol 48 Num 17
National Forest Extends Seasonal Closures
Press Release
The Sawtooth National Forest has issued four orders extending seasonal closures into May on all districts and the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Seasonal closures on the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and the Ketchum and Fairfield ranger districts usually end April 30, and the seasonal closure on the Minidoka Ranger District usually ends May 15. “With the above average snowfall this past winter, many forest roads remain covered with snow, or the road surfaces are extremely soft. These conditions create the possibility of motorists getting stuck or creating deep ruts, ” said Forest Engineer Shawn Robnett. “Each district staff will monitor conditions and remove roads from the closures as snow melts and roads can be accessed safely.” Legal descriptions of the closure areas can be found on the Sawtooth National Forest website’s Alerts & Notices webpage, https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sawtooth/alerts-notices. Permits issued to allow landowner access to seasonally closed roads will be extended until the closure orders are lifted. Some of the closed roads are tied to seasonal restrictions detailed on Motor Vehicle Use Maps. These maps are available for review online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/sawtooth/mapspubs and through the Avenza Maps application on personal devices. Hard copies of the maps are available at all Sawtooth National Forest Offices. Visitors who have questions about the closures are encouraged to contact the offices of the district they are interested in accessing. Contact information for all districts is available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sawtooth/about-forest/offices.