Maine brings mycology to the masses When I moved to Maine in 2015 the state’s beautiful shoreline, food, beer, and agricultural scene had won me over. I got my ag. growing chops in Vermont but the ocean ultimately won out, and I chose the Gulf of Maine over the Green Mountains of Vermont partially because it felt like what was happening in Maine aligned more closely with the salty attitude I had grown to love. Mushrooms were mostly frowned upon growing up as a harbinger of decay, darkness, mystery, and at worst, poison — probably best to just stay away. On one fortuitous day in 2010 however, I went into the woods with a couple friends and found a handful of morels. I was psyched to add mushrooms to the list of foraged treasures that I could identify along with roadside elderberries, autumn olives, and ramps. I was soon gifted a copy of Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms by Paul Stamets from a friend in Vermont, and my interest was further piqued…