Daniel grew up collecting and eating wild mushrooms in the Alps and is sharing his enthusiasm as a mushroom educator, photographer and guide. Daniel published his Fruits of the Forest – Field Guide to Pacific Northwest Edible Mushrooms (available at mushroaming.com), a product of a life time of mushroom hunting, nearly 30 years on the West Coast.
In his presentations he is combining his stunning photography with a blend of entertaining stories and scientific information. As an ecologist and geographer Daniel focused on High Asia towards researching Tibet's enormous fungal economy. His ethno-mycological Cordyceps research has been featured in National Geographic, New York Times, The Economist, NPR, BBC World Service etc.
With his travel agency MushRoaming Daniel has organized mushroom focused eco-adventures since 2007; current destinations are Bhutan and Colombia.
Previously he published a series of fold-out field guides:
Fungal Fruits of the Forest - Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms of the California North Coast
Mushrooms grow in abundance in California nearly year around. Some are poisonous, many of no culinary value, some are medicinal and a select group is some of the best food to enjoy. The West Coast is the region richest in edible mushroom in North America, maybe the Western hemisphere. Our choice edible mushrooms such as morels, chanterelles, hedgehogs, king boletes, and bear heads &lion manes are fairly easy to identify, a fact that helps overcoming irrational fungophobia and truly appreciate wild mushrooms. In addition, many good edibles have so far underappreciated medicinal qualities and otherwise inedible conks offer great healing powers.
The Mycological Society of San Francisco has been hosting 1 or 2 Fungus Fairs each year since 1969. Fairs have been held in San Francisco County, Alameda County, San Mateo County, and Marin County. Historical information is available about previous Fungus Fairs: