Nature pleases the residents of the Northern capital with generous gifts – chanterelles, aspen mushrooms and porcini mushrooms. In which forest a big catch awaits you and what you need to take with you, RosBalt found out.
Where to look for mushroom spots
Avid mushroom pickers in St. Petersburg noticed back in the spring that this year they would be expecting baskets full of forest gifts.
“The year is really very mushroomy, despite the fact that the winter season was not abundant (yes, mushrooms near St. Petersburg can be picked in winter – for example, winter honey mushrooms and oyster mushrooms). I caught chanterelles in the north of the region, and then I picked porcini mushrooms,” said Klim Astafyev.
At first, mushroom picking was just a hobby, but recently it has begun to bring in a small income.
“This activity brings me pleasure, I like to spend time in nature. Recently I created a group in which I sell mushrooms – fresh (I collect on request) and frozen,” the mushroom hunter explained.
As a true mushroom picker, Klim does not reveal the places of a large catch, but shared with RosBalt the direction: “At the moment, mushrooms are actively growing in mixed forests, where birch, aspen and spruce grow. If you want to find chanterelles, then it is better to go to the north of the region – to the Vyborg and Priozersk districts. Also in mixed forests (birch spruce) and on the borders with pine forests, waves of porcini, aspen and birch boletes have gradually appeared.”
Mushrooms are literally everywhere, Vera Nikishina said.
“We have a wonderful community on VKontakte called “Mushrooms and Mushroom Pickers St. Petersburg“, where we share photo reports and stories about mushroom picking trips. I picked mushrooms near the village of Bolshaya Izhora (in the Lomonosovsky district) on the weekend. Last week I went to visit a friend near Vyritsa (Gatchinsky district). We picked chanterelles, porcini mushrooms, and birch boletes, and even some “red” ones. But, of course, you need to feel and see the forest. For example, near Izhora it is visible and passable, while near Vyritsa, on the contrary, there are many windfall areas. And so, mushrooms are brought from Tosnensky, Priozersk, Luzhsky and other districts of the region. The only thing that upsets me is that the percentage of wormy mushrooms is growing. What I categorically do not advise is picking mushrooms near roads, they contain the entire periodic table. But I can dispel the misconceptions about the harm of twisting mushrooms – do it the way that is more convenient for a specific type: a dense, plump boletus can be gently rocked from side to side and twisted, and a fragile russula can be cut off. The mycelium is located quite deep – if you do not tear the soil deep, you will not damage it,” the woman shared.
Duct tape will help you “fix” yourself in the forest
For those who are going to go into the forest for the first time, Klim Astafyev gave some advice.
“The first time, it’s better to take someone who has already gone mushroom picking. This will help you not to get lost, and you will quickly get your bearings on how to pick mushrooms. Many people advise taking a compass with you, but I think this is a stupid idea, because you need to at least know how to use it, and not everyone has such skills (especially beginners). Advice on navigating by the sun is also unlikely to help you – it is a rare guest in St. Petersburg. For a start, it is better to walk only along the edges of forests or stick to some forest roads.”
In addition to the usual matches, a basket and a knife, it is worth taking some electrical tape with you.
“It’s easy to cut yourself in the forest, and it’s difficult to treat a wound well in ‘field conditions.’ That’s why it’s better to have large bandages or duct tape with you. I once found myself in such a situation – I was getting out of a swamp with a cut. It was disgusting, so now I always carry something with me that I can use to cover the wound,” Astafyev noted.
Animals in the forest do not pose much of a threat unless you approach them closely.
“Carrying a knife or any other means of protection is pointless. An unprepared person will not be able to kill an elk or a wild boar on their own. Therefore, the main rule is not to touch anyone and not to come close. The other day, I myself met the inhabitants of the forest. First I saw an elk, and then, after walking literally a kilometer, a wild boar. This happened because of the weather – the animals were resting and did not go anywhere. Nothing terrible happened to me – I left in time, did not approach them. To avoid a snake bite, it is enough to simply look under your feet, although they often crawl away from a person on their own. Mostly snakes live near water bodies, and also like to bask on stones and stumps – in these places you need to be especially careful,” the mushroom picker concluded.
He also noted that it would be better to take mosquito protection with you – a mosquito hat, because sprays do not help much.
Arina Kuleshova
Source: www.rosbalt.ru
