drummerac

Points: 2,383, Level: 29

Activity: 99%

Its nearly time for Mushroom and berry collecting in Finland. Do any of you plan to go, or has anyone actually done it yet? I would be interested in hearing about your adventures and maybe some photos of your collections.

I know Finns love collecting berries and mushrooms, and they can be bought in the markets during the harvest time.

Kylie

Points: 1,505, Level: 22

Activity: 99%

Oooooh I wanna do this but I don't have a clue how to go about it

drummerac

Points: 2,383, Level: 29

Activity: 99%

Maybe you can organise an outing, or the moderators can!

Ingrid

Points: 1,202, Level: 19

Activity: 0%

I haven't picked mushrooms and berries in Finland yet though I went for a small walk in woods two days ago but I have collected a lot of mushrooms/berries in Estonia and I think it doesn't much differ from Finland in this question.

If you plan to go to woods take yourself time. I'd suggest to go in the morning because if you don't know the very right spot where to pick things it might take some time finding mushrooms and berries. People who have been picking berries/mushrooms for years usually have their own place in woods where they know the berries/mushrooms grow. So maybe ask a local about it when choosing a place to go I really don't see a point of going to woods and then come back with just few berries. And there are some poisonous mushrooms growing in woods too, so make sure you won't pick them! Punakärpässieni is one of the most common poisonous mushrooms you can find in Finland.

And dress suitably! I went to a small walk in woods here in Finland few days ago and some girls came with short skirts and high-heels these are definitely not the clothes to wear in woods! I know it might sound a bit weird but there are people who aren't used to woods and then try to find their best clothes to wear.

As I have my weekends free this far I'm hoping to go to woods as well to pick some berries for myself too as I'm not a big fan of mushrooms but berries are just the best!

Ekenäs

Points: 800, Level: 14

Activity: 33%

I just went and did it one day back in the autumn. My neighbour was going so I went with him. He showed my lots of different mushrooms and I have a freezer full of them for the winter. This year wasn't so good for blueberries but there were plenty of lingonberries around.

Myself and my better half have gone several times this year picking mushrooms. There are plenty of websites giving photos and descriptions of mushrooms you can and can't eat and ways to cook them.

Personally I wear a net, tape on the end of long sleeves and tape on my welly boots to keep the damn mosquitoes and mooseflies off.