Free wild mushroom event February 22

The class is at the Felt Estate, sponsored by parks commission.

Chris Swinson of Mycophile’s Garden is leading the Wild Mushroom Identification program at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at the Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave. Photo provided

The second free indoor program sponsored by the Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission is mushrooming in popularity.

“Wild Mushroom Identification” by Chris Swinson of Mycophile’s Garden is 1 p.m. Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the Carriage House at the Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave.

This free introductory class will focus on providing participants with the best resources for learning to identify both edible and toxic wild mushrooms that grow in Michigan. The class will discuss the physical features of mushrooms and terminology, and where and when to find different species.

“This will be a very well attended program,” said Mary Jo Bertolino of the parks commission. Bertolino organized the winter events.

The event will include items for sale such as mushroom grow blocks, fresh mushrooms, jerky and mushroom tincture.

“I am excited about this program and if it is as well received as I expect, I may have to ask him to come up with a secondary program for next year,” Bertolino said.

The events continue

This is the second in a series of free winter classes.

The first was a hands-only CPR class taught by the Graafschap Fire Department in January.

Mary Jo Bertolino of the Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission, introduces the first indoor winter parks program at the Felt Mansion on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. The class taught CPR techniques.

On Saturday, March 29 at 10 a.m., join West Michigan CISMA and the Allegan Conservation District to learn how to identify and manage common woody invasive species and explore the impacts of the forest pest hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) on West Michigan.

The event is at the Carriage House at the Felt Estate.

An April program on butterfly gardens is pending.