Gary Lincoff said something interesting to me 8 years ago.
We were sitting at a picnic table during a mushroom foray in Pennsylvania. He just finished giving a presentation on edible mushrooms and agreed to sit down for an interview.
My plan was to ask him several questions about his life as a mycologist. The interview turned into a monologue instead. I asked Gary two questions and he spoke for 30 minutes. I didn’t mind. Almost everything he said was quote-worthy.
One statement in particular really caught my attention.
“Just to name mushrooms… after a while it gets boring.”
This surprised me. Gary was the author of one of the greatest mushroom field guides of all time. He must’ve thought that mushroom identification deserved at least some recognition. He led mushroom identification walks. He taught mushroom identification classes. He had a name for almost every mushroom he saw.
Yet there he was, admitting to me that names become boring after a while.
Before I could ask Gary to elaborate on his statement, he was already talking about the connections between plants and mushrooms, how he liked finding things that puzzled him, and how he really wanted to know the roles of organisms in the forest.
Collecting names, I realized, wasn’t Gary’s goal. It wasn’t mine either, and as I listened to his picnic table sermon, I was oddly reassured. Gary preached ecological literacy. His words were confirmation that humans are capable of connecting with nature in more fulfilling ways.
In a brand new video, I show you all the amazing things a single mushroom can teach you when ecological literacy is your goal.
Thanks for reading and watching, and thanks for your continued support!
-Adam Haritan
Have you ever said to yourself or others, “My garden is my therapy?” If you have noticed that you feel more relaxed and even rejuvenated after imbibing the beauty, fragrance, and even hard work in your garden, you are not alone! Gardening provides physical exercise, as well as a rewarding intellectual and emotional connection. When recognized on a personal level, it is not a stretch to see how people in a wide variety of care environments who are facing diverse personal challenges can benefit from professionally facilitated horticultural experiences as well.
The profession of horticultural therapy (HT) was formalized in the early 1970s, though people have sought out gardens and gardening activities for respite and health recovery well before then. The practice of horticultural therapy involves a plant-based activity, a horticultural therapist, client(s), and identified treatment goals and objectives. Either in a group or as individuals, clients participate in outdoor…
Paths I Walk 