Today on Mushroom Hour we have the privilege of speaking with Courtney Tyler. Courtney is the founder of Hips and Haws Wildcrafts, based in the Wicklow mountains of Ireland. Hips and Haws is a project all about wild food, fermentation, folk herbalism, fungi, foraging and wildcrafting- which is making food or medicine from plants and mushrooms sourced from the wild.  She is a keen forager and spends much time wandering the hedgerows and forests of Ireland, searching for wild edibles to preserve as food or medicine or to add to her collection of fermented food and drinks. She passes her knowledge on through her foraging walks and tours, workshops, crafting and recipes. Her passion, knowledge, and her clarity in explaining and sharing her excitement inspires us to re-kindle our connection to the wild around and within us.   

TOPICS COVERED:   

• Modernity Fatigue, Seeking Connection & Escaping to Nature  
• Finding Solace in Herbalism & Natural Medicine  
• Developing a Connection to Ireland in the Wilds of Wicklow   
• Foraging as a Physical & Spiritual Practice   
• Forage Seasons in Ireland   
• Resurgence of Wild Food Appreciation   
• Forest Composition in Ireland   
• Sitka Spruce Plantations & Groves of Porcini   
• Amanita muscaria Culinary & Medicinal Uses   
• Destigmatizing Amanita muscaria   
• Woodland Wizard Fergus Drennan   
• Creative Preparations of Medicinal Plants & Mushrooms   
• Magic of Koji   
• Future Vanlife Adventures   

EPISODE RESOURCES:   

• Hips & Haws Website: https://www.hipsandhaws.com/   
• H&H Wildcrafts IG: https://www.instagram.com/hipsandhawswildcrafts/   
• H&H Wildcrafts FB: https://www.facebook.com/hipsandhawswildcrafts/   
• Wicklow County Ireland: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicklow   
• Amanita muscaria: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita_muscaria   
• Fomitopsis betulina (Birch Polypore): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fomitopsis_betulina   
• Inonotus obliquus (Chaga): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inonotus_obliquus   
• Fergus Drennan: https://www.instagram.com/fergustheforager/