With small caps and stems sprouting from the soil beneath, they’re found growing in your yard, a park, near the trunk of a tree with more complexity than many realize.

Mushrooms can be found in many places, but for those who want to expand their knowledge about fungi, an organization at MU, Fungi Are Everywhere, gives people that opportunity.  

Fungi Are Everywhere is an MU organization where people can learn all aspects of mushrooms — including mushroom identification — so they know which ones to eat, as well as foraging to locate mushrooms in nearby areas and learning with others who share the same interest. 

The study of mushrooms doesn’t exclusively revolve around consumption, but fungi’s ability to recycle nutrients in the soil, offer health benefits and can be used as meat alternatives. 

AJ Fuchs, the founder and previous president of the organization, said he wanted Fungi Are Everywhere to cover all aspects of mushrooms due to the abundance of educational opportunities that many may not be familiar with or do not have the opportunity to dive deeper into learning about. 

Mushrooms became a significant part of Fuchs’ life after discovering the mushroom cultivation and cleaning process, helping him learn what was best for taking care of himself. He knew mushrooms were not talked about in other clubs, so he wanted to share his passion with others as well. 

In fall of 2021, some of the organization’s first projects included creating a mushroom garden and offering mushroom workshops for students, according to Fuchs. The mushroom garden was assembled at the Ashland Greenhouses where members laid soil, cardboard and straw beneath mushroom spawn — the seeds of the mushroom — followed by spreading wood chips above to initiate mushroom growth. Wine caps (stropharia rugosoannulata) and oyster mushrooms (pleurotus ostreatus) were used in the mushroom garden. 

Fuchs remembers the impact that the workshop had on people who participated and how much he enjoyed the community of everyone working together during the events. 

“[I enjoyed] seeing people learn about mushrooms and get together to talk about stuff they like,” Fuchs said. “I saw that at the last workshop we did and it’s just cool to see these people post random pictures of mushrooms in the group chat and meet in person, hang out and learn about stuff.”

The mushroom cultivation process is a topic Fuchs wants members to also consider. Silas Smith, a current member, explained how learning about the cultivation process during the mushroom workshop was his most memorable event from the organization so far. 

Created in 2021, Fungi Are Everywhere aims to branch out to more people interested in mycology — the study of fungi — and mushroom culture. Callie Brinkman, the current president, joined the organization this year to spread more information about the organization and reach her goals of hosting more foraging events and learning about the medicinal and culinary purposes of mushrooms.

Brinkman immerses herself in learning about fungi because of its healing and culinary benefits, and has bought several books for reference. 

“I love mycology and how important it is to our world,” Brinkman said. “Being able to share that information brings me joy.” 

Smith emphasizes that no matter the amount of experience or familiarity with mushrooms, Fungi Are Everywhere is an environment where people from all backgrounds of knowledge can express their mushroom passion with each other in a unique learning opportunity.  

Edited by Lucy Valeski | lvaleski@themaneater.com

Copy edited by Matt Guzman and Grace Knight