Like it or not, Fall is nearly here. A time when the air cools, the nights are (gasp!) dark, deciduous trees lose their leaves after a much too short senescence, and the fungi start making their presence known. Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi, and can be compared to apples produced by a tree. Fungi are not plants, however, nor are they animals. Fungi have a kingdom all to their own and fill many vital roles in the environment, including decomposition, parasitism, and mutualistic symbioses with nearly 90 percent of all terrestrial plants. Every single tree in Girdwood relies on several species of fungi on its roots to assist with nutrient and water absorption and defend it from underground attacks. In the Fall when these trees begin their “winterization process”, fungi take the reduction in sugars as a sign to reproduce and start producing mushrooms. Lucky for us, many of these species are not only a beautiful sight, but are also delicious to eat.
This year Girdwood will be hosting a different kind of fair than we’re used to, there will be no beer gardens or parades however there will be plenty of fun …. with fungi! The Girdwood Fungus Fair Friday, Sept. 5 is a free event (with the exception of a few workshops and dinner) that is open to the public.
The majority of the event will take place in the new Girdwood Community Center located next to the fire hall. The Fungus Fair will feature events centered on expanding local knowledge of fungi in the Girdwood area through a series of talks by local experts, guided mushroom forays, mushroom cultivation and crafts workshops, a mushroom display, the Fun-guy/Fun-gal Fun Run, Mushroom Movie night, and the Fungus Fair “Formal”.
The “Formal” will be a fundraising event featuring a 5-course gourmet fungus feast with wine pairings followed by a live auction at the Hotel Alyeska. All proceeds from this event, as well as t-shirt sales, will go towards future Fungus Fairs and Girdwood Community projects. This year’s beneficiary will be the Girdwood Skate Park, which is in need of renovation.
We hope the success of this First Annual tribute to Girdwood fungi will translate to an annual event, one that will attract experts from across the country that can continue to expand our local knowledge as well as raise funds for important community projects. For more information on the event including a detailed schedule of events check out www.fungusfair.com.