I’m particularly fond of this time of year, when the days are still warm but the nights are cooler, and autumn seems to be slowly settling in! It’s an ideal combination for forest mushroom season (well, there’s a bit of rain missing, but it would be hard to complain). Recently, my boyfriend and I had the chance to spend a day in the forest at the sentiers pédestres Saint-Marcel, surrounded by outdoor enthusiasts, local produce and wild mushrooms!
An exciting workshop
A great plan put forward by Les Escapades (link in french), an organisation that designs unique agri-tourism experiences in the L’Islet region, to showcase local products and know-how through encounters with artisans whose passion is contagious. It’s a mission that speaks volumes to me, and one that I can confirm has been a success through the activities we’ve been able to enjoy alongside them. With collaborators like Élisabeth Cardin, Julie Aubé, Christian Bégin and so many other inspiring people, we can’t help but want to follow in their footsteps!
For our part, we fell under the spell of Sébastien Royer, mycologist and experienced guide for over 25 years. His authenticity, simplicity and humour, but above all his in-depth knowledge of mushrooms, made the workshop captivating.
After a more theoretical session in which Sébastien explained the basics of mushroom picking (and some important warnings), we followed him along the trails on a magical treasure hunt full of fun and surprises.
