Einführungsseminar Pilze

Compact course with online module and practical day

This mushroom foraging course is aimed at beginners who want to quickly acquire a solid foundation for safe foraging. The format has been deliberately designed to be compact and does not replace a multi-year study of mycology, but it does provide a solid foundation for independent practice in the forest. The aim of the course is to reliably identify the 5 to 10 most common and relevant edible mushroom species, classify them correctly, and avoid typical risks of confusion.

The aim of the course is to reliably identify the 5 to 10 most common and relevant edible mushroom species, classify them correctly, and avoid typical confusion risks. The focus is not on the number of species, but on the reliability of identification. Participants also learn explicitly when mushrooms should not be collected.

The course is led by experienced mushroom expert Victor Grönke. The full-day practical session in the forest is preceded by a 1.5-hour online module in which the necessary theoretical basics are taught. This allows the excursion to focus entirely on practical identification work. Didactic approach and focus on safety

Didactic approach and focus on safety

The course combines digital knowledge transfer with intensive field work. The aim is to significantly reduce the risk involved in collecting wild mushrooms. Due to the complexity of the subject matter, the course is intended as a structured introduction. Advanced courses are available for those who wish to delve deeper into the subject. Upon completion, participants will have mastered the essential identifying features of selected key species and will have clear decision-making criteria for when a find must be discarded. In addition, participants will have learned how to properly store and prepare mushrooms.

Upon completion, participants will have mastered the essential identification characteristics of selected key species and will have clear decision-making criteria for when a find must be discarded. In addition, legal frameworks and ecological contexts will be taught.

Contents
Online module (1.5 hours, evening before)

Structure of the mushroom fruiting body: gills, pores, stem, cap, and special features such as ring and sheath

Legal basis: collection rules, protected areas, permitted harvesting quantities

Location knowledge: suitable and unsuitable collection sites, soil contamination

Assessment of edibility: age, decomposition, infestation

Overview of the most common edible mushroom species

Lifestyle and ecological requirements as an identification aid

The online session will be recorded and made available afterward. Practical day in the forest (full day)

Practical day in the forest (full day)

Fungi in the ecosystem: substrates, mycorrhizal partners, and habitat binding

Systematic identification on site using identification keys

Reliable differentiation between edible species and relevant poisonous mushrooms

Application of structured decision rules for practical use

Learning materials and follow-up

All participants will receive access to the digital learning platform. This includes the recording of the online module, presentation slides, and a curated literature list. In addition, a bound seminar script will be provided, making the content permanently accessible.

Dates, location, and organization

Berlin 2026 – Intensive mushroom picking course

September 11, 2026 | 5:30–7:00 p.m. – Online module

September 12, 2026 | 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. – Practical day in the forest

Location: Area around the Wannsee S-Bahn station (Berlin)

Maximum group size: 14 people


Seminar leader: Victor Grönke