Episode description
Today on the Mushroom Hour Podcast we are graced by the presence of Melissa Waddingham founder of Truffle and Mushroom Hunter. As a professional truffle hunter, Melissa respectfully and sustainably searches for truffles with her trained canine companions. She has studied forestry and woodland management and exudes a passion for woodlands and their association with mushrooms and truffles. Her work has given her a reverence for the delicate truffle woodland ecology and its sustainability. It is a rare environment crucial for not only her beloved truffles, but also the well-being of trees in areas of poor nutrients. In pursuing this work, Melissa has created a mushroom and truffle foraging business where she does it all - training truffle hounds, leading truffle hunting courses, performing woodland surveys in search of truffle presence or potential and collaborating with landowners to nurture environments for truffle cultivation.
TOPICS COVERED:
- Introduction to Fungi Through the Stomach
- Discovering Truffles
- Truffle Habitat - England vs Portugal
- Truffle Clues & Aromas
- Engaging the Senses
- Ecology & Life of Truffles
- Special Relationship with a Truffle Dog
- What Types of Dogs can Hunt Truffles?
- Traits of Good Truffle Dogs
- Training a Truffle Dog
- Learning the Language of Your Truffle Dog
- Advice for Beginning the Truffle Hunting Journey
- Surveying Forests for Truffles
- Truffle Cultivation Industry
EPISODE RESOURCES:
- Truffle & Mushroom Hunter Website: https://truffleandmushroomhunter.com/
- Truffle & Mushroom Hunter FB: https://www.facebook.com/truffleandmushroomhunter/
- Truffle & Mushroom Hunter IG: https://www.instagram.com/truffleandmushroomhunter/
- Lagotto Romagnolo (Italian Truffle Hunting Dog): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagotto_Romagnolo
- Ian Hall: http://www.trufflesandmushrooms.co.nz/
- Amanita caesarea (Fungus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita_caesarea