Picking mushrooms in the woods on a sunny day can be fun for the whole family . . . but only if you do it safely! Here mushrooms are divided into four identification categories so anyone can recognize what they are looking for—and forage without worry!

There are thousands of different species of fungi, so it can be hard to tell which are edible and poisonous when you are picking them for yourself in the wild. Safe and unsafe species often closely resemble each other, and worrying about which mushrooms are safe and which might be deadly can take all the fun out of mushrooming. Enter Mushrooming with Confidence!

Improving on the usual overwhelming and exhaustive wild plant guidebook, Mushrooming with Confidence is a slim, handy manual that focuses on the tastiest and most common mushrooms to easily spot those that are safe to eat and a delight; to cook and share!

Here mushrooms are divided into four identification categories so that anyone can recognize what they are looking at quickly and correctly. Thirty of the most common and delicious types are explained in detail, from the common field mushroom to the pretty purple amethyst deceiver and the prolific and tasty charcoal burner. Each mushroom includes a “Positive ID Checklist” that the reader can go through to be sure they have the suitable species, and more than 300 color photographs make it a snap to know precisely what kind of mushroom you’ve found . . . and whether you want to pick it!

With lists of the best tools for mushrooming, the best techniques for getting a mushroom out of the ground in one piece, and even how to remove worms, Mushrooming with Confidence will extinguish any fear or doubt that might stop you from hunting down your delicious mushrooms. This will prove a fun and essential guide for novice and experienced pickers alike!

The Mother Earth News Collector Series: Modern Homesteading isn’t just for the person living on a homestead. It’s for the person who wants to be more self-reliant, the gardener who wants to increase their harvest, the cook who wants to expand their recipes, and more. Inside this issue, you’ll read valuable information on raising ducks, bees, and other animals, growing seeds to make your own clothing, constructing a wind generator, installing garden fences, making homegrown olive oil, and more.

All the different aspects of homesteading can seem daunting, but with the expert advice and guidance found cover to cover this special issue, you’ll be able to take the next step toward a more independent lifestyle.

Articles include:

• Coppicing Trees for Sustainable Firewood – You can grow firewood in a fraction of the time it takes to raise a tree from seed.
• Want Milk? Get Goats – Dairy goats can supply your family with fresh milk inexpensively. The fun is just the bonus.
• Natural Insect Repellents – Don’t get bugged out! Follow these simple DIY recipes to keep pests at bay.
• Start a Quick and Easy Food Garden – This season-by-season planting plan for a no-dig, easy-care bag garden features 25 favorite crops.
• Brew Backyard Root Beer – With a little experimentation, you can learn how to make your own version of this historic, herb-infused soda using foraged ingredients.
• And more!