Mushroom work shop

Join the autumn nature with other mushroom and mushroom picking enthusiasts for a whole weekend in Forssa nearby nature, Liesjärvi and Torronsuo National Parks, as well as in the Saari Folk Park!

Immerse yourself in the world of Finnish superfood with nature teacher Tarja Jaakkola. Let's cook together and get ingredients from nature together.

During the mushroom picking workshop, you will get tips on using mushrooms at home in everyday life and advice on how to identify mushrooms.

The first day begins with afternoon tea, continues with a mushroom picking walk and a picking trip to the nearby nature, after which a wild dinner is prepared together from the catch and the evening is crowned with a sauna and exchange of ideas. Luppo's library has something to read for those who need it in the evening. The night is spent sleeping in a cozy single or double room.

The second day starts with breakfast, which gives you a boost for a morning mushroom trip in the nearby terrain. The mushroom catch is prepared peacefully together for a tasty lunch, which is enjoyed with conversation at a large table. In the afternoon, we gather experiences and relax with tea.

“A green shirt flashes through the willow branches. I can hear the sounds of silent splashing and scuffle. I press myself lower in the underbrush, behind the willow tree. I move my foot; it slips down into an underwater dent and I suddenly have water up to my knee. A muskrat hole. The hem of my skirt gets soaked. Grandma thinks girls should wear skirts but this is why one shouldn’t wear shoes. One pair of wellies has already been lost in the muskrat’s clutches. The sedges and mud under bare feet feel cold. Suddenly someone smacks into me from behind. I fall face first into the water. I hear the taunts and ‘neener’ from behind me as I spit peat out of my mouth. Dammit. Next time I must be careful and move more quietly. My clothes are soaked but it doesn’t matter. We climb on top of the boulders on the shore which are spotted with seagull droppings to sit and dry our clothes. Chatting and planning the next make-believe games. The large spruce trees in the shoreline forests seem tempting. We decide to climb as high up as we can. Lets go! Bare toes are the best for climbing; the resin is easier to wash off from your heels than your shirt. The rough bark crunches nicely and feels warm after the cool lake water. The birds escape from the trees; a squirrel scuttles further away from us. Grandma treads the yard down below.

The branches create a green, leafy haven. A secret hideout. Here we are safe from everything; friends together. Blue sky glints beyond the foliage. Birds soar through the wide blue expanse; it calls to us too. We climb higher and not a single thought is spared for how we’re to climb back down. It’s not important. There’s always a way down; that much we’ve learned. Only the way up is what matters. The goal. The dream.”

This is probably where it all started, the summers spent at grandma’s, who knows? Studies, as well as common sense, tell us that the nature relationship one has as a child has positive effects also later in life. Nature gives a sense of importance, strength and wellbeing. Nature amazes, time after time, with its incredible diversity. I became a wilderness guide and nature teacher. I love this experience guide job. I love to show others what nature can be and what it means to me and all of us.

Interest and enthusiasm for mushrooms, as well as the desire to spend time with like-minded people, is a requirement for participating in the workshop. Lupo's interior is accessible. However, the terrains are not suitable for everyone, but they are fairly easy to traverse. Ask more about accessibility by phone or email. Bring indoor and outdoor clothing, good shoes and sauna accessories, and a mushroom basket.