Discover the hidden world beneath your feet!
Join us for a 90-minute guided tour through one of the most unique farms in Upstate South Carolina.

https://shop.mushroommountain.com/products/mushroom-mountain-farm-tour-april-23-2026-easley-sc

This 5-year certification course meets the state health department criteria for the foraging and selling of wild mushrooms in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Rhode Island.

https://shop.mushroommountain.com/products/wild-mushroom-food-safety-certification-online-5-year-state-approved-permit-training-april-25-26-2026

Due to the convenience and demand for virtual access, this class will be held entirely online via Zoom, making it easier for anyone across the country to attend! You will receive the same high-quality instruction, study materials, and interactive learning experience—all from the comfort of your own home.

Upon registration, participants will receive a study guide and class slides one month in advance of the course. These materials will help you prepare for the live Zoom sessions and the final exam.

Class Highlights:

Interactive Online Format: Join the class from anywhere with live, virtual lessons and real-time Q&A.

Comprehensive Study Materials: Access your study guide and slides a month ahead to ensure you’re fully prepared.

Certification for Safe Wild Mushroom Foraging and Selling: Upon successful completion of the course and exams, you’ll receive your 5-year certification.

Limited Enrollment: Class size is limited to 40 participants to ensure a personalized and engaging experience. No refunds available, but transfers to another class may be possible in emergencies.

Course Schedule (subject to change):

Day 1:

• 9:00 AM: Virtual Arrival and Registration
• 9:15 AM: Permit Overview, Exam Description, and Mushroom Foraging Guidelines
• Topics: Safe harvesting, storage, packaging, and regulations across different states
• Focus: Handling and processing for resale, avoiding toxins, and ensuring safety
• 10:30 AM: Virtual Mushroom Hunt and Collection Overview
• 12:00 PM: Break (Lunch on your own; please bring your own)
• 1:00 PM: Gallery of Tested Species and Lookalikes (Interactive online discussion)
• 3:00-4:00 PM: Specimen Dissections and Discussion (fresh and dried examples)
• 4:00-5:00 PM: Review and Preparation for Exam 1

Day 2:

• 9:00 AM: Online Exam 1
• 10:00 AM: Gallery of Permitted Mushroom Species and Features
• 11:00 AM-1:00 PM: Lunch Break (Use this time to review on your own using the study slides)
• 1:00-5:00 PM: Final Exam and Certification

Instructor:

Kenny Rupert has been building his mycological expertise for over 23 years, studying the nuances of fungi identification while keeping up with the ever-changing taxonomy. He has held positions as the business manager and wild edibles teacher for No Taste Like Home, teacher for Mushroom Mountain's Wild Mushroom Certification class, and local mushroom expert and manager for Wild Purveyors. He is the administrator of several identification groups throughout the United States and a few internationally. Today he leads mushroom tours all over North Carolina and across the southeast.

Course Details:

• When: April 25-26, 2026 (SAT-SUN), 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
• Where: Online via Zoom (Link provided after registration)
• Cost: $350
• Accommodations: Virtual—attend from wherever you are!

This 5-year certification course meets the state health department criteria for the foraging and selling of wild mushrooms in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Rhode Island.

https://shop.mushroommountain.com/products/wild-mushroom-food-safety-certification-online-5-year-state-approved-permit-training-april-25-26-2026

Due to the convenience and demand for virtual access, this class will be held entirely online via Zoom, making it easier for anyone across the country to attend! You will receive the same high-quality instruction, study materials, and interactive learning experience—all from the comfort of your own home.

Upon registration, participants will receive a study guide and class slides one month in advance of the course. These materials will help you prepare for the live Zoom sessions and the final exam.

Class Highlights:

Interactive Online Format: Join the class from anywhere with live, virtual lessons and real-time Q&A.

Comprehensive Study Materials: Access your study guide and slides a month ahead to ensure you’re fully prepared.

Certification for Safe Wild Mushroom Foraging and Selling: Upon successful completion of the course and exams, you’ll receive your 5-year certification.

Limited Enrollment: Class size is limited to 40 participants to ensure a personalized and engaging experience. No refunds available, but transfers to another class may be possible in emergencies.

Course Schedule (subject to change):

Day 1:

• 9:00 AM: Virtual Arrival and Registration
• 9:15 AM: Permit Overview, Exam Description, and Mushroom Foraging Guidelines
• Topics: Safe harvesting, storage, packaging, and regulations across different states
• Focus: Handling and processing for resale, avoiding toxins, and ensuring safety
• 10:30 AM: Virtual Mushroom Hunt and Collection Overview
• 12:00 PM: Break (Lunch on your own; please bring your own)
• 1:00 PM: Gallery of Tested Species and Lookalikes (Interactive online discussion)
• 3:00-4:00 PM: Specimen Dissections and Discussion (fresh and dried examples)
• 4:00-5:00 PM: Review and Preparation for Exam 1

Day 2:

• 9:00 AM: Online Exam 1
• 10:00 AM: Gallery of Permitted Mushroom Species and Features
• 11:00 AM-1:00 PM: Lunch Break (Use this time to review on your own using the study slides)
• 1:00-5:00 PM: Final Exam and Certification

Instructor:

Kenny Rupert has been building his mycological expertise for over 23 years, studying the nuances of fungi identification while keeping up with the ever-changing taxonomy. He has held positions as the business manager and wild edibles teacher for No Taste Like Home, teacher for Mushroom Mountain's Wild Mushroom Certification class, and local mushroom expert and manager for Wild Purveyors. He is the administrator of several identification groups throughout the United States and a few internationally. Today he leads mushroom tours all over North Carolina and across the southeast.

Course Details:

• When: April 25-26, 2026 (SAT-SUN), 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
• Where: Online via Zoom (Link provided after registration)
• Cost: $350
• Accommodations: Virtual—attend from wherever you are!

Discover the world of wild mushrooms from the comfort of home!

https://shop.mushroommountain.com/products/mushroom-hunting-made-easy-learn-to-identify-edible-wild-mushrooms-live-online-class

Spring is the season of new life — and the forest floor is waking up!
Join us for a special spring edition of our Mushroom Mountain Farm Tour as we celebrate the Fungi Awakening.
https://shop.mushroommountain.com/products/mushroom-mountain-farm-tour-saturday-may-9-2026-the-fungi-awakening

Cook, Learn, and Feast with Fungi!

Join Mushroom Mountain’s own Olga Katic for a delicious and educational hands-on mushroom cooking experience.

https://shop.mushroommountain.com/products/mushroom-cooking-class-at-mushroom-mountain

Earn your 5-year Wild Mushroom Foraging Permit, meeting the criteria required by state health departments and formally approved for the legal foraging and sale of wild mushrooms in the following states:
South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Rhode Island.

https://shop.mushroommountain.com/products/wild-mushroom-foraging-certification-course-sc-nc-ga-va-al-pa-ny-ri-5-year-state-approved-permit-training-may-16-17-2026

Registered participants will receive a study guide and slide deck approximately one month before the class to support preparation for the training and exams.

Class size is limited to 40 participants. Due to the nature of this certification, no refunds are available. In the event of an emergency, we may be able to transfer your registration to a future course.

Location

Oatland Island Wildlife Center
https://oatland.sccpss.com/
711 Sandtown Road, Savannah GA 31410

A scenic wildlife center just outside historic Savannah, Oatland Island is nestled among coastal marsh habitats and is home to a variety of native animals in spacious, natural enclosures. Participants will enjoy a unique foraging experience surrounded by diverse ecosystems and wildlife.

Please note:

• Smoking, pets, and fishing are not permitted anywhere on the property
• Bring your own lunch
• Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended

Dates & Hours

May 16–17, 2026
Saturday & Sunday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Instructor: Anne-Marie Bilella

Anne-Marie Bilella is the Farmer, the Baker, and the Medicine-Maker behind Bella Vista Farm in Georgia. She brings extensive hands-on experience in herbal medicine, wild weeds, mushrooms, and natural product formulation.

Her herbal education began through self-study and expanded in 2014 with the completion of a 10-month intensive herbal training under Patricia Kyritsi Howell of the BotanoLogos School of Herbal Studies. Anne-Marie is certified as a Wild Mushroom Forager and Seller and serves as an instructor for Mushroom Mountain’s Wild Mushroom Safety Course.

She is also the creator of the Forager Chick herbal product line, a homesteader, author, and contributing writer for Aroma Culture Magazine, Mother Earth News – Herbal Living, and her own long-running blog.

Legal & Certification Requirements

State regulations require that all wild-foraged mushrooms intended for sale be individually inspected and verified as safe by an approved mushroom identification expert who:

(A) Has demonstrated sufficient knowledge and passed the required exams, and
(B) Harvests only species approved by the state.

This course trains participants to identify and work exclusively with the following permitted mushroom species:

• Pink Chanterelles (Cantharellus cinnabarinus)
• Golden Chanterelles (Cantharellus spp.)
• Morels (Morchella spp.)
• Black Trumpet (Craterellus fallax)
• Lobster Mushroom (Hypomyces lactifluorum)
• Wood Ears (Auricularia spp.)
• Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus spp.)
• Beefsteak (Fistulina hepatica)
• Hedgehog (Hydnum repandum)
• Lion’s Mane / Pom Pom (Hericium spp.)
• White Oyster (Pleurotus spp.)
• Cauliflower (Sparassis spp.)
• Maitake (Grifola frondosa)
• Blewits (Clitocybe nuda)
• Honey Mushrooms (Armillaria spp.)
• Blue Milky (Lactarius indigo)
• Golden Milkies (Lactifluus spp.)
• Pecan Truffle (Tuber lyonii)
• Puffballs (Lycoperdon, Calvatia spp.)

Earn your 5-year Wild Mushroom Foraging Permit, meeting the criteria required by state health departments and formally approved for the legal foraging and sale of wild mushrooms in the following states:
South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Rhode Island.

https://shop.mushroommountain.com/products/wild-mushroom-foraging-certification-course-sc-nc-ga-va-al-pa-ny-ri-5-year-state-approved-permit-training-may-16-17-2026

Registered participants will receive a study guide and slide deck approximately one month before the class to support preparation for the training and exams.

Class size is limited to 40 participants. Due to the nature of this certification, no refunds are available. In the event of an emergency, we may be able to transfer your registration to a future course.

Location

Oatland Island Wildlife Center
https://oatland.sccpss.com/
711 Sandtown Road, Savannah GA 31410

A scenic wildlife center just outside historic Savannah, Oatland Island is nestled among coastal marsh habitats and is home to a variety of native animals in spacious, natural enclosures. Participants will enjoy a unique foraging experience surrounded by diverse ecosystems and wildlife.

Please note:

• Smoking, pets, and fishing are not permitted anywhere on the property
• Bring your own lunch
• Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended

Dates & Hours

May 16–17, 2026
Saturday & Sunday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Instructor: Anne-Marie Bilella

Anne-Marie Bilella is the Farmer, the Baker, and the Medicine-Maker behind Bella Vista Farm in Georgia. She brings extensive hands-on experience in herbal medicine, wild weeds, mushrooms, and natural product formulation.

Her herbal education began through self-study and expanded in 2014 with the completion of a 10-month intensive herbal training under Patricia Kyritsi Howell of the BotanoLogos School of Herbal Studies. Anne-Marie is certified as a Wild Mushroom Forager and Seller and serves as an instructor for Mushroom Mountain’s Wild Mushroom Safety Course.

She is also the creator of the Forager Chick herbal product line, a homesteader, author, and contributing writer for Aroma Culture Magazine, Mother Earth News – Herbal Living, and her own long-running blog.

Legal & Certification Requirements

State regulations require that all wild-foraged mushrooms intended for sale be individually inspected and verified as safe by an approved mushroom identification expert who:

(A) Has demonstrated sufficient knowledge and passed the required exams, and
(B) Harvests only species approved by the state.

This course trains participants to identify and work exclusively with the following permitted mushroom species:

• Pink Chanterelles (Cantharellus cinnabarinus)
• Golden Chanterelles (Cantharellus spp.)
• Morels (Morchella spp.)
• Black Trumpet (Craterellus fallax)
• Lobster Mushroom (Hypomyces lactifluorum)
• Wood Ears (Auricularia spp.)
• Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus spp.)
• Beefsteak (Fistulina hepatica)
• Hedgehog (Hydnum repandum)
• Lion’s Mane / Pom Pom (Hericium spp.)
• White Oyster (Pleurotus spp.)
• Cauliflower (Sparassis spp.)
• Maitake (Grifola frondosa)
• Blewits (Clitocybe nuda)
• Honey Mushrooms (Armillaria spp.)
• Blue Milky (Lactarius indigo)
• Golden Milkies (Lactifluus spp.)
• Pecan Truffle (Tuber lyonii)
• Puffballs (Lycoperdon, Calvatia spp.)