The Outside Institute

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The Outside Institute Nature walks. Foraging classes. Forest immersion. Plant workshops. Trail snacks and botanical mixolo Explore. Discover. Grow. Have fun with flora, fauna & fungi.

Experience the wonders of nature in upstate NY. Learn new skills and dive into the world of outdoor beauty.

Red fruits for fall hold so much sweet-tart flavor and antioxidant power. This is a strong year for autumn olives, rose ...
09/25/2026

Red fruits for fall hold so much sweet-tart flavor and antioxidant power. This is a strong year for autumn olives, rose hips and crabapples. These small sour apples become sweeter after a frost; you can also harvest them and put them in your freezer before turning them into jelly, syrup and pickles. I also like to infuse them in bourbon, a tip I got from backyardforager ♥️🍎

I’m a little overwhelmed right now 😳
09/23/2026

I’m a little overwhelmed right now 😳

It’s maitake madness!!! I did the happy dance, as befits a mushroom known in Japan as “the dancing mushroom.” This one w...
09/22/2026

It’s maitake madness!!! I did the happy dance, as befits a mushroom known in Japan as “the dancing mushroom.” This one was even embedded with a few acorns and leaves from the giant white oak around whose trunk it was growing. Hello maitake confit, tempura, pickles and soup! My cup, as they say, runneth over. 🙏🏽💚🍄‍🟫

The mesmerizing Daedelopsis confragosa, aka blushing bracket or thin-walled polypore, gets its name from the master craf...
09/22/2026

The mesmerizing Daedelopsis confragosa, aka blushing bracket or thin-walled polypore, gets its name from the master craftsman of Greek mythology, Daedelus, who built the labyrinth that allowed King Minos to imprison the Minotaur. Swipe to get lost in the amazing pore surface. 💚

A forager’s work is never done! Now it’s time to gather autumn olives, those silver-speckled red berries (swipe to see) ...
09/21/2026

A forager’s work is never done! Now it’s time to gather autumn olives, those silver-speckled red berries (swipe to see) loaded with antioxidants, including the powerhouse lycopene. I love to ferment them into a lightly effervescent drink and this year of abundance may also make fruit leather and/or jam. I hope you’ll stop by the outpost in Barryville for a taste - I’m planning to be open on Sundays throughout the fall and will also schedule a reading from my book in progress. Stay tuned for details ❤️ 💚

Today’s haul of yellowfoot chanterelles, black trumpets and hedgehogs. Humbled by the abundance. Last night’s dinner of ...
09/19/2026

Today’s haul of yellowfoot chanterelles, black trumpets and hedgehogs. Humbled by the abundance. Last night’s dinner of porcini risotto was divine. 🍄‍🟫🍄‍🟫🍄‍🟫

Amanita spore print, September 26. Though I have been making spore prints for many years, I have been in awe of the leve...
09/18/2026

Amanita spore print, September 26. Though I have been making spore prints for many years, I have been in awe of the level to which Bette elevates this simple technique. Her artwork incorporating mushrooms and spore prints evokes the beauty of death and a bottomless love of the world. 🍄 💚🙏🏽

Hens and penny buns galore, oh my! Hard to describe the feeling, though pure joy comes close. These were found under map...
09/17/2026

Hens and penny buns galore, oh my! Hard to describe the feeling, though pure joy comes close. These were found under maple and spruce, respectively, though oak is generally your best bet. 💚💚💚

Thanks to my dear Pamela Mayer for the reminder to notice when joy shows up, despite all the heartache.

A woman and her woods. Thank you, Annie Dillard, for reminding us that “how we live our days is, of course, how we live ...
09/16/2026

A woman and her woods. Thank you, Annie Dillard, for reminding us that “how we live our days is, of course, how we live our lives.” Let’s all do it with grace, a sense of adventure and in the green embrace of the wild world. RIP 💚

Now is the perfect time to observe the conifercone cap mushroom (Baeospora myosura) that sprouts directly from the scale...
09/15/2026

Now is the perfect time to observe the conifercone cap mushroom (Baeospora myosura) that sprouts directly from the scales of decaying conifer cones. These little guys break down tough, woody cone tissues to recycle nutrients into the forest floor 🌲🍄‍🟫

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Sullivan County, NY

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