Planeta Forum

[planeta]

This topic provides news and updates about the 2005 Mushroom Fair to be held July 16 and 17th in Cuajimoloyas, Oaxaca


REFERENCES

News - Raises
http://www.raises.org/noticias/noticias.htm

Methodus Events - Raises
http://www.raises.org/Methodus/eventos.htm

Eco Edible Mushroom Fair
http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/mexico/oaxaca/hongos.html

2004 Mushroom Fair
http://forum.planeta.com/viewtopic.php?t=223

[Gerhard]

The Methodus website has just been updated with the 2005 Mushroom Fair Information (in Spanish):
http://www.raises.org/Methodus/eventos.htm

For background information see the topic of the 2004 fair:
http://forum.planeta.com/viewtopic.php?t=223

An English translation of the program:

Saturday July 16:
? Hike in the forests of Pueblos Mancomunados collecting and identifying mushrooms and learning about their habitat (interpretive trail) Groups of 10 per guide
? Contest: the basket with the most diverse species of mushrooms
? Main meal in the forest, learning activities, stay in community cabins (limited space)
? Donít forget to wear sturdy shoes and bring raingear

Sunday July 17
? Conference about mushrooms and non-timber products
? Food Demonstration, mycology games, and drawing contest
? Exposition and sale of mushrooms and non-timber products

EspaÒol:
Ya esta en lÌnea la informaciÛn de la Feria de Hongos 2005 con objetivos y programa de actividades en la pagina de Methodus:
http://www.raises.org/Methodus/eventos.htm

Para informaciÛn de la feria anterior:
http://forum.planeta.com/viewtopic.php?t=223

[Gerhard]

Cuajimoloyas has several years of experience in hosting visitors for nature tours and there is an organized guide structure.

This week there was a special training session organized by Methodus S.C. for the guides to improve their mushroom knowledge and make them aware of the importance of adjusting their normal tour to their clients and in this case the specific event: The 2005 Mushroom Fair.

This was not only an informative talk, but also a chance for the guides to exchange their individual experience and knowledge with their colleagues.

Topics included:
1. Why do visitors come on a nature tour and specifically to the Mushroom Fair?
(Understanding the visitor)
2. What should a guide do in specific difficult situations?
3. Mushroom Identifying Skills
4. Exchange of interesting stories and facts beyond mere species identification.

The recent good rain will hopefully continue until the Fair.

There is now updated Mushroom Fair information IN ENGLISH on the Methodus website:
http://www.raises.org/Methodus/eventosingles.htm


GuÌas de Cuajimoloyas

Cuajimoloyas cuenta con varios aÒos de recibir visitantes para tours en la naturaleza y tiene un grupo formal de guÌas comunitarios.

Methodus S.C. organizÛ un taller de capacitaciÛn de guÌas para mejorar los conocimientos del los guÌas respeto a hongos y la importancia de ajustar su recorrido a las intereses de sus clientes y en este caso del evento: La V Feria de Hongos Comestibles.

La capacitaciÛn no fue pura platica, se tuvo la oportunidad de compartir experiencias y conocimientos con otros guÌas.

Esperamos contar con suficiente lluvia para asegurar una buena cosecha de hongos.

[Gerhard]

Oaxaca has received some rain in recent weeks and there are some mushrooms out there, but now we are hoping for a bit more before the coming Mushroom fair weekend to ensure mushroom variety and a good crop for the Sunday meal.

Don¥t forget your raingear on the day.

There are still spaces available, but contact Expediciones Sierra Norte soon, to ensure accommodation at the event.

M. Bravo 210-i , Centro, Oaxaca.
Tel: (951) 514 82 71 o al 51 4 05 27

[Gerhard]

The 2005 Mushroom Fair was a bit smaller and wetter than the 2004 fair (after all the mushrooms need the rain), but once again the participants enjoyed walks in the forests with its mushrooms, good Sierra Norte food and a unique display of mushroom variety (The mushrooms get returned to the forest after the exposition. If done in the correct way, leaving enough spores in the forests, mushroom collecting is a uniquely sustainable activity). New in this year was an optional bird watching walk, another sustainable forest activity.http://www.tierradeaves.com/

Among the special visitors of this year were a group of villagers from the hot-humid Chinantla who have started cultivating edible mushrooms in their village near Valle Nacional, at the start of the coastal plain north of the Sierra Norte near the border with Veracruz. In a three-day community exchange they got to know a very different and very cold Sierra Norte and enjoyed the 2005 Mushroom Fair.

This year more activities were in the hands of the community rather than consultants. While there is obviously still a lot of work to be done, the idea is that the community takes over the fair completely and makes it their own if they wish to continue the annual event.

This year the Sunday market was also mostly local villagers selling their local products, rather than vendors from elsewhere. After all the community is an essential part of ecotourism, and if they become involved and see benefits, they have a larger incentive to conserve the nature that attracts their visitors.