Today on the Mushroom Hour Podcast we are graced by the presence of Melissa Waddingham founder of Truffle and Mushroom Hunter. As a professional truffle hunter, Melissa respectfully and sustainably searches for truffles with her trained canine companions. She has studied forestry and woodland management and exudes a passion for woodlands and their association with mushrooms and truffles. Her work has given her a reverence for the delicate truffle woodland ecology and its sustainability. It is a rare environment crucial for not only her beloved truffles, but also the well-being of trees in areas of poor nutrients. In pursuing this work, Melissa has created a mushroom and truffle foraging business where she does it all - training truffle hounds, leading truffle hunting courses, performing woodland surveys in search of truffle presence or potential and collaborating with landowners to nurture environments for truffle cultivation.   

TOPICS COVERED:   

• Introduction to Fungi Through the Stomach  
• Discovering Truffles  
• Truffle Habitat - England vs Portugal  
• Truffle Clues & Aromas  
• Engaging the Senses  
• Ecology & Life of Truffles  
• Special Relationship with a Truffle Dog  
• What Types of Dogs can Hunt Truffles?  
• Traits of Good Truffle Dogs  
• Training a Truffle Dog  
• Learning the Language of Your Truffle Dog  
• Advice for Beginning the Truffle Hunting Journey  
• Surveying Forests for Truffles  
• Truffle Cultivation Industry  

EPISODE RESOURCES:   

• Truffle & Mushroom Hunter Website: https://truffleandmushroomhunter.com/  
• Truffle & Mushroom Hunter FB: https://www.facebook.com/truffleandmushroomhunter/  
• Truffle & Mushroom Hunter IG: https://www.instagram.com/truffleandmushroomhunter/  
• Lagotto Romagnolo (Italian Truffle Hunting Dog): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagotto_Romagnolo  
• Ian Hall: http://www.trufflesandmushrooms.co.nz/  
• Amanita caesarea (Fungus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita_caesarea