"The forest itself gives clues." The secrets of collecting hogs, hogs, foxes are shared by an experienced mushroom picker from Brest

Mushroom season in Belarus is always waiting, excitement and a lot of unspoken rules that are well known to those who go to the forest for years. Marina Golodko from Brest is a mushroom picker with more than 20 years of experience. We went with her on a quiet hunt to learn how to choose the right direction, which trees to target and what time is ideal for a trip to mushrooms.

The morning in the city is quiet and leisurely. But if you turn off the road to the forest road, the atmosphere becomes different: as if the forest listens to every step. Marina Golodko leaves the car confidently and with enthusiasm, which happens to people who clearly know the goal. Walking on a soft coniferous litter, the mushroom picker everyday says: - Generally, I like to go to the forest alone. When we come together, we take our own paths. It's not about greed. This is excitement: I want to see myself, find myself, cut myself. I usually go away, so no one calls, distracts, shares findings. Everyone goes their own way.

We move in one rhythm, enjoying the morning forest, which, despite the cold, seems surprisingly hospitable. Marina says that she first went for mushrooms more than 20 years ago, then she just met her future husband:

- Igor worked as a driver of the Brest forestry farm, so he knows these roads by heart. He showed me how the forest works and where to look for amazing gifts.

According to Brestchanka, the mushroom passion in the family of the spouse is hereditary. Vladimir Petrovich’s father-in-law has his own places and trails. Mother-in-law Galina Nikolaevna stopped going to mushrooms due to illness, but always asks Marina to call and tell her what she managed to find, and she is happy with each mushroom, as if she is holding it in her hands.

Meanwhile, we stop at the old birch - there flashed something like a mushroom. But expectations were not met. Brestchanka recalls:

- I used to know only opsat and butter. At first I was afraid to go far: I circled near the car - 50 meters, and, of course, found nothing. One day my husband came back with half a basket of greens, laughed that I was walking in circles, and pointed to cracks in the sand - the same ones where mushrooms hide. I learned the lesson quickly: now I collect greens better than him.

- What a beauty! Forest fever Marina Golodko notes that the forest “woke up” after the rains, and the recent release of white mushrooms became a small holiday for her:

- When I raised the first mushroom, the emotions were such that my hands were shaking!

- We recently went with my husband to run the car after repairs and, as always, turned “for a minute” in the woods. We went deep and suddenly on a narrow forest strip Igor noticed a white mushroom. The car was silenced, the mushroom was cut off, and they could not start again. I had to call the tractor. While waiting for the equipment, I stepped aside and found five whites at once. And as the tractor pulled the car onto the track, I noticed a couple more mushrooms. Two days later, they went back to the woods. I couldn't sleep. I dreamed!

On the trail periodically flash yellow hats of foxes. Marina notices them quickly - leans over, deftly cuts with a knife and shows us where the rest are hiding: - Each mushroom has its places. Overgrown grass is a true sign of rubella (the popular name of the podox) and oils. The tub is drawn to old stumps and wet places. Foxes love birch, mixed forests, paths and edges and often appear where they are not expected. Mushroom dots live their lives: you go to the usual places - empty, move on - and find where there was nothing for years. The main life hack is to find the perfect time. The best is after the rain, but after a few days. It is important that at night it was warm: moisture is kept in the moss, the mushroom "works", and the mushrooms come out more actively. Heat is also needed to warm the ground. Landmarks are simple: moss, grass, old trees, wet spots. The forest itself gives clues.

I wonder if Marina has any rules for collecting mushrooms and whether the myth is true that it is easy to damage the mushroom. It is almost impossible to damage the mushroom, because it lives deep, wide. Cut or twist, it doesn't matter. The key is not to litter. I will always take the candy paper with me. I'm sure the forest reciprocates. There were days when everyone went around with empty baskets and I found mushrooms. Sometimes there are no mushrooms – we go home with nothing. But the air, the silence and the forest still make a good day.

Collects Marina Golodko white, berries, podazinovyks, oil, opsat, foxes, greens, greenies. This is her main set - mushrooms, which are most common and she learns instantly. The first white mushrooms of the season are almost always “beaten”: they pop out in the heat when there is little rain. But it is necessary to walk in the rain and get colder - stronger. Therefore, autumn is the most reliable. From the conversation, another rule gradually grows - how to put mushrooms in a basket:

- When gathering, care is important. Podberezovychy and poduzinovyh always put on top: they are soft and easily crumpled. Oils and greens grow next to each other, but it is better to keep the greenery separately - the sand spoils the oil.

“Niva”, a house in the forest and songs While we are walking along the trail, Marina sings “Here’s someone down the hill ...” and laughs from the fact that the song broke out so easily. She is a cheerful, energetic person: she speaks loudly, moves confidently, and it seems that the forest picks up her mood.

Singing accompanies her not only in the forest. Marina also sings on stage: recently participated in the project “Star Trek” on ONT. He is ready to go through it again, but does not want to become a star. She says the forest is a familiar place for her. Marina works as an administrator of the “Hunter’s House” of the Brest forestry farm – a small house in the depths of the forest. In October, it will be four years since the forest became her working environment and part of her daily routine.

Cutting off the next loaf, she remembers how she once told her husband that she dreamed of “Niva” and a small house in the woods. And he laughs: The dream came true literally. Service "Niva", work directly in the forest. The husband jokes: “There is a house, there is a Niva too.” What else do you want? We moved into the woods, the path became narrower. I joke that our mushroom material can easily turn into a bear encounter. Marina laughs and comforts: she has never met a bear here.

- Once I saw an elk almost closely: she was collecting blueberries, leaning towards a bucket - and a huge dark carcass rose nearby. I even sat down. The moose rushed to the side, heavy and noisy, as if the forest had buzzed, and fled.

Popular forest fears speak calmly. Starts with snakes:

- Don't touch it. Then they won't touch you either. Ticks are different. These are permanent satellites, I rarely leave the forest without a few specimens. I used to take them to the lab, and then I got tired. I decided to get vaccinated.

We continue to go deep, because there are more gifts along the forest road. However, the mushroom resembles another important rule:

- You only need to go to the forest with a loaded phone. And also be sure to take water, a snack - not much.

Finally, I ask Marina how far she is willing to go for mushrooms. He answers without hesitation:

- I like to look for new places in my area, because the pleasure comes only where you know the forest and feel it.

The most common mistakes of mushroom pickers are not to tell anyone (family, friends, neighbors) where you will go and when you will return home; go to unfamiliar places on unknown routes; leave your mobile phone at home or take it uncharged; go to the forest areas with poor health; knowing about your diseases, do not take the necessary medicines.

In addition, many go to the forest, not taking into account weather conditions (on the eve of rain, thunderstorms, squally wind), put on camouflage clothing, in which it is difficult to see the lost.

Do not let an unaccompanied teenager or elderly person into the forest. Do not go into the thicket without food, water, knife, matches. Do not ignore the possibility of creating landmarks, and getting lost, do not panic and wander, move at night. If you are lost, do not go to bed without marking your location with a lantern, fire smoke, bright things on a tree.

The main thing for those lost in the forest is to go out to people. Important landmarks are power lines, clearings and paths. If you can't get out of the woods, call 101 or 112. If it is impossible to contact the rescuers, stop and calm down, do not wander, especially in the dark. Organize a place for the night, marking it, and wait for help, you will be found.