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WHO IS MATSIMAN?
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Anyone who loves hunting,
learning, understanding, protecting, educating others, and respects
matsutake mushroom and it's habitat is matsiman. Those of us who can't get
enough understanding, constantly trying to determine what caused this or
that to happen, or not happen. We are not limited to nationality, gender,
education, or age group. Anyone can be a matsiman. There is at least one in every
picking community. |
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Most matsimen use past
experience and observations to come to conclusions. In most cases, works
well, most of the time. However, as all matsimen know, it is a constant
learning process, both frustrating and rewarding. Ah!, the moment when
that one little piece fits, or something you've learned takes you to
shrooms! |
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This particular matsiman has
had advantages others have not. 400 acre private property, well protected
from mass invasion. One year of near perfect mushrooms, spreading across
the landscape in slow motion. There is nothing like watching a flush flow
across a mountain. It took a little while of just watching, but eventually
some things became crystal clear (As if anything in matsi is crystal
clear). Lets just say some things just couldn't be, and some had to be.
Took five years to get that far. |
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Records had been kept of
what was produced each year, buying station sales tickets. Since
temperature was suspected of being the major influence, past years
temperatures
form a local town were acquired. Knowing nothing about a mushroom, I
borrowed a mushroom cultivator book from a friend. I had no idea if what I
saw was possible, or if this was another dead end. I was surprised to find
temperatures play a big roll in mushroom production. In some more critical
than moisture, during certain stages. Nothing unusual about this assumption
at all, in fact, likely. Suddenly, it wasn't so far fetched. |
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The next advantage was the
computer/spreadsheet. I tried working numbers by hand, but it was too
much, and too many chances for mistakes. Using a computer I was able to determine
the close relationship temperatures had to formation. At the same time,
could find no relationship to rain. Still I didn't believe it. |
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Spent the last 6 years
checking to see if it fits all the time, anywhere. So far it does. While
testing findings, other interesting points were noted. When do mushrooms
form, how long does it take, how fast do they grow, and many others. With
better knowledge of what causes fruit, it sure is easier to find shrooms. |
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All matsimen need the best information available now a days. We have watched our sacred areas invaded
by vast numbers. Most looking for money, few caring what they did to our
patches. So we found new patches. Only to be pushed out again. Our last
hope is to educate "them", while learning more ourselves. |
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Matsimen are there year
after year to check their patches mushrooms or not, few or many. We get
annoyed when others show up mostly cause they don't know what their doing.
We would rather you stayed home, but if you come to our patches, we ask that you respect us, the
forest, and the mushroom. Take the time to learn how to pick, and don't
leave your garbage. You will earn our respect as a fellow gatherer. |
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Matsiman
(Andy Moore) |
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