A diverse selection of mushrooms can be found in Maine in the fall, from tiny to spectacular. Some are edible, and many have interesting stories associated with them.

On Saturday, Sept. 29, Damariscotta River Association (DRA) is hosting a workshop with mycologist Greg Marley from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Marley will focus on the identification of mushrooms commonly found in Maine, and discuss both edible and medicinal uses of local mushrooms.

The fee for the program is $70, or $60 for DRA members. Early registration is recommended, as space is limited. Registration can be done online at damariscottariver.org/events.

One of DRA’s most often-requested workshops, Marley’s class will begin indoors with photos and identification of fresh mushrooms, then venture outdoors to discover mushrooms “in the wild” at a site to be determined.

Participants are encouraged to bring mushrooms they’ve collected themselves as well as any questions. A lunch, water bottle, collection basket, and field guide are also recommended.

Marley has been pursuing a passion for mushrooms for over 40 years. He leads regular walks and lectures on mushrooms, and offers day-long classes and an annual course on mushroom identification that meets throughout the growing season. His interests and expertise include foraging for, cultivating, and preparing mushrooms, the ecology of mushrooms in our forests, and medicinal use of mushrooms.

Marley is a volunteer mushroom identification consultant for the Poison Control Centers of Northern New England, and is also the owner of Mushrooms for Health, a company offering education and products made with medicinal mushrooms from Maine. Marley is the author of “Mushrooms for Health: Medicinal Secrets of Northeast Fungi” (2009) and “Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares: The Love, Lore and Mystique of Mushrooms” (2010).

For more information call (207) 563-1393, email dra@damariscottariver.org, or visit online at www.damariscottariver.org.