Property Mushroom & Wild Plant Surveys
Find out what's growing on your land.
I'm Kelly, a Michigan-certified wild mushroom identifier from Clare County. I'll walk your property with you. We'll find the spots where mushrooms and wild plants like to grow. You'll learn what to look for in each season.
What you get
- A walk on your land with someone who knows Michigan woods.
- The best spots on your property: oak bases, old logs, lawn edges, wet pockets, nut trees.
- What to look for, and when. That includes morels in spring, chicken of the woods in summer, and hen of the woods in fall.
- Plain tips on safe harvesting and common look-alikes.
- With the Property Survey: a habitat map and a PDF you can keep.
Who it's for
- New landowners who want to know their land.
- Homesteaders and gardeners who want to forage close to home.
- Families who want a fun, hands-on outdoor morning.
- Anyone who keeps asking, "What's that mushroom by the oak?"
What we might see in Clare County
Clare County is oak, maple and pine country. Here we find puffballs, chicken of the woods, hen of the woods (maitake) and hedgehog mushrooms. We also watch for wild plants as the seasons turn, like ramps in spring, purslane and nettles in summer, and black walnuts and hickory nuts in fall.
Pick your survey
Habitat Walk
About 1 hour on foot. We walk your main edges and best spots, and I talk you through what we see. A great first visit.
Property Survey
About 1.5–2 hours. I mark the habitat zones on your land. Then you get a PDF with a map, what to watch for in each zone, and the timing for each season.
Seasonal Pair
Two visits in two seasons, like spring and fall. You'll see what changed and what came back. It's the best value if you want to really learn your land.
The exact price depends on acreage, terrain, and how detailed you want the write-up. I'll confirm it before we book.
Travel: Free within about 30 miles of Clare County. Farther out, it's $1.30 a mile, or ask me for a simple quote.
How booking works
- Fill out the short Survey Request form. Tell me your town, roughly how big your land is, and which option you like.
- I'll reply with a price and a few dates.
- We pick a day. A $75 deposit holds it (it counts toward your total). I'll send the short Survey Agreement (below) to look over.
- We walk, and the balance is due that day. Property Survey and Seasonal Pair clients get the PDF within 14 days.
Want to see a sample first? Check the box on the form and I'll send a sample survey PDF.
Request a surveyQuestions? Contact me. For season notes, join the mycelium. The survey form doesn't add you to that list.
Survey Service Agreement (plain English)
This agreement is between you (the landowner or the person with permission to use the land) and Fungi, Flora & Ferment (Kelly Harrison). Booking a survey means you agree to these terms.
1. What the survey is
- It's an educational walk. I point out habitat and talk about the mushrooms and wild plants that may grow there.
- It's not a legal land survey. It doesn't cover boundaries, appraisal, timber value, or environmental assessment.
- It's not a harvest service. I don't pick or sell anything from your land.
- It's not medical or health advice of any kind.
2. No guarantee of finds
- Mushrooms and plants depend on weather, season, and luck. I can't promise we'll find anything on the day, or that anything will grow later.
- The map and PDF show likely habitat. They don't promise any species will be there.
3. Identification and eating
- The survey isn't a substitute for positive identification before anything is eaten or used.
- Any mushroom or plant must be positively identified, by you or a qualified expert, before anyone eats it or uses it in any way.
- I don't approve any specific mushroom or plant for eating during the survey.
- You're responsible for what you or your guests pick, eat, or use.
4. Scope and deliverables
- Habitat Walk: about 1 hour, spoken notes only.
- Property Survey: about 1.5–2 hours, plus a habitat map and PDF summary. I'll email it within 14 days.
- Seasonal Pair: two visits in different seasons, scheduled together.
- The final price is the one we agree on before the visit, within the listed range.
5. Scheduling, weather, and rescheduling
- We'll set the date together.
- If the weather is unsafe (storms, high wind, extreme heat or cold), either of us can move the visit at no charge.
- Please give at least 48 hours' notice to reschedule. Your deposit moves to the new date.
- If you cancel, or reschedule with less than 48 hours' notice, the deposit is kept.
6. Payment
- A $75 non-refundable deposit holds your date. It counts toward your total.
- The balance is due on the day of the survey.
- Travel is free within about 30 miles of Clare County. Beyond that it's $1.30 a mile, or the quoted amount.
7. Access and safety
- You confirm you own the land or have permission for us to walk it.
- Tell me about any hazards: livestock, dogs, hunting activity, open wells, steep or wet ground.
- Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. We walk at an easy pace.
- During hunting seasons, we'll both wear blaze orange.
8. Respect for the land
- We stay where you say we can go.
- We take nothing without your OK, and we leave the land as we found it.
9. Photos and privacy
- I may take photos of habitat and mushrooms for your report.
- I'll only share photos publicly with your permission. I'll never share your address or exact location.
10. Responsibility
- Walking outdoors has normal risks: uneven ground, insects, poison ivy, weather. You accept those risks for yourself and your guests.
Booking a survey means you agree to these terms.