As the Konsalt team, we had an unforgettable mushroom foraging event with our families in Sapanca’s lush Soğucak Plateau, guided by the renowned mycologist Jilber Barutçiyan. But our adventure offered much more than just mushroom hunting—it was filled with laughter and vibrant memories!
Some friends took the “Place your mushrooms in a basket” instruction quite seriously, bringing bread baskets from home! Another friend took the advice to “remove mushrooms at a 45-degree angle without damaging them” in a unique way, leaving a large basket of mushrooms in nature cut precisely at 45 degrees. The adventure grew even more colorful thanks to one enthusiastic member who declared every mushroom a “major discovery” and proudly displayed them. Some even joked about finding “the Smurfs’ village” among the mushrooms.
Everyone had their own style during the day: there were those who broke their knives while picking mushrooms, the creative ones who brought garden shears after hearing “Bring a pocketknife,” and the foodies who prepared their own special baskets, dreaming of mushroom sauté for dinner. Of course, there were also the cautious ones who carefully avoided anything potentially toxic with a quick “Better not touch that.”
Jilber Barutçiyan’s deep knowledge of nature and his humorous guidance made this event truly unique. This experience reminded us once again of the value of living in the moment with our teammates and families in the embrace of nature. As the Konsalt family, we enjoyed the fresh air and the joy of getting to know each other better in the great outdoors.
Thank you to everyone who joined! And for those who couldn’t make it, a little note: “Think the Smurfs’ village is gone? Don’t worry, more plans for new memories are on the way!”
