the essential
An Ariégeois breaks the silence around mushroom corners with a unique menu that promises to delight pickers.
A terrible explosion will resound in the secret world of mushrooms. For some, this could even amount to a crime of lèse majesté. Philémon Juvany has just tackled one of the best kept secrets in France and Navarre: mushroom spots.
At the age of 28, this geologist from Saint-Girons, in Ariège, decided to break a taboo by using his experience and training to create a map that would reference the most suitable places to stock up on mushrooms. “These maps correspond to a cross-section of geological data, different species of trees, biotopes, orientations of the departments… By combining all these parameters on mapping software, I was able to obtain a reference of the corners most conducive to the growth of certain species of mushrooms”, explains Philémon Juvany. Revelations which could earn him the ire of many gatherers who intended to take their secret to the grave.
One map per department and per species
Each treasure map, which comes in A2 format (420 x 594 mm), will be specific to a department and a species of mushrooms. “I did it for porcini mushrooms, morels and death trumpets. As for the departments, for the moment, I have only tackled the South-West, namely Ariège, ‘Aude, Haute-Garonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Landes, Gironde, Tarn and Tarn-et-Garonne But I plan to expand to the rest of the territory”, he continues. These parchments, which are also intended as decorative objects to place above the fireplace, will be available in the local language of each region, terroir obliges. “For Ariège, the title and legend are in Occitan Gascon,” explains Philémon.
Aware that this initiative risks fueling tensions, the Couserannais sees it above all as an opportunity to share his passion. “Since I was little, I have always been passionate about mushrooms. I followed my family or the village elders as soon as they went picking. I always dreamed of having a map that lists the best spots,” says the young man with a doctorate in geology. A pipe dream that became reality thanks to his studies, which allowed him to master the tools necessary to design this card. “Initially, I made it for myself, my family and certain friends. And given the success it had, I decided to market it,” adds Philémon, who risks making more than just friends.
Forty euros per card
However, to increase your chances of finding the right mushroom, you must not forget to take into account external factors, in addition to the map, such as rain and temperatures the day before the picking trip. Another element that is important: the season. “I am also in the process of setting up a newsletter which will list good advice,” he recalls.
Marketed since the beginning of the week, you will have to pay the sum of forty euros to hope to own one of these cards for mushroom enthusiasts who don’t know where to find them.
