Please join us for our April Program, A Fun Guy Talking About Fungi with Tom Shepherd.

Tom Shepherd is a Teacher/Naturalist with Piedmont Environmental Center and the City of High Point Parks and Recreation Department.  He got his start at Oglebay Institute in Wheeling West Virginia and the Terra Alta Mountain Camps. He completed a duel major Bachelor of Science program in Elementary Education and Environmental Education from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. After teaching and research experiences in Maine, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, he landed here in the Triad in 1988 (or 89, no one really remembers) and has been working with our community ever since. During construction of the main PEC building, he was on leave to work with NC State and Betsy-Jeff Penn at the famous Sertoma near Hanging Rock. He got to spend the entire spring living in the old hotel and swimming in Vade Mecum Springs. He lives on 5 acres called “MooBaa” farm in Rockingham County with his wife, dog and a bunch of other critters that have adopted him. He is an amateur woodworker and fisherman in his spare time.

Tom will be speaking on one of his many passions, the rotten world of fungus. We will journey through the basic questions; Is that a fungus? Is it poisonous? What are the steps to identifying a mushroom?... He will share photos and information about some of the more common fungus of Piedmont Forest. Then Tom will outline the role of fungus in the natural communities and the fascinating interrelationships being researched. And finally, why forage when you can cultivate? Tom will have on hand some oyster mushrooms that he grew and will encourage everyone to join in the fun of fungiculture!

Program begins at 7, but come a little early and socialize with us. All our programs are free and open to the public.

Photo of Golden Spindles by Heather Russell