From: ir@ene.nu   
      
   On Sun, 30 Apr 2006 19:39:33 -0500, "Kurt"    
   wrote:   
      
   >My great grandparents came from Sogn and Osterdahl (sp).   
   >Lots of  Scandinavian people here. My father speaks and sings Norwegian, but   
   >I'm sure thats different than how the language is spoken now!   
   >Couple of generations ago people gathered more from the wild, but now I'm   
   >considered odd because of my interest in mycology. Used to find recipes in   
   >old cookbooks that said 'go pick some mushrooms' and now people are afraid   
   >to and think you're looking for 'drug mushrooms'   
      
   In Scandinavia, mushrooms haven't been known to be used much as food   
   in the old days. In general, people rather starved than tried them,   
   but some polypores ("kjuker" in norwegian) have been used for medical   
   purposes (as bandages) and help to make up fires (Fomes fomentarius);   
   sharpening knives and putting in the fire to scare the mosquitos away   
   (Piptoporus betulinus).   
      
   Irene Andersson   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)