NILES — When Tim Davis is in the woods, he finds himself zeroing in on his surroundings: the sound of the birds in the trees, water moving in a stream and dozens of varieties of wild mushrooms just waiting to be discovered.

Davis owns and operates a business built upon this discovery called Tim’s Wild Foraged Goods, LLC, which he formed in April and runs from his Niles home. From the commonly found morels to chicken of the woods and varieties of chanterelles – Davis harvests the mushrooms and sells them to local restaurants and residents. So far, he has about a dozen customers, many of which are local businesses.

In 2016, Davis was certified as a wild mushroom expert by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development. To earn certification, the individual must take a class. Davis said the class seeks to assure that collectors know their fungi and how to identify edible mushrooms from toxic. His current certification lasts through 2021.

Davis keeps a Facebook page where people can see what mushrooms he has in stock. People can also call the business and make requests for the mushrooms, which Davis sells by the pound. Prices range from $7 to $50, depending on the rarity of the mushroom.

On a typical summer day, Davis can find several different varieties of mushroom on a 20-minute walk. Some varieties that he has found recently include chicken of the woods, morels, chanterelle turkey tail and oyster mushrooms. From nutty and earthy to even spicy, each mushroom possesses a unique flavor that Davis has found complementary to a number of dishes.

“There is a lot more variety,” Davis said. “There’s many different textures out there. The flavors vary.” 

At home, Davis likes to cook up beef gravy with hen of the woods mushrooms. He said the chicken of the woods has a taste and texture similar to that of chicken. Many of the mushrooms can also be breaded and fried — there are many culinary possibilities, he said.

Davis is a stay-at-home dad and cares for his four children during the day. His family moved to Niles from the Chicago suburbs area about four years ago. Not long after that move, Davis said he began foraging for mushrooms in the woods as a hobby. It soon became something that Davis said he loved doing and he decided to turn passion into business.

“I feel absolutely unrepressed when I am in the woods,” Davis said. “I feel very at home in nature. It’s kind of where I belong.”

While some mushrooms are seasonal, he said others are “opportunistic” and can grow year-round depending on weather conditions.

In the future, Davis hopes to have the opportunity to cultivate various mushroom so that he can offer his customers consistent batches. He also hopes to eventually bring his mushrooms to sell at local farmers markets. In the meantime, he said customers can get in touch with him by calling his business at (269) 680-7749. For more information, visit facebook.com/Tims-Wild-Foraged-Goods-LLC-1754450357931696.