GRANITE FALLS, Minn. — Pioneer PBS’s Prairie Sportsman will feature winter foraging for chaga in northern Minnesota and Scott Wendt, a knife maker from Big Bend on its upcoming episode. “Fungus and Forge” will air on Sunday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. on Pioneer PBS.
In “Chasing Chaga,” Mike Kempenich, the Gentleman Forager, goes on a wintry quest in northern Minnesota. He’s searching for the rare and medicinal chaga mushroom, found on just one in every 10,000 birch trees. Delve into chaga's fascinating history and health benefits while uncovering the art of foraging for this elusive fungus.
In “Forging Ahead,” viewers will meet Big Bend’s Scott Wendt, a blacksmith who handcrafts unique, one-of-a-kind knives. After battling a life-threatening illness, Wendt turned to blacksmithing to regain his strength and find a sense of purpose. Initially starting with making S-hooks, Wendt eventually shifted to crafting knives, which now take him around seven to 10 days to complete.
In this week’s “Fast Forage,” local forager Nicole Zempel shares her passion for finding and harvesting chanterelle mushrooms in the Minnesota River Valley. She emphasizes the importance of identifying mushrooms correctly before consumption and provides tips for harvesting them sustainably. With their fruity smell and sweet taste, chanterelles can be used in a variety of dishes, including desserts like ice cream and cakes.
People in Pioneer PBS’s viewing area can livestream this episode at www.pioneer.org/live on Sunday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. “Fungus and Forge” will be repeated on Monday, April 10 at 12:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. The program will also be available to stream at www.pioneer.org/prairiesportsman and on Prairie Sportsman’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/@PrairieSportsman.
About Prairie Sportsman
Produced by Pioneer PBS, Prairie Sportsman is an Emmy-awarded series that celebrates love of the outdoors by featuring stories on hunting, fishing and recreation, while promoting environmental stewardship. Prairie Sportsman’s team is Dylan Curfman, producer, videographer and editor; Bret Amundson, host and editor; Cindy Dorn, writer and producer; and Dan Amundson, videographer and editor. The 2023 season is made possible by funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Shalom Hill Farm, Live Wide Open, Western Minnesota Prairie Waters and members of Pioneer PBS.
About Pioneer PBS
Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station, dedicated to sharing local stories of the region with the world. For more information visit: www.pioneer.org.