North Kingstown Library – Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 6pm
Deana Tempest Thomas is a biology and history student at Eastern Connecticut State University and a recent graduate of the Master Naturalist Program. She founded the Rhode Island Mycological Society to help people connect more deeply with the natural world through fungi, guided walks, and field-based learning. Her work blends education, curiosity, and conservation, and in 2024 she was honored with the Rhode Island Forest Conservators Organization’s Friend of the Forest Award. She lives in North Scituate with her family, where she grows shiitake mushrooms, vegetables, and more at Bide-A-While Farm & Forest.
Mushrooms and More
It is always a good time to look for mushrooms. In this talk, Deana Tempest Thomas will introduce us to the kingdom of fungi through a photographic tour of Rhode Island’s mushrooms and explore how fungi can help us better understand the places we care about. From seasonal change to community science, the talk will consider why fungi deserve a place in conservation conversations and how land trusts can help people connect more deeply with the land through curiosity, observation, and participation.