The golden dream of any mushroom picker is to return from a "silent hunt", proudly carrying a weighty basket full of mushrooms. Or even two. Yes, they say, and on the back you can attach, in the form of a backpack. In this package, the gifts of nature will definitely survive until the moment they get into the kitchen.
Scientists believe that the mushroom basket, like all similar household utensils, is even older than a
rational person. It is quite clear: in order to feed, it was necessary to engage in hunting and gathering. But how to bring the tribe gathered into the cave, especially if there is a decent distance between it and the mycelium? As the human hand mastered more and more complex types of work, the ancestors learned to weave things from natural materials: strong vines, vines, torn from a bark tree. For hundreds of years, a
wicker basket for mushrooms in favor with everyone who goes to the forest for a "quiet hunt." And over the past centuries, its design has not changed much. It’s just that nothing better has been invented so far. Judge for yourself: a product made of twigs or willow twigs combines both strength and lightness. Its dimensions are large, but this is understandable: any mushroom is a voluminous thing. But not heavy, therefore, the mushroom basket does not need to be strengthened. In addition, the thing is universal: in it you can put berries, vegetables and fruits, and eat simple homemade food, and add a four-legged pet for a long journey. She will play her part by simply standing on a shelf in the room, as an element of the interior.
Do not listen to those who, mocking at the old-fashioned methods, go mushrooms with plastic buckets, plastic bags and backpacks! The basket for berries and mushrooms is remarkable in that it is freely permeable to air with its strength. So, collected (especially mushrooms) will retain its primary freshness longer. In addition, squeezed by the walls of a bag or backpack, the mushrooms will quickly remember and break. You will have nothing to be proud of if you run the risk of demonstrating your spoils to your family or friends.
But you should not buy the first braid that comes across. To begin with, it is worth trying on it. Firstly, the handle of the basket should lie comfortably in your hand. Secondly, even being full, the mushroom basket should not interfere with walking. This is important, especially since you will have to carry it several kilometers to your car or highway.
However, there is also a backpack version of the mushroom basket. Such a wicker box doesn’t seem like a basket or a backpack. In shape, it is more like a bast shoe. The upper part of the box has an opening on the outside. The calculation of this design is simple: a hand with a cut mushroom easily reaches the hole, but if the mushroom picker leans over the prey, nothing falls out from the inside.
More recently, basket fishing in Russia has been developed well enough to meet high demand. In addition to baskets of
willow twigs, craftsmen weaved a lot of birch bark purses and tuyes, and vine baskets. Now the demand, of course, has decreased, but it has not disappeared at all. And not only because the wicker basket for mushrooms is an important element of the interior in a country style. It is still highly valued precisely as household utensils, light, durable, environmentally friendly. No mushroom picker should ever neglect it.
And the exceptional value of the wicker basket for a person is reflected in myths, legends, fairy tales, where it is present. Even in the dream book. It is believed that if you see in a dream a large basket full of vigorous mushrooms - this is for money.