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You could almost call it herding mushrooms.

At noon on Saturday, more than a dozen volunteers were unwrapping mushrooms of various types, much like unpacking ornaments for a Christmas tree, preparing them for sorting. The fungi were from the four corners of northwest California, brought in by as many as 40 people who had been scouring the hills and forests over the past several days.

Preparations for today's mushroom fair at Redwood Acres are surprisingly intense. As load after load of fungi came in, experts sorted them by genus and placed them on tables to organize them. Local mushroom authority Dave Largent moved from table to table, barking orders and preventing traffic jams.

It is here that the incredible variety of fungi that exists on the North Coast becomes clear. From a cluster of boletes that could be measured in pounds to tiny slime molds, all of which need to be correctly identified, labeled and arranged, it's clear the volunteers have their hands full.

It's for a good cause.

”We want to help people understand that mushrooms are a good thing to have around,” said Humboldt Mycological Society member Erik Olson.

Public perception is often that mushrooms are dangerous, Olson said, but in reality they are vital to the growth of forests and plants, playing an essential role in the world's ecosystems. By the time the fair opens today at 11 a.m., Olson said, the crew expects to have between 300 and 400 kinds of mushrooms

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arranged by genus and possibly by species.

Through another door in the Home Economics Building housing the fair, ferns, huckleberry and conifer branches were coming in. For about 25 years, Degrees of Green Landscaping has been providing the backdrop on which the mushrooms are displayed.

While the most hectic part of preparations for the fair were occurring Saturday, Mycological Society member Joann Olson said the organization begins the day after the fair each year. Olson -- who has organized the event for 30 years -- said preparations are continuous throughout the year, and in October the society puts out word to its members to begin readying for the rush.

The hustle and bustle was surprising to Zoe Barnum High School senior Joey Bell, who was earning extra credit for the hours he put in at the fair.

”It's very serious,” Bell said.

Bell said he and his father used to collect edible mushrooms years ago, and that his intention to attend culinary school prompted him to revisit mushrooms by volunteering for the fair.

New to the fair this year are updated posters displaying the key components and life histories of mushrooms, and a scavenger hunt designed to encourage kids to dig up information on fungi.

The fair runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Redwood Acres. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children.

John Driscoll can be reached at 441-0504 or jdriscoll@times-standard.com.