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DY=\/AV/=) Sapte] ma=) Waterloo Chronicle | Thursday, October 20,2022 | 12 Join some of Canada’s largest companies who rely on us for their ecommerce delivery. And now, Metroland Parcel Services makes it easier and faster to onboard for ShipStation clients. Contact us today for your user name and password and start shipping* with MPS tomorrow. SCAN FOR M PARCEL SERVICES ESRMATOn waterloochronicle.ca HB OPINION Marshall Ward photo Tom Armstrong carves beautiful wooden mushroom sculptures, which are for sale at his cutely named business Fungals and Funguys, outdoors at the St. Jacobs Farmers' Market. FANTASTIC FUNGI! MUSHROOM WOOD CARVINGS GIVE WOODCARVER AN EVEN DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR THE HIDDEN WORLD OF FUNGI, WRITES MARSHALL WARD MARSHALL WARD Column Tom Armstrong is a woodcarver with a unique muse: fungi. He carves beautiful wooden mushroom sculp- tures, which are for sale at his cutely named business Fungals and Funguys, out- doors at the Pal Jacobs ‘'armers Mark Myeldestitisesecia. ly enamoured with mush- rooms sand has already pur- chased four of Armstrong's captivating carvings. “Mushrooms are magi- strong told me. "They are suchan incredible and vital part of this world and what we seeis justa small part of the depth of fi He explained that what we see at the surface is just the visible part of a vast fungal network under our feet and that the pandemic sparked a booming interes t specializing in perennials, annuals, and potted flower- ing crops. "Creating these carv- ings is a perfect extension of my life's skills,” he told me. The artistic process has also been therapeutic for Armstrong, who suffered a brain injury three years ago. “It has been a wonderful part of my continued recov- "I started creating them during the start of the first lockdown and used an old 1950s locally made Beaver wood | lathe | which my dad had git trong now has all sorts oft tools at his dispos- |, from chainsaws to sand- ers and grinders — each used in his skilful hands to reate unique works of woode len art. He has spent countless hours mastering the wood- staining and dyeing tech- niques that give his mush- rooms such vivid colours. Each mushroom carving is coat with protection from the elements if you de- cide to display them out- loors, but they are beauti- ful indoor pieces too. Carving the pieces gives Armstrong an even deeper appreciation for the hidden world of fungi and trees we rarely see above ground. His carvings are avail- able at numerous Ontario garden centres and gift shops. He welcomes drop- ins at the headquarters of and Funguys at 180 wrandview Drive in Cones: togo (where he also gro and sells perennials). Armstrong puts his full attention into each carving, and he finds it an almost meditative process. is one small part ofa deeper story. Marshall Ward is a Freelance writer and artist. Check out his award-win- ning podcast at bonnpark- com.