Field Notes from a Fungi Forager
A new book
“I contend that the planet’s health actually depends on our respect for the fungi.
Paul Stamets, Mycellium Running
If you were to tell little Ash that someday she’d write a book about mushrooms she would have squished her nose up at you and proclaimed a passionate “ew”. I avoided mushrooms both in the woods and on my dinner plate as a child. In the woods I feared they would kill me, on my plate I pushed them aside as I loathed their slippery texture. Things are different now. Now, I could go on and on about how they are not only delicious but fungi are essential to the health of our forests, our earth, and to us.
And that is just what I did in my next book, Field Notes from a Fungi Forager.
This book is my love letter to fungi, specifically Pacific Northwest Fungi, which is where I live and have lived my entire life. The journey from fear to fascination and then to fanaticism started on the plate. Determined to grow a taste for mushrooms I started sneaking them into my own meals. First I’d cut them up so small you wouldn’t even know they were there except for the depth of earthy flavor they added. Then I learned how to properly caramelize them to get a texture that is crisp and meaty. And then I met wild mushrooms which vary in flavors, textures and intrigue and I fell in love.
Somehow I managed to convince a few experts to take me with them out into the woods. These foragers shared the same thrill I experienced each time I noticed a frilly, yellow-orange chanterelle, cleverly hidden in the fall foliage. Or when I spotted the honeycomb-like structure of a morel in a forest recently burned. But when our forages would end and I was left to my own devices I felt lost and overwhelmed with all there is to learn about the fungi kingdom, not to mention my fungi-phobia still loomed large. Determined to learn I devoured any and all mushroom-related books and I spent as much time as I could out in the woods. Taking on one new species at a time I became a fungi detective, which is to say I started to discover which plants and trees are commonly associated with the species I was seeking. Do they grow on trees? In the soil? What time of year? Do they like lots of moisture? I remember one time, on a forage with my friend, Langdon Cook, he mentioned that when he starts to hear a certain bird call in the spring, morels are just starting to pop. I started paying attention in a way I had never before.
My love and fascination with hunting mushrooms led me to a wider world that ultimately changed mine. Never before have I felt more poignantly the interconnectedness of all. That is when my love of mushrooms and fungi grew beyond what I could eat to an appreciation for each and every single one that I come across. Seriously, ask anyone who goes hiking or even just on a walk around the neighborhood with me; I will point out in child-like glee every single fungi I see.
From the introduction to, Field Notes from a Fungi Forager:
“This book is an ode to the fungi among us, a celebration of the natural world and the magic that can be found in even the smallest beings. Through the lens of these humble fungi, we’ll explore the interconnectedness of all living things and gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexity of our bioregion. Whether you’re a seasoned forager or just starting to appreciate the beauty of mushrooms, there’s something in these pages for everyone. Allow the scent of damp earth and the sight of vibrant caps, hidden mycelial webs, and puffs of smokelike spores be our guide.”
So, little Ash, we wrote a book about mushrooms and it has been one of the greatest joys of your life. With this little book you hope to ignite a mushroom movement to turn fungi-phobia into fungi-fascination.
The book releases October 15 but you can preorder now wherever books are sold.
If you are in the Seattle area I’ll be hosting events at Secret Garden Books, Book Larder and The Pantry.
Check the events page on my site for more information.
I’ll be sharing more about the book and the process of writing over the next couple of months but for now I am thrilled to share a few of the incredible illustrations by artist, Libby England. (@libbobobo) Her work is the perfect pairing to bring my words to life. Libby, I can’t thank you enough for everything you gave to this project. They are far more beautiful than I could have dreamed.
Thank you to Hannah and the entire team at Sasquatch for bringing this project to me and for being the best fungi partner.
Too much can never be said about the highly prized morel!
I remember being with you when you found your first mushroom. And look at what you've created. This looks beautiful, Ash!