annieb123's Review of Field Notes from a Fungi Forager

by Ashley Rodriguez

This gorgeously illustrated compendium is a love letter to mushrooms—and to the Pacific Northwest.

From evergreen forests shrouded in mist to the urban backyards of Seattle, mushrooms are everywhere in the Pacific Northwest if you know how to look.

Here, forager-chef and forest therapy guide Ashley Rodriguez provides an evocative and personal survey of 50 of the most fantastic mushrooms to be found in the region. This book includes the famous Morchella (morel) and Cantharellus (chanterelle) as well as lesser-known species, like the blueish purple Clitocybe nuda (wood blewit) which smells like frozen orange juice, and Hydnellum peckii (Bleeding tooth fungus), which oozes brilliant red droplets that are widely used as a natural dye. Through the lens of these humble fungi, the interconnectedness of all living things comes into focus.

Here you’ll find:

An introduction to mushrooms in the Northwest landscape.
Best practices for mushroom foraging and appreciation.
50 mushroom profiles, includes information about each mushroom’s appearance (plus scientific illustrations of each species), what distinguishes them from other species, how they have been used throughout different cultures and lore, and personal field notes from the forest floor.
The most prized edible species are paired with mouthwatering sidebars about ways to use that mushroom in the kitchen.

Infused with a forager-chef's love of edible mushrooms as well as the reverence of an eco-spiritual guide, this fully illustrated book is as much a treat to read as is to look at.

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Field Notes from a Fungi Forager is a gorgeously illustrated useful field guide with observations for the fungi of the Pacific NW written by Ashley Rodriguez. Released 15th Oct 2024 by Sasquatch Books, it's 176 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

The author has a respectful and accessible voice throughout the book. This isn't really a foraging guide (the author is quite specific in that regard); it's more a beautifully illustrated monograph on some of the fungi (and other species) to be found in the Pacific NW, and her own experiences hiking and foraging.

There are useful resources throughout; the book opens with an alphabetical species listing with page numbers for quick reference. There's a quick primer on fungal life cycles and biology, which is followed by the individual listings. Each entry includes botanical nomenclatures including family designation, appearance, habitat, season(s), and detailed notes.

The illustrations by Libby England are clear, colorful, and detailed. Although not photorealistic enough to work for actual definitive ID purposes, they absolutely are clear enough to recognize.

Four and a half stars. Very well done. Not a comprehensive guide, and it has a limited range focus (Pacific NW of North America), but overall a worthwhile addition to library collections and home reference.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Reading updates

29 October, 2024: Started reading

29 October, 2024: Finished reading

29 October, 2024: Reviewed