Includes bibliographical references and index.

The Forager's Forest: Into the Forest and Out of Your Mind: Finding More Than Mushrooms -- The Fungal Frontier: Mushrooms as Food, Medicine, and Enlightenment -- In Pursuit of Fungi: Foreign Practices and Safety -- The Forest on Your Plate: Cooking and Preserving Mushrooms -- Meet the Mushrooms: Culinary Mushrooms -- Medicinal Mushrooms -- Toxic Mushrooms -- Other Curiosities.

"The breathtaking beauty of mushrooms from a master forager: how to identify and use them in cooking, home remedies, and spirituality. Foraging for mushrooms is a meditative and rewarding escape. Even if readers aren't ready to head out into the woods, this enchanting visual guide is a welcome introduction to 25 easily identifiable species, organized by location and use. Author Jess Starwood has led hundreds of foraging trips, sharing her knowledge of nature with students. This, her first book, is a celebration of fungi-perfect for both beginner and longtime mushroom admirers. No matter their use, all mushrooms have specific characteristics that are easy to recognize with the right teacher. Under Starwood's guidance, readers will learn to identify caps, stipes, gills, and pores. They'll encounter species such as Reishi, Lion's Mane, Candy Cap, Chanterelle, and more; learn the best harvesting seasons; and enjoy delicious recipes using culinary favorites. But, above all, this guide will have readers growing their connection to nature and dreaming of the wonderful world of fungi"-- Provided by publisher.