Let expert forager and Appalachian native Whitney Johnson (@appalachian_forager) be your friendly guide to foraging over 50 North American species of edible and medicinal fungi.
Go Forth and Forage is a detailed field guide to identifying, harvesting, and preparing wild-foraged mushrooms through all four seasons. From spring treasures such as morels and woodears, to summer finds like black trumpets, chicken of the woods, and boletes, straight through to fall and winter harvests of lion's mane, oyster, and enoki, each species profile includes color photos, identification advice to confirm edibility, and tips on how to harvest responsibly. You'll also find culinary preparation advice and recipes to feast on your finds successfully and deliciously.
In her signature warm and folksy tone, Johnson also offers insight on:
- How to find wild mushrooms (hint: identifying trees is involved)
- Understanding mushroom anatomy and how it informs your harvest
- The best gear for mushroom foraging, from knives and bags to clothes and boots
- Using spore prints to help confirm proper identification
- Words of wisdom on what to do before you take a bite
- Being a responsible and ethical forager
- Common mushroom myths
- Finding and using mushrooms in medicinal forms, such as tinctures and teas
Humans have foraged for wild mushrooms for untold generations. Now, with help from Go Forth and Forage, you'll be on your way to mastering this age-old skill and enjoying all the delicacies the craft of mushroom foraging has to offer.
Table of Contents:
CONTENTS
Introduction: Let's Go Forth and Forage!
PART 1--MUSHROOMING ESSENTIALS
Chapter 1: Gettin' Started
Regional Field Guides
Latin Binomials
Mushroom Groups and Identification Tips
Know Your Trees
Keep Your Head on a Swivel
Mushroom Journaling
Take 'Em Home
Spore Prints
Where to Forage
What to Wear and Pack
Critters and Bitin' Plants
Responsible and Ethical Foraging
Ain't Never Not Foragin'
Chapter 2: Know Your Parts (Mushroom Anatomy)
Cap Features
Warts
Scales
Striations
Zonations
Spores and Spore-Producing Surfaces
Gills
True vs. False Gills
Bruising
Is It Milky?
Gill Spacing
Pores
Teeth
Morels and Other Misfits
Stipe/Stalk/Stem
Universal/Partial Veil
Skirt/Ring/Annulus
Reticulation
Volva
Basal Bulb
Mycelium
Chapter 3: Common Mushroom Myths
Don't Touch 'Em!
Gills Kill!
You're Hurting the Mushroom Population!
Cut! Don't Pluck!
How Can You Tell What's Poisonous and What's Edible?
Chapter 4: Words of Wisdom
Start Small and Not Raw
Do NOT Get Discouraged
Be Good to Your Momma (Nature)
Ya Ain't Gotta Be Fancy
Don't Put That In Your Mouth!
Have a Big Ol' Time!
PART 2--EDIBLE APPALACHIAN MUSHROOMS BY THE SEASON
Chapter 5: Edible Mushrooms of the Spring
Morels (Genus Morchella)
Common Morel, Yellow Morel (Morchella americana, Formerly M. esculenta)
Fried Morels
Eastern Half-Free Morel (Morchella punctipes)
Pheasant Back (Cerioporus squamosus)
Wine Cap (Stropharia rugosoannulata)
Wood Ear (Auricularia angiospermarum)
Deer Mushroom (Pluteus cervinus)
Chapter 6: Edible Mushrooms of the Summer
Chanterelles (Genus Cantharellus)
Golden Chanterelle (Cantharellus sp.)
Smooth Chanterelle (Cantharellus lateritius)
Peach Chanterelle (Cantharellus persicinus)
Appalachian Chanterelle (Cantharellus appalachiensis)
Cinnabar Chanterelle (Cantherellus cinnabarinus)
Black Trumpets (Craterellus fallax)
White and Black Trumpet Pizza
Chicken of the Woods (Genus Laetiporus)
Chicken of the Woods, Yellow (Laetiporus sulphureus)
Chicken of the Woods All-Purpose Seasoning Salt
Chicken of the Woods, White (Laetiporus cincinnatus)
Tawny Milk Cap (Lactifluus volemus)
Puffballs
Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea)
Grilled Puffball Steaks
Common Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum)
Brain Puffball (Calvatia craniiformis)
Pear-Shaped Puffball (Apioperdon pyriforme)
Beefsteak Polypore (Fistulina americana)
Old Man of the Woods (Streobilomyces floccopus)
Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus)
Reishi Mushrooms (Genus Ganoderma)
Hemlock Reishi (Ganoderma tsugae)
Reishi Tea
Berkeley's Polypore (Bondarzewia berkeleyi)
Berkeley Jerky
Indigo Milk Cap (Lactarius indigo)
Oyster Mushrooms (Genus Pleurotus)
Summer Oyster (Pleurotus pulmonarius)
Wild Summer Mushroom Toast
Rooted Agaric (Hymenopellis furfuracea)
Boletes
Frost's Bolete (Exsudoporus frostii)
Crown-Tipped Coral (Artomyces pyxidatus )
Chapter 7: Edible Mushrooms of the Fall
Oysters (Pluerotus ostreatus)
Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup
Hen of the Woods (Grifola frondosa)
Hen of the Woods Flatbread
Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
Lion's Mane "Crab" Cakes
Bear's Head Tooth (Hericium americanum)
Coral Tooth Fungus (Hericium coralloides)
Wood Blewit (Collybia nuda)
Honey Mushrooms
Bulbous Honey Fungus (Armillaria gallica)
Shrimp of the Woods (Entoloma abortivum)
Popcorn Shrimp of the Woods
Amber Jelly Roll (Exidia recisa)
Amber Jelly Roll Gummy Candies
Snow Fungus (Tremella fuciformis)
Cauliflower Mushroom (Sparassis americana)
Lobster Mushroom (Hypomyces lactifluorum)
Lobster Mushroom Duxelles
Resinous Polypore (Ischnoderma resinosum)
Purple-Gilled Laccaria (Laccaria ochropurpurea)
Wrinkled Cortinarius Mushroom (Cortinarius caperatus)
Shaggy Stalked Bolete (Austroboletus betula)
Chapter 8: Edible Mushrooms of the Winter
Late Fall Oysters (Sarcomyxa serotinus)
Chaga, Medicinal (Inonotus obliquus)
Enoki (Flammulina filiformis)
Yellowfoot (Craterellus tubaeformis)
Wild Yellowfoot Quiche
Hedgehog Mushroom (Hydnum sp.)
Hedgehog Mushroom Bacon Penne Pasta
Turkey Tail, Medicinal (Trametes versicolor)
Double Extraction Turkey Tail Tincture
Witches' Butter (Tremella mesenterica)
Conclusion
Resources
About the Author
Index
"This resource book has everything you need to get started finding and picking your own mushrooms safely in nature. One of the major focuses of the book is taking the fear out of foraging mushrooms by learning how not just to identify various mushrooms but also prepare each of the different types without putting yourself in danger."
-- Susan Bewley, Budget Earth
Go Forth and Forage is the essential guide for foraging mushrooms in Appalachia. It covers all the basics of identification, safety, and responsibility while steeped in the down-home country charm that has made Whitney such a resounding success on social media. The book is filled with beautiful photos, great descriptions, delicious recipes, and humorous anecdotes. This book is a must have for prospective foragers and nature enthusiasts.
-- Dr. Gordon Walker, @FascinatedByFungi and author of Passport to Kingdom Fungi
Whitney has taken the infinitely complex subject of identifying mushrooms, and made it approachable and straightforward with her easy Appalachian sensibility, wit and charm that comes through in everything she shares. This is beyond a great mushroom foraging guide and recipe collection, it is an invitation into her holler and stomping grounds, a seat at her table, and an offering of delicious proportions.
-- Tara Lanich-LaBrie, founder of The Medicine Circle and author of Foraged & Grown
Written in a fun and lively style, Go Forth and Forage empowers you to confidently identify and harvest dozens of wild mushrooms. With beautiful photographs, engaging commentary, and helpful tips, this book is an excellent resource for aspiring mushroom hunters and nature enthusiasts
-- Adam Haritan, Learn Your Land
Appalachian Forager, Whitney Johnson, is a full-time forager, content creator, and Appalachian ambassador. With over 1 million followers across her social media, she has used her platform to shine a lovin' light on Appalachia and to teach the world how to be more self-sufficient while responsibly utilizing the goodies that Momma Nature provides.
Born and raised in eastern Kentucky, Whitney developed a passion for all things outdoors as a young holler baby. Foraging is her forte, especially mushroom hunting, but she does not discriminate against any wild edibles. She also picks plants and herbs to wildcraft a plethora of skincare and wellness products. She fishes. She hikes. She gardens. She cooks like your mamaw. She is a proud Appalachian spreading the love and wondrous things the region has to offer via her down-to-earth, educational, and quirky videos on TikTok (@appalachian_forager), Instagram (@appalachian_forager), and Facebook (Appalachian Forager). Whitney continues to be a hillbilly force to be reckoned with; spreadin' pride for her region, preachin' girl power, all while keepin' the old ways alive...with a dash of humor.
Cool Springs Press
Pub Date: March 01, 2025
0.7" H x 8.8" L x 6.9" W
192 pages
paperback