Professional forager Shawn Dawson takes readers to his favorite mushroom picking spots for insightful and useful lessons on dozens of forest floor delicacies. Readers will learn where to look for mushrooms, as well as how to identify which ones are edible, harvest them sustainably, and prepare their harvest.

Mushroom foraging requires attention to detail and solid knowledge — while over two dozen edible mushroom varieties are found in Newfoundland, many hundreds of toxic ones exist. Knowing which is which and exercising an abundance of caution is a must.

That’s why Shawn’s step-by-step guide is so useful. Readers will start by getting to know the parts of the mushroom and key identifiers. Then he’ll introduce “the core four” — golden chanterelles, winter chanterelles, hedgehogs, and sweet tooth mushrooms — easily identified, abundant and delicious mushrooms for the burgeoning fungi hunter to look for.

Edible Mushrooms of Newfoundland includes tips for dehydrating, pickling, and other methods of preserving mushrooms to enjoy all year long. It also includes mushroom-forward recipes from some of the province’s top chefs.

Shawn Dawson makes his living from searching the Newfoundland wilderness for edible mushrooms, seaweeds, berries, molluscs, weeds, herbs, and teas. Shawn is a walking, talking field manual of what to look for and where to find it.

Shawn is committed to sustainable foraging practices and responsible harvesting, evident in his respect for the environment and its delicate ecosystems. His goal is to foster the sometimes-forgotten connection between people and the land, promoting a deeper appreciation for the natural world. He also understands food and flavors, and has been an invited chef at food festivals and competitions, including the annual Roots, Rants, and Roars festival in Elliston, Newfoundland.

Shawn’s previous book, the best-selling The Forager’s Dinner, was shortlisted for the 2021 APMA Best Atlantic Published Book Award.

Shawn Dawson's profile page