Foreword by Nancy J. Turner “Foraging” might suggest “random picking and plucking,” but effective foraging is far from that. There is so much to know about the species you are harvesting and their environments: Where do they grow? Which are edible, which are poisonous, and what parts are usable? What other species are similar and might be mistaken for them. What is their harvesting season? How can they be harvested sustainably, without reducing their populations or impacting other species? How are they prepared? What insects and animals are they associated with? Are there cultural protocols around their harvesting and use? Mikaela Cannon provides all this information for the plants and mushrooms she forages, based on meticulous research and — most importantly — her own experiences. For her, the book reflects a compellingly personal journey, filled with the joy of “finding nourishment from the land.” Her enthusiasm is infectious; you want to participate in her world: “In my opinion, there is nothing as delicious as chanterelles fried in butter and eaten on toast. Before cooking them, I gently clean dirt away.” You want to taste, and make for yourself, the unique dishes she has created and provided recipes for: Mallow Lasagna; Mountain Ash Turkish Delight; Seed Bar with dock seeds, hazelnut catkins, and nettle seeds; and Spruce Tip Gummies. Foraging as a Way of Life, written with deep appreciation and acknowledgment of the Indigenous Peoples within whose lands and waters Mikaela resides and thrives, highlights their priceless knowledge and the immense gifts of knowledge keepers like the late Secwepemc Elder and ethnobotanist Dr. Mary Thomas. Writing with humility, and recognizing the wrongs of colonialism, and the environmental destruction caused widely through agriculture, clearcut logging, and other recent human activities, Mikaela still conveys a sense of wonder, fun, and adventure, of gratitude and love for the natural world. She includes key information about insect pollinators and animals that depend on these plants, with warnings to always think of their needs, not just our own: “Remember that this plant [saskatoon] is a favorite of the bears too. Make sure that there is plenty left for them.” She also inspires us to want to learn about new species, their ecological requirements, and their cultural history, and not to be afraid to experiment with new recipes. Building relationships with the plants she is harvesting and using, she shows a deep caring, an essential “kindness” and kinship towards the species featured. Her own words say it all: “When reciprocity is your guiding beacon, the forest becomes your community, and you feel supported by it. Your neighbors (the plants, animals, and water) become friends.” Thank you, Mikaela, for sharing your foraging adventures with all of us! — Nancy J. Turner, PhD, CM, OBC, FRSC, FLS; Distinguished Professor Emeritus, School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria