Ian Barlow knows the American Pacific Northwest forests like they were his own backyard. Drawn to the forest since his early childhood – his Scandinavian genes might have something to do with it – he’s learned to read all the trees, plants and mushrooms as if from an open book. A resident of Bothell, WA, he handily supplements his diet with some of the incredible bounty the forests have to offer (provided of course that we don’t eradicate them). Not content with keeping this knowledge to himself, he readily teaches it to whomever wants to learn about plants and foraging. He helps teach students at local Bellevue College in particular, and allows them to create a connection with the forest that’s so much deeper and more meaningful than a simple appreciation for the scenery.