Finding Peace Among the Mushrooms: My Finnish Forest Adventure

Vol 28 Issue 04 3^rd  October 2025 

In Finland, mushroom picking is not just a hobby — it is part of summer life. Thanks to the unique Everyone’s Right (jokaisenoikeudet), everyone is free to walk in the forest, pick berries and mushrooms, and enjoy the nature. This simple rule shows how deeply Finns respect and trust both people and the natural world. As a new immigrant, I find this “right” very warm and welcoming — it makes me feel included and close to Finnish culture.

My first mushroom-picking experience was with my children in the forest near our home. We surprisly found beautiful golden chanterelles (kantarelli in Finnish). We had seen them before in supermarkets and markets, but seeing them growing fresh and alive from the earth was magical. With great excitement and respect, we picked them carefully.  
By the way, mushrooms usually grow in groups, so once you find one, you should look around — you might be rewarded with a hidden treasure nearby!

Just imagine this: you carry a basket and walk with light steps, breathing in the fresh, slightly moist air filled with the scent of plants. Sunlight filters through the trees. You see the golden chanterelles, the big round brown porcini mushrooms, the small funnel-shaped ones, and even the dark trumpet-shaped black chanterelles.

In Finland, delicious mushrooms like porcini can already be found in May, while July to September is the real peak season. The forest in summer and autumn looks completely different.  
In spring and early summer, everything is green and full of hope — new life is everywhere, quietly growing. But in autumn, the forest turns into a beautiful painting — green, yellow, and red leaves mix together like colors on an artist’s palette. Sitting by a quiet lake surrounded by forest is the best way to release stress and find inner peace. No wonder Finns believe that nature has a magical healing power.

Entering the forest and picking mushrooms is not only about what you collect — it’s about what you feel. Through this simple activity, I began to understand the Finnish way of living with nature: enjoying the outdoors time with family and friends, protecting the environment, and finding joy in small things.

Whether you pick mushrooms for food, for relaxation, or simply to spend time together, you will surely gain something special — perhaps a feeling of peace, happiness, and a deep connection with nature.

I hope you also find your own “Finnish mushroom” — or whatever outdoor joy makes you feel close to nature and yourself.