What I truly miss here when I think of Latvia

I am not a child of exile, but it so happened that I have been living in Canada for seven years now. Latvia has always been and remains dear and close to my heart. I am proud to have been born in Latvia. This square was created with the idea of showing what I truly miss here when thinking about Latvia. It’s the fragrant forests and fields, the meadows. Mushroom picking, berry picking. Remembering my childhood through Margarita Stāraste’s illustrations and fairy-tale books, this porcini mushroom square was made.

Description submitted by Ingrīda Eglīte for the Museum “Latvians Abroad” project “Story Quilt” (2018)

Searching for Latvian mushrooms

Mushrooms & sauerkraut OCTOBER 2025 Searching for Latvian mushrooms Toronto, Canada When I was a little girl, my greatest joy in summer was going mushroom picking with my father in Latvia’s beautiful forests. Wandering around the world, I’ve seen many beautiful forests. I’ve walked through them, searching for the mushrooms of Latvia. I didn’t find them…” Aina Zūlis. Quote from the “Story Quilt” project by “Latvians Abroad” museum 2018 Oktober news Latvijas sēņu meklējumos Kā var kāpostus rīvēt, ja neiedzer aliņu? (Pēteris Freimanis) Mazā Māra mežā gāja… Ēriks un Aina stāsta par sēņošanu Skābēšana trijās paaudzēs Kanādā (Aija Zichmane) Liene marinē gurķus Madara Riley – “Mushroom Maddie” Sertificētā sēņotāja Mičigānā (Larisa Mednis) Jūs, ko, mani uz sēņu skolu sūtīsiet? (Austra Muižniece) Liene gatavo kotletes Skābo kāpostu meistarklase Melburnā Londonas latviešu skolas sēņošanas izbraukums Itāļiem ir nepareizi gurķi! (Austra Muižniece) Rudmiešu pilni grozi! (Iveta Leitase) Omīte iemācīja, kā skābēt kāpostus (Kalvis Mikelšteins) Divas, trīs dienas un jau skābi kāposti bija (Nestors Refbergs) Latviskā sirds un dārgās dilles (Iveta Leitase) Bergenas latvieši skābē kāpostus kopīgām svinībām Karbonāžu maratons vienā laidā (Austra Muižniece) Grāmatas “Letts Eat!” tapšana (Vija Doks) Recepte draudzībai un latviešu pavārgrāmatas diasporā (Signe Rirdance) Pavārgrāmatas izdotas ārpus Latvijas Manas vecmāmiņas recepšu grāmata (Marianna Auliciema) Kā es gatavoju rasolu (Dastins Betčers) No posts found

Little Māra went into the forest…

“Little Māra went into the forest, the green forest was her home.” I heard this from my grandmothers while going mushroom picking together in the beautiful forests of Latvia. Unforgettable memories. I lived in Garciems for the first six years of my life. During the Second World War, my family began the life of refugees. On October 4, 1944, we left Riga. Upon arriving in Germany, we lived in the barracks of the Fischbach camp. That’s where I started elementary school. The lessons were conducted in Latvian. In December 1949, my family had the opportunity to go to America, to earn a living as lumber workers. Later, we moved to Milwaukee.

Ēriks and Aina on mushroom picking

They wanted to arrest me and Aina. We went to the forest to pick mushrooms, and they wanted to arrest us. Apparently, we were trying to poison someone!
The police arrived. The English people who walk there saw us picking mushrooms and had reported us to the police.

When we bought that other house — the bungalow — it was near the forest. During the day, my friend’s dog and I would go for walks after work and pick mushrooms. Sometimes Erik and the children came along too. And then — ‘What are you doing? Picking mushrooms? They’re poisonous!’
I said, ‘If they were poisoned, I’d have been dead long ago

Madara Riley – Mushroom Maddie

On Facebook, you can find Madara Riley, a Latvian living in the United Kingdom, who is very passionate about mushroom picking. She shares her stories, experiences, knowledge, and inspires others.

Certified mushroomer from Michigan (Larisa Mednis)

Larisa Mednis thinks that her interest in mushrooming comes from her Latvian roots. A number of years ago Larisa joined a mushrooming club in Michigan, USA, where she learned to forage and identify mushrooms from specialists in the field. Today Larisa holds a certificate in wild mushrooming from the State of Michigan, which allows her to legally sell mushrooms. As a vegetarian, Larisa uses mushrooms as a meat substitute in various favourite recipes.

Baskets full of Saffron Milk Caps! (Iveta Leitase)

Iveta Leitase in Canberra, Australia, tells how she discovered her perfect “mushroom spot” — a pine forest near Canberra where many saffron milk caps grow. It turns out that in Australia, the worms don’t eat these mushrooms!