The World Below

As she traverses through the rich forest floor, Rachel Zoller unveils the unknown and prismatic world of fungi, to Conchita Fernandes.

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Growing up, fairy tales often warned us of the formidable nature of the great forest, giving us a glimpse of the frightening creatures that resided in its deep, dark interiors. The Big Bad Wolf in the Little Red Riding Hood and the evil cannibalistic witch in Hansel and Gretel, were both inhabitants of the forest. Even the fearless Harry Potter had his reservations about entering the Forbidden Forest and encountering its dark menacing occupants.

But for Rachel Zoller, the forest has always been a safe haven. “As children, my siblings and I regularly went camping with my father. We had complete freedom to run around and explore, climb trees and creeks, even pick up deer droppings, if we wanted to! What also made a difference was the fact that we were homeschooled. We didn’t only just refer to textbooks, but went out to study plants and bugs, and feel them in our hands,” she said. Years later, Rachel’s fondness for nature manifested into her fixation and relentless love for mushrooms.

Fueling Her Curiosity