With an approach best described as cap-to-mycelium, Elan Hagens sells foraged edible mushrooms through her company, Temptress Truffles; she creates mushroom dyes for art and clothing; and teaches outdoor education classes on fungi. In October, she’ll host a mushroom retreat as part of a festival in Yachats.

Above all, the Benson High and Portland State alum and reality-show vet (she and her pooch were on Greatest American Dog in 2008) is passionate about food justice. “Mushrooms are expensive,” says Hagens, who didn’t try mushrooms herself until she was in her 20s and now sometimes sells them at the King Farmers Market. “I like creating accessibility by teaching people how to forage on their own.... The national forest is your forest.”

Biggest misconception people have about mushrooms?
That there are so many poisonous mushrooms and that you can die from touching one. There are a lot that will kill you [if you eat them]. Touch it and smell it! That’s one of the ways to ID mushrooms. Is it sticky? Does it smell like cucumbers?

Favorite place in the city to clear your mind?
Forest Park, because it’s so vast and there are hiking trails.

Favorite part about fall?
Harvest season! You get the summer berries, the apples, and the winter squash coming in. And mushrooms, of course. And the flowers still. It’s so bountiful.

Go-to restaurants to take out-of-towners?
The Observatory, and tasting our way around town at food cart pods.

Retail stores that are Portland’s best-kept secret?
Next Adventure has cute stuff and a bargain basement where you can buy used. I’m a strong believer in upcycling.

Food you hate that everyone else seems to love?
Oysters

Favorite book?
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou

Favorite TV show you’re bingeing?
Love Is Blind

Eternal playlist song?
“Tell Me When to Go” by E-40

Favorite Oregon road trip? The coast heading towards Yachats. I stop at Marys Peak, which is really windy and foresty.

Favorite fall dish?
Huckleberry pie. Huckleberry anything!

Scariest career moment?
Saying I openly support Measure 109 [legalizing psilocybin treatments]. That was really hard, because of drug stigma.

Who’s your hero?
Hattie Redmond, for her work as a suffragette and in developing Black Portland

Best advice you’ve received? Seek out the weird.

Worst advice you’ve received? “Be the bigger person.” It diminishes your feelings and silences you.

What’s your mantra? Look towards joy.

Best gift you’ve ever received?
My Yorkshire terrier. She’s almost 19.

What excites you about Portland’s future?
The post-COVID comeback of small businesses and downtown. I’m excited to see the next version of Portland.

Three words that describe the city?
Lush. Quirky. Welcoming.

Three words that describe you?
Creative. Outdoorsy. Loyal.