About the Author

Melany is a second generation forager who learned from her parents, the late abstract painter, Emily Mason and the late landscape painter, Wolf Kahn. Melany was a professor of film production and documentary short film at NYU before returning to New Hampshire/Vermont. She became a VT volunteer Guardian Ad Litem (court appointed advocate for children), and then established her own 12- year practice as a family court mediator. She is an active Board Member on the Wolf Kahn Foundation and the Emily Mason | Alice Trumbull Mason Foundation. She was  a  six-year Board Member at Hilltop Montessori School, Brattleboro, VT.  In addition to continuing to teach film, since 2002 she has volunteered to lead school groups, mushroom clubs, and nature center groups on woodland walks to gather and identify edible mushrooms. As part of the curriculum, the culinary aspects were explained through recipes, cooking demonstrations, and tastings. 

 

Melany and her husband Bo have four children (for Mel, two bio and two bonus) who all grew up foraging edible mushrooms. Mason is now attending college in Colorado where he continues his love of mushrooming.

 

Melany has written for the Provincetown Independent and co-scripted a Christie's Auction video. She has been interviewed by Vermont Public Radio, Brattleboro Reformer, Vermont Commons, and Vermont Digger. Melany’s next project is a collaboration with Ellen Korbonski on their second nature book featuring her daughter Ally. 

 

Mason Goes Mushrooming will debut on October 4th, the 95th birthday of Melany’s father, the OG forager and landscape painter, Wolf Kahn. Mason Goes Mushrooming has already been selected for inclusion in the children’s book category of the October, 2022 Brattleboro Literary Festival and Ellen Korbonski’s watercolor artwork will be used for the Festival program and poster.