Hello!
My name is Kristan Trunzo and I am a mother, teacher, healer, and forager with a lifelong passion for connecting people to nature. As a co-founder of African Rising Initiative, my mission is to empower underprivileged communities in Uganda and other African Nations through mushroom cultivation, gardening, education, and holistic health.
Kristan's Story
For over three decades, Kristan Trunzo has studied and practiced various forms of bodywork, herbal medicine, doula support for birthing, mycology, and more. She is a mother of five who homeschools her children with an emphasis on fostering a deep connection to the natural world, particularly through mycology and herbalism.
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Kristan is a founding team member of the nonprofit African Rising Initiative, an organization dedicated to empowering, supporting, and educating underprivileged communities in Uganda. Through initiatives like mushroom cultivation, community gardening, educational access, and health support, African Rising Initiative helps individuals build sustainable livelihoods and improve their quality of life.
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An avid forager, Kristan possesses an extensive and ever-growing knowledge of plants and fungi. Her deep connection to forests and the natural world has been a guiding influence throughout her life. Since 2019, she has been teaching children the fundamentals of mycology and has participated in panel discussions on foraging, children’s mycology education, and the intersection of ethnogens and parenting.
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Kristan is currently completing her first book on mycology, which is expected to be published in early 2026.
Contact
I'm always looking for fellow mushroom lovers. Let's connect.