North Spore

07/24/2025

So who else should you get amped up to see at Mycology Outside 2025? Well our friend Jasper Degenaars from Fungi Academy!

Jasper is an ambassador to the Kindom of the Fungi and has dedicated his life to the sharing and growing of Fungal Wisdom. It all started over 13 years ago when he embarked on a journey to decipher the growing of active mushrooms. Since 2019 he has committed his full time and awareness in service to nurturing the connection between people and the Fungal Kindom.

Through radiating passion and inspiration evoked from his many years of traveling the world, Jasper has co-created 20+ educational experiences, online courses, and retreats that cultivated diverse communities of learners, empowering them to explore the symbiotic relationship between fungi, people, and their environments.

We can’t wait to see you September 5-7 in S**o, Maine!

07/23/2025

Fungi have been quietly shaping the course of science for over a century. In collaboration with The ODIN, we’re spotlighting four species that transformed biotechnology as we know it.

Penicillium chysogenum gave us penicillin and launched the antibiotic revolution. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the humble yeast, became a cornerstone of biotech, powering everything from fermentation to gene editing. Neurospora crassa helped unravel the fundamentals of genetics and fungal virology. And the last mushroom in our list, once relegated to counterculture, is now at the cutting edge of neuroscience and mental health research. These fungi aren’t just fascinating, they’re ground-breaking.

Learn more about these fungi and how you can use them in biohacking here: https://northspore.substack.com/p/four-fungi-that-changed-science

07/19/2025

How to use Reishi mushrooms? Here’s a throwback to when our friend Turnip Vegan came up with a refreshing Reishi spice drink to beat the heat ☀️

Made with homegrown Reishi, fresh pineapple, and a hint of habanero, this gut-friendly, immune-supporting recipe is both delicious and healthy. You can make this with a Reishi tincture too!

Check out the recipe here: https://northspore.com/blogs/the-black-trumpet/turnip-vegans-summertime-reishi-pineapple-spice-drink

07/18/2025

Long before the therapies made headlines, a grassroots network of underground cultivators was quietly shaping the psychedelic movement. From early internet forums and amateur grow manuals to the first legal frameworks, these DIY pioneers pushed the boundaries of access, science, and culture.

Read the full article here: https://northspore.substack.com/p/growing-shrooms-through-the-ages-9b8

Part 1 (pre-history - 1989) here: https://northspore.substack.com/p/growing-shrooms-through-the-ages

07/17/2025

At Psychedelic Science 2025, we got a chance to sit down and talk with Sam Chapman, Executive Director of the Center for Psychedelic Policy.

In this interview, he shares insights from years of frontline work advancing legislation - most notably as campaign manager for Oregon’s historic Measure 109. He breaks down what’s working, what’s not, and how states can center affordability and access from day one.

Check out the full interview here: https://youtu.be/fAQqFbax6k0?si=vGe7WOkX5JcOFt0c

If you're interested in growing your own mushrooms, visit our website to at: northspore.comNorth Spore had the opportunity to sit down with Sam Chapman, the ...

07/16/2025

Can psychedelics slow aging?

A groundbreaking study from Emory and Baylor suggests that compounds found in some mushrooms may extend cellular lifespan and reduce biological stress. Treated mice lived significantly longer, and human cells showed slower aging in lab tests. This is the first evidence that psychedelics may act as anti-aging agents.

Check out the full post here: https://northspore.substack.com/p/can-psychedelic-mushrooms-help-us

07/15/2025

Mushrooms have been cultivated and used for millennia for healing, divination, and later, neuroscience and pharmacology. Part 1 of this series traces their journey from ancient Mesoamerican ceremonies to early 20th-century ethnobotanical rediscovery.

Read the full piece on Substack, where you can find more journalistic and op-ed pieces about medicinal mushrooms and more: https://northspore.substack.com/p/growing-shrooms-through-the-ages

07/14/2025

In April, Lou visited Taku (Outdoor Chef Life) in California to help him set up some outdoor mushroom grows - they made Wine Cap beds with hard wood chips (which are now fruiting), buried blocks in the garden, and inoculated Shiitake logs. They covered the steps in a full video on Taku’s channel.

Check out the full video here: https://youtu.be/0gIcThKY0Ro?si=jTxyVnaFZHmdMGLT

If you’re ready to start growing indoors - check out our site to save 20% on monotubs and substrates: https://northspore.com/pages/limited-time-offers?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=subsandtubs

07/13/2025

It’s that time!

July marks prime Chanterelle season in the Northeast, and shady, mossy forests are already bursting with these golden treasures. Look for their vibrant yellow color, fruity aroma, and signature forked “false gills” (not true gills like Jack O’Lanterns!). They thrive near oak, hemlock, and spruce after summer rains.

Learn more about foraging and cooking Chanterelle mushrooms here: https://northspore.com/blogs/the-black-trumpet/how-to-identify-find-chanterelle-mushrooms?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=chanterelles

📷: Repost from (IG)

07/12/2025

We’re excited to welcome our friend William Padilla-Brown to Mycology Outside: A Weekend Mushroom Retreat in Maine! Founder of MycoSymbiotics, William is a multidisciplinary citizen scientist with work spanning mycology, phycology, molecular biology, and more. He’s authored the first English-language books on Cordyceps cultivation, teaches courses around the world, and founded the popular MycoFest, now in its 11th year. His research has been supported by numerous organizations and featured in Fantastic Fungi and VICE.

His presentation is called "Truffles: Earth’s Ultimate Mushrooms"

07/11/2025

Golden oyster mushrooms thrive in warm weather, making them a perfect pick for growers in drier, hotter climates. These fast-fruiting mushrooms love humidity, so growing them in buckets helps lock in moisture while keeping conditions just right. Hang or stack your buckets in a shady spot, mist regularly, and you’ll have beautiful food before you know it. You can make your buckets yourself, or use a MushBucket kit to speed up the process.

You can also grow from buckets indoors in a BoomRoom.

📷: Shoestring Martha