Don’t Inject Mushrooms, Mushrooms to the Rescue and other stories: Mushroom News Round-up May 13th
It’s been a minute! Happy Friday the 13th! Here are your stories for the week.
Mushrooms will literally save the world
Drought, famine, wildfires. Everything. Ya know it’s coming. The bible says so if you believe in that and the science says so if you believe in that. If you don’t believe in anything than you don’t really care anyway so move on. This article in Science.org tells how having a wide variety of fungi could be key to survivals of ecosystems. Really neat stuff.
DON’T INJECT MUSHROOMS
A lot of dumb people out there making a bad name for psilocybin and here is another one. This dude made a tea from mushrooms then injected it into his bloodstream. It didn’t go well. He had nausea, septic shock, vomited blood because the fungus started to grow in his veins. No, mushrooms will not turn you into a mushroom hero kids.
Mushrooms and Alcohol
This article really doesn’t tell you anything. Basically the effects of mixing shrooms and alcohol is unpredictable. The reason we are sharing is it to let you know that they really don’t know what happens when you mix two mild drugs like this. So be careful –
Illinois is even getting on board!
Ya know things are going mainstream if Illinois is even getting involved. And not like Chicago, Illinois, but Illinois, Illinois. Like, farm fields. . . . (there’s nothing else to say cuz there’s nothing else). Illinois Public Media asks the question: magic mushrooms going mainstream? Which is ridiculous question when Illinois is asking it because if Illinois is asking then it is already mainstream or past its mainstream peak. Anyways, here is an interesting panel discussion from Illinois:
Contraband in Texas
In the unfortunately named Sulphur Springs, Texas (doesn’t that rotten egg smell just make ya wanna visit!?) a lady was arrested with ecstasy, THC, Crack Cocaine, and mushrooms. Ugh, I hate how mushrooms always get grouped with this stuff. But the picture of the lady arrested shows that clearly she isn’t involved in any of the happy stuff, instead just the messenger or drug dealer. They always say the best bartenders don’t drink, but I’d argue that the best drug dealers at least try the product their pushing to differentiate between the positive and negative ones.
A Few Tips for a Mushroom Hunting Beginner – Part One
A Beginner’s Guide to Mushroom Hunting
With their delicious flavors, satisfying textures and the many health benefits of mushrooms, they are becoming more and more popular in many people’s culinary pallets. With the food’s increasing popularity, mushroom hunting has been on the upswing in the last decade. As the weather warms up and the mushroom bodies start poking up, foraging is about to be in full swing. If you are thinking about mushroom hunting for the first time this year, we gathered a few basic tips to ensure you make your experience top notch.
Identifying Mushrooms
Many mushrooms can be a delicious addition to many recipes. Many of the gourmet mushroom cultures sold at Premium Spores can be grown at home and are jam-packed with vitamins and nutrients, boosting the immune system and increasing your energy. It is important to remember that not all mushrooms are safe to consume and many can cause many health problems. Mushroom identification is truly a life or death situation and should be taken very seriously. Mushrooms are Extensive research into the mushrooms you discover and forge in the woods is very important before consumption. There are many books, online research journals, and guidebooks that specifically pertain to your region and you may even be able to find a local mycological society to consult with before eating your finds. The Complete Mushroom Hunter book by Gary Lincoff is an excellent resource for beginners.
Approximately only 4% of mushrooms are thought to be edible and flavorful and about 20% of mushrooms are considered edible but lacking in flavor. A large portion of mushrooms are thought to be inedible but seemingly harmless, meaning they are too hard to chew/ingest in the first place. About 20% of these mushrooms can lead to gastrointestinal and other issues in the body, causing illness, leaving approximately 1% of mushrooms to be deadly to the consumer. Some mushrooms, like the increasingly popular morels, are delicious finds but nature has a deceptive look alike. Do not consume a mushroom discovered in the wild, unless you are 100% confident that you are eating the right thing!
Limiting Your Risk of Consuming Contaminated Mushrooms
Mushrooms are the fruiting body of a complex system of mycelium under the soil/in the trees that we cannot see. This system continues to expand and when the temperatures and environment are just right, the mushroom will make its appearance. When growing, they are not sentient beings and do not know the dangers that await them at the surface. They do not worry about car travel or the things people spray to kill insects. When foraging for mushrooms, you may be surprised about where you can find them but you want to be careful where you are picking them from. If they are close to a well traveled road, you may want to leave these mushrooms be. While driving, vehicles let off toxic exhaust fumes and these fumes can be trapped in the soil, the lifesource of the mushroom or the mushroom itself can be coated in these toxic chemicals.
Not only do we recommend avoiding most roadside foraging, we recommend avoiding hunting in areas that were recently sprayed with chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides. A lot of produce nowadays is treated with these to ensure they will be grown with a higher yield, however, you should try to avoid consuming these chemicals. It may be difficult to know if the ground you are foraging has been treated with these things but keep your eye out and make sure you thoroughly clean every piece of food you forage.
Places to Forage for Mushrooms

Mushroom hunting/foraging mushrooms calls for outdoor adventure and immersing yourself in the natural environment. Many mushroom hunters have created Facebook groups for their respective US state and group members provide precise locations where they found wild mushrooms and they are shown on a map, much like the one above. The mushrooms you are seeking are most likely in secluded wooded areas and in meadows. Taking an adventure off the commonly trekked trails gives you the greatest chance of finding those delicious delicacies. If you’re planning on starting your wondrous adventure in the park down the street or a wooded area hours away from you, do your due diligence and make sure you are allowed to be there and do what you’re doing. You do not want to stumble onto someone’s private property, as this is trespassing and can turn from a day of foraging to a criminal charge or even a dangerous situation. Even if you find a glorious patch of black morels mushrooms or a beautiful pearl oyster growing from a tree, this is someone else’s property, this is someone else’s bounty.
Another thing to be conscious about is the restricted areas within the public parks you are wondering through. Sometimes, you have a feeling you can find some tasty mushrooms in one area of a park. Make sure you are allowed to be in this area. Conservation areas that are being protected, should not be disturbed. If you are not allowed to walk through this area, there is a reason and you should be respectful of the park’s conservation efforts, allowing the wooded areas to naturally change, grow and do what it needs to do to be a healthy natural habitat.
You and Your Fellow Mushroom Hunter
We consistently want and seek more, it’s just a human instinct. If you are hunting for personal use, try to get out of the mindset that more is better. Be honest and make sure you take only what you can and will use. There may be other hunters in your area and there is most likely enough to go around. Having a batch of rotting mushrooms in your fridge helps no one. A giant foraging bounty is a perfect Instagram image or may just feel like an awesome victory but please try not to take more than you can chew.
Mushroom hunting can be an amazing activity for all ages but it comes with some cautions. Make sure you truly know what you’re eating, be conscious of where you’re finding these little guys and overall have fun with it. As mushroom hunting season is coming in hot, we hope you have a wonderful time adventuring the wilderness, have the greatest luck while searching for your treasure and stay safe out there!
Canada Sells Magic Mushrooms Even Though Illegal and Other Stories: Mushroom News Round-Up April 22, 2022
Here are your five stories for the week!
Purple Mushrooms in Arizona
– We all know that mushrooms are awesome, but purple ones?! Those are totally awesomer. A University of Arizona student stopped her partying and went into the woods and found a purple Entoloma occidentale mushroom, which has never been found in southern Arizona.
Illegal? Who cares, sell it anyway.
This is great. There are four dispensaries in Vancouver that sell magic mushrooms. Like, they just do it, even though it’s illegal. The owners are like The Pirate Bay people – not found, but definitely selling. Looks like roadtrip to Canada!
Mushroom gummies to help take the stress away
Image courtesy of Plant People
An interesting and very obviously sponsored post. These mushroom gummies (not psilocybin) from Plant People cost $30 and help balance out your brain. According to the very obviously sponsored post, that is.
Super Mario mushrooms are inspired by magic mushrooms
The most obvious of obvious story was released this week by Den of Geek. Mushrooms that make Mario big are inspired by magic mushrooms. OMG! ReAlLy!? No way. Just kidding. Anyone who has ever played mario, which totals in the billions, knows this is the case. Jeez.
The Bieb likes mushrooms
image courtesy of Budiey on Flickr
Entertainment Tonight has dropped the story of the year. Justin Bieber and some lady named Hailey that is probably his wife have a shared accessory of a mushroom neckless. And—guess the F what!—you can buy one, too. Whatever, ours is better — check them out in the store here