The ancient practice of mushroom foraging is a delight to the senses, and is most commonly done for prized edible mushrooms (such as Porcinis, Truffles, or Chanterelles). There are a myriad of subtleties that come into play with this hobby, most of them becoming familiar after years of practice. Recognizing faint scents in the air when you’re close to a huge patch, knowing which time of day/year/month to go look in any given area – it is anything but simple, but there are generations of mushroom hunters before us that have passed down their wisdom.
There are rules, basic etiquette (don’t overharvest, be conscious of rare specimens that are better left untouched), and more – for starters, here is some literature you may want to check out to dive deeply into the world of foraging for Psilocybe mushrooms:
There are rules, basic etiquette (don’t overharvest, be conscious of rare specimens that are better left untouched), and more – for starters, here is some literature you may want to check out to dive deeply into the world of foraging for Psilocybe mushrooms:
- Magic Mushrooms Around the World by Jochen Gartz
- Field Guide to Mushrooms by Gary Lincoff
- Mushrooms by Roger Phillips
- The Genus Psilocybe by Gaston Guzman
- Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World by Paul Stamets
Of course, modern magic mushroom foragers are equipped with the handy-dandy smartphone, giving access to convenient and rich resources like the Shroomery Identification forums, Reddit mushroom identification subreddits, and Facebook groups where you can post a picture of what you’re looking at and people quickly respond with what species it is.
It’s very probable that most (if not all) of the magic mushrooms that you have ever bought and eaten have been grown indoors under artificial conditions, most likely strains like:
- B+ Group
- Magic Shrooms
- Penis Envy
- Burmas
- Texans
- Lipa Yai
- APE (Albino Penis Envy)
This is similar to the world of cannabis, where a majority of high-quality weed is grown inside under artificial lights in well-controlled environments. A key aspect to successfully growing mushrooms indoors is knowing where the mushrooms grow in nature, and then reproducing that particular climate they like, as well as mimicking the substrate on which they grow.
Cubensis strains like Golden Teacher are fairly easy to grow because replicating a warm and humid environment isn’t difficult, and the substrate that supplies their nutrient needs can be made from ingredients that you can purchase at many local stores or online. Many other species such as Panaeolus cyanescens are difficult to cultivate because they require environmental cues that are difficult to mimic, such as a very cool climate or the presence of particular bacteria in the substrate to trigger their fruiting cycle.
Mushroom hunting is an exciting and rewarding endeavor – but never forget the old adage – ‘All mushrooms are edible, but some only once.’ Magic mushroom foraging is an art and meditation in and of itself, and can also be a ton of fun with friends or family. Think of it as part of the entire psychedelic experience. There’s nothing like coming home with a backpack full of magic mushrooms, letting Mother Nature do all the hard work for us. Make sure to say some words of gratitude for the bounty that is so freely offered by our incredible planet.
Psilocybe cubensis is a dung-loving (read: grows very well on poop) species that prefers humid grasslands and is most often found in tropical and subtropical habitats. The best places to see wild Golden Teachers in the US would be in Florida and along the Gulf Coast. Check out your local friendly cattle pasture on a hot & humid summer day, or head to the grasslands and open fields on cool autumn mornings. Don’t forget to check the woody debris around the edge of woodland areas.
Mushroom hunting is an exciting and rewarding endeavor – but never forget the old adage – ‘All mushrooms are edible, but some only once.’ Magic mushroom foraging is an art and meditation in and of itself, and can also be a ton of fun with friends or family. Think of it as part of the entire psychedelic experience. There’s nothing like coming home with a backpack full of magic mushrooms, letting Mother Nature do all the hard work for us. Make sure to say some words of gratitude for the bounty that is so freely offered by our incredible planet.
Psilocybe cubensis is a dung-loving (read: grows very well on poop) species that prefers humid grasslands and is most often found in tropical and subtropical habitats. The best places to see wild Golden Teachers in the US would be in Florida and along the Gulf Coast. Check out your local friendly cattle pasture on a hot & humid summer day, or head to the grasslands and open fields on cool autumn mornings. Don’t forget to check the woody debris around the edge of woodland areas.
Sorry in advance for all the West Coast lovers out there; the left side of the US is just not as conducive to wild cubensis hunting. The western portion of the North American continent consists of arid and semiarid climates, with the west coast being technically classified as Mediterranean and Oceanic.
Of course, if you just can’t seem to find Golden Teacher mushrooms out in the wild, perhaps the Universe is trying to gently nudge you into exploring the hobby of mycology. It is wildly rewarding and endlessly novel, with countless new strains to try your hand at growing. In addition, there are tons of non-psychoactive fungi that are great to grow, like Reishi, Lion’s Mane, or Shiitake.
To your health and happiness, always!
Of course, if you just can’t seem to find Golden Teacher mushrooms out in the wild, perhaps the Universe is trying to gently nudge you into exploring the hobby of mycology. It is wildly rewarding and endlessly novel, with countless new strains to try your hand at growing. In addition, there are tons of non-psychoactive fungi that are great to grow, like Reishi, Lion’s Mane, or Shiitake.
To your health and happiness, always!