Psilocybin Mushrooms are a naturally occurring psychoactive life form that have been utilised by humans for thousands of years, for spiritual and ceremonial purposes. As their name suggests they belong to the kingdom of life known as fungi. Fungi is unique in that it does not belong to the plant or animal kingdoms and is instead its own form of life. However, the DNA of fungi is actually closer to animals that it is of plants.

What makes this type of fungi so unique is the presence of the psychotropic compound psilocybin. Psilocybin is one of the most powerful psychedelic molecules found in nature. It alters the perception of reality and an individual's behaviour by affecting the central nervous system. After a dose of psilocybin, a person's senses may be distorted or intensified. For example, colours may seem more vibrant, sounds may appear more intense and touch may seem altered. Psilocybin can also affect a person's emotional and mental state, perhaps creating a state of awe or reverence. Many people report mystical and religious states of mind from consuming psilocybin mushrooms, along with long term benefits to their outlook on life.

What famous anthropologist and psychonaut Terence Mckenna referred to as “the food of the gods”, have been in a state of prohibition in many countries in recent times. However some researchers have been granted access to these substances in order to analyse how it affects the human brain. Although research is still in its early stages and most heavily prohibited, promising results show that psilocybin may have a potential role in the treatment and easing of many different mental disorders.

Psilocybin mushrooms can be found growing in many countries around the world at certain times of year. However in some countries the seasons is very short, and people may be subject to prosecution by the law if they are found wandering the autumnal meadows picking these fascinating fungi.

There is another way of gaining access to these mushrooms though, and that is through the act of physically growing them in the comfort and safety of your own home. All it takes is a few ingredients and the right technique.

GROWING YOUR OWN SHROOMS

One way of going about doing this is by obtaining all the equipment necessary to grow your own mushrooms from scratch. For some, this may be a complicated process. You will need to gather spore prints or spore syringes, along the material needed to create a substrate for your mycelium to grow within and a container for this to occur. Adequate sterilisation is also needed to prevent any bacteria from contamination the substrate.

A much easier option for beginners, and far more convenient, is to simply purchase a mushroom grow kit, where most of the work has already been done for you. The Supa Gro Kits from Zativo contain no filler substrate and are full of nothing but pure mycelium. This is highly beneficial as it frees up room to allow for maximum yields. Adding further ease to the process, the kit is basically good to go to produce the first flush, the bag is equipped with oxygen ventilation and will only need misting every now and then.

The boxes supplied in the kit will need to be placed in the bag provided, with the opening of the bag above the box. The bag should then be folded shut and placed in indirect sunlight at a temperature as close as possible to 28 degrees Celsius. To introduce the required amount of humidity into the environment, use a spray bottle to mist the inside of the bag. A few sprays each day is all it will take.

You should witness obvious signs of life within a week. Once the first caps have shown up, you should expect full growth within about 7 days. After this period it is time to harvest. The best possible time to do this is just before the “veil” breaks. The breaking of the veil is when the top of the mushroom cap splits open to release spores. It is vital to thoroughly clean your hands before harvesting your mushrooms to avoid introducing foreign life forms into the growing environment which might threaten the health of your mushrooms. Gently and carefully twist your mushrooms out of the cake they are growing in from their base.

The good news is, these kits provide several flushes. To catalyse this you simply need to pour cold water over the cake to shock the mycelium back into business. Leave the cake in water for around 12 hours and drain it completely. You are now ready to repeat the steps mentioned above to start the process all over again.