Sh-Room Presents

First Flush
Friday.

Essays about growing mushrooms at home. Species notes, harvest stories, the science of fungi, and what tending something alive teaches you. They are written to be read here, in any order.

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Illustration of lion's mane mushrooms growing on a kitchen counter

The Archive

#009Science

When the Data Comes Home

The largest real-world study of legal psilocybin came from our own backyard — CU Anschutz, 2,363 sessions in Colorado and Oregon. Depression and anxiety scores roughly halved at two weeks, and more milligrams didn't buy more benefit. Here's the honest read, small print and all — including the suicidality signal no summary gets to skip.

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#008Science

The Mushroom Left the Mushroom

Bioengineers just brewed psilocybin in bacteria — grams per liter, no fruiting body at all. What it means that a molecule fungi spent 100 million years perfecting now pours out of a fermenter, and what's gained and lost when the mushroom leaves the mushroom.

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#007Design

The Chamber Is Quiet. Your Phone Keeps the Log.

Why the chamber is dumb on purpose, why your grow log stays on your device, and what a daily coach could say if it is ever built.

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#006Contemplation

Remember, You're Going to Die (Your Mushrooms Already Know)

Fungi are the only kingdom whose entire job is turning death back into life. Growing them on your counter is a quiet daily lesson in impermanence — and why that's good news.

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#005Science

Turkey Tail, PSK, and What the Research Says

PSK, a compound from turkey tail, has been used alongside standard cancer treatment in Japan since 1977. Here is what that does and does not tell you about the mushroom.

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#004Community

The Spore Library: How Neighborhoods Used to Share Seed

Before Big Ag, every block had a seed library. We're building the mushroom version. Here's the protocol for starting one in your neighborhood.

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#002Growing Tips

The 72-Hour Rule: When to Harvest

Most beginners harvest too late. The window between perfect and past-prime is narrower than you think. Here's the visual checklist for oyster, lion's mane, and shiitake.

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#001Species Guide

Why Lion's Mane is the Gateway Mushroom

It looks alien and tastes like crab. It is also forgiving of the mistakes beginners make. Here's why lion's mane is a good first species to grow.

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What the essays cover.

Species Deep-Dive

One species at a time. Growing conditions, common mistakes, what to watch for.

Harvest Stories

Notes from first flushes, best flushes, and the ones that got away.

The Science

What published research on fungi says and does not say. No hype.

The Practice

Growing as contemplation. Fungi are the kingdom that turns death back into life — one reflection per issue on impermanence, attention, and the memento mori on your countertop.

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