Mushroom Foraging in Colorado: A Guide to Safety and Preparation

Colorado offers a stunning and diverse landscape for mushroom foraging, ranging from the plains and cottonwood riparian flatlands to alpine environments and areas frequented by snowbank fungi. While this activity can be rewarding, it also poses risks such as encounters with wildlife, poison ivy, and sudden thunderstorms. Preparation is key to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience.

Stay Vigilant and Prepared

Always be aware of your surroundings. Before heading out, familiarize yourself with the area by downloading maps for offline use and noting significant landmarks. This will help if you find yourself disoriented or lost in the wilderness.

Encountering Wildlife

Colorado’s wilderness is home to a variety of wildlife, including the state’s 12,000 black bears. Remember, the term “black bear” refers to the species and not necessarily the color—they can also be brown, cinnamon, or blonde. Here are steps to ensure safety if you encounter a bear:

If you spot a bear from a distance, keep away from the area.
Avoid startling bears, especially those with cubs.
Announce your presence by speaking in a calm voice.
Slowly back away in the direction you came from.
If with small children, carry them until you are safe.
Keep pets on a leash and make yourself appear larger.
Walk, don’t run, and keep your eyes on the bear to monitor its reactions.
Never feed bears or allow them access to your food.
Carry EPA-approved bear-specific pepper spray.

If a bear attack occurs, do not play dead. Instead, try to escape to a secure location or fight back, focusing your defense on the bear’s face and muzzle.

Essential Gear and Tips

Equip yourself with the right tools for a safe foraging trip:

Wear appropriate clothing to protect against poison ivy and harsh weather.
Bring a compass and have accessible offline maps.
Pack essentials like water, snacks, and a first-aid kit.

Remember the Principles of ‘Pack it in, Pack it out’

Always hike in groups and manage your food waste responsibly to avoid attracting wildlife. Pack all your trash and belongings when you leave to keep the natural habitat undisturbed.

What to Do If You Encounter a Rattlesnake in Colorado

Colorado’s landscapes are home to three species of rattlesnakes: the Western rattlesnake, the Prairie rattlesnake, and the Massasauga rattlesnake. These snakes are commonly found below 8500 feet from March through October. While typically recognizable by the rattle at the end of their tails, some may lack this feature. Key characteristics of rattlesnakes include a diamond- or triangle-shaped head, vertical elliptical pupils, visible fangs, and heat-sensing pits between their eyes and nostrils.

Preventing Rattlesnake Encounters

Safety begins with vigilance and taking precautions:

Always check where you step.
Use a stick to probe areas before reaching with your hands.
Wear sturdy hiking boots, such as those from Redwing.
Stick to marked trails to reduce the likelihood of an encounter.

What to Do If You See a Rattlesnake

Stop moving immediately.
Slowly retreat from the snake; they generally strike only if threatened or provoked.

Steps to Take If Bitten by a Rattlesnake

Rattlesnake bites are medical emergencies:

Call 911 immediately, or have someone go for help. Prompt medical attention within 30 minutes is crucial.
Do not try to suck out the venom, as this can introduce bacteria and worsen the infection.
Avoid using a tourniquet, which can restrict blood flow excessively.
Keep the bitten area at or below heart level to slow the spread of venom through the bloodstream.
Do not wash the bite; medical personnel may need the venom residue to identify the appropriate antivenom.
Remove any tight clothing before swelling starts.
Try to remain as still and calm as possible to keep your blood circulation and heart rate low.

For more detailed health guidance, consider consulting resources like healthline.com. Taking these steps can help manage a rattlesnake encounter safely, minimizing danger and improving outcomes.

Encountering Mountain Lions

Colorado is home to approximately 7,000 mountain lions. Sightings are rare, but knowing how to react is crucial:

Never Run: Running may trigger a chase response from a mountain lion, similar to smaller domestic cats.
Maintain Eye Contact: Keep your distance without turning your back.
Stand Tall: Do not crouch or squat, as this can seem like a threat or prey behavior.
Leave Calmly: Back away slowly and calmly from the area.
Protect Yourself: If attacked, use whatever you have—your backpack, rocks, sticks, or a mushroom knife.
Report Sightings: If you encounter a mountain lion, report it to local wildlife authorities at 303-441-3440.

Lightning Safety

Lightning strikes can be deadly, particularly if you are caught outside during a storm:

Calculate the Threat: Count the seconds from seeing lightning to hearing thunder and divide by five to estimate distance in miles. If under six miles, seek shelter immediately.
Avoid Trees and Metal: Do not shelter under trees or hold metal objects, as these can attract lightning.
Spread Out: If trapped in the open, spread out at least 50-100 feet from others, crouch low with only your feet touching the ground, and cover your ears.
Seek Immediate Shelter: Aim for a sturdy building or vehicle if possible. Avoid small shelters or caves that might flood.

Preventing Dehydration

Dehydration is a serious concern in Colorado, especially at high altitudes and during summer:

Carry Sufficient Water: Always pack more water than you think you’ll need and drink regularly throughout your trip.
Recognize the Symptoms: Be aware of signs of dehydration, such as dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and confusion.
Use Water Purification: If necessary, use iodine tablets, chlorine drops, or a water filter to safely drink from natural sources.

Essential Gear and Attire for Mushroom Foraging in the Rocky Mountains

When venturing into the Rocky Mountains for mushroom foraging, choosing the right attire and gear can significantly enhance your experience and safety. Here’s a detailed guide on what to wear and bring on your foraging trip.

What to Wear

Dress in Layers: Weather in the mountains can change swiftly, so layering your clothing is key. Start with a short sleeve shirt, add a long sleeve shirt, hoodie, or jacket for versatility.
Long Pants: Essential for protection against bugs, thorns, twigs, and snakes. Long pants also shield you from sunburn and keep you warm after sunset.
Sturdy Footwear: Opt for hiking boots or shoes with ankle support. Waterproof boots are a bonus in damp conditions.
100% Cotton Socks: Comfortable for long walks and breathable.
Sunblock: Protect your skin from UV rays, even on cloudy days.

What to Bring

Mushroom Knife: A specialized tool with a curved blade and a brush for clean cuts and minimal damage to fungi.
Basket or Paper Sack: Use a basket or separate paper bags to keep different mushroom species from contaminating each other.
Field Guide: Carry a reliable guide like “Mushrooms of the Rocky Mountain Region” by Vera Stucky Evenson for reference.
Water and Snacks: Stay hydrated and energized during your excursion.
First Aid Kit, Water Purification Tabs, and Compass/Offline Map: Essential for safety and navigation.
Trash Bag: Pack out what you pack in, including any litter you find, to keep the environment pristine.

Know the Rules

Familiarize yourself with local regulations regarding mushroom foraging:

Permits: Check if the area requires a permit for foraging. This varies across state parks, national parks, and national forests.
No Trespassing: Never forage on private property without explicit permission to avoid legal issues.
Consult Local Authorities: Speak with park rangers or local forestry services for up-to-date information and guidance.

Be Respectful

Leave No Trace: Follow the principles of leaving no trace to preserve natural habitats.
Be Considerate of Wildlife and Plants: Avoid damaging the natural flora and be mindful of your impact on the environment.
Pet Etiquette: If bringing pets, adhere to leash laws, clean up after them, and ensure they have enough water and snacks.

Conclusion

Mushroom hunting in the Rockies can be a rewarding adventure with proper preparation and respect for nature. Always be aware of your surroundings and equipped for emergencies. If you have stories or tips about your experiences, the Pikes Peak Mycological Society welcomes your input. Share your insights at info@pikespeakmyc.org or visit pikespeakmyc.org for more information.

April 21, 2024April 22, 2024

Mushrooms 101: Common Mushroom Terms For Beginners

Basic Terms and Definitions Every Mushroom Lover Should Know

If you’re new to the world of fungi, you’re bound to hear some words that you’re not familiar with that you should get to know. This is a beginners guide to some of the basic terms. If you are looking for a (really) good guide that dives in much further than this, pick up a copy of Vera Stucky Evanson’s Mushrooms of the Rocky Mountain Region.

You can also pick up a copy of Foraging Mushrooms of the Rocky Mountains: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Mushrooms, co-authored by the Pikes Peak Mycological Society and Colorado Mycological Society, available on Amazon.

Mycelia	The mycelium (plural) is the part of a fungus that is usually underground. It is composed of hyphae, which look like threads, or rootlets. The mat of hyphae may be very thickly woven. It’s main function is to extract nutrients. Fungal colonies composed of mycelium are found in and on soil and many other natural materials (called substrates) (wikipedia)
Substrate	The surface or material on or from which an organism lives, grows, or obtains its nourishment(dictionary.com). Fungi prefer many different kinds of substrates, such as soil, dead wood and sometimes other fungi.
Fruiting Body	Commonly known as the mushroom. The part of the mushroom that is visible and that produces spores
Cap	Top of the fruiting body that is seen above ground and where the spores come from.
Spores	Microscopic, single-celled units produced by mushrooms in the process of sexual reproduction—roughly analogous to seeds. (mushroomexpert.com).
Spore Print	A mass of spores that can be seen with the naked eye (mushroomexpert.com). The color of a mushrooms spore print is essential for positive identification
Stipe	The stem, or stalk, of a mushroom.
Annulus/Ring	A ring of tissue around the upper part of a mushroom’s stem, resulting from the collapsing of the partial veil (mushroomexpert.com)
Veil/Partial Veil	A protective layer of tissue that may cover all, part or none of a mushroom
Volva	A volva is the remainder of a universal veil at the base of a mushroom’s stem; the volva results from the growing mushroom pushing through the veil (mushroomexpert.com)
Pores, Pore Surface	Tiny tubes, or holes, on the underside of the mushroom cap. The pore surface is comprised of all the mouths of the tubes
Gills	Plate-like or blade-like structures attached to the underside of the cap in many members of the Basidiomycota.(mushroomexpert.com)
Tubes	Many mushrooms such as bolete and polypore use tubes, not gills, to deliver spores
Mycorrhizal	Mushrooms that are mycorrhizal are involved in a mutually beneficial relationship with the rootlets of plants—usually trees. (mushroomexpert.com)
Conifer	Cone-bearing trees such as pine, juniper, spruce and firs.
Deciduous	Tree or shrub that sheds its leaves each year.
Riparian	Wetlands adjacent to rivers and streams; river banks.
Montane	Mountains; areas above the foothills.
Sub Alpine	The zone below timberline, 9,000-12,000 ft.
Alpine	The zone above the tree line- ranges from 11,000-12,000 feet.

As you learn more and more about fungi, you’ll come across many unfamiliar words that are important to know. These are just a few to get you started. Don’t feel intimidated, though. Before long, you’ll be speaking the mushroom language as if it were your native tongue.

Are you looking for a great, local charitable organization to donate to? PPMS can now accept your donations. 100% of the money stays right here in Southern Colorado to help the Pikes Peak Mycological Society’s mission to create a better understanding of fungi in our local community. PPMS is your local Southern Colorado mushroom club!

September 25, 2023September 26, 2023

Cool Science Carnival Day!

It’s that time of year again to hype up the Cool Science Carnival Day! It is held at UCCS at 1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy, Colorado Springs on Saturday, September 30 from 10 am to 4 pm, open to kids grades K-8 (but flexible). This STEAM event has it all: Chemistry Magic Show, Anatomy theatre, Computer Science, AI, Pop-up Planetarium, Physics and more! We’re particularly biased in our excitement and support of club member Michael Williams’ table with hands-on mycological activities.

Last year, Michael’s station had a wide range of options for kids to learn and experience mushrooms. Graphic charts of the nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle, and mushroom life cycle showed details that can’t be shown in a real model setting, explaining how mushrooms digest and decompose.

A soil food web terrarium provided an active model of the nitrogen cycle and carbon cycle, including mycelium to show how the mushrooms break down material from the environment above and process it in the ground below. It’s a perfect model of symbiosis. Throwing in some live insects at the last moment before the carnival adds extra excitement and interest for the kids. Michael loves using this as a way to explain how the world would be full of trash if it weren’t for mushrooms.

Live growing oyster and lion’s mane gave understanding of edible options, different from the grocery store standards. Foraged ganoderma samples allowed for teaching beneficial medicinal properties.

Two microscopes were helpful in managing the thousands of kids who come through the carnival. When time allowed, Michael loved teaching the kids how to prepare slides themselves. When time didn’t allow, he had pre-prepped slides ready to look at spores and mushroom anatomy. This lit up the kids who came to participate as well as Michael himself. Microscopy is a passion of his and he’s always excited to talk about and explain the things he studies with it. A second pair of hands and knowledge from James helped things run smoothly in handling and teaching so many kids.

Every year is different, so come bring your kids to the Cool Science Carnival Day and see what he’s got put together for this year!

July 31, 2023April 21, 2024

KOAA News Story

Well, mycollaborators, it’s been an intense season. It almost feels like we’ve been going non-stop since April! Some of us have. This spring’s boon of rain has brought incredible opportunities to encourage all the newbie mycobsessors with their passion for funga. Myco Williamsii taught us how to grow edible mushrooms in our yards and Melany Kahn, author of “Mason Goes Mushrooming” led a kids’ intro to foraging class. Plus we went on three wildly prolific forays with mushrooms bigger than my head! There’s been one microscopy class with Dr. Amy Honan and our Third Annual Camping Foray starring Chef Chris Starkus. Now we’re preparing for our Second Annual Cook and Taste August 3 at the Carter Payne. August 9, Mandy Quark will teach us about DNA sequencing and on August 12, Alan Rockefeller returns to foray with us and teach us how to photograph what we find. And, as always, we’re looking forward to the Telluride Mushroom Festival August 16-20 (officially sold out)!

Probably our most exciting news to date is the KOAA story by Marcus Cocova, planned and arranged by Vice President James Chelin. President Jennifer Bell kicked off the story development by giving a solo interview and forest tour. James continued the work by taking the reporter on an urban foray where producer Marcus talked with many of the group members about their experiences and connection to mushrooms. He was an incredible sport following kids over fallen trees and through burdock patches while lugging his gear. At one point, after a surprise squelch into an unseen swampy zone, he shrugged and said he guessed he’d need to buy new shoes. He was very open-minded, keen for learning, full of questions, down for adventure.

Patru at Microvora gave Marcus a behind the scenes tour of his facility. He said working with Marcus was a good time. He was jovial and straight to the point. Patru definitely wanted to show more and tell more about what local business Microvora is about, but understood the pressure of limited time and focus.

As for Chef Chris Starkus, he was incredibly excited to share this world of cooking and eating real mushrooms beyond store-bought buttons, crimini, and Portobello, which are all agaricus sp. in different stages of growth, yielding little flavor and a lot of “I hate mushrooms” mentality. In his mind, the best way to help open people up to the possibilities of mushrooms and to break down stigma is through direct connection, even mentoring. Showing Marcus where to get “real” mushrooms, foraged or cultivated, and how to cook them and savor eating them is exactly the kind of hands on ambassadorship that lights Chris up. Sure, he could tell you, but he’d rather show you a whole new world.

See the full story here:
https://www.koaa.com/news/news5-originals/peak-mushroom-season-for-southern-colorado-a-great-time-to-head-outdoors

There is plenty of mushroom season left to share! Join the group and experience the thrill.

Pikes Peak Mycological Society: the best $30.00 you will ever spend.

June 11, 2023

Dr. Amy Honan to do Microscopy Workshop For Fungal Identification For PPMS

Join PPMS and Dr. Amy Honan on June 28, 2023 for a fascinating workshop where we will go through the parts of a microscope, look at some prepared slides, and make some of our own slides. Feel free to bring in any of your fungi collections and we can take a look at those. We will practice sectioning fungi, making wet mounts and explore common stains used in fungal identification. Dr. Amy Honan Workshop with PPMS

Amy is a mycologist interested in fungal systematics, evolution, ecology, and biogeography. Amy received my B.S. in Biochemistry from Western Colorado University in Gunnison, CO where she studied population genetics of the root pathogen Armillaria and water chemistry of the Mt. Emmons Iron Fen. She attended San Francisco State University to complete an MS under Dr. Dennis Desjardin where they studied the fungi of SE Asia. Her master’s thesis investigated the evolution of the saprotrophic genus Basidiomycete genus Tetrapyrgos. Amy earned her Ph.D. from the University of Washington School of Environment and Forest Sciences in Seattle, WA. She studied the evolution of stalked puffball genus Tulostoma for her dissertation, including the ecology, biogeography, and an ancestral state reconstruction of the spore morphology. She is currently working with several mycological groups in Colorado documenting the fungal biodiversity and the ecology of fungi from the Rocky Mountains. She teaches a Spring course on Rocky Mountain Fungi, and is currently working on the Colorado Mycoflora project in conjunction with Dr. Andrew Wilson and Vera Evenson from the Denver Botanical Gardens.

This free workshop is open to the public, no registration required. We will be at the UCCS Biology Department
on June 28, 2023 from 6:00pm-8:00pm
134 Centennial Hall, Lab # B-314
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80918

March 27, 2023

Tradd Cotter and Irene Dubin To Present March 29, 2023 To PPMS

Tradd Cotter and Irene Dubin Present:

Mushrooms, Molds, and Mycorrhizae: The Amazing World of Fungi

Join best selling author Tradd Cotter and psychotherapist Irene Dubin for this exclusive night that unravels the mysteries and excitement around the role mushrooms and other fungi play in our ecosystems, minds, and beyond.

Tradd will cover a variety of topics including, antibiotics, mycoremediation, psychedelics, and other incredible uses for Kingdom Fungi in this fun and provocative lecture. Joining Tradd will be Irene Dubin, psychotherapist and Co-Owner of Blue Portal, a Psilocybin-assisted meditation and treatment center, to field questions and give information surrounding mental health and functional fungi, such as Amanita muscaria and Psilocybe species.

This event will be at the Fountain Valley Nature Center from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. The address is 320 Peppergrass Lane, Fountain, CO 80817.

This event is free and open to the public, though space is limited.

About Irene Dubin

Born and raised in Eastern Europe and Siberia, Irene completed BS/MS study in Pharmacology and received her Master’s in psychology with emphasis in addiction counseling. During Irene’s academic and professional studies, she gravitated towards Somatic therapeutic modalities, Mindfulness, Cognitive-Behavioral therapy, Art therapy, Depth Psychology. Her non-traditional studies include entheogenic research from a variety of sources, apprenticeship with a Shaman in Druid College, Sound therapy, Breath work, and Psychedelic integration practicum for clinicians. Irene has lived in the United States since 1998, owns a private psychotherapy practice, and is the lead psychotherapist at Blue Portal, facilitating psilocybin-assisted retreats overseas. She is an affiliate of MAPS, and a graduate of Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at JKFU in California.

About Tradd Cotter

Tradd Cotter is a microbiologist, professional mycologist, and retired landscaping professional, who has been tissue culturing, collecting native fungi in the Southeast, and cultivating both commercially and experimentally for more than thirty years. In 1996 he founded Mushroom Mountain (sold in 2021) to explore applications for mushrooms in various industries, and currently maintains over 300 species of fungi for food production, mycoremediation of environmental pollutants, and natural alternatives to chemical pesticides.

In 2014, Cotter completed and published the best-selling book Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation (2014), which is still one of the top ten releases with the publisher, Chelsea Green. Tradd has won numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious Clemson University Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2013), the EPA GRO-U Fellowship Award (2011), and is an expert lecturer on all topics related to fungi in agriculture and medicine.

Mr. Cotter’s current research projects include running the Blue Portal, a Psilocybin-assisted facility and research center, bacterial interactions with fungi, mycopesticides, novel antibiotic discovery, and isolating native mycorrhizal species for bioregional specific inoculants for plants.

July 7, 2022

Cooking Demonstration and Tasting Event With Chef Chris Starkus and Lumen8 Rooftop Social

Chris Starkus is the Dual Director of Food & Beverage for the Springhill Suites (@springhillcsdowntown), Element (@elementcsdowntown), and LUMEN8 Rooftop Social restaurant (@lumen8rooftopsocial) in downtown Colorado Springs. He has achieved numerous awards during his Food & Beverage career, including “Best New Restaurant 2018 (303 Magazine) and Best Eco-Friendly Restaurants in America (opentable.com, April 2019). In 2019, Colorado Biz Magazine named him one of Denver’s Most Influential Young Professionals (Top 25 Under 40). Chef Chris Starkus

Starkus moved to Colorado from the Pacific Northwest driven by a strong desire to forage the Rocky Mountains. He brought with him 25 years of experience in hospitality, with an accent in sustainability, farm to table operations and epicurean philosophy.

For Starkus, sustainability is success. His strength is developing leaders and Food and Beverage sustainability programs that produce positive fiscal, environmental, and concept branding results. He is a frequent contributor and guest speaker for creating and maintaining 360-Degree Sustainability in professional F & B operations. His work can be found at 303 Magazine, Diningout.com, themoderneater.com, 5280 Magazine, Heritage Radio, and Slow Food Nations.

Chris became a member of the Pikes Peak Mycological Society two years ago. On Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 6:00 PM, he will do a Chef’s Demo for our club at the new Springhill Suites in downtown Colorado Springs, located at 402 South Tejon Street. All activities will be held in the courtyard area.

There will be a cash bar available, featuring Chef’s own Cordyceps cocktail, as well as other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Chef will demonstrate different ways to prepare many types of mushrooms, including how to serve them dried, grilled, sautéed, and pickled, and give you the opportunity to sample each dish.

A special thank you to Microvora and Fungus Farm Colorado for donating fungi!

June 9, 2022June 26, 2022

How To Train Your Dog To Find Things In The Woods

There is a long tradition in Europe of dogs specifically bred and trained to aid hunters in finding both white and black truffles. Sadly, we do not have that genus of truffle in Colorado…but we do have dogs, we have forests, and our dogs like to find things!

On June 22, 2022, Certified Dog Trainer, Zoe Jean, from Pavlov Dog Training, will be presenting “How To Train Your Dog to Find Things In The Woods” for the Pikes Peak Mycological Society.

Zoe Jean attended the Starmark Academy and is a Certified Dog Behaviorist and Trainer at Pavlov Dog Training, a Denver based private dog training academy. In addition to her work with Pavlov Dog Training, Zoe is a foster parent for high risk dogs who would otherwise be euthanized. While in her care, Zoe rehabilitates the dogs so they are better suited for finding their furever homes.

Accompanying Zoe will be foster pup, Willy, whom she will train on the spot, to find a dried mushroom using scent detection and positive reinforcement.

Your dog is welcome to join you for this free class, as long as he/she is well behaved, non-aggressive towards people, children and other dogs, and won’t be too distracted in the classroom environment.

Willy is available for adoption! For more information, contact Zoe, or speak with her on-site, if you think he might be a good fit for your household.

Join Zoe Jean from Pavlov Dog Training and the Pikes Peak Mycological Society On:

Zoe Jean - Pavlov Dog Training — Zoe Jean – Pavlov Dog Training

Wednesday, June 22nd
6:00 PM
Fire Station 16
4980 Farthing Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

*Please note that there is street parking only and it is a bit of a walk to the building. Be sure your dog is leashed and that you pick up and remove any excrement. Space is limited and seats are available on a first come, first served basis.

Find Zoe on Facebook
Follow Zoe on Instagram
Follow Pavlov Dog Training

May 10, 2022

Structural Mycelium

What if there was a way to make sustainable, strong and affordable building materials?

Artist/designer Joshua English and founder of Okom Wrks Labs, has a plan that could make this a reality. Okom Wrks Labs uses low-tech means of creating load-bearing, structural components using only 3 organic ingredients: mycelium, hemp hurd, and cotton.

Joshua’s 27 years of experience in large system design and data visualization come to life in his 1,500 square foot industrial work space, located in Colorado Springs. Here, he and his talented crew indulge their not-so-mild obsession by finding and creating material solutions to human problems.

Joshua chose Colorado Springs to be the home of Okom Wrks Labs because one of his key ingredients, hemp, can be grown legally here, and because Colorado Springs also gives his new start-up access to some of the nation’s top science and engineering talent.

On Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at 6:00pm, Joshua English will demonstrate his patent pending process of growing structural mycelium for Pikes Peak Mycological Society. See firsthand the marvelous strides he is making toward a greener future using fungi!

We will be meeting at Bear Creek Nature Center, located at 245 Bear Creek Road.

This event is free and open to the public.

April 12, 2022

Pikes Peak Mycological Social welcomes Austen Brinker, owner of Fungus Farm Colorado

Pikes Peak Mycological Social welcomes Austen Brinker, owner of Fungus Farm Colorado, as our first speaker of the season on April 27, 2022. Austen is a Colorado Springs native (Coronado–go Cougars!), a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a stand-up comedian and a pro-disc golfer. When he isn’t competing in professional MMA events, touring the country as a comedian or killing it on the golf course, he is growing mushrooms.

Adding to his already impressive repertoire, Brinker turned his COVID hobby of mushroom cultivation into a successful business. What began as a small operation in his garage, is now Fungus Farm Colorado, an urban mushroom farm in an impressive 1600 sq. ft. warehouse. He sells the fruits of his labor to local restaurants, such as The Famous and Urban Steam and The Joint, a local vegan food truck. You can also find many of his varieties at local Farmer’s Markets and at his comedy shows.

For the first club meeting of 2022, Austen will demonstrate how he grows lion’s mane, pioppino, beech, shiitake, reishi and several varieties of oyster mushrooms. You will be able to check out examples of grow bags and agar plates. If you have ever been interested in growing your own fungi, or just want to learn more about how fungi grows, you won’t want to miss this presentation!

For more information about Fungus Farm Colorado, or to find out how to purchase his mushrooms, visit https://www.fungusfarmcolorado.com/.

We welcome everyone at our monthly club meetings, held on the 4th Wednesday of the month April-September. Meetings are free and open to the public. Our first meeting is April 27, 2022 at 6:00 pm at Fire Station 16, located at 4980 Farthing Dr. (Broadmoor Bluffs neighborhood).