Magic Mushrooms, you ask?

Photo Credit: The Magical Mushroom Hub | [Lion’s Mane, Chanterelle, Lobster, Chestnut]

I call all our Mushrooms as the abbreviated “‘Shrooms” as I talk about Mushrooms all the time. As we are creatures of habit and convenience, I speak of Mushrooms in that term, Amanita muscaria, included.

I named our concept The Mushroom Hub in its early stages of thought. After time of speaking with so many about how Mushrooms helped them in their lives, version 2.0 became Magical. They have that Power within, to help feed us as a delicious ingredient, so vast in taste profiles as there are hundreds and thousands in variety, to healing our bodies, both physically and psychologically.

Since the launch of The Magical Mushroom Hub, I am asked, every so often, by new faces approaching our booths, “Where are the Magic ones”, and I present the one of twenty plus varieties of edible Exotic, Wild and Medicinal ‘Shrooms that we work with on a weekly basis, and identify its power in Nutrition it presents within.

Some ‘Shrooms are as local as 21km in Windsor-Essex, to 39kms in Michigan; and some as far as a few thousand, bringing you always a fresh product, that is cared for by the variety of different Family farms and Foragers we have the honour of working with.

On September 21st, we had only 24 varieties of Mushrooms at the local Farmers Market.

1. Maitake, 2. Lion’s Mane, 3. Shiitake, 4. Reishi, 5. Turkey tail,. 6. Chaga, 7. Cordyceps, 8. Grey Oyster, 9. Yellow Oyster, 10. Blue Oyster, 11. Italian Oyster, 12. Alba Clamshell, 13. Brown Clamshell, 14. Nebrodini Bianco, 15. Porcini (wild), 16. Chanterelle (wild), 17. Lobster (wild), 18. Velvet Pioppini, 19. Chestnuts (Pholiota), 20. Puff Ball, 21. Forest Nameko, 22. Chicken of the Woods (wild), 23. Hen of the Woods (wild), 24. Bear’s Head Tooth, including fresh Summer Black Italian Truffles. At times, depending on the season, we only have ten to fifteen that are grown indoors in a controlled environment.

Photo Credit: The Magical Mushroom Hub | Lobster [Hypomyces lactifluorum]

Photo Credit: The Magical Mushroom Hub | Puff Ball [Calvatia gigantea]

Photo Credit: The Magical Mushroom Hub | Yellow Oyster [Pleurotus citrinopileatus]

First time shoppers would ask, “Where are those that get you high” and we respond, “All of ours will get you high on Nutrition! Our ‘Shrooms are loaded with Vitamin D, Vitamin Bs, Iron, Potassium, Protein, Niacin, Selenium and so much more, healthy, immune boosting, goodness. Take a look at some of our other posts on our blog, and be amazed at some of the Medicinal Mushroom Research which showcase certain powers that boost your immune system like Reishi, Turkey Tail and Cordyceps, to name a few; fire up your neutrons in the brain like the Lion’s Mane and Bear’s Head Tooth [Hericium Family of Wild Mushrooms]. Whatever your choice of a diet is, it is my belief that Mushrooms should be an ingredient in every meal consumed. If you identify as a Vegan, Mushrooms are your meat. Mushrooms are neither a Carnivore or a Herbivore, as it has the goodness of both worlds, I consider it an Omnivore. We have proved it time and time again by tricking you into thinking you were eating bacon when in fact it was the delicious Nebrodini Bianco or the King Trumpet ‘Shrooms.

Photo Credit: The Magical Mushroom Hub | Forest Nameko [Pholiota microspora]

Photo Credit: The Magical Mushroom Hub | Lion’s Mane [Hericium erinaceus]

I call all our regulars - ‘Shroomsters. We have a few followers out there which are Mushroom Fanatics like we are and they incorporate our vast varieties in the most interesting of dishes, apart from just the regular easy, ten minute fry-up-late-at-night-snack. It helps with your metabolism, sleep and workouts. The Powers that each variety has is a science that every day reaches new highlights. Not to mention the Mycelial Network working beneath our feet, spreading across lands on every continent, healing our Planet within. The Mycelial Network is at the Frontier of the fight for our Environment. We have just begun the path to understand these fascinating organisms that we have separated from 650 million years ago.

Photo Credit: The Magical Mushroom Hub | Chicken of the Woods [Laetiporus cincinnatus]

Photo Credit: The Magical Mushroom Hub | Reishi [Ganoderma lucidum]

When it comes to Magic Mushrooms, Psilocybin Mushrooms, have hijacked the name “Shroom” and our society is vast in thought about this subject. Most have tried it. Most have had an either very scary moment, or a pleasant one. The spectrum of experiences are everywhere, within every genre. But we have yet to truly utilize its power to heal our communities that are in pain.

As the Founder of The Magical Mushroom Hub, I believe that “Magic Mushrooms” should be legal for medicinal purposes only. I believe it can heal people out of depression, help guidance with PTSD, even stop an ongoing addiction, not to mention trauma. It should be legalized, studied, and utilized only in supervision of a trained professional that can guide the right dozes and experiences in a controlled and safe environment. This is not something we can joke about as the medical power that it holds could help heal many, but when used inappropriately have caused others to end their life.

In recent months, Colorado and Oregon, including the city of Oakland in California, have in some way shape or form, legalized “magic mushrooms”. I am cautiously following a few clinics, as well as, local Governments and their ideology on how to properly utilize these Mushrooms to help our communities in pain. This topic has just begun in the right rhetoric, and the conversations will continue for decades to come. So until then, I suggest you explore the edible, tasty and legal ‘Shrooms that we are honoured to work with on a weekly basis. Let’s get high on nutrition!

Always store your ‘Shrooms in the back of your fridge to achieve the longest, freshest state, and do not be afraid to spice up your favourite Mushroom recipe with a different variety. I use Enoki ‘Shrooms as noodles in my Vegan Soup and my Nebrodini Biancos and King Trumpets as Vegan bacon. I deep-fry some varieties and enjoy crispy, Truffle Salted ‘Shroom Fries. If you’ve visited me on Sundays at Little Foot Foods in Windsor, you’ve tried them.

Photo Credit: Lynn Ogryzlo [The Ontario Table] | [My hands holding Portabella’s grown by my dad, Zlatko]

Photo Credit: The Magical Mushroom Hub | Chaga [Inonotus obliquus]

My name is Denis Vidmar and I am a ‘Shroomster. I believe your refrigerator should be your medicinal cabinet and I believe your path should begin with Mushrooms. In 500BC, it was Hippocrates, the father of Medicine, that said, “Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food.” Let’s talk #Mushrooms!

Join the Conversation and become a ‘Shroomster today!

#fungisaysso #themagicalmushroomhub #wildaboutmushrooms #foodismedicine