North Spore

North Spore Mushroom Cultivation, Foraging, and Education What began as a love for mushroom foraging has developed into an obsession with all things fungi.

Our mission is to provide access to the mycological world through innovative mushroom cultivation, spawn production, and research. North Spore is the brainchild of three college friends with an admiration for all things related to the mycological world. That passion for foraging has evolved over time: these days any of us are likely to be found in our cultivation rooms growing oyster mushrooms, sh

iitakes, lion's mane, chestnut mushroom, king trumpets, and pioppinos, or tincturing the myriad medicinal polypores that grow in the Maine woods. Maybe we are at Fork Food Lab in Portland sautéing sh*takes with mirin and tamari; or perhaps it's the dried porcinis and chanterelles from our last mushroom walk that are taking the stage. North Spore produces 100% of the spawn used at its facility and also makes sawdust, plug, and grain spawn for other commercial and enthusiast growers. We take our commercial spawn customer's needs seriously and are fortunate to have both a mycologist with a Master's Degree in the field and a trained lab technician overseeing our in-house laboratory, culture bank, and spawn production. Regardless of whether we are sharing our favorite mushroom dishes, our knowledge of mushroom foraging and cultivation, or simply our overwhelming admiration for this often overlooked biological kingdom, we are striving to be a community hub for fungi enthusiasts; a place where people learn to love mushrooms as we do.

06/02/2026

Liquid Culture is a nutrient-rich solution where mushroom mycelium grows and multiplies in suspension - and a little can go a long way.

In this video, Mycrodex shows how to make and clone liquid culture to expand genetics and prepare inoculant for grain bags, jars, etc.

And to celebrate all you Fungi Fathers out there - our Father’s Day sale starts now. Grab a liquid culture syringe while they're Buy One Get One Free: https://NorthSporeCreator.sjv.io/B5bAX0

During a psychedelic session, music acts as a "co-therapist," guiding patients through emotional breakthroughs that pred...
05/31/2026

During a psychedelic session, music acts as a "co-therapist," guiding patients through emotional breakthroughs that predict long-term mental health outcomes better than almost any other measurable factor.

Research shows music is the stimulus most reliably proven to evoke emotion in humans, and the specific qualities of the music like tempo, timbre, and emotional arc, can shape which parts of the psyche a patient accesses. Despite decades of use, almost no research has focused on which music works best, and for whom - a gap this new thesis from the University of Colorado Denver is working to close.

Read the research: https://www.proquest.com/openview/e72a5be637a4d42eb625824108359d7e/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y

Join our community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4289850731233580/

Join our community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/northspore/

This post is for educational purposes only.

05/28/2026

Ever wondered what it looks like to grow magic mushrooms at scale?

We recently visited Lost Garden Labs and Therapeutics in Colorado to document their cultivation practices. Since 2025, they have been licensed in the state of Colorado to produce natural medicine in accordance with the Natural Medicine Division.

Special thanks to Josh Walker for sharing his story with us!

Check out the full video on our YouTube channel and let us know what you think! https://youtu.be/yXkRHVWkbY8?si=Yq1uO3XtQFuoMGHe

This video is for educational purposes only.

05/27/2026

"Is it bad if mushrooms grow in my garden? How do I get rid of them?"

🛑🛑🛑

Consider what those mushrooms are actually telling you. They're the fruiting bodies of fungi whose mycelial networks run silently through your soil, breaking down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients, and connecting plant roots in ways that actively support everything growing around them. Healthy fungi mean healthy soil. And even better, if you choose which mushrooms are growing in your garden, you can also have more food!

Wine Caps thrive in wood chip beds and improve soil structure as they grow; Oyster Mushrooms will happily decompose that old stump you've been meaning to deal with. Rather than getting rid of them, learn what you have - a good field guide or local mycology group can help you identify your visitors safely. Your garden isn't under attack, she's thriving.

Choose your garden mushrooms here: https://northspore.com/collections/all-outdoor-mushroom-growing

Join our gardening with mushrooms communities to connect with other growers and get support and advice:

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1253859376681007/

On Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/gardeningwithfungi/

Why do some mushroom strains fruit like crazy while others barely produce? The answer lies somewhere most growers never ...
05/26/2026

Why do some mushroom strains fruit like crazy while others barely produce?

The answer lies somewhere most growers never think to look: genetics. Fungi are unlike anything else in the living world, as they carry two genomes at once, with thousands of mating types and evolution playing out in real time. Understanding this biology can change how you source, select, and grow.

Read the full article in Substack: https://northspore.substack.com/p/the-growers-guide-to-mushroom-genetics

Join our community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4289850731233580/

Join our community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/northspore/

This post is for educational purposes only.

How are you cooking up your Wine Caps for Memorial Day?Straight from his garden, Spore to Fork prepared these Wine Caps ...
05/25/2026

How are you cooking up your Wine Caps for Memorial Day?

Straight from his garden, Spore to Fork prepared these Wine Caps with a garlic-tamari marinade, purple rice, and a simple blanched asparagus - perfect for plant-based meals or as a savory side.

Check out the recipe here: https://NorthSporeCreator.sjv.io/1GPBQD

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

05/24/2026

Transform your backyard into a gourmet mushroom garden with just a few simple steps!

By planting a Plant & Grow Mushroom Starter Block in a hole and covering it with mulch, you can create a thriving outdoor mushroom garden. After waiting just two weeks, you will be rewarded with a harvest of delicious, edible mushrooms right at home. These kits typically get 2-3 flushes of mushrooms.

Get started here: https://northspore.com/collections/plant-grow-mushroom-garden-blocks

05/23/2026

Growing gourmet mushrooms at home is simple with our Plant & Grow Mushroom Starter blocks! Just tuck them into a shady spot or under established plants in your garden, cover with mulch, and water daily. Within weeks, you'll be harvesting fresh varieties like Nameko, Chestnuts, or Snow Oysters. It's the perfect way to add a delicious, homegrown touch to your favorite meals. Plant & Grow blocks typically get 2-3 flushes of mushrooms.

🎥: Boulter Family Farm

Learn more: https://northspore.com/collections/plant-grow-mushroom-garden-blocks

Researchers discovered that a natural extract from the fungus Pseudozyma aphidis can dramatically boost crop growth with...
05/22/2026

Researchers discovered that a natural extract from the fungus Pseudozyma aphidis can dramatically boost crop growth without a single synthetic chemical. In trials, treated tomato plants produced over 60% more fruit by weight, melon plants grew five times heavier, and seeds germinated faster across corn, tomato, and melon crops.

Read more: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-fungus-powered-farming-higher-yields.html

Start gardening with mushrooms: https://northspore.com/collections/grow-in-garden-bed

Join our gardening with mushrooms community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1253859376681007/

Join our gardening with mushrooms community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/gardeningwithfungi/

05/21/2026

Some of the best harvests happen in the smallest spaces.

A balcony, patio, or other small space is really all you need to start growing gourmet mushrooms. Blue Oyster and Pink Oyster varieties thrive in exactly these kinds of spots, making them a perfect fit for gardeners who want more from their outdoor space.

For Memorial Day, save 20% off site-wide: https://northspore.com/pages/limited-time-offers

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921 Riverside Street
Portland, ME
04103

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