Psilocybin Mushroom Handbook: Easy Indoor and Outdoor Cultivation

I will have to admit, prior to this piece of literature I was completely ignorant of ANYTHING and ALL THINGS mushroom. For me to make any inclination towards whether the scientific lingo, or the description of the biology of a mushroom, is correct or incorrect would be intellectually disingenuous. However, the book is very definitive in those avenues that I cannot either confirm or refute. So, with that disclaimer aside I can scribe my review: The book begins out of a comical, humorous and sarcastic fashion that ensnared my attention to what I thought was going to be a very soporific read. After the first three chapters of the introduction to the biology of mushrooms and other technical aspects, of which the authors' comical bearings aid interest, the book starts to yield some of what you seek. However, the fourth chapter is on sterility of the environment and materials-which the authors inundate you with pervasively- this seems extremely inane at first. I was initially feeling that their emphasis on sterility was nothing short of a nuance of madness. Throughout the book I asked myself was the processes, materials and sterility too meticulous, but after I finished the book I understood why it was so. When cultivating these species on a mass scale you may NEED to use the ornate procedures and materials to render the fruits of your labor and to obviate contamination. At times you can feel that some of the information seems self-contradicting, but if you read the book from cover to cover prior to your endeavor you will understand why it is that you confused yourself. Merely floundering around the book will manifest some confusion due to the myriad of processes and avenues described. For instance, there are different procedures you may take with one method that you will not use on another, such as materials, temperatures, containers, etc. I exhort you, as do the authors, to read the book in full prior to your mushroom cultivation. This book, in my opinion, offered intricate and salutary references for ALL materials needed, and even those you do not. The chapter on materials has indications in the form of symbols meaning whether or not certain materials are needed initially, where to procure said items and free or cheaper alternatives. In this section I do have a few disagreements though. There are a few items that you DO NOT need to start that are indicated as items needed as a beginner (in their defense, the key states that the symbol means "likely to be needed as a beginner"). Those items are: a pressure cooker, petri dishes, media flasks, alcohol lamp, scalpel, funnels, measuring pipette & bulb, graduated cylinders, parafilm and malt extract. If you extricate these from your materials needed you will save two hundred dollars or more. Most of those items can be replaced by cheap alternatives or altogether negated from the process. In the end I felt I got my money's worth due to the confidence that was vibrant and resonant with me afte

Not just good for Psilocybes, this book helps you understand what Paul Stamets is such a master of. I had his Cultivation books first, but it was too technical for me to understand. So I thought I would look for a book directed toward psilocybe growers in the hopes that the directions would be in lamens terms and it was just what I expected. Now I grow all kinds of gourmets, but it is good for psilocybes.

Mushroom cultivation techniques are improving fast, especially with the advent of Internet discussion boards where new techniques are being discovered every day. This book is very recent (as of 2006), and is the clearest and most easy to read book I have seen on the subject. It gives a clear and concise summary of many of the best techniques for growing the most popular type of hobby mushrooms, and discusses where to go to learn more about mushrooms of all types. Compared to doing research directly from the Internet, this book is clearly organized, well written and authoritative. But perhaps the most valuable resource in this book is its list of reputable web sites and forums on the Internet, which helps you avoid the unreputable sites. Scams on the Internet are abundant, and anyone new to this hobby needs to be careful to find trustworthy sources for discussion and for purchasing equipment and culture spores to experiment with. There are many sites that will make big claims and then not deliver, leaving many beginners frustrated and much poorer with nothing to show. The importance of finding clear and reputable sources of information and supplies cannot be understated. This book will help you get started safely and quickly. Buy it, read it, then go to the forums listed and compare what you have learned with what other people have already been through. Use this knowledge to avoid the common scams and pitfalls. Follow this plan and you will be happy.

An update on simple accessible grow techniques is long overdue. This is book is perfect for newbies. I recommend supplementing this book with other available information on the web, just to get a thorough scope of what's ahead of you, and what came before the improvements the authors present in the book. There's a surprisingly well written and researched Wiki page on psilocybin for those of you who are curious about its history and chemistry. Excellent color section, resource list and appendix.

This is the most thorough book on this subject to be published, containing NUMEROUS methods for growing the mushrooms, a detailed list of materials needed, a glossary, background information, and 32 pages of color photos.