Psilocybin: Magic Mushroom Grower's Guide: A Handbook for Psilocybin Enthusiasts

by O.T. Oss (pseud.), Dennis J. McKenna, Terence McKenna

In the 1970s, two of the most influential thinkers of the psychedelic era gathered what was then known about psilocybin botany and culture and presented it in Psilocybin: Magic Mushroom Grower’s Guide . Writing under pseudonyms, the McKenna brothers provided simple, reliable, and productive methods for magic mushroom propagation, including black-and-white photographs that showed the techniques of the time. The development of more modern cultivation techniques does not eclipse the cultural contributions of this book. Philosophical asides, whimsical illustrations evoking the mystical nature of mushrooms, and speculations about the relationship of these organisms to humankind provide a lasting legacy. Truly the classic manual on home cultivation, the wisdom of Psilocybin: Magic Mushroom Grower’s Guide continues to inspire new students of psycho-mycology—and refreshes psychedelic memories for others.

Genres: Drugs, Nonfiction, Science, Gardening, Nature, Reference, Psychology

81 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This booklet, at around 80 pages, offers step-by-step guidance about how to grow mushrooms – specifically psilocybe cubensis, which are referred to as stropharia cubensis throughout this book. (The book was published in the 1970’s and the mushroom has since been reclassified.) This species is known to induce hallucinations, euphoria, and altered perception in those who ingest it because of the presence of psilocybin, which – converted to psilocin -- interacts with serotonin receptors. Most of the information presented could be applied to cultivation of any mushroom (excepting information about identification in Ch. 1, which applies to that one species, and the information about dosage in Ch. 5 that doesn’t matter for edible mushrooms.) The authors did specifically develop this process, but I think that had more to do with the need for a process in between the vagaries of foraging and the large-scale agricultural approach that couldn’t be exploited for the “hobbyist,” than it had to do with the specific needs of this fungi.

The body of the book is divided into five chapters, which follow the progression of steps required to cultivate mushrooms. The first chapter covers locating and identifying psilocybe cubensis as well as how to collect and germinate the spores. The second chapter is about growing mycelial cultures on sterile agar. One of the major challenges presented in the book is keeping mold and other undesirable species from growing on or amongst one’s mushrooms. In the third chapter one learns how to grow the mycelia on sterilized rye. The penultimate chapter explores covering the mycelia infused rye with soil in a process that commercial fungi agriculture calls “casing,” which ultimately results in the generation of the fruiting bodies that we traditionally think of as mushrooms (though in the wild most of the organism is below ground.) The last chapter is about harvesting the mushrooms, preserving them, and determining dosage.

There is a substantial amount of front and back matter bookending the aforementioned chapters. The front matter gives the reader some history of psychedelic mushrooms as well some insight into their effects. (The Preface and Forward are explicitly written by Terrence McKenna, but it’s said that the entire book is written by McKenna and his brother, Dennis.) The Forward and Introduction are where the book feels less like an agricultural how-to manual, and more like a guide to psychedelics, but the reader should be aware that this book is – first and foremost – a how-to guide. The back matter includes a range of helpful appended sections including a glossary, a bibliography, a timeline of psilocybin mushroom happenings, and a section to help one make conversions -- particularly between volume and weights for various materials that are used in cultivation.

There are many graphics employed throughout the book. Most importantly, there are several series of black-and-white photos that help clarify the process being described textually. There are also some line-drawn artworks that depict psychedelic mushroom in their cultural context – both in the ancient shamanic tradition and the more recent wave of use.

This is a quick read that gets into all the processes needed to cultivate mushrooms. The authors compare it to canning preserves in terms of the degree of complexity. (That rings true as both processes rely heavily on sterilization.) It is a how-to guide, and if one isn’t interested in the process of cultivation, one might find the book a bit dry. I found it interesting to learn about the cultivation process as well as the information from the Forward, Introduction, and Chronology about psychedelics, specifically. If you’re interested in cultivating mushrooms or are very curious about fungi, I’d recommend this book.

[Owlseyes]

I've just been collecting and photographing them; not tasting them.
No Ethno-pharmacology search...nor exhalted states. Just observation.

(You may click on any of the photographs)

































Contemplating them.

http://www.livescience.com/16287-mush... ('Magic Mushrooms' May Permanently Alter Personality)

see also:
Magic Mushrooms Create a Hyperconnected Brain

How Magic Mushrooms Change Your Brain

Science Graphic of the Week: How Magic Mushrooms Rearrange Your Brain

[Derek Frasure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting essay appended to pragmatic instructions. McKenna uses mushrooms to denaturalize anthropocentrism. Part self-actualization human potential movement stuff and part stoner mysticism, it's provocative. It's not entirely convincing, but it has moments of rhetorical brilliance and argument that I'm willing to entertain.

[Nick C · Rating 4 out of 5]

( to the DEA - I'm not planning to grow magic shrooms)

[Kitap · Rating 2 out of 5]

The authors have cute names.

There is wacky speculation on intelligent spores from outer space.

It makes growing mushrooms look hard, particularly considering that these fungi are often said to grow on cow poop. Cow poop which doesn't have to go through an autoclave or be sprayed with lysol, incidentally.

[Thomas Cullum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll review when the laws on growing are different

[David Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously???? Is it really this difficult to make a mushroom grow? I walk nearly everyday, I walk past, over and near mushrooms everyday. Surely you cannot be serious that one needs all this complex stuff just to do what happens naturally everyday!!!
If it is this complex, why not grow thousands of them and sell them to me. Over 50 years ago, some of my happiest moments were developed using "shrooms". What the heck went wrong? Now, for entirely different reasons, I'd like to go there again ... but, are you serious, does one need all this information and intricate detailed instructions to have that experience once more? If true, count me out.
Yes, I did give this book five stars even though my cursor hovered over one star for several moments. Anyone who possesses this much information and dispenses it freely deserves better than a one star rating, plus, I would have to be quite a lot smarter to actually critique the author's knowledge and writing skills. If you want intricate details on how to do what nature does without you, then read this book and devour your results. I hope you find it worthwhile ... and if you do, gimme a call, I might bye for now. The preceding sentence contains a well purposed mis-typed accident.

[Ruben Mes · Rating 2 out of 5]

The foreword is legendary. Just that could be worth the price: "I am old. Older than thought in your species..."

Terence McKenna is a legend, and his vision for the future is interstellar.

The growing guide, however, is outdated, and is of no use. I had hoped to get some insight for suppporting my already colonized growkit, but alas.

The cover art, as well as that adorning the pages, is gorgeous.

The message of this book is empowering.

The most powerful things about this little pamphlet is the art and the foreword

The preface and afterword, as well as the psilocybin timeline are at least insightful and beautiful. My guess is that the timeline is very outdated by now as well. But it is nevertheless wholesome to read it through.

Terence left a legacy and I honour him for that.

But, I'm still on the fence about whether or not I'll just return this book and buy another for my money.

It IS iconic and beautiful. But quite useless after a single read. Other than being a trophy of sorts. A bit of a fetish trophy.

[MorganZRT · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's really useful literature I should say. It's been recommended to me by my friend first, because he was growing magic mushrooms, and then I've read it. It has awesome tips. By the way, here is what I found recently on the web - source where you can always buy magic mushrooms spores with the most relevant information and tips how to maintain area, where you will grow them.

[Donald Carnes]

I've done sandwich bag fulls of caps in my teens twice month or more. Im sure my Norwegian ancestors did also back before my family started recording the family tree 1600s. Still going to right a review once I've reviewed the book

[palastbrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pflichtlektüre für... jeden.

[Siddiq Khan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Outdated techniques and florid prose make this a strictly historical document.

[dormarch · Rating 5 out of 5]

McKenna was probably just shrooms in a trench coat.

[D William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Success

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The original guide to growing mushrooms. A very well articulated journey into how to grow mushrooms.

[István Trautmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic intro.

[Tom Kovacik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic growing handbook

I like the non-growing parts of the book.
I would recommend it to all the fans of TKM.
I chose this rating because it really is an underground classic.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Psilocybin, Magic Mushroom Grower's Guide: A Handbook for Psilocybin Enthusiasts by O.T. Oss (Quick American Publishing 1991)(641.358). This is the revised and expanded version of the classic cultivation guide. My rating: 7/10, finished 6/2/14.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

could be more in depth.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

🙂👍

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping this would be more accessible, but it still seems very technically advanced.

[paul benford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great 10 out of 10😄

😇😇😯😯😀😀