The Black Trumpet Blog

Obsidian Entertainment’s video game "Avowed" immerses players in a dark mystery involving the eerie "Dreamscourge" fungal plague. To celebrate, we partnered to release a limited-edition mushroom grow kit, bringing the game’s fungal themes to life in the real world!

Let's talk about the birds and the bees... and the mushrooms! Fungi reproduce asexually through budding or spores and sexually through plasmogamy and karyogamy for genetic diversity. Some self-fertilize, others need mates, and some use pheromones or explosive spore dispersal to thrive.

CVG substrate (coco coir, vermiculite, and gypsum) is a beginner-friendly, pre-sterilized mix ideal for growing a variety of mushrooms, including gourmet and medicinal species. It offers excellent water retention, aeration, and nutrient support, with a simple preparation process that minimizes contamination risks.

Lion's Mane mushrooms are renowned for their cognitive, gut, and immune health benefits, supported by bioactive compounds like erinacines and hericenones. With promising research and rich nutritional value, they offer a natural and versatile way to enhance overall wellness.

This Buffalo Mushroom Sliders recipe offers a delicious, vegan twist on classic sliders, using homegrown Snow Oyster mushrooms as the star ingredient. The dish features mushrooms coated in a flavorful buffalo sauce, fried to perfection, and served on plant-based rolls with fresh toppings like pickles, sweet peppers, and cucumbers!

Elevate your holiday season with festive mocktails that are as functional as they are flavorful! Featuring our mushroom tinctures, these recipes blend wellness and indulgence. The Lion’s Mane Citrus Smash brings a zesty burst of focus-enhancing energy, while the Chaga White Russian Mocktail offers creamy immune-boosting comfort.

Impress your friends and family this holiday season with five festive mushroom recipes, featuring both homegrown and wild-foraged varieties. From a smoky-sweet Lion’s Mane loaf and savory Oyster mushroom stuffing to roasted Chestnut mushrooms, crab-like stuffed Shiitakes, and an elegant Porcini tart, these dishes bring rich, earthy flavors to your holiday table.

Crab stuffed mushrooms - but make it vegan! This dish gives you the opportunity to use your homegrown Shiitake and Lion's Mane mushrooms to make a simple but elegant vegan appetizer or side that your friends and family will love.

This holiday season, mushrooms can help you celebrate sustainably by reducing waste and promoting eco-friendly practices. Whether gifting mushroom grow kits, crafting natural decorations, or cooking with homegrown ingredients, mushrooms offer a meaningful way to connect with loved ones while caring for the planet.

This Oyster Mushroom Stuffing is a savory, herb-packed dish that’s perfect for holiday tables or any cozy meal. Featuring earthy oyster mushrooms, toasted bread, and fragrant fresh herbs, it’s rich in flavor and completely vegan-friendly. Simple to make and irresistibly delicious, it’s a crowd-pleasing twist on a classic favorite!

Join us and wild foods expert Hank Shaw as we explore the rich, hearty world of mushrooms for holiday cooking. From foraging tips to creative recipes like mushroom stuffing, tarts, and even candy cap desserts, this conversation dives into how mushrooms can elevate your seasonal celebrations.

This holiday season, give the gift of wellness with our curated collection of mushroom-based products, perfect for wellness enthusiasts. From potent tinctures and capsules to beginner-friendly grow kits, each item is crafted to support immunity, brain health, focus, energy, and overall well-being.

Delight chefs with a dried wild mushrooms with rich flavors, or functional chocolate infused with wellness-boosting mushrooms. For hands-on fun, try the BlocksBox Mushroom Kit Subscription or Lion’s Mane ‘Spray & Grow’ Kit. Pair with the Wild Mushrooms Cookbook to inspire culinary creativity!

For the seasoned mushroom grower, this guide offers five top-tier gifts to enhance their cultivation setup. From the high-tech BoomRoom II Grow Tent and compact Boomr Bin to the portable NocBox Lab Set, each item provides expert-level control and convenience for healthy, abundant harvests. With options like the BlocksBox Subscription delivering fresh fruiting blocks year-round, these gifts are designed to elevate their mushroom-growing experience.

Give the gift of mushroom-growing with these unique kits perfect for beginners! From easy Spray & Grow countertop kits to long-lasting outdoor log setups, these gifts offer delicious mushrooms and a rewarding experience. Options like the Boomr Bin Monotub Kit provide automated indoor growing, while the Lion’s Mane Lover Set adds a wellness twist. These fun, hands-on gifts make it simple to grow gourmet mushrooms year-round.

We can't resist the eerie allure of weird and creepy mushrooms—from the mind-controlling "Zombie Fungus" Cordyceps to the ghostly Bleeding Tooth and the Veiled Lady. These strange, otherworldly fungi don’t just captivate; they offer powerful health benefits, from boosting energy and immunity to sharpening the mind. Let's talk about nature's creepiest and most potent healers.

Discover how dead fungi, or 'necromass,' play a surprising role in combating climate change by storing carbon in the soil. Ecologist Katie Beidler discusses her research into fungal decomposition, melanin's impact on decay, and how soil fungi help balance Earth’s carbon cycle, unlocking new climate solutions beneath our feet.

Let’s explore the top mushrooms to grow on oak logs, including shiitake, reishi, and lion's mane, all of which thrive on this nutrient-rich hardwood. Oak's slow decay and high nutrient density make it an ideal substrate for long-term mushroom cultivation. With practical tips on fall inoculation and spawn selection, growers can look forward to abundant mushroom harvests year after year!