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.
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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.

03/04/2025

Throwback: this silver maple and shiitake plug spawn combo truly delivered—just look at this incredible harvest by Phil B! Growing mushrooms on logs takes some effort upfront, but the long-term rewards are well worth it.

Learn more with us online Sunday (3/9) in a class all about inoculating mushroom logs with a live Q&A with Lou at the end: https://northspore.com/products/online-event-beginner-s-guide-to-mushroom-log-inoculation?utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=log-inoculation-class

03/03/2025

Awesome to see how mushroom log cultivation can become part of forest management!

Here are links to the materials I tools I used from North SporeShiitake Mushroom Grow Kit: https://northspore.sjv.io/YRNLrrShiitake Mushroom Sawdust Spawn: h...

02/26/2025

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02/25/2025

Join us online Sunday, March 9th for a class with Louis, where you'll learn the fundamentals of mushroom log inoculation using Shiitake mushroom spawn! This simple, sustainable method is perfect for gardeners, homesteaders, and anyone curious about growing their own mushrooms at home. Louis will walk you through the entire process step by step, sharing tips and tricks along the way. Stick around after the demo for a live Q&A, where you can get all your questions answered!

Grow Your Own Gourmet Mushrooms – No Experience Needed! Join us for this online class where Louis will guide you through the basics of mushroom log inoculation using Shiitake mushroom spawn—a simple and sustainable way to grow mushrooms at home. Whether you're a gardening enthusiast, homesteader...

02/20/2025

In Obsidian Entertainment's newly released video game Avowed for Xbox and PC, a fungal infection is plaguing the creatures of the Living Lands - and it’s your duty as an Envoy to investigate this mysteriously magical place ✨

In real life, fungal infections pose serious threats, from deadly Candida auris to crop-destroying blights. Like Avowed’s fungal plague, some fungi even manipulate their hosts—like Ophiocordyceps, the “zombie fungus.” With climate change and rising resistance, the battle against fungal infections is more urgent than ever.

But not to worry—oyster mushrooms don’t pose this threat. Instead, they can break down toxins, fight harmful bacteria, and provide nutritious food. While some fungi are villains, oyster mushrooms are definitely on our side. For now anyways.

Check out our Avowed Spray & Grow Kit here: https://northspore.com/products/organic-spray-grow-avowed-grow-kit

02/18/2025

You can turn almost any small space into a mushroom garden! 🍄🌱 Reusable containers like buckets, bins, and crates provide the perfect environment for Oyster mushrooms. Simply drill holes throughout, pasteurize some straw, and mix in the Oyster mushroom spawn of choice. With this method - you can have mushrooms within a few weeks! (And yes, you can get several fruiting from the same bucket)✨

Check out the full walkthrough here: https://northspore.com/blogs/the-black-trumpet/growing-mushrooms-in-buckets-containers

02/14/2025

Happy Valentine’s Day! Not all fungi need a mate to help spread the spore, and neither do you. 🍄💪❤️

Our latest blog post explores the fascinating phenomenon of mushy mushroom matchmaking, from solo performances to nucleic fusion. Mushrooms remind us that love takes many forms—whether through delicate connections or daring launches into the unknown.

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.

02/12/2025

IT'S TIME! 🌱🍄

We know some of you have been prepping for weeks, but for those of us in snowy states - outdoor growing season is just beginning!

Now’s the perfect time to cut your logs, stock up on spawn and substrates, and manifest your garden full of beautiful, delicious mushrooms. And to kick things off, our Early Bird Sale is here to help you save 20% on everything you need to grow outdoors: https://northspore.com/pages/limited-time-offers?utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=growoutside-facebook

Looking forward to seeing how you in 2025!

Address

921 Riverside Street
Portland, ME
04103

Telephone

+12073520264

Website

http://www.northspore.com/

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Videos

Grow Mushrooms in a Monotub

Only a few spots left for our online monotub workshop + Q&A with Lou on Saturday - check it out here: https://northspore.com/products/event-setting-up-your-mushroom-monotub

Magical Mushroom Grower Gift Set

Why gift the same old stuff when you can give a magical experience? Whether mycology enthusiast or curious first-timer, this kit makes growing mushrooms at home a breeze. ❄️🎁😎✨ #mushrooms #mycology #spores #cultivate #naturalmedicine

Golden Oyster mushrooms are also an excellent natural source of ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative stress. Adding these mushrooms to your diet may support health by potentially reducing cellular damage and boosting overall resilience to environmental stressors! #northspore #mushrooms #fungi #oystermushrooms #pleurotus #growyourfood #naturalmedicine

Italian Oyster mushrooms straight from the BoomRoom

These were as big as my head 👍 shoutout to my dad for filming. Get your own BoomRoom II for 20% off here: https://northspore.com/products/boomroom-ii-automated-martha-tent-mushroom-grow-kit #northsporemushrooms #mushrooms #growyourfood #GrowTent #fungifam #pleurotus #oystermushrooms

‘Tis the season for giving the gift of wellness (and self care)! Right now, get a free tincture when you buy 3 👍👍 Our double extraction method ensures that our mushroom tinctures pack more of the active compounds found in each species. Add 1-3 full droppers to your favorite beverage, or place directly on your tongue. Use 1-3 times daily or as needed. #mushrooms #tincture #wellness #heath #sale #mycology #chaga #lionsmane #turkeytail #cordyceps #reishi

Here’s how to use Spore Boostr with your ShroomTek all-in-one bag to turn your spore syringe into a liquid culture syringe 😎👍 more info through the link in our bio! #Mushrooms #fungi #mycology #spores #cultivate #growmushrooms #liquidculture

Jack o’ Lantern mushrooms 🎃🍄 typically grow from late summer into fall and can be mistaken from afar for chanterelles, but several features set them apart 👇 Jack o’ Lanterns have true gills that form tidy, defined rows beneath the cap, while chanterelles have false gills, with ridges that look almost like folds on the underside. Additionally, Jack o’ Lanterns grow in tight clusters on decaying wood or buried roots, whereas chanterelles usually grow individually or loosely in patches on the forest floor. Often, Jack o’ Lanterns may appear as if they’re sprouting directly from the ground, but a closer look will reveal they’re growing from wood just beneath the soil surface. Happy Halloween! 👻 #jackolantern #mushrooms #fungi #foraging #poisonous #poison #spreadthespore #spores #halloween