To foster interest in the benefits of mushrooms among the student body, the UCCS Mycological Society is hosting a three-part series on the growth and cultivation of mushrooms. 

The Mycological Society is focused on educating students about the benefits of mushrooms. Their three-part series in April will teach students how to cultivate mushrooms in plastic grow bags. 

“One of our main missions is to educate the students and community on mycology,” Christopher Vinci, president of the Mycology Club, said. The series titled “Masters of Fungi” will take place on April 10, April 17 and April 23. Students can choose to cultivate either lion’s mane or blue oyster mushrooms.

The three events build upon each other. April 10’s session provides fundamentals of growth, and the subsequent sessions add onto the basics. Vinci encourages students to attend all three events to get the full experience.

“In the grow class we’re going to be essentially inoculating … [which is] injecting mycelium into a bag of substrate,” Vinci said. Mycelium forms the basis of fungi root systems and is “the world’s natural composter.”

Vinci hopes to grow mushrooms at the farmhouse that benefit the UCCS and Colorado Springs community. “On the farm, we are going to be growing medicinal mushrooms so that people can have natural supplements,” Vinci said.

Mushrooms like lion’s mane can increase natural function and, in some cases, replace prescription medication like Adderall, according to Vinci.

The mushrooms cultivated over the three-part series will be grown at the UCCS farmhouse.

The UCCS Mycological Society has partnered with the Pikes Peak Mycological Society. Together, the two are hosting a series of guest speakers. Titled “Legends of Mycology,” the series will feature prominent fungal researchers and renowned mycologists.

“This next one is with Ben Kingsly. He’s our academic advisor, and he is the former mycological society president,” Vinci said. “He’s going to be giving us a talk on all the mushrooms of Colorado and the environments they live in.” The event takes place on April 9 in Centennial Hall room 203 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The UCCS Mycological Society is looking to expand mushroom growth and research in Colorado Springs. “We’re hoping to build a state-of-the-art fungal research laboratory right here [in the UCCS farmhouse],” Vinci said. With a temperature-controlled basement, the farmhouse is an ideal space for the laboratory.

The first “Masters of Fungi” event will be held at the UCCS farmhouse from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on April 10. Students will be introduced to the basics of mushroom cultivation. 

Blue Oyster mushrooms. Photo courtesy of MycoHaus.