Caine Barlow
- Caine Barlow is a Mycologist and Fungi Educator based in Melbourne, Australia. He gives regular talks on mycology, fungi conservation, and teaches gourmet mushroom cultivation. He is a member of the Australian organisations Entheogenesis Australis, MYCOmmunity Applied Mycology, and The Australian Psychedelic Society. He edited the Australian Entheogenic Compendium (Volume One) and was lead editor of the Entheogenesis Australis 2017 Journal. Caine grew up in the far south of Tasmania, where he started foraging for fungi in the early 90’s. In the mid 00’s he taught himself how to grow gourmet fungi and began applying these skills to fungi conservation, in the process deciding to pursue mycology professionally. He did his Bachelor of Science at the University of Tasmania, and a Master of Science at the University of Melbourne where his research project was based around Conservation Mycology. In addition to fungi, he has had a long term interest in ethnobotany, ethnobotanical literature, and growing medicinal plants - in particular Cacti and Acacias. He is a “Trusted Identifier” on The Shroomery and a moderator on many Facebook fungi groups. Caine posts regularly on LinkedIn and his Instagram, @guerrillamycology, sharing adventures from cultivation, foraging, and ethnomycology, to interesting observations from his home lab.
Latest Articles
Magic Mushrooms Explained
How to Identify Magic Mushrooms: Step-by-Step
Most little brown mushrooms look almost exactly the same—so how do you distinguish the divine from the deadly?
Shrooms
Psilocybe subaeruginosa: Australia’s Most Famous Magic Mushroom
Is the most potent Psilocybe from down under? Meet Psilocybe subaeruginosa, one of the strongest magic mushrooms in the world.
Shrooms
The Tragic Story Of Magic Truffles: The Elusive Wild Psilocybe
Nothing is less psychedelic than unsolved crime.
Shrooms
Blue Meanies Mushrooms: A Guide to the Potent Panaeolus cyanescens
There are few psychedelic mushrooms as potent as Blue Meanies—or with so many names.
How To
How to Grow Mushrooms: A Beginner’s Guide
Our comprehensive guide on how to grow mushrooms, from supplies to the best mushroom growing teks for getting started.
How To
How to Make a Spore Print
If a spore is like a seed for fungi, learning how to make a spore print can help you collect them so you can grow your own mushrooms.
How To
How to use Agar in Mushroom Cultivation
Making agar cultures can help with contamination when growing your own mushrooms.
Shrooms
Psilocybe cyanescens: A Mycologist’s Guide to Wavy Caps
Wavy Caps may grow by the hundreds on a pile of wood chips—but are they really as potent as they’re made out to be? A mycologist dives into the history and science of Psilocybe cyanescens.
How To
How to Make a Spore Syringe
If you're growing your own mushrooms you'll want to source or make your own spore print—and next, a spore syringe. Here's the 101.
FEATURES
Where Do Magic Mushrooms Grow?
What do shrooms look like and where do they grow? Here are some tips for where to find shrooms while foraging.
FEATURES
Liberty Caps Are Among the Most Potent Magic Mushrooms
Psilocybe Cubensis Isn’t the Only Magic Mushroom Out There—Here’s What You Should Know about Its Cousin, Psilocybe Semilanceata (AKA Liberty Caps)
FEATURES
Psilocybe Azurescens: This Magic Mushroom is Stronger than What You’re Used To
While the well-known Psilocybe cubensis contain .14-.42% psilocybin, Psilocybe azurescens are packed with 1.78% psilocybin.
How To
Mold on Mushrooms: Contamination Tips For Shroom Growers
Finding mold on mushrooms happen to the best of us—here's how to spot different types that may infiltrate your grow.