For educator and guide Erin Taylor, teaching people to grow their own psilocybin mushrooms is about far more than technique—it’s about agency, safety, and intention. In the wake of decriminalization in Colorado, Taylor emphasizes cultivation as the safest and most meaningful path, transforming mushrooms from a substance into a relationship. By demystifying the process and framing growth as a healing practice infused with care and consciousness, she invites people to slow down, be present, and take ownership of their journey—rooted in respect, responsibility, and trust in the medicine they grow themselves.
Erin, with psilocybin decriminalization in Colorado creating so much curiosity and confusion, what inspired you to focus your work on teaching people how to grow their own mushrooms as part of a healing path?
First, it’s really fun and easy, despite the common complaints that it’s “too complicated” or that people “don’t have a green thumb.” I don’t either! But I have a brown thumb, lol. Plus it’s decriminalized to grow mushrooms in Colorado and share them with your friends…that is just very, very awesome. Plus, growing your own medicine completely changes your experience with the mushrooms. Because they are over 90% water, they absorb energies and frequencies from their surrounding environment (just like we do). When you grow them yourself for healing, you have an exponentially more powerful experience…I see it time and again with my clients. And, buying them off the street in Colorado is STILL ILLEGAL…and not very smart, if I’m honest. Many people are putting fentanyl in everything- it’s just not safe. Again, the mushrooms absorb the surrounding energies while they are grown…so if you buy them from a drug dealer who is in scarcity or fear mindset with the intention of deception…those are the energies you will feel when you journey with them, no matter the dose.
You offer three different ways to learn — for beginners, for those interested in mycology, and your own hybrid method — how do you help people figure out which path is right for them?
Honestly, I offer more like 2 1/2 different entry points into mycology so growers can choose their own adventure, lol. The easiest way to start (“as easy as making a box of mac-n-cheese”) is the Psilly Willy’s Van (you can get 10% off by clicking here). The next entry point into mycology I teach is with the mushroom “house” I teach in my book through Midwest Grow Kits. It’s an easy way to get started with the right equipment (very important in mycology). But then after these first two methods, or even after growing with Psilly Willy’s for a while, it is natural for one interested in mycology to learn the way I teach in my book (which I give away for free on my website). In my brain, if you are spending the time, money and energy growing, you might as well grow like the pros and love every stage of the process, while growing big crops of potent mushrooms (because nobody wants weak ass mushrooms…)
What are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about growing psilocybin mushrooms, especially for those just starting out?
People tell me they are intimidated because they lack a green thumb and the process looks overwhelming and time-consuming. As I mentioned before, people think they need a green thumb to grow mushrooms, but they don’t. I don’t have one plant growing in my place right now (I know, sad), but I have 4 different types of mushrooms growing at once, lol. At first (in my book), it might look like a lot of equipment, but it’s really not. Over a couple of months, you will occasionally have projects that take a few hours. But most of the time spent in mushroom cultivation is waiting (patiently and excitedly…) for the mushrooms to grow. And when they grow they grow fast! You must be there to harvest them at the perfect time, otherwise they lose 70% of the psilocybin…and that’s when you get weak ass mushrooms, lol.
How do you frame mushroom cultivation as more than a technical skill, but as part of a broader healing or intentional practice?
I have many powerful client stories about incredible magical things they experience when they grow their own medicine. Again, mushrooms absorb the energies surrounding them during growth. Therefore, if you grow them for healing past traumas and infuse them with positive affirmations or healing energy from crystal singing bowls or classical music, those are the energies you will experience with them. It becomes a synonymous relationship with your medicine you’ve grown for your own healing. You guide them and they guide you. So much of the medicine IS growing your own medicine.
As interest continues to grow, what do you hope people take away from learning to cultivate their own medicine responsibly and thoughtfully?
That it is hands down the best route to go when you are on a healing journey with the “little holy ones”. It is the safest, the cheapest (yes, even with all the equipment), you get the best mushrooms (and the most potent) you will ever get, and you grew them yourself.
