A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SQUATCHER & HIS FUNGI’S
Shroomsquatch Myco-Ventures LLC was started in October of 2022 by Sam Wagner out of the ashes of previous fungal based projects. A former social worker, he was called into a new type of social welfare aimed at curiosity, exploration, and decentralization. Through the lessons of past ventures, he was able to focus on what made working within an ecosystem invaluable for finding meaning in our own lives and communities.
In the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu says,
“Thirty spokes share the hub of a wheel;
yet it is its center that makes it useful.
You can mould clay into a vessel;
yet, it is its emptiness that makes it useful.
Cut doors and windows from the walls of a house;
but the ultimate use of the house
will depend on that part where nothing exists.
Therefore, something is shaped into what is;
but its usefulness comes from what is not.”
As many who work with fungi would report, you don’t so much choose the mycelial path as you are called onto it, and this is, as Lao Tzu states, an act of being made useful by the nothing... or the everything. Either way you view it (hint: it’s both), mycelium, like the Tao, is a path through ecology and can display a deeper meaning that is barely, if at all, visible on the surface. Squatch beneath the surface to see what purpose for life you can find.
The old adage goes, “If you sit in the forest long enough, you’ll figure it out.” Working within a fungal based system of permaculture enables us to begin to close not only loops within our ecosystem but also teaches us ways to close our own loops.
Meet Sam
Owner, Farmer, Educator
“I began practicing mycology in 2019 after spending 17 years as a social worker. After realizing that the social welfare system was merely keeping individuals stuck in the same system that was “helping”. I quit the social work job and system that only seemed to keep those it claimed to serve stuck within the system. Unfortunately, social welfare is often times a trap, and I wanted to engage a process that allowed others to liberate themselves, not just from social welfare systems themselves but also from any exterior governance. I thought, ‘What better way to do this than to learn from fungi and work within the natural world?’
It is now my goal to create a community through mycology and other permaculture structures to help others see what they are capable of and what their natural world has to offer through a relationship with their environment. I dubbed this “myco-social work”, and I hope to bring you knowledge, confidence, critical thinking skills, and playful discovery along the way. We are all scientists. We simply have to awaken to our presence to see how.”
Meet Dave
Farmer, Filmmaker, Producer, Artist
Meet Shroomsquatch -
The Squatch is YOU!
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions about mushrooms and cultivation? Check out our FAQ or send us a message. If you’re ready to begin your fungal journey, head over to the shop and start squatchin.
About Our Cordyceps
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Cordyceps are medicinal mushrooms known for their energy-boosting and health supporting properties. They help increase the amount of oxygen your red blood cells can absorb and increase ATP production. Cordyceps also support sleep quality, immune function, and have been used to help with libido and blood pressure management.
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Our cordyceps are grown at multiple distributed farms on the Front Range of Colorado. We grow on a variety of grains including brown rice, oats, millet, corn, and milo. All of our grains are US grown and sourced as locally as possible. Our environmental conditions provide optimal conditions for producing superior quality cordyceps.
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We are not organically certified; however, we use organic practices throughout our production process. We use natural substrates and sustainable farming practices free from pesticides or harmful chemicals and work with grain farmers who use regenerative agriculture practices when farming their crops. Our products are dehydrated upon harvest and packaged to ensure maximum freshness and potency.
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Domestically grown cordyceps produce superior compound concentration compared to imported mushrooms. This is verified through HPLC batch testing. Our farm-fresh cordyceps are grown with the local community in mind, and we work with local and US owned businesses to ensure a superior product compared to imported products. This means you get maximum potency and freshness in every purchase.
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Fresh cordyceps are harvested and delivered quickly, offering peak freshness and ease of preparation for making liquid extractions or usage as a culinary product. Fresh cordyceps should be refrigerated and used within 7-14 days. Dried cordyceps are dehydrated upon harvest, which concentrates the beneficial compounds and extends shelf life to 12+ months. Both forms retain full potency, so choose based on your preference and storage needs.
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Albino cordyceps perform all the same health functions as their orange counterparts but are more potent. This means you need less mushroom per dose to achieve the desired effects, whether you're making tea, soup, or infusing desserts. You can view the most current CoA’s in our cordycep fruit section.
Health Benefits
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Cordyceps offer multiple health benefits including:
• Increased oxygen absorption and ATP production for natural energy
• Support for sleep quality and tissue repair by agonizing adenosine production
• Blood pressure support
• Libido support
• Immune-modulating properties
• Anti-viral and anti-inflammatory effects
• Potential support for Lyme disease symptoms
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Yes. Cordyceps increase ATP production (your body's energy currency) and improve oxygen absorption by your red blood cells. Many users report experiencing more sustained energy, improved respiration, and endurance when consuming cordyceps.
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Cordyceps have been used safely in traditional medicine for centuries and are well tolerated. However, we recommend consulting with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen, especially if you have existing health conditions or take medications.
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Cordyceps can be used in multiple ways:
• Brewed into tea or hot water
• Added to soups and broths
• Infused into tinctures
• Mixed into smoothies or desserts
• Taken as a daily supplement
Start with small amounts (suggested 1g) and adjust based on your preference and desired effects.
Regardless of how you use cordyceps, we suggest that you do some sort of extraction process to unlock the potential within the mushroom. This could be through hot water extraction (tea, soup, etc.), alcohol extraction (tinctures), or a combination of both. You may also be interested in advanced extraction methods such as using ultrasonics or other fungi, such as koji.
Ordering/Shipping
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Visit our online store at shroomsquatch.com/store and select your desired product and quantity. We offer fresh and dried cordyceps in multiple sizes. If you would like fresh cordyceps, contact us at sam@shroomsquatch.com and we will contact you to schedule a delivery time in conjunction with our next harvest.
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Yes! Please contact us at sam@shroomsquacth.com if you would like your order delivered instead of sent via shipping and we will contact you to schedule a delivery time.
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Our cordyceps are dried for long-term storage upon harvest. We store for up to 6 months once dried.
If you’re needing fresh cordyceps, we supply within 2 days of harvest. Fresh cordyceps should be refrigerated and used within 7-10 days for optimal potency. Unlike imported products that may be weeks or months old, you receive farm-fresh mushrooms at peak potency.
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Yes! We offer subscription options for regular deliveries. Contact us at sam@shroomsquatch.com to discuss subscription pricing and customized delivery schedules.
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We provide local delivery throughout Golden, Boulder, Denver, Aurora, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs, or anywhere within 50 miles. We also ship nationwide.
Wholesale/Bulk Orders
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Yes! We supply fresh and dried cordyceps to individuals and businesses across the Front Range as well as across the states. Our wholesale program offers bulk pricing tiers, flexible ordering schedules, and farm-direct quality control. If you are interested in regular wholesale deliveries, please contact sam@shroomsquatch.com to discuss your needs.
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Our minimum wholesale order is 2kg. We also offer a 1kg “sample” at a discounted rate for first-time wholesale partners, allowing you to evaluate quality before committing to larger orders.
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Absolutely. Our farm grows cordyceps year-round, allowing us to provide consistent harvests to wholesale partners. We work with individuals and businesses to create flexible ordering schedules that meet their needs.
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We offer tiered bulk pricing that is competitive with order volume. We also provide subscription discounts for recurring customer contracts. Contact us at sam@shroomsquatch.com for a detailed pricing quote based on your specific needs.
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Yes. We can partner with any restaurants or retailer wanting to use our cordyceps, whether dried or fresh. We're actively seeking new restaurants and retail partners. Contact us to discuss wholesale opportunities.
Mission and Values
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Shroomsquatch is a permaculture mushroom farm focused on providing medicinal mushrooms and education to Colorado communities. We operate based on anarchist community models designed to promote local community agency, reduce waste, support local agriculture, and advance the mycological field.
We also believe that community, kindness, music, and comedy are the four noble truths, and we are always pleased to talk about them.
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Yes. We operate as a permaculture farm, meaning we work with natural systems to create a closed-loop model. We reuse agricultural and home waste products, support local ecosystems, and minimize our environmental impact as much as possible.
We are happy to discuss ideas you have for using our spent substrate and your own “trash” to create a more sustainable living system.
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Buy local and support your neighbors. By purchasing from Shroomsquatch, you directly support a local Colorado farm. Your purchase reduces carbon footprints compared to imported mushrooms, keeps money in the Colorado economy, and supports sustainable agricultural practices.
Cultivation and Education
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Yes. We offer both in-person and online mushroom cultivation courses. Our beginner friendly classes teach low-tech growing methods using open-air inoculation techniques. Courses include hands-on instruction, growing supplies, and access to our (in development) community platform.
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In-person classes include hands-on instruction, curriculum materials, 150-300ml liquid culture jar, 3lb of grain spawn, and a mushroom grow kit of your choice. You also receive 10% discount on all Shroomsquatch products and 20% off future education.
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Why, of course you can. While our most common cultivation courses teach other mushroom cultivation, we offer one on one consultations concerning cordycep cultivation. We occasionally offer cordycep specific cultivation courses as well.
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We offer professional-grade mycology supplies including liquid culture, grain spawn, sterilized substrates, growing kits, all-in-one grow blocks, and more. All supplies are available at a 10% discount for course students.
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Check our website or contact us at sam@shroomsquatch.com for current class schedules and private mentorship and in home courses. We offer beginner and advanced courses throughout Colorado.
Certifications and Quality
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Yes. We maintain current Certificates of Analysis (COA) for our cordyceps products. Our growing practices are transparent, and our products are tested for potency and purity.
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Our cordyceps are grown on natural US grown grains without the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides. We maintain high standards for substrate sourcing, growing practices, and quality control to ensure every product meets our farm standards. We use organic farming practices but not political “organic” certifications. We are certified by nature.
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Quality indicators include:
Organic farming practices
Colorado farm origin
Harvested at peak potency production
Current COA available
Transparent growing practices
Customer testimonials and reviews
Contact and Support
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Email: sam@shroomsquatch.com
You can reach out with questions about products, wholesale inquiries, course registration, or any other questions.
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Yes! We offer 1-on-1 consultations for custom growing plans, wholesale partnerships, and personalized product recommendations. Contact us to schedule a consultation.
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We are currently not offering farm tours; however, we hope to offer this soon.
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Our farm is distributed along the Front Range with two current locations, one in Golden, Colorado and the other in Denver, CO. We operate on a distributed farm model and not all locations are available to tour due to this. While we operate primarily online, we will be open to the public in the future for appointments for farm tours, consultations, and local pickups. Contact us to arrange a future visit.
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Distributed farms are collective groups collaborating to pool a greater number of resources through smaller entities and individuals. This allows each individual contributor to retain the most agency possible while accessing a larger, harder to reach market. The distributed farm concept is based on anarchist community models that put everyone’s agency in their control. Each individual entity can then determine how much they contribute to the collective model and receives payment accordingly.
Troubleshooting and Returns
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Contact us immediately at sam@shroomsquatch.com with photos of the damage. We'll work with you to replace or refund your order promptly.
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We stand behind the quality of our products. If you're not satisfied with your purchase, contact us to discuss return or replacement options.
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Yes, natural variation in appearance is normal. Fresh cordyceps may look slightly different from dried varieties. Different genetic isolations also cause different appearances. Contact us if you have concerns about quality or authenticity.
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Fresh cordyceps should be refrigerated and used within 7-10 days. Dried cordyceps should be stored in a cool, dry place in an airtight container and will maintain potency for 12+ months.
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This depends on what you order. Fresh cordyceps are refrigerated and should be used within days. Dried cordyceps are shelf stable. Check your product listing for specifics or contact us if you have questions.
Still Have Questions?
Contact Shroomsquatch directly:
• Email: sam@shroomsquatch.com
• Website: https://www.shroomsquatch.com
• Location: Golden, Colorado
We're here to help! Reach out anytime with questions about our products, services, or growing practices.