It must have been at least 35 years ago that we first were introduced to Paul Stamets. Steven and I were part of a small group of members of the Puget Sound Mycological Society who drove over to Shelton, Washington on a field trip to meet with this legendary founder of Fungi Perfecti and to view his operation.
It was something around an hour drive from our then residence in Redondo Beach to Paul's place in the Olympia area. We took it slow and leisurely, adding to the adventure by stopping along the way to mushroom in forested areas off Highway 101 South. When we finally arrived, as I recall, we were mightily impressed with his vision and vowed that we'd keep an eye on him - he was bound to bring a lot of energy to further enhancing mushrooms in the lives of ordinary citizens.
This lovely Admirable Bolete (Aureoboletus mirabilis) caught
caught our attention when we were wandering on Mt. Hood.
Paul and Fungi Perfecti are major travelers in the broad array of directions that mushrooms can take us. For instance, he's working with Western State University on a research project that is designed to explore the potential of utilizing mushroom mycelium extract to help save bees.
Yesterday, after all these years, it was rewarding to attend a screening of "Fantastic Fungi, The Magic Beneath Us" at one of Portland's alternative movie theaters, Cinema 21, and to have it clearly illuminate how far down the fungal path he has walked.
The film's website creates a high expectation in the potential audience, and the film delivers a solid response in a highly entertaining, yet artistically and spiritually inspiring product:
Narrated by Academy Award-Winner Brie Larson, "Fantastic Fungi" takes us on an immersive journey into the magical earth beneath our feet: an underground network with the potential to heal and save our planet. Through the eyes of renowned scientists and mycologists like Paul Stamets, best-selling authors Michael Pollan, Eugenia Bone, Andrew Weil and others, we become aware of the beauty, intelligence and solutions the fungi kingdom offers us in response to some of our most pressing medical, therapeutic, and environmental challenges.
We found that the 80 minutes or so that the film ran were quite a worthwhile investment, taking us on a tour that introduced the many ways in which fungi are currently (or can be in the future) of great importance: for example, ensuring forest health, aiding in the creation of a better mental state and deeper connectivity among humans, and contributing to bioremediation.
For me personally, the most touching moment in the film was Paul's story of his mother who had been diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer that had spread to her sternum and liver. Her oncologist did not advocate radiation as a therapy because of her age. Instead, it was recommended that she join a clinical trial of turkey tail mushrooms at the Bastyr Integrative Oncology Research Center which Paul happened to be supplying thru Fungi Perfecti. If I recall correctly, his mother's dramatic recovery was thanks to 8 capsules of turkey tail mushrooms twice a day.
Sure, there are those who might describe "Fantastic Fungi" as 'kooky' and a 'little over the top' but that's OK. In time we believe that they will be won over and will consider it to be thought-provoking and enlightening, as we did.
Kudos to you, Paul, for your dream and for following your dream over these decades. And, we agree with you: "Mushrooms may indeed help save bees and the planet."