I have about 6 5lb bags of oyster mushrooms, and 3 bags of shiitake in incubation right now. There is a 50qt tub of cubes behind me now that I'll be fruiting in another day or so. My Lions Mane is currently fruiting as well.

And yeah, they are tasty AF! Simple fried oyster mushies are a quick snack (butter, garlic and salt) and are plentiful enough to be used anywhere button mushrooms are used. I am building my collection of dried mushrooms now for various stocks and such. Lions Mane is probably my new favorite. Cut those bad boys into steaks, cook 'em up and they taste just like pork. I am not a vegetarian or anything, but I could see how gourmet mushrooms could be used as a meat replacement.

If the medicinal perks are real, awesome. If not, cool too. Lions Mane is supposed to help regrow neurons, but those studies are preliminary.

I plan to start selling mushrooms by the pound when I get efficient enough growing them. Most gourmet mushrooms do not transport and store very well and are ideal for local markets. I'll probably hit up a local farmers market to sell what I can.

As far as my cubes are concerned, they are fun to eat as a replacement for my alcoholism. I can't eat them every day and I really don't want to. However, it's been fun to be the guy at parties with mason jars of cubes just handing them out for free. (It's newly legal here in CO, so party on!)

On an extremely serious note, once the party phase mostly wore off, I have developed a very healthy respect for the power of psilocybin these days. Used in controlled environments and while deeply meditating, I have been able to tackle extremely complex issues in my life. I already mentioned alcoholism, but that came with a healthy side dish of daily depression, anxiety and mild PTSD. Not only do I not need my daily dosage of antidepressants, other aspects of my life became much easier to manage.

Final reason I grow them is for fun. Different species and strains have different needs and learning about them is awesome. I have built a small clean lab to tinker with genetics and such, so that will be an adventure.

Regardless, I want a good supply of mushrooms on hand for food and fun! (Being the "funny shroom guy" at parties is a fun perk and much better than being the pissed off drunk. My absolute best side comes out when I trip and it's absolutely hysterical from what I have been told.)