When we think of mushrooms and the southern Mexico state of Oaxaca, the initial thing which typically comes to mind is Mar�a Sabina, Huautla de Jim�nez and hallucinogenic “magic” mushrooms. But gradually that’s all altering as an end result of the groundbreaking work of Josefina Jim�nez and Johann Mathieu in mycology, through their company, Mico-l�gica.
Based within the village regarding Benito Ju�rez, positioned in Oaxaca’s Ixtl�n district (more commonly known as typically the Sierra Norte, the particular state’s main ecotourism region), Mico-l�gica’s quest is threefold: in order to train both Mexicans and visitors to the particular country in the particular low-cost cultivation of a various mushroom types; to teach about the particular medicinal, nutritional and environmental (sustainable) worth of mushrooms; and conduct ongoing analysis regarding optimum weather regions and typically the diversity of substrata for mushroom traditions.
The French-born Mathieu relocated to Mexico, in addition to in fact to be able to Huautla de Jim�nez, in 2005. “Yes, coming all the way to Mexico from France to be able to pursue my curiosity in mushrooms appears like a long method to travel, very well Mathieu explained in a recent interview in Oaxaca. “But generally there really wasn’t much of an opportunity in order to conduct studies plus grow a small business within Western Europe, inches he continues, “since reverence for mushrooms had been basically completely eradicated by The Church over the particular course of generations; and I mastered that Mexico nonetheless maintains a respect and appreciation for the medicinal and nutritional value of hongos. South america is far from mycophobic. “
Huautla de Jim�nez is definitely more compared to a five hour drive from the closest metropolitan center. Accordingly, Mathieu eventually realized of which staying in Huautla, while holding an historic allure and being in a geographic region conducive to working with mushrooms, would hinder the efforts to grow an enterprise and cultivate widespread interest inside learning about fungus. Mathieu became cognizant of the burgeoning reputation of Oaxaca’s ecotourism communities of typically the Sierra Norte, and even indeed the Salón Regional de Hongos Silvestres (regional untamed mushroom festival), organised annually in Cuahimoloyas.
Mathieu met Josefina Jim�nez at typically the summertime weekend mushroom event. Jim�nez had moved to Oaxaca through hometown Mexico Town in 2002. The two shared identical interests; Jim�nez got studied agronomy, plus for close to 10 years had recently been working with sustainable agriculture projects in rural farming residential areas in the Huasteca Potosina region of San Luis Potos�, the forest of Combativo plus the coast involving Chiapas. Mathieu and even Jim�nez became business, and after that life companions in Benito Ju�rez.
Mathieu and Jim�nez are concentrating upon three mushroom species in their hands-on seminars; oyster (seta), shitake and reishi. Their one-day courses are for oyster mushrooms, and two-day clinics for the latter two types of fungus. “With reishi, and a lesser extent shitake, we’re also educating a fair little bit concerning the medicinal uses of mushrooms, consequently more hours is required, very well says Mathieu, “and with oyster mushrooms it’s predominantly [but not exclusively] a course on cultivation. “
While training training seminars are now just given in Benito Ju�rez, Mathieu and Jim�nez plan to expand operations to be able to include both the central valleys and even coastal regions associated with Oaxaca. The thing is to have a community of producers expanding different mushrooms which can be optimally suited intended for cultivation based upon the particular microclimate. There are about 70 sub-species associated with oyster mushrooms, plus thus as a varieties, the adaptability associated with the oyster mushroom to different climatic regions is outstanding. “The oyster could be grown in a multitude of different substrata, plus that’s what jooxie is experimenting with right now, ” he elucidates. The oyster mushroom can thrive if grown on goods which would in any other case be waste, like as discard through cultivating beans, sweets cane, agave (including the fibrous waste materials produced in mezcal distillation), peas, the most popular river reed called carriso, sawdust, along with the list goes in. Agricultural waste which often may otherwise be left to rot or be burned up, each with adverse environmental implications, can easily form substrata intended for mushroom cultivation. It has to be taken into account, though trite, of which mushroom cultivation is really a highly sustainable, alternative industry. Over Magic Mushrooms Dispensary past a long period South america has the truth is recently been at the fore in many areas of sustainable sector.
Mathieu exemplifies how mushrooms can assist an arguably perhaps greater environmental fine:
“They can carry as much as thirty 1000 times their bulk, having implications regarding inhibiting erosion. They already have been utilized to clean up oil leaks through absorption and therefore are an important vehicle for habitat repair. Research has been carried out with mushrooms within the battle towards carpenter ant destruction; it’s been suggested that the use of fungi features the potential to completely revamp the pesticide industry inside an green way. There are literally hundreds of additional eco-friendly applications regarding mushroom use, in addition to in each circumstance the mushroom continues to be an edible result. Take a search at the Paul Stamets YouTube spiel, 6 Ways Mushrooms Can Save The entire world. “
Mathieu and even Jim�nez can generally be found selling their products upon weekends in the particular organic markets within Oaxaca. They’re each more than happy to talk about the nutritional value associated with their products including naturally their refreshing mushrooms, but likewise as preserves, marinated with either chipotle and nopal or jalape�o and cauliflower. The mushroom’s nutritional B12 can not be found in fruits or even vegetables, and accordingly a diet which usually includes fungi is extremely important intended for vegetarians who are unable to get B12, most often found in lean meats. Mushrooms are always a substitute for meat, with the edge they are not filled with antibiotics and even hormones often identified in industrially prepared meat products.
Mico-l�gica also sell tea and extracts made out of different mushroom kinds, each formulated while either a dietary supplement, or with regard to their medicinal attributes. While neither Mathieu nor Jim�nez has the pharmacological background to be able to prescribe mycological treatment for serious conditions, Mathieu’s own study points to the particular medicinal use associated with mushrooms dating coming from pre-history, to the current. He or she notes properties regarding mushrooms which can help in order to restore the immune system system, and thus the use of infection as being a complement within the treatment of cancer and AIDS, and even their utility inside controlling diabetes plus treating high cholesterol.
“We should all be embracing the particular organic production involving mushrooms, ” Mathieu concludes. “It’s so easy, it requires a minimal capital investment decision, and it provides significant advantages, both for those consuming hongos for nutritional and medicinal reasons, and then for the manufacturers, even small level. Mico-l�gica also sells dried mushrooms. However most of typically the dried mushrooms offered in Mexico are imported supply by china manufacturer, plus are not organic. It’s an actual shame on quite a few levels. “
South america and mushrooms possess come a considerable ways since the era associated with Oaxaca’s Mar�a Sabina. With the continued efforts of Mathieu, Jim�nez and Mico-l�gica, it should not get long before the world understands and embraces the magic involving mushrooms within a new much broader situation.
Alvin Starkman moved to Huatula de Jim�nez to experience the magic regarding mushrooms in the 1960s. A new former Toronto lawsuits lawyer,
