The Story Behind the Shrooms

It all started with a walk through the woods.

Nearly a decade ago, a family friend pointed out some bradleys (Lactarius corrugis) while on a walk through the woods. After years of learning about and enjoying the culinary delights of the forest, foraging turned into fascination. The deeper we explored, the more we realized this wasn’t just about food; it led to connection, discovery, and a hidden world just beneath the surface.

Since then, we’ve followed that thread wherever it leads.

At Maya, we cultivate mushrooms not just to eat, but to learn from. We study wild genetics of lesser-understood species like umbrella polypore, tracking their potential, their patterns, and their power to positively impact all levels of being. Every kit we sell, every block we fruit, supports our broader mission: to deepen our understanding of fungi and share that knowledge in ways that are practical and approachable.

We’re especially drawn to mycoremediation (using fungi to clean up what others leave behind.) Here in Appalachia, many streams and fresh water sources carry the scars of coal and agriculture. These industries have provided energy and supported families for generations and we cannot overlook the positive social impacts in these conversations. Since working with our local watershed we also have realized the abundance of people making passionate efforts daily to maintain the byproducts of these industries. We believe local fungi can help restore what’s been damaged while creating environmental building blocks for lifeless ecosystems to once again rise as the Phoenix does. It’s not flashy work, but it matters.

We also believe in good food. Real food. Food you can grow yourself and share with friends. So whether you’re growing lion’s mane on your kitchen counter or harvesting oyster mushrooms from under your garden vegetables, our grow kits are made to bring freshness, wonder, and a dash of magic into your daily life.

We’re still a small team. Just two friends who believe the mushroom kingdom holds an inconceivable amount of value. This site is a collection of what we’re learning. None of it is meant to be the final word, it’s just a starting place.

When you bring a ShroomBag into your home, you’re not just growing mushrooms, you’re helping something deeper take root.

Thanks for growing with us.