…not the psychedelic kind, but the fungi kind.

Paul Stamets, founder of Fungi Perfecti, has been studying mushrooms for decades. His love affair with mushrooms was inspired by his brother who traveled south to Mexico and Colombia in the 1970’s looking for the “magic mushrooms”.  You know. The kind that make you happy.

Paul became a mycologist. A mushroom pioneer. Knowing my passion for bees, I understand how it can drive one’s life in a certain direction.

He began studying the amazing anti-viral properties of mushrooms for health. But he soon found out that not only can certain mushrooms enhance our immune system and kill cancer cells, but other kinds of mushrooms can clean up toxic spills and pollution in the soil. They can repel certain pests in agriculture. Digging deeper, he began to study the relationship between bees and mushrooms. He found bees feeding on certain kinds of mushrooms growing in his garden which then became resistant to the dreaded varroa mite—the ones that disfigure and eventually suck the life out of bees.

evil little varroa mite

Bees were attracted to the fungi, which in turn strengthened their immunities against disease and mites. In October 2016, Stamets created the U.S. Patent # 9,474,776, “Integrative Fungal Solutions for Protecting Bees”.

A recent article about Stamets revealed that Monsanto, poison giant of the world, might just be getting worried about what’s happening in Stamets’ little corner of the world—where he plies his mushroom passion, not for profit or the bottom line, but for the love of it— sharing his fascinating finds with the world. He has created a patent to resist agricultural pests without spraying pesticides—the kiss of death for bees and pollinators.

In 2006, a patent was granted to a man named Paul Stamets. Though Paul is the world’s leading mycologist, his patent has received very little attention and exposure. Why is that? Stated by executives in the pesticide industry, this patent represents “the most disruptive technology we have ever witnessed.” And when the executives say disruptive, they are referring to it being disruptive to the chemical pesticides industry.

What has Paul discovered? The mycologist has figured out how to use mother nature’s own creations to keep insects from destroying crops. It’s what is being called SMART pesticides. These pesticides provide safe & nearly permanent solution for controlling over 200,000 species of insects – and all thanks to the ‘magic’ of mushrooms. Paul does this by taking entomopathogenic Fungi (fungi that destroys insects) and morphs it so it does not produce spores. In turn, this actually attracts the insects who then eat and turn into fungi from the inside out!

(http://www.ecosnippets.com/environmental/patent-that-could-destroy-monsanto/).

As the article states, “To tolerate the use of pesticides in modern agriculture is to deny evidence proving its detrimental effects against the environment. Such ignorance really can no longer be tolerated. For example, can you imagine a world without bees?”

Evidently Mother Nature’s fierce wisdom and recurring ability to heal herself and humans is a threat to the corporate powers that be. Stamets’ patents could prove to be bad for Monsanto’s bottom line. Poisons pay in this world, after all. And the humble little mushroom stands in the face of this insanity and says, “hey, you can do this without sickening people and the planet.”

In today’s world, it is immoral, unethical and irresponsible to continue to poison and pollute the planet. It is robbing future generations of their right to life.

On this Earth Day weekend, the invitation is to work on behalf of all that is life affirming, spreading the good news—such as Paul Stamets’ work. Human ingenuity and imagination partnering with the brilliance of the planet  is creating a different dream for our future. We can choose this over the nihilistic, death dealing vision we are being handed.

I have no doubt that Monsanto could shut Stamets down. That’s what they do. Their resume is stocked with stories of bullying, threats, suppression of information, pay offs, and lawsuits against ordinary farmers, people and organizations. The goal is to silence dissent. Make them go away.

But I also believe, as the cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead (1901-1978) said, that humanity can change our collision course with disaster.  “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Happy Earth Day!