Twisted Tree Nursery’s Eco-Friendly Psychedelic Soil Revolution

Disclaimer: We do not encourage illegal activity, nor the sale or trade of illegal substances. Check with and adhere to your local laws. We do not claim psychedelics or plant medicine to be a substitute for professional medical care. Always consult with your doctor. The goal of this article is to promote safety and education.

While most of us were baking bread, buying plants, and perfecting our binge-watching skills during the 2020 lockdown, Melissa and Justin of Twisted Tree Nursery had other plans. Instead of making sourdough starters, they were knee-deep in crafting artisanal soil blends and building a business that stands for more than just profit. Nestled in sunny Southern California, Twisted Tree Nursery is not your average plant supply company. Since its inception in 2020, this quirky yet earnest venture has been redefining the soil game with their artisanal, nutrient-rich substrate concoctions like DinoSoil, AlpacaSoil, and DonkeySoil.

And these substrates aren’t just for commercial mushroom growers. They cater to at-home enthusiasts as well, helping growers big and small foster a thriving fungi kingdom and a sense of purpose. We caught up with co-founders Melissa and Justin to talk about their eco-friendly enterprise, and their journey from backyard experiment to successful business.

From Crash to Creation

In early 2020, Justin suffered a motocross crash that left him with a laundry list of broken bones. “I was in bad shape,” Justin recalls. With a femur, tibia, and collarbone on the mend, he found that traditional pain management wasn’t cutting it for him, especially given his past struggles with addiction. But a serendipitous camping trip and an introduction to microdosing mushrooms sparked an idea that would change everything.

“When I got back home, I was still on disability and desperate for an alternative to hospital meds, so I started researching mushroom cultivation,” he says. “I knew they wouldn’t necessarily help with pain, but what I needed was some uplifting motivation.”

It just so happened that the couple had recently established a tortoise rescue operation, which provided them with a rather unique resource: tortoise dung. Inspired by manure master Poo God, Justin and Melissa began experimenting and sending free samples of tortoise manure to their friends, who came back with rave reviews. “Our friends were like, ‘This stuff is amazing. You need to start selling this.’ So we started mixing manure in Melissa’s mom’s kitchen and eventually expanded to the backyard.” Justin and Melissa have since managed to scale their backyard brews into a fully-fledged operation in a building of their own.

Crafting Cultivation Concoctions

Twisted Tree’s products are as unique as their origin story. Their innovation may have begun with DinoSoil, their signature nutrient-rich tortoise manure, but it didn’t stop there. Melissa’s passion for animal welfare led to the creation of DonkeySoil and AlpacaSoil, each with its own heartwarming backstory.

“Our business partner at Sunset Hideaway rescues donkeys from abusive rodeo conditions,” Melissa explains. “Seeing their rehabilitation made us realize that we were passionate about working with causes that meant something, and it inspired us to produce DonkeySoil, with proceeds supporting donkey rescues nationwide.”

Their third endeavor, AlpacaSoil, spawned from a collaboration with Culture Shrooms, a Long Beach hub for all things mushroom-related. Though the alpacas aren’t rescues, their manure’s high nutrient content makes it the perfect powerhouse for any fungi garden. This partnership also resulted in the opening of a new location with Culture Shrooms in Humboldt, expanding Twisted Tree’s reach and production capabilities.

A Unique Blend of Sustainability and Soul

What sets Twisted Tree’s soils apart isn’t just their origins. “It’s the way we make each soil with our Twisted Tree family secret and the sustainability behind the brand,” Melissa reveals. Growers who use DinoSoil often talk about the specific “vibes” they get while consuming what they’ve cultivated, because of the substrate’s roots in rescue efforts. It’s a product line that speaks to those who care as much about the source as the soil’s performance.

Their loyal customers range from commercial cultivators to home gardeners, all drawn to Twisted Tree’s mission of creating a harmonious and sustainable future. With a blend of humor, heart, and horticultural expertise, Melissa and Justin have cultivated a community that believes in the power of purposeful products.

Where to Find Twisted Tree's Products

If you’re eager to add some sustainable magic to your garden, you can get your own Twisted Tree Nursery soil directly through their online store at TwistedTreeNursery.com.

Also, don’t forget to follow Twisted Tree Nursery’s journey on Instagram at @twisted_tree_nursery.

Jaden Rae is a Las Vegas resident and best-selling author of the Microdosing Guide And Journal. She is dedicated to teaching people the beauty of living sensually, exploring simple pleasures, finding your authentic voice and manifesting flow in everyday life. Jaden has been featured on the Today Show, The Early Show, Martha Stewart Radio, Fox Business News and more. You can find her on Instagram at @heyjadenrae.