MycoBim 2025
MycoBim 2025: A Transformative Journey with Mushrooms and Wellness in Barbados
Embark on this journey with us at MycoBim 2025, where we've expanded our transformative seven day mushroom experience to new heights.
This isn't just another wellness retreat - it's an immersive adventure into the enchanting world of fungi, combining ancient wisdom with cutting edge research in one of the Caribbean's most stunning settings.
Recent groundbreaking studies continue to unveil the remarkable potential of fungi and mushrooms in revolutionising both human wellness and environmental health.
At MycoBim 2025, you'll have the exclusive opportunity to learn from world-renowned and local experts while disconnecting from daily stresses.
Our expanded program includes educational presentations, hands on workshops, expert led expeditions, and innovative healing sessions that integrate traditional wisdom with modern scientific understanding.
This carefully curated immersion goes beyond personal transformation - it's about building a community of passionate fungi enthusiasts and wellness seekers. Through interactive workshops, mindful practices, and deep nature connection, you'll discover how to harness the power of mushrooms to enhance your wellbeing, support your community, and contribute to environmental sustainability.
Join us in creating lasting connections with both fellow participants and the fascinating fungal kingdom that connects us all.
Discover Your Wellness Journey Through Our Immersive Experiences:
🍄 Deep dive into the healing power of functional and adaptogenic mushrooms
🍄 Get Growing - Learn the art of mushroom cultivation
🍄 Create your own natural mushroom remedies (powders, tinctures & more)
🍄 Culinary Adventures - Master the art of cooking with gourmet mushrooms
🍄 Holistic Wellness - Explore complementary herbs and nutrition for optimal health
🍄 Nature Connection - Guided foraging walks in beautiful natural settings
🍄 Mind-Body Balance - Experience transformative bodywork, mindfulness, and meditation
🍄 Comprehensive Health Evaluation - comes with an Iridology session and custom wellness plan tailored just for you
🍄 Personalised Health Evaluation - Includes an iridology consultation and customised wellness plan
Come and experience the therapeutic benefits of mushrooms, with the Caribbean sea, sand, and nature serving as the perfect backdrop for your journey towards improved health and wellbeing.
What's Included?
🍄 Board for 6 nights
🍄 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
🍄 Full Program of Activities
🍄 Excursions
🍄 Board includes shared twin room or apartment occupancy
🍄 Premium rooms available
🍄 Special rates for couples
🍄 Local Barbadian packages available
How to book if I’m a local?
We offer a special package for local Barbadian residents that includes the full program and lunch, without accommodation.
Local residents can also book individual workshop sessions, with prices starting from $100 BBD advanced booking is required.
Please email get in touch with any queries to contact@darrenlebaron.com
The Immersion Space
Shades of Barbados is set in beautiful landscaped gardens, with a traditional Bajan Chattel House theme and offers bright, attractive apartments. All accommodation has a living area with a sofa and a flat-screen TV as well as a private outdoor patio area. The kitchen comes with a microwave, fridge, oven and coffee maker. It also features a communal outdoor swimming pool and a gym. The nearest beach is the popular Paynes Bay beach which is less than a 5 minute walk from the complex.
About the Facilitators
This immersion will be facilitated by Darren Le Baron, Ras Ills, Cheryl Haynes, Kory Lashley, Chantel Selman and Cherine Haynes.
Darren Le Baron is a world renowned researcher, mycologist, and mushroom cultivator with over 15 years of experience in the field. He's known for his compelling workshops and presentations on ethnomycology, which participants often describe as life changing. With his thought-provoking slogan, "You Are A Mushroom Having A Human Experience," Darren assists participants in designing and developing their unique approach to healing with mushrooms. His expertise spans from traditional medicinal applications to modern cultivation techniques, making him a bridge between ancient wisdom and contemporary scientific understanding.
Ras Ils is a herbalist who has dedicated his life to the ancient practice of natural medicine. He has received many awards for his work worldwide. Born into a family versed in the medicinal properties of plants and herbs, Ras Ils began studying these traditions scientifically at age 13. This ancestral knowledge, once widespread, has largely been forgotten in modern times, leaving few who truly understand how to tap into the power of plants. His research focuses on ancient medicine specifically how to harness the healing properties of plants and tree bark.
Cheryl Haynes is a Holistic Practitioner and herbalist. She employs a yogic approach for 'whole self' development. As a certified Sivananda Yoga teacher and Mindfulness Coach, she uses various techniques to equip clients with the necessary tools for expressing their journey fully. With over a decade of experience in crafting therapeutic tea blends, she brings her expertise in herbal tea formulation to the immersion, helping participants understand the synergistic relationships between mushrooms and medicinal herbs.
Chantel Selman is a trailblazer in holistic health and wellness, specialising in iridology, Caribbean herbal remedies, juice cleanses, and raw vegan cuisine. Her approach blends ancient herbal wisdom with modern nutritional science to create transformative experiences through her signature protocols. Drawing from her Caribbean heritage and deep understanding of plants and fungi, Chantel creates unique healing blends that nourish body and spirit. Her mission is simple: to guide others toward optimal health by connecting them with nature's power, balanced living, and the vital energy of whole, living foods.
Kory Lashley is an innovative plant-based chef who specialises in alkaline and vegan cuisine, with a particular focus on mushroom-based gastronomy. Through extensive formal education and personal research in health and nutrition, he has developed a unique scientific approach to crafting nourishing meals. His expertise lies in transforming functional mushrooms and whole plant ingredients into delectable dishes that both heal and delight. During the immersion, he will be demonstrating his culinary mastery through interactive cooking sessions, serving gourmet mushroom inspired dishes, and sharing his knowledge about crafting nutritious tonics and elixirs.
Cherine Haynes creates transformative experiences and products that enhance mind, body, spirit, and home. Drawing from her personal healing journey, she dedicates herself to creating spaces for others' development and wellness. Cherine employs diverse approaches including mindset coaching, sound therapy, and mindfulness practices. Her clients achieve significant personal growth as she guides them in adopting techniques refined through her extensive wellness experience across Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean.
Contact: For all enquiries please email contact@darrenlebaron.com
*We offer tickets with shared twin room occupancy and premium single room options.
**Additionally, we have a special package designed for local Barbadian residents, featuring the full program and lunch, with accommodation excluded.
Mushroom Cultivation for Beginners with Darren Le Baron
Darren Le Baron is back in Barbados for in-person Shroomshop: Mushroom Cultivation Workshop
Come and learn the basics of mushroom cultivation and explore various techniques for growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms. This will be a hands-on experience and will cover everything you need to know to get you started.
Mushrooms' therapeutic value has been prized in indigenous cultures for thousands of years. In the past few decades, they have become even more popular for their medicinal qualities in the West, as a result of an expanding body of scientific research supporting their numerous health benefits.
You will gain valuable insights into the world of mushrooms and unlock the potential for producing your own food and medicine. You will learn practical knowledge that empowers you to cultivate these remarkable organisms for your well-being.
YOU WILL LEARN:
What are Mushrooms?
How do Mushrooms grow?
How do you grow Mushrooms at home?
How to make your own grain spawn
How to make a fruiting tub?
Mushroom Aftercare
Where to get everything?
Each participant will leave with a grow kit
Introduction to Macro Photography of Fungi, Plants & Insects with Max Mudie
Introduction to Macro Photography of Fungi, Plants & Insects with Max Mudie
Discover hidden worlds and natures unseen beauty with a macro photography workshop led by professional photographer and fungi enthusiast Max Mudie.
Macro photography is close up photography of small subjects, then magnifying them sufficiently to produce amazing breathtaking images.
This workshop will have a mushroom focus but also include plants, flowers, and bugs found in nature. Max will share his tips and tricks before we head out into the wilderness to see what images of nature we can capture using our mobile phones and macro lenses. Yes no specialist equipment is required except a smartphone, but more advanced photographers are also welcome. These techniques will benefit photographers at all levels.
Max’s workshop will explore "7 things you can find around the house to improve your macro photography." He will cover techniques to get the best out of your camera, regardless of your skill level, experience, or equipment.
We are looking for participants from the local community to learn how to document fungi for scientific records. This workshop will provide the skills for the community to document and map the distribution of these species year round for our ongoing MycoBim community project.
Max's lens has been focused on Fungi & Myxomycetes for the past 6 years but his connection with fungi stems back over 20 years. His imagery posted mainly on Instagram @allthingsfungi has gained him recognition with international platforms and magazines, and last year he was shortlisted for Close-up Photographer of the Year.
His deep dive into mycology means he's found and identified hundreds if not thousands of species, many of which we know little about. He's contributed to the Darwins Tree of Life project at Kew Gardens with wild clones and is an active member of the Sussex Fungus group.
His recent macro photography workshops at the Royal Parks London have been in high demand. With these sessions, he hopes to make macro photography accessible regardless of equipment or training.
Most recently he’s partnered with Sugi documenting the Fungi and Myxomycetes as part of their rewilding projects. Sugi has created pocket forests planted with native species in city centres around the world.
Max’s studies and knowledge gained have led him to work with Natural England surveying grassland species and conducting soil analysis on sites of scientific importance in the UK.
He is also the co-founder of All Things Fungi Festival, the UK’s first weekend camping and Fungi-specific educational event.
UV Forest Night Walk and Workshop with Max Mudie
UV Forest Night Walk and Workshop with Max Mudie
Come and explore the mesmerising fluorescent forest! In this session, we will delve into the fascinating world of nature by discovering the incredible diversity of plants, insects, mosses, minerals, rocks, and fungi that exhibit fluorescence under ultraviolet light. Not only is it a unique privilege to explore these natural habitats at night, but many of these glowing subjects remain undocumented, offering a rare opportunity for discovery.
Did you know that many animals and insects have the ability to see the ultraviolet spectrum? During this workshop, you will have the chance to see the world as they do, regaining a sense of childlike wonder and curiosity. This immersive experience will provide you with a deeper appreciation of the natural world and its hidden secrets.
We are also beginning to understand that fluorescent species can play a crucial role in scientific research. By identifying and studying these species, we can narrow down potential identifications, making fluorescence a valuable tool in the field for mycologists and scientists alike. This knowledge not only enhances our understanding of the environment but also contributes to important scientific advancements.
Join us for this enlightening journey through the fluorescent forest, where every step will reveal a new and captivating aspect of nature. Whether you are a seasoned naturalist or simply someone with a passion for the outdoors, this UV night walk and workshop will leave you with lasting memories and a newfound sense of wonder.
Max's lens has been focused on Fungi & Myxomycetes for the past 6 years but his connection with fungi stems back over 20 years. His imagery posted mainly on Instagram @allthingsfungi has gained him recognition with international platforms and magazines, and last year he was shortlisted for Close-up Photographer of the Year.
His deep dive into mycology means he's found and identified hundreds if not thousands of species, many of which we know little about. He's contributed to the Darwins Tree of Life project at Kew Gardens with wild clones and is an active member of the Sussex Fungus group.
His recent macro photography workshops at the Royal Parks London have been in high demand. With these sessions, he hopes to make macro photography accessible regardless of equipment or training.
Most recently he’s partnered with Sugi documenting the Fungi and Myxomycetes as part of their rewilding projects. Sugi has created pocket forests planted with native species in city centres around the world.
Max’s studies and knowledge gained have led him to work with Natural England surveying grassland species and conducting soil analysis on sites of scientific importance in the UK.
He is also the co-founder of All Things Fungi Festival, the UK’s first weekend camping and Fungi-specific educational event.
MycoBim: Mushroom Wellbeing
MycoBim: An Enchanting Week of Mushrooms and Wellbeing in Barbados
Join us for MycoBim, a transformative seven day mushroom experience that goes beyond the usual wellness retreat. By exploring the fascinating world of fungi with us, you'll truly be cultivating a sustainable relationship with these living and breathing organisms.
Every day, new research reveals the significant role that fungi and mushrooms play in boosting not only human but also ecological health. MycoBim offers a unique opportunity to disconnect from everyday distractions and immerse deeply into the healing realm of mushrooms and other supportive healing modalities to focus on promoting wellbeing.
Our immersion is curated as a holistic practice to help you manifest your dreams, achieve your wellness goals, and be of service to others. We will accomplish this by nurturing a profound connection and understanding of life through the lens and perspective of fungi.
What's Included?
Board for 6 nights (Double and Single Occupancy Options Available)
Airport shuttle
Gift Bag
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Excursions
Full Program of Activities
Through a series of presentations, discussions, workshops, and outdoor activities, we will explore:
The health benefits of functional and therapeutic mushrooms
Mushroom cultivation
Mushroom medicine, including how to make powders, capsules, and tinctures
Mushroom cuisine, focusing on cooking with gourmet mushrooms
Complementary herbs and nutrition
Mushroom foraging and nature walks
Bodywork, mindfulness, and meditation
Come and experience the therapeutic benefits of mushrooms, with the Caribbean sea, sand, and nature serving as the perfect backdrop for your journey towards improved health and wellbeing.
How to book if I’m a local?
We have a special package designed for local Barbadian residents, featuring the full program and lunch, with accommodation excluded.
We also offer a local residents the option to book individual workshop sessions. Prices start from $75BBD please see program below.
Advanced bookings only. Please email info@mycobim.com to secure your place.
The Immersion Space
Shades of Barbados is set in beautiful landscaped gardens, with a traditional Bajan Chattel House theme and offers bright, attractive apartments. All accommodation has a living area with a sofa and a flat-screen TV as well as a private outdoor patio area. The kitchen comes with a microwave, fridge, oven and coffee maker. It also features a communal outdoor swimming pool and a gym. The nearest beach is the popular Paynes Bay beach which is less than a 5 minute walk from the complex.
About the Facilitators
This immersion will be facilitated by Darren Le Baron, Cheryl Haynes, and Kory Lashley.
Darren is a world renowned researcher and mushroom cultivator. He's known for his compelling workshops and presentations on ethnomycology, which some consider life changing. With his thought-provoking slogan, "You Are A Mushroom Having A Human Experience," Darren assists participants in designing and developing their unique approach to healing with mushrooms.
London born Cheryl Haynes, now residing in Barbados, is a Holistic Practitioner. She employs a yogic approach for 'whole self' development. As a certified Sivananda Yoga teacher and Mindfulness Coach, she uses various techniques to equip clients with the necessary tools for expressing their journey fully.
Kory, a Barbadian-born plant-based chef, specialises in alkaline and vegan cuisine. He has embarked upon various studies both formal and personal on topics connected with health and nutrition, which he applies scientifically in his craft. He will be demonstrating and serving tasty gourmet mushroom inspired dishes and healthy tonics.
*We offer tickets with shared twin room occupancy and premium single room options.
**Additionally, we have a special package designed for local Barbadian residents, featuring the full program and lunch, with accommodation excluded.