Brady Wilson is a 20-year Durango resident, a state-certified wild mushroom specialist, and the creator of a deodorant body spray. Formally, he represents Sacred Valley Farm at the Durango Farmers Market, but his booth doesn’t have produce from the farm.

That said, it’s the place to go to find wild local mushrooms collected in the forest and mountains.

“Mushrooms hold a special place in my heart and in my life,” Wilson said. “I feel like they sing to me in a way; they come to me in my dreams – that’s how I know they’re up. I’ll start dreaming about them and I’ll go and take a look.”

The mushrooms available at the market correspond with whatever is coming up around Durango. In late May, Wilson was selling morels.

“I feel really privileged and fortunate to be able to bring the jewels of the forest back to the townspeople,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wilson’s body spray is a formula he came up with as lab manager at Dancing Willow Herbs. He said he used to rub essential oils in his armpits, but that was maybe a little too strong and potentially caustic. So he came up with an aloe vera and witch hazel base and puts just a few drops of essential oil into it, which is diluted as a result and much gentler. The aloe and witch hazel are soothing, nourishing and tonifying, he said.

ngonzales@durangoherald.com