Frequently Asked.

Cynic & Spore is a cultivation tracking platform that lets growers document every batch from inoculation to harvest. The portal includes chain-of-custody logging, contamination analytics, yield tracking, and buyer-facing provenance certificates. We also sell sterile cultivation media (liquid culture broth, grain bags, substrate, and bench consumables) for local pickup in Longmont, CO.

Yes. Core media products are sterile and ready for inoculation. The LC broth uses a screw-cap bottle for clean-air access, the grain bag includes an injection port, and substrate is packaged in heat-sealed filter-patch bags.

Sealed, uninoculated LC broth is generally more shelf-stable than filter-patch bags, but all media should be used within published freshness windows and date-coded guidance. Grain and substrate should be inoculated promptly after pickup for best consistency.

Every new account gets a 14-day free trial with full Pro access — no credit card required. After the trial, choose the plan that fits: Hobby ($9/month) includes 15 active tracking slots, calculators, contamination tracking, and PDF labels. Grower ($25/month) adds unlimited slots, automated F₀ modeling, lineage trees, and yield analytics. Pro ($49/month) adds buyer-facing provenance certificates, ZPL thermal printing, and the Reserve Harvest button. See /pricing for details.

F₀ is a sterilization lethality metric representing equivalent minutes at 121°C. Targets are set per material type: Liquid Culture ≥ 20, Agar ≥ 25, Grain ≥ 60, Bulk Substrate ≥ 120. Each is validated from integrated thermal data, not timer-only claims.

Pressure/temperature relationships change with elevation. At our operating elevation, hold times are adjusted and validated using integrated thermal lethality calculations so target sterility outcomes are achieved consistently.

Use a batch identifier and open /batch/<BATCH-ID> to view the corresponding certificate record. If you do not have the ID handy, visit /demo to see an example certificate.

After sterilization, batches are held for product-specific observation windows before release. Only lots that pass QA checks are made available.

A Digital Birth Certificate is a batch record viewable at /batch/<BATCH-ID>. It includes sterilization parameters, lethality metrics, and release verification context for batches produced by Cynic & Spore Labs.

A Chef’s Provenance Certificate is the buyer-facing record that platform growers can publish for their own batches. It shows harvest date, culinary profile, QA verification, and provenance lineage. Buyers scan a QR code to view it — no login required. Available on Pro plans.

Visit /demo to see a live example of the Chef’s Provenance Certificate, or use /batch/<BATCH-ID> with a specific batch identifier for a Digital Birth Certificate.

Availability depends on inventory state and release readiness. Certain items may be batch-gated while others are stocked as replenishment materials.

Product availability is shown on the /products page. You can also follow us for announcements about new batches and restocks.

Yes. Physical products are available for local pickup in Longmont, CO. Check the /products page for current availability.

See the full guarantee policy at /guarantee, including evidence requirements, timelines, and coverage conditions.