From Living in a Tree and starting my first magazine to Gourmet Ganja: My Journey from Tree Dweller to Executive Chef

Back in 1992, when flannel was fashion, Nirvana ruled the airwaves, and college life was supposed to be the dream—I found myself kicked out of the dorms at Humboldt State. No money. No plan. No backup. Just a deep need to keep chasing my education and a hunger that went beyond food.

So, I did what any scrappy, half-feral college kid with a rebel heart and zero rent money might do in Northern California: I moved into a tree.

Well, technically, under one.

Home Sweet Hollow

Tucked deep in the Humboldt Community Forest was a massive fallen old-growth redwood, hollowed out and softened by centuries of moss, lichen, and rain. She wasn’t just a tree—she was sanctuary, shelter, and classroom all in one. I cleared out a little nook in her belly, by burning it and chopping out an area to sleep in. I lined it with old blankets and pine needles, and turned her into my home. No running water, no electricity, no heat—just forest whispers and redwood breath. It was all covered by a giant blue tarp.. It was perfect.

Every morning, I’d emerge from that tree before sunrise, brush the leaves out of my hair, and hoof it to class like nothing was out of the ordinary. I still wrote papers, turned in assignments, and studied under a headlamp. My forest friends were raccoons, owls, and the occasional curious hiker who never quite figured out what they saw.

Birth of the Underground

It was in that earthy hideaway that I started my first underground magazine. I called it Instant Mind Orgasm. It was raw, uncut spontaneous writing that started from a poem I wrote and put up on the bathroom stall at HSU. I traded an ounce of weed for 2000 copies at Kinkos where my buddy worked. I’d cover local music, expose shady campus politics, and sneak in wild recipes I was testing over a camping stove. It grew fast. Copies were passed around in class, taped to bathroom stalls, even smuggled into faculty lounges. My best outlet was going to festivals like The Oregon Country Fair, Rainbow Gatherings, Reggae on the River, The Barter Fair, Grateful Dead Shows and everything in between.

That zine gave me a voice. It taught me how to hustle, how to stir up culture with a wooden spoon and a rebel yell. And eventually, it caught the right kind of attention.

From Tree Grub to Culinary Dreams

Fast forward a couple decades and a few lifetimes later—after years of grinding in restaurant kitchens, catering gigs, and secret supper clubs—I finally made it. I’m now an executive chef with a reputation for bold flavor, offbeat creativity, and a damn good story to tell. And yes, I still cook with the same edge I had in the woods.

Today, I own a gourmet infused hot sauce brand and a wildly successful edibles company called Gourmet Ganja!—a name born from smoke, soul, and sass. My sauces bring heat, flavor, and elevation. My edibles are hand-crafted to be both delicious and unforgettable. It’s food with a story, high-end taste with Humboldt heart.

Rooted in the Forest

That tree taught me survival, innovation, and how to make something magical out of nothing. It taught me that home isn’t a building—it’s where your dreams take root, where your hustle begins, and where your heart is lit with purpose.

So if you ever find yourself lost, broke, or living in a hollowed-out redwood wondering if you’ll ever make it—remember this: the forest may humble you, but it can also crown you.

Stay wild, stay weird, stay hungry.

—Cosmo D.

Executive Chef | Forest Dweller Emeritus

Founder of Gourmet Ganja™ & the original Instant Mind Orgasm

Want to infuse your taste buds with a little Humboldt magic?

🔥 Try my infused hot sauces or edible creations at your local dispensary or farmers market.

📍Follow @GourmetGanjaca Or @Cosmos.edibles for recipes, pop-up dinners, and behind-the-scenes flavor madness.