Farming with Fungi
Farming with Fungi is an applied research and demonstration programme focused on developing myco‑agroecology: practical ways of designing horticultural systems that work with fungal ecology to improve productivity, resilience, and input efficiency.
The project has now moved beyond initial establishment and is entering a phase of consolidation, testing, and outward extension.
Research and demonstration Myco-Market Garden
At the centre of the work is a dedicated test market garden, designed specifically to explore how plant–fungal relationships can be strengthened in real production systems. The primary focus is the hyphosphere — the soil and root zone shaped by mycorrhizal fungi — and how horticultural management influences these relationships over time.
The garden functions as a long‑term experimental system rather than a short‑term trial. It combines minimal‑disturbance growing, reduced soil disruption, limited external inputs, and close attention to organic matter flows, seed saving, and microbial continuity. Within this framework, the project examines interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and crops, associated changes in the wider soil microbiome, and the implications for nutrient cycling, plant health, yield stability, and nutrient density.
The project also looks to explore and understand other important aspects of fungal plant interactions such as endophytic fungi, to role of other soil fungi such as trichordema and the effects of increased fungal decomposition in mulch layers on the soil.
The site also serves as a live demonstration space, showing how myco‑agroecological principles translate into everyday horticultural decisions rather than remaining abstract theory.
Integrated mushroom cultivation
Alongside the market garden, the project demonstrates mushroom cultivation methods that integrate cleanly with horticultural enterprises. The emphasis is on species and systems that complement existing vegetable production rather than competing with it for labour, space, or capital.
This includes low‑tech and small‑scale indoor cultivation approaches, as well as the productive use of agricultural and horticultural waste streams. The aim is to show how fungi can be added as a secondary enterprise that strengthens whole‑farm resilience.
Mobile grow room and regional trials
A key element of the current phase is the mobile grow room. This unit can be loaned to market gardens across South Wales, allowing growers to trial oyster mushroom cultivation for a defined period without committing to permanent infrastructure.
This resources support hands‑on learning while generating practical data on labour requirements, yields, workflow integration, and economic viability in different growing contexts. For growers who wish to continue beyond the trial stage, the project also supports the development of simple, scalable grow‑room solutions using recycled insulated truck boxes.
Purpose going forward
Farming with Fungi now operates simultaneously as a research platform for myco‑agroecological growing systems, a demonstration site for fungi‑centred horticulture, and a practical support programme for market gardens exploring mushroom diversification.
The emphasis is on methods that are transferable, ecologically grounded, and workable at small to medium scales. The next stage of the project focuses on deepening the research, refining the systems, and expanding access to growers who want to test and adopt these approaches within their own enterprises.