The more I’ve learned about food and farming, the more I realized the importance of fungal networks. Fungi, are integral to so much of our life, environment, our food, and health. A fun-gal fact, is that microbes and fungi play a role in the health of our environment, and also our bodies and minds. There is research that indicates fungi can affect your mental health and mood — with beneficial strains making you more happy, while some bad actors can make you sad. That could come from food you eat, the air you breathe, or even from the soil and plants you touch.

Fungi makes fresh yeast, for delicious breads. It makes amazing mushrooms for taste, health and cognitive function. Fungi makes mold, like penicillium that can be used to treat bacterial infection. Fungi makes stinky and flavorful French cheeses, and funky Belgium, lambic beers — and the list continues.

It’s all about balance, like with everything in life, and that is the beauty of fungi. Fungi makes mycorrhizae in the soil, which allows for a symbiotic relationship between plants and trees, animals and bugs, water and oxygen. Living and breathing organisms, helping each other. A loving community, regenerating itself — like how our own communities should be.

There is research that shows how these hidden networks of mycorrhizae and mycelium are interconnected, even miles away, a single fungus can stretch hectares alone. This symbiotic network of information, alerts other plants and trees about attacks from insects or disease, showing where water and other resources are, like nitrogen. Fungi share this network amongst all of the surrounding organisms, so they all grow together, sharing valuable resources. If one organism is unhealthy, other organisms share their resources—their food, water and medicine—so the sick can regenerate and become healthy again.

As the years have progressed, so has microbial and fungal research, unveiling even more mysteries and wonders among our environment. Suggesting that the environment—our world—fight and struggle together to live in a symbiotic and healthy relationship, regenerating itself and each other. It’s not a competition of resources, it’s a commonwealth of resources.

- Brandon Foy

Written for Feast Down East’s July Blog 2025