ONfungi is about building healthier soils

To restore the planet, go play in the mud

This is the story of Kelvin and Scott. Kelvin and Scott like to make green things. One green thing Scott makes is fungal dominant leaf compost. When Kelvin had one idea; which is to get lots of little packages of the compost into many hands; have them use the techniques of soil rebalancing with this compost; and then join everyone together to record what happens. They thought, “hey, fun and useful experiment.”

Now, they wonder, could this use of balanced compost help save the planet?

Why would we do this?

You see the problem with how we’ve treated our soils by digging them up constantly; and burning out or locking away the nutrients; is we need to add back an excess of nutrient, ie. we fertilize. Excess nutrients lead to other troubles and now we need pesticides and herbicides and fungicides; and with all this we truly damage the soil. As our food comes from this soil, we’re not doing ourselves any favours. Also the process burns off carbon: Which we have rather too much of in our oceans and air right now.

What’s the solution?

How do we fix this? Well. There are lots of ways. What many people today are finding out is: you can rebuild carbon in soil.

Stop turning over the soil, stop using probably deadly toxins. Put the fungi, bacteria, nematodes, other little critters, back into the soil and use the solution that arose over the millions of years of evolution. We call it “grow soil.”

This is where you come in

You can help grow soil by joining a citizen science experiment. You get our pre-made balanced compost. You add this material to your home garden, lawn or trees; and you record the result. You upload your data to ONfungi and we share your data so everyone can learn!

Now the balanced 1:1 fungal/bacterial mix Scott has produced using leaf compost looks ideal for grassland and garden growth. It happens to be the perfect blend for home use. We thought, let’s start here!

Are you ready to get started?

The campaign is asking you to order a $30 compost kit for yourself, your family or neighbor. Donate to get kits to more kids. We have 500 kits for spring 2021.

If you buy all the kits; $15,000 will let us do some cool stuff; first package and mail you your kit; then hire a mycologist to organize and improve all our research; and then grow the experiment into further years.

If you want to give more, YES. We have lots of areas to expand research and improve methods!

Three experiments from super easy to some dedication required

The three experiments are designed to be accessible. Pick any one of three; or make up your own!; and have fun. This is the advantage of many hands. More data is better data.

What other benefits are there for you?

Lots.

Further benefits of project participation should include a massive upgrade for your home and garden soils, including:

* YES store carbon
* YES improve crop harvest and profitability for market gardeners, more bags of produce for you, plus:

* improve water storage in soil
* increase plant water use efficiency
* reduce fertilizer use
* greatly reduce agrichemical pollution
* help bees and butterflies and worms and ants and cool beetles and … more … live long and healthy lives

Makes you a bit of an environmental hero really. Not saying you should swagger around the neighborhood boasting your science achievements. But you could.

Please come join us. Get a kit. Pick your experiment. Have fun playing in the mud

How it works

Step One: Collect your kit

Kits start mailing out on April 15. As soon as you buy your kit we start it on the journey to you. No waiting. Well, except for Canada Post and our handling process.

Step Two: Plant your seeds, distribute your fungi

Start your experiment by following a plan or invent your own.

Step Three: Report on results

The experiments all rely on a few reporting periods. You go online to onfungi.net/report and go to your page and fill in your data. You are the scientist!

It’s not hard. In fact we’ve tried to keep it really easy. Its the many gathered reports that’s important. And the community we build together.
We’re asking for three reports from you

— MAY/JUNE 2021 – planting/starting
— JULY/AUG 2021 – growth period
— SEPT/OCT 2021 – harvest

Each of the reports will include uploading a photo of your project and a brief questionnaire. Our science team is working on the details.

Who we are

Wizard of Compost

Scott Hortop is a retired senior administrator who is now very happily making fungal dominant compost.

General Idea

Kelvin Hodges is a retired communications guy who is happily growing businesses that eliminate CO2 and support regeneration.

Sound support

Timothy Booth is a retired musician who is happily orchestrating a song to the earth.

Lead scientist

We are still looking for the right scientist(s) to join our team. Note: All these positions are volunteer. Yup. Retirement optional. An honorarium will be available when we hit 7,500 raised.

Fungi facilitator

We’re looking for web and reporting support. This should be a paid position, also dependent on the number of kits we sell.

Remember; all your work stores CO2; builds science knowledge; improves soils and helps save the planet. Thanks for participating!