About

MY-ko-RYE-zuhl NET-work

The mycorrhizal network is the underground network of fungi that forms symbiotic relationships with plants. This network connects to plant roots, allowing them to communicate and share resources. Plants provide the fungi with sugars produced through photosynthesis, while the fungi enhance the plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients from the soil.

The mycorrhizal network is beneficial for plants in several ways. It helps plants access resources over a larger area than their roots could reach alone, improving their overall health and resilience. The network also acts as a communication system, allowing plants to exchange information about environmental conditions, such as the presence of pests or drought stress. This communication can trigger defensive responses in plants, helping them better cope with threats.

Overall, the mycorrhizal network is a crucial component of many ecosystems, supporting plant growth and biodiversity.

How to Support Your Local Mycorrhizal Network

Supporting local mycorrhizal networks can significantly benefit soil health and plant vitality. Here are some options to consider:

Artistic interpretation of soil nutrient networks

1. Grow food locally: Supporting local food production reduces the need for long-distance transportation and associated carbon emissions. By sourcing food from local farms and gardens, you cultivate local ecosystems, including mycorrhizal networks. Practices that support the growth of diverse crops can also enhance soil biodiversity and promote mycorrhizal symbiosis.

2. Biochar Compost: Incorporating charcoal with compost into soil can create a hospitable environment for mycorrhizal fungi. Biochar compost provides a microbial habitat that retains moisture and nutrients, offering an ideal substrate for fungal growth. As mycorrhizal fungi thrive in well-structured soil, biochar can enhance soil structure and promote fungal colonization. Biochar has been researched to remediate soil of chemical runoff and improve the growth of diverse plant communities.

3. Reduce chemical inputs: Minimizing the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides helps preserve soil microbial communities, including mycorrhizal fungi. Chemical inputs can disrupt the delicate balance of soil ecology, negatively impacting fungal populations. Transitioning to organic and regenerative farming practices promotes soil health and supports the resilience of mycorrhizal networks.

4. Plant diverse vegetation: Cultivating a diverse range of plants in gardens, landscapes, and agricultural fields encourages the establishment of robust mycorrhizal networks. Different plant species form unique symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, enhancing overall ecosystem resilience and nutrient cycling. The incorporation of new plants into landscapes requires observation and implementing methods to support growth and maintain native populations, such as amending soil with biochar compost.

By implementing these strategies, individuals and communities can actively support the health and vitality of local mycorrhizal networks, fostering resilient ecosystems and sustainable food systems.

Join the movement to support mycorrhizal networks!

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Ethics

Proceeds from sale go to the support & development of our platform to grow free resources.

Materials

Our products are made from a wide range of materials, from 100% organic cotton to lycra.

In the interim, the life cycle of materials is controlled by consumers. Fabric waste has myriad uses.Organic cotton is readily biodegradable. Synthetic materials have been efficiently biodegraded by strains of bacteria & fungi, and processed into useful products, such as: electricity, fuel, and biochar. Eventually, they are metabolized by bacteria & fungi.