In this episode of Yours For The Making, host Robin Johnson is joined by Robbie Kelly, founder of Basil’s Fungi Farm, a thriving gourmet mushroom business based in Hastings. From culturing mycelium on petri dishes to supplying chefs across the UK, Robbie shares his remarkable journey from teenage curiosity and chef life to pioneering sustainable urban mushroom farming.

Discover the science behind mushroom cultivation, how mycelium networks connect ecosystems, and why mushrooms might be the future of food, medicine, and environmental innovation. Whether you're a chef, grower, biohacker, or sustainability advocate, this episode delivers rich insight into one of nature’s most fascinating organisms—and the 

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Robbie built a gourmet mushroom farm from his spare bedroom
• The difference between oyster, lion’s mane, Cordyceps & more
• How to propagate and grow mushrooms using mycelium
• The challenges of launching an agri-startup with zero funding
• Why mycelium networks are the “internet of the forest”
• Tips for DIY mushroom growing at home
• How to build a purpose-led, resilient micro-business
• Why taking risks matters—and how to survive the startup phase

In this show, we discuss:

Gourmet mushroom farming, how to grow mushrooms at home, mycelium cultivation, sustainable agriculture uk, oyster mushroom kits, lion’s mane recipes, mushroom growing startup, urban farming UK, Cordyceps mushroom health benefits, DIY mushroom grow kits, small-scale farming, food entrepreneur podcast, fungi and ecology, how to grow lion’s mane, mushroom spore propagation, mushroom farm business uk, regenerative food systems, soil biology podcast, artisan food growers, mushroom farming tips for beginners

KEY MOMENTS: 

00:00 – Why taking risks is worth it  

01:20 – Meet Robbie Kelly from Basil’s Fungi Farm  

02:00 – What are gourmet mushrooms?  

02:45 – Saprophytic mushrooms and species overview  

03:40 – Robbie’s journey: from chef to grower  

04:30 – Starting a mushroom business from a bedroom  

05:15 – The Hastings mushroom yard setup  

06:00 – How to grow mushrooms using sawdust & straw  

07:00 – Understanding mycelium: cloning & propagation  

08:20 – Using Petri dishes, grain, and culture slants  

09:20 – The underground network: mycelium & ecosystems  

11:00 – From petri dish to pounds of sawdust  

12:00 – Mushroom fruiting: how long it takes  

13:20 – Grow room conditions: humidity, temperature, air  

14:45 – Always learning: growing vs. running a business  

15:40 – The toughest part of starting up  

17:00 – Selling to chefs and scaling up locally  

18:30 – Could he hire staff? Scaling challenges explained  

20:30 – Long-term vision: small-scale, human business  

21:30 – Mushroom grow kits for home use  

23:00 – Can you grow mushrooms in your garden?  

24:00 – Medicinal mushrooms & supplements: do they work?  

25:30 – Growing Cordyceps: tricky but possible  

27:00 – Why some mushrooms can’t be grown sterile  

28:30 – Home mushroom growing: kits vs. DIY  

29:10 – Robbie’s favourite mushrooms to cook with  

30:30 – Markets, meetups & mushroom visibility  

31:30 – Why local home delivery is tricky  

32:20 – Best advice for new growers  

33:30 – Where to learn mushroom cultivation  

34:30 – The hidden risks of mushroom farming  

35:30 – Spores, mold & building a culture lab  

36:15 – Why Robbie loves mushroom growing  

36:35 – Where to buy Basil’s Fungi Farm mushrooms

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Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson - founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on shows such as The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms. 

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