From Chicken to Mushroom:
A sustainable farming transformation

One of the most satisfying things we do is help incredible people portray their passion. And when it comes to passion projects, celebrated chef Derek Sarno’s collaboration with Smithy Mushrooms and The Little Mushroom Co takes some beating.

The groundbreaking, five-year mission to revolutionise food production by turning a former Norfolk chicken farm into a sustainable mushroom farm is a UK first. It’s also an incredible story and, like all incredible stories, deserves to be told properly.

Two years of exploration, creative collaboration and determination has led us to produce a short film that we are very proud of. We’ve been humbled by all the positive responses and are thrilled the video production has resonated with those in our community who actively seek out ways to reduce their impact on our planet.

On his YouTube channel, Derek shares the inspiring journey that led him to embrace veganism. After years of running food businesses and cooking dishes that included animal products, a life-changing experience shifted his entire perspective. Over 15 years ago, the sudden and tragic loss of Derek’s partner turned his world upside down, leaving him with two choices: follow a path of self-destruction or embark on a journey of self-discovery. Thankfully, Derek chose the latter, leading him to reconnect with food in a way that resonated deeply with his heart and values.

This newfound empathy has driven Derek to explore innovative cooking techniques, bold flavours, and creative recipes that push the limits of what can be done with mushrooms in the kitchen. His ultimate goal is to create delicious dishes that not only delight the palate but also promote a compassionate lifestyle by avoiding animal suffering.

“…the light just clicked of how the similarities between a chicken farm and a mushroom farm are and so why couldn’t we just transition from one to the other… chicken to mushroom”

Derek Sarno’s ambitious idea was brought to life by Harry Irwin & Clair Bullen, the dedicated team over at the The Little Mushroom Co. Together, with their technicians and pickers, faced the challenging task of transforming a disused chicken farm into a fully operational mushroom-growing facility.

This ambitious endeavour involved a lot of trial and error, but with the support of experienced mushroom growers at Smithy Mushrooms, the project is now showing promising signs of success. It stands as a testament to the potential for more sustainable farming solutions that don’t rely on animal agriculture.

“What came fist Harry,” we asked. “The chicken or the egg?”
“It’s not what comes first,” he replied. “It’s what comes next.”

The support from John Dorrian, one of the skilled mushroom farmers behind Smithy Mushrooms, was paramount to the success of this project. With a wealth of knowledge, they were generous enough to share their expertise in growing mushrooms with The Little Mushroom Co. to spearhead the transition of the farm, from chicken to mushroom.

One of the most visually captivating aspects of this project was the stunning Oyster mushroom shed – The rows of mushrooms, resembling ancient coral, come in a variety of sizes and colours, creating an especially dynamic scene in the facility. The added moisture-regulating mist created an effortless touch of extra drama!