David Wells
You Can’t Pour From an Empty Spore
David Wells grows mushrooms at Henosis Mushrooms in Whites Creek, Tennessee, but his work is about way more than farming. It’s about cultivating balance in a life that can be as relentless as it is rewarding.
Farming is physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. Self-care means maintaining balance through all of it.
For David, that care starts with tending to his body: rest, recovery, and nourishment to stay strong through the rigors of farm work. It also means setting boundaries, limiting work hours when possible, prioritizing time with loved ones, and finding space for reflection.
The farm can’t thrive if I’m running on empty.
Farming can also be isolating and unpredictable. David makes time to reconnect with the reasons he started. He builds in small rituals of celebration to his practices, uses reflection to learn from setbacks, and stays grounded in a larger sense of purpose.
Practicing environmental harmony through regenerative farming helps me feel connected to something bigger.
With support from Real Farmer Care, David is investing in something many small-scale farmers don’t have access to: operational support. A Director of Operations could take on day-to-day logistics—everything from production schedules to distribution—so David can focus on long-term vision and the parts of the work that feed him.
Having that kind of support would be transformative. It would ease the mental and physical weight of running the farm, and free up time for the restorative things that keep me going—being with family, spending time in nature, and just breathing.
Follow & support David’s farming journey!
Instagram: @henosismushrooms
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