An inspiring, positive, data-driven, human, and good humoured film about Adaptive Multi Paddock grazing (regenerative agriculture), and its beneficial impacts. I’ve watched many films on this topic over the years, and this one beats them all! I was moved to tears seeing what is and what can be, so I got in touch with the filmmakers in the US and secured permission to screen it all around New Zealand.

A regenerative agriculture resource

This regenerative agriculture resource is continually evolving resource.

It is for farmers and growers dipping their toe in the water of regenerative agriculture and all it has to offer, and for those who are curious or maybe even doubt it can work in their context. This resource is not intended to answer all your questions, but it will certainly give you plenty to explore, put some wind in your sails, and offer jumping off places for your next step.

Official Film Trailer

Social channels

Filmmaker sites

Film screenings

Past screenings – starting in October 2024, the film has been shown to appreciative audiences in Rangiora – Takaka – Motueka – Greytown – Waikanae – Whanganui – Norsewood Tararua – Wellsford – Whenuapai – Great Barrier – Kerikeri – Whangarei – Waihi – Gisborne – Wellsford – Maungatapere – Kaeo – Kerikeri – Mangawhai – Whananaki

Contact James Samuel, to collaborate on a screening: jmsinnz@gmail.com

And yes, it’s happening in New Zealand

Growing Radicles Instagram feed . . .

@growingradicles

Growing Radicles

Supporting regeneration through events that Inspire, Inform, Educate and Connect. Currently focussed on Fast Track your Food Forest series.

What is it about humans that wants to keep birds (or other animals) in cages in their houses? I just visited a ‘Bird Barn’ – a store that buys then sells birds of all kinds, as pets. I feel sad. Have we become so disconnected from nature, that we feel some deep urge for connection, and the only way we can get it is by purchasing a little piece of nature that can chirp at us through the bars of a cage? Psychological research on pet ownership offers insight into this human tendency. Studies in human–animal interaction suggest that keeping pets is often a response to an innate desire for companionship and emotional support. Attachment theory indicates that people experience lower levels of stress and anxiety when interacting with animals, partly because physical contact or even observation can trigger the release of oxytocin—the ‘bonding hormone’. Pets can also help alleviate social isolation, providing structure, routine, and unconditional acceptance. From an evolutionary psychology perspective, humans may have developed a natural inclination to nurture and protect animals because such behaviours historically supported survival, fostering empathy and cooperative bonds within communities. Birds, with their colourful plumage and melodic songs, may particularly stimulate our instinctive attraction to lively, natural cues. Yet this psychological drive presents a paradox. In seeking to restore our connection with nature, we often confine the very beings that represent it. The sight of birds in cages reminds us that our emotional fulfilment can come at the expense of another creature’s freedom. This tension raises questions about the moral cost of pet ownership, and whether our desire for companionship justifies limiting the lives of the animals we claim to cherish.

What is it about humans that wants to keep birds (or other animals) in cages in their houses?

I just visited a ‘Bird Barn’ – a store that buys then sells birds of all kinds, as pets.

I feel sad.

Have we become so disconnected from nature, that we feel some deep urge for connection, and the only way we can get it is by purchasing a little piece of nature that can chirp at us through the bars of a cage?

Psychological research on pet ownership offers insight into this human tendency.

Studies in human–animal interaction suggest that keeping pets is often a response to an innate desire for companionship and emotional support. Attachment theory indicates that people experience lower levels of stress and anxiety when interacting with animals, partly because physical contact or even observation can trigger the release of oxytocin—the ‘bonding hormone’. Pets can also help alleviate social isolation, providing structure, routine, and unconditional acceptance.

From an evolutionary psychology perspective, humans may have developed a natural inclination to nurture and protect animals because such behaviours historically supported survival, fostering empathy and cooperative bonds within communities. Birds, with their colourful plumage and melodic songs, may particularly stimulate our instinctive attraction to lively, natural cues.

Yet this psychological drive presents a paradox.

In seeking to restore our connection with nature, we often confine the very beings that represent it. The sight of birds in cages reminds us that our emotional fulfilment can come at the expense of another creature’s freedom. This tension raises questions about the moral cost of pet ownership, and whether our desire for companionship justifies limiting the lives of the animals we claim to cherish.

Yesterday a group of people came together and transformed a rough rotary hoe’d paddock into a #syntropicagroforestry #foodforest system with two productive tree rows and three supportive biomass rows.

Some people came and went and others stayed all day, but there was an average of 10 people, and the actual physical labour time was about 5 1/2 hours (plus time for cups of tea and a hearty lunch)!!

This was the last in a series of training days run by the #growingradicles team, over the last six months.

We will run this again next year, so leave a comment if you’re interested in joining next year’s series.

#twinfallsnursery

On Sunday, 6 months after the initial Fast Track your Food Forest training, we completed the installation of two 25 Metre tree rows, and two 25 Metre biomass rows. Wow, what a day!! Thanks to James Andrews, Arthur McInnes @twinfallsnursery and the dozen people who came and applied heart and muscle. Read the article at: growingradicles.org/grass-to-syntropic-food-forest #syntropicagroforestry #foodforest #growingradicles

On Sunday, 6 months after the initial Fast Track your Food Forest training, we completed the installation of two 25 Metre tree rows, and two 25 Metre biomass rows.

Wow, what a day!! Thanks to James Andrews, Arthur McInnes @twinfallsnursery and the dozen people who came and applied heart and muscle.

Read the article at:
growingradicles.org/grass-to-syntropic-food-forest

#syntropicagroforestry
#foodforest
#growingradicles

Only four days to go! Excited to be planting finally. See yesterday’s clip for more…

#syntropicagroforestry
#foodforest
#mangawhai
#growingradicles

The Fast Track your Food Forest trainings have been running for 6 months, and now it’s Spring time and we’re ready to deliver session 3 - the planting day, with Arthur McInnes at @twinfallsnursery and James Andrews. This Sunday, Oct 12th. . .

Register at: growingradicles.org/events

#syntropicagroforestry
#foodforest
#growingradicles

I had the pleasure of spending some time with James @simply.syntropics recently. He introduced me to a new (to me) concept for building soil structure and adding biomass quickly in a system. I will be experimenting with this for sure, in the installation we’re putting in on Oct 12th.

growingradicles.org/events

#syntropicagroforestry
#northlandnz
#mangawhai
#growingradicles

Planting is 10%. Maintenance is 90%. Today we discovered why. 🌱✂️

A food forest grows not by chance, but by the cut of a blade and the return of light. 🌳

Fast Track Your Food Forest – Part Two
Maintenance is the heart of syntropic agroforestry — planting is brief, but ongoing disturbance and renewal drive growth. In this session we worked a system untouched for a year: cutting back support species, opening light for the productive trees, and turning prunings into abundance for new projects. Participants left with armfuls of material, fresh skills in reading a food forest, and the satisfaction of seeing how density and diversity flourish through care.

#syntropicagroforestry #foodforest #regenerativeagriculture #agroforestry #permaculture #soilhealth #trees #fungalnetworks #mycorrhiza #diversity #ecosystem #abundance #community #rewilding #growingradicles

Trees don’t compete — they collaborate. 🌱🌳 In syntropic systems, density and diversity create strength: roots and fungi share, canopies shield, sunlight feeds the soil. This isn’t struggle, it’s abundance through relationship. Watch the video for living proof.

In the dominant story, nature is framed as competition: trees battling for space, sunlight, survival. But in a syntropic system, density and diversity tell a different truth. Planted close, trees don’t weaken each other — they weave networks of support. Roots and fungi share nutrients, canopies soften the wind, and the collective capture of sunlight feeds soil life with sugars. This isn’t scarcity and struggle; it’s abundance through relationship. A living counter-narrative to the patriarchal lens that mistakes cooperation for conflict.

#syntropicagroforestry #foodforest #regenerativeagriculture #agroforestry #permaculture #soilhealth #trees #fungalnetworks #mycorrhiza #diversity #ecosystem #abundance #community #rewilding #growingradicles

I had a chance to visit some keen growers in Kerikeri. In this clip Graeme Kettle Speaks about the power of Support species and density, specifically in this case about a three-year-old pine nut tree.

This weekend we have session two of the #fasttrackyourfoodforest series.
See: growingradicles.org/events

#foodforest
#syntropicagroforestry

Collecting support species for the Nature School Food Forest in Mangawhai.

If you join us on September 21st, this is where we’ll be holding the session two of the Fast Track your Food Forest series. And where you can take as many cuttings as you like, for your system.

#syntropic #foodforest #mangawhai