The Regenerative Journey podcast is a must for anyone who is curious about regenerative agriculture and the wide ranging and significant benefits of its adoption and practice, not just for farming communities but also for anyone who eats food and cares for the planet!
Charlie and his wife Angelica reflect on their lives between podcast seasons, a wet winter, overwhelm, baking cakes and who's lined up for Season 6 of the Regenerative Journey. Episode Links: Optiweigh - https://www.optiweigh.com.au/ Episode Credits: Thank you to all who've made this show possible. Our host Charlie Arnott. Our producer is Rhys Jones of Yaga Media. And, of course, we are grateful for our sponsors - Highland Beef, Patreon supporters, and listeners. Patrons get access to exclusive videos, a discussion community, and much more. Go to https://charliearnott.com.au/podcast/ to support my work.
Charlie's guest for the final episode of Season 5 is Bruce Pascoe. This episode was recorded in late May in Sydney where Charlie was honored to interview Bruce 'live' as part of the Fairlight Butcher's series of events featuring renowned thought leaders from the world of regenerative agriculture. Settle in for this fascinating episode in which Bruce shares w/ Charlie the ebbs and flows of his regenerative journey - it's an absolute ripper of an interview. Head over here to see show notes and links
Charlie's guest for the penultimate episode of Season 5 of TRJ is Jay Marinis. Jay is on a mission to recreate the essence and culture of a traditional 'Public House' in the Adelaide Hills - to bring together community into a hub of food gardening, mental health therapy, cultural exchange and social change. Jays enthusiasm is inspiring, as is his conversation with Charlie at the centre of his project, the 153 year old Scenic Hotel. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Charlie's guests for this episode of TRJ are 6th & 7th generation farmers John & Kym Kalleske. John & Kym have successfully combined traditional farming family values, Biodynamic farming practices and innovative modern wine making on their farm in the Barossa Valley in South Australia. Their products speak volumes of their commitment to quality and community, as does their close intergeneration relationship with Kym's wine making brothers Tony and Troy. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Charlie's guest for this episode of TRJ is Rose Kentish. Rose is an enigma - combining her love of making wine that captures the flavours and perfume of landscape and terroir, with social change, species preservation, regenerative farming and climate action. She is a woman 'for purpose' much like her beverage company Sparkke. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Charlie's guest for this epsiode of TRJ is Arne Rubinstein. Arne Rubinstein started his professional life at the coal face of youth trauma and misadventure in several Emergency Rooms in regional NSW. Through his own research, observations and investigations, Arne identified a critical stage in the development of our youths was missing - a traditional and public Rite of Passage. Charlie explores Arne's own regenerative journey into the world of this lost cultural ritual and development of a modern version. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Charlie's guest for this episode is his beautiful wife Angelica. Charlie has had many and varied interesting discussions with his wife Angelica and decided it was about time to share them with the world. The episode delves into her own regenerative journey from model, pop singer, and actress, to farming life. Angelica's values and attitude to healthy lifestyle and living have been a significant influence on Charlie's own regenerative journey. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Charlie's guest for this episode of TRJ is Bert Glover. Through family challenges and plenty of on-farm experience, Bert Glover has created a business that allows farmers to leverage the Natural Capital of their farms, and attract capital investment into the regenerative farming space. Charlie caught up with Bert at the Maia Grazing field day for this insightful interview. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Charlie's guest for this episode of TRJ is Bart Davidson. Bart has traversed a career in agriculture all his adult life and there are not many people Charlie knows who have such a broad skill set and experience in the agricultural industry, even rarer considering Bart was not born into a farming family. His regenerative journey started with 'the trout that changed the world' at age 5. Through ecological studies, agronomy, organic certification, rigorous data collection & analysis, as well as holistic farm management, he has developed the rare combination of both instinctive feeling and analytical thinking. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Part 2 of Charlie's marathon interview with the Godfather of regenerative Australian agriculture focuses on Terry's development of holistic farm management in an Australian context, the vision of RCS Australia, Natural Capital, and finally the convergence of agriculture, human and planetary health, as well as subtle energies. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Charlie's guest for this episode of TRJ is Terry McCosker. After a few false starts and nearly a 2 year wait, Charlie finally sat down with Terry in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens for a marathon 3 hour conversation. In this first part Terry leads us through a character strengthening childhood, finding his agricultural focus and the challenges of moving counter to prevailing paradigms. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Charlie caught up with Glen on his new farm to explore his regenerative journey. It's clear his 7 years at sea circumnavigating the globe with his parents as a boy set up attitudes and behaviours that have stood him in good stead through his fascinating business life, developing personal brands and scaling up businesses. His observations of the similarities between the principles of regenerative agriculture and his own business principles are refreshing to say the least. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Charlie's guest for this episode of TRJ is Nat Kelley. Nat Kelley is a Peruvian born Australian actress who has made a name for herself in Hollywood not just for her acting but also for her sincere and impassioned support of indigenous cultures around the world and the advocacy of regenerative farming and soil building practices. Charlie interviewed Nat at Hanaminno on one of her quick trips back to Australia from the US. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Charlie opens TRJ Season 5 with some reflections on the period of time between podcast seasons, announcing some of his future guests, the exciting collaboration with regenerative farm training and advisory business RCS Australia and thoughts on the year ahead. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Jon Farriss, drummer of world famous Australian band INXS, has always done his own thing, teaching himself drums at an early age, pioneering the use of computer modulated music software, and shifting his talents to regenerating a farm near Byron Bay, NSW. Charlie traverses Jon's fascinating journey of purposefulness through the many chapters of his life. Head over here to see show notes and links.
This is the second part of Charlie's interview with business development guru Adam Gibson. In Part 2, Charlie and Adam take a deep dive into Adam's involvement in regenerative agriculture and how this involvement has grown in recent years. From Adam's passion for helping others nurture & grow their sustainable food & regenerative business ideas via his 'venture catalyst' enterprise, to his role as a facilitator and key linchpin in joining the dots in the ever evolving space of regenerative agriculture, Charlie & Adam dig deep for this not to be missed thought provoking episode. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Charlie's guest for this episode is business development guru Adam Gibson. Adam Gibson grew up on a small bush block in SE QLD, and over the next 35 years owned a gym, competed in body building competitions, mentored natural health business and 'went to the edge' before finding himself back on the land and knee deep in bringing together the vital components of farmers, skills, land and capital investment. Head over here to see show notes and links.
The acclaimed author and journalist Gabrielle Chan is Charlie's guest for this episode. Gabrielle Chan's media and journalism background combined with her 'opposition defiance disorder' has seen her challenge political and rural issues with curiosity and persistence, resulting in a unique perspective on how the two intersect. Sitting in her garden in rural NSW Charlie explores with Gabrielle this intersection including how farmers can influence the political landscape by the decisions they make regarding their natural landscape. Head over here to see show notes and links.
In this episode Charlie chats with Andy Carbone about his regenerative journey so far. Andy Carbone started his life on a Central Queensland cattle station before trying his hand at acting, screen writing and film directing. A career and life change that stood him in good stead for a number of challenges that he would face on his own journey, which eventually lead him to the world of regenerative farming. Head over here to see show notes and links.
In this episode Charlie chats to Nick Mace. Nick and his young family are currently transitioning their mixed enterprise farm in Western NSW to more regenerative practices, primarily initiated by a health scare some years ago which has changed the way they engage with Nature, graze their livestock, steward their landscape and feed their children. A wonderful interview for anyone currently or wanting to start their own regenerative journey. Head over here to see show notes and links.
In this episode Charlie chats to his good friend Marcus Pearce. Marcus was not necessarily destined for a life of health and wellness. However, meeting his wife Sarah, a stint at veganism, a fascination with longevity & quality of life and collating his research into his new book 'Your Exceptional Life' has put him squarely in that space. Marcus is an expert and advocate of such phrases as 'make the rest of your life the best of your life' and 'do what you love and love what you do'. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Amelia Nolan represents a new breed of wine maker, one with no preconceived notion of 'the right way to make wine'. Amelia is willing to explore the artisanal craft of natural wine making, initiating regenerative farming practices in the vineyard and combining it all with cutting edge technologies to create wine truly expressive of the site specific terroir of the vineyard in the Barossa Valley. Head over here to see show notes and links.
In this episode Charlie chats to Michael Taylor. Michael Taylor is from a multigenerational farming family in the New England region of NSW and is continuing his parents legacy of innovation, agroforestry and ethically produced fine merino wool production. Diversity of enterprises and biodiversity of ecology and landscape is a focus of Michaels, as demonstrated by the resilience of his farm 'Taylors Run' and the businesses he operates. Head over here to see show notes and links.
In this episode Charlie chats to Rebecca Sullivan. Rebecca Sullivan grew up in a family with a conventional attitude to food. A life changing incident at an Italian feast, rocked her appreciation and reverence for food culture and tradition, setting her on a trajectory of championing the rights of farmers, rediscovering long forgotten food traditions and the creation of a co-culture indigenous food production business. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Charlie caught up with Melissa Brown during an 'Introduction to Biodynamics' workshop Charlie was facilitating at and Melissa was hosting at her Biodynamic vineyard in the McLaren Vale region of South Australia. Melissa's dedication to working in partnership with nature, to produce extraordinary wine and to teach her customers the principles and practices of organic farming is inspiring. This interview is a must for anyone wanting to understand how working with nature and focusing on soil is the key to regenerative farming. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Stuart Austin is fast becoming an expert and well respected advocate of building soil carbon, as well as a well known practitioner of regenerative farming on the collection of Wilmot Cattle Co properties. Charlie caught up with Stuart to delve into his journey from farm boy in southern NSW, ringer from the top end of Australia, recruiter of ranch hands in Canada, to general manager of the Wilmot Cattle Company in NSW. Head over here to see show notes and links.
From hunger strikes at university to becoming the president of the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance, Tammi Jonas has always fought for the rights of others. In this episode Charlie explores Tammi's colourful history of advocacy and food production. She is a beacon of inspiration for anyone wanting to create their own self sufficient farming enterprise, as experienced by Charlie whilst visiting Tammi at Jonai Farms in country Victoria for this episode. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Maggie Beer is one of Australia's best-known cooks, fresh food advocates, rural community supporters, and on farm restauranteur icons. Charlie caught up with Maggie at her home in The Barossa Valley, surrounded by quince, citrus and medlar trees, to explore a life filled with passion, energy, flare, and a tenacious will to feed people good old fashioned farm produce. Head over here to see show notes and links.
In the first Episode of Season 4 our podcast host Charlie Arnott picks up the mic and provides a preview of what's in store for Season 4 including information about some of his illustrious guests that will be joining him in the coming months. Charlie also takes to his soap box to talk about the highly topical Covid 19 situation currently being felt Australia wide. Head over here to see show notes and links.
Darren Doherty is a self confessed regenerative integrationist and the conversation he had with Charlie certainly supports that description of this multi-talented consultant, environmentalist and landscape manager. Charlie explores with Darren his career from growing up in Bendigo, Victoria, his days in hospitality and connection with producers, through to his current world renowned landscape and holistic management consulting business 'Regrarians', unearthing a wealth of wisdom and experience in this last episode for Season 3. Episode Takeaways and links to follow.
In part 2 of the short interviews Charlie recorded at the Regionality 'Farm 2 Plate Exchange recently he spoke with the author of 'Call of the Reed Warbler', Charlie Massy, one of Australia most celebrated chefs and 'keeping it local' advocate Christine Manfield, organic dairy farmer extraordinaire Chris Eggert, food writer, farmer, TV personality and chef Matthew Evans, and Shannon Kelly, first generational farmer and a Joel Salatin disciple. The mix of guests ensures all food and farmer tastes and inclinations are satisfied in this epic 2 hour episode. Episode Links : Farm2Plate Exchange 2021 organised by Regionality Interview 1 (00:04:00) | Charles Massy regenerative farmer & author of the 'Call of the Reed Warbler' Interview 2 (00:24:23) | Christine Manfield chef & writer Interview 3 (00:47:45) | Chris Eggert organic dairy farmer Interview 4 (01:10:48) | Matt Evans farmer, TV personality, chef & author Interview 5 (01:37:06) | Shannon Kelly regenerative farmer
In this compilation episode, Charlie interviews a number of presenters at Regionality's 2021 'Farm2Plate Exchange' Conference. Part 1 features interviews with Rose Wright, Founder & MD of Regionality; legendary indigenous foods advocate, farmer & writer Bruce Pascoe; Dr Georgina Davis, CEO of Queensland Farmers Federation; regenerative farming stalwart Stuart Larsson of Mara Seeds & Soft Agriculture; award winning dairy farmer Kay Tommerup & Part 1 closes with up and coming water warrior Kate McBride. Episode Links : Farm2Plate Exchange 2021 organised by Regionality Interview 1 (00:04:21) | Rose Wright (Regionality | Founder & Managing Director) Interview 2 (00:35:47) | Prof. Peter Pascoe (writer) book collection includes Dark Emu (2014) Interview 3 (01:01:25) | Dr. Georgina Davis (CEO) - Queensland Farmers Federation Interview 4 (01:20:52) | Stuart Larsson (Managing Director - Mara Seeds) Interview 5 (01:41:59) | Kay Tommerup (Farmer) - Tommerup's Dairy Farm Interview 6 (02:01:14) | Kate McBride (Farmer)
Charlie caught up with Dave Westbrook at Hanaminno for this interview which tracks Dave's journey from cropping farm boy, through to owning his own grazing farm and business, family succession challenges, development of his farm management skills through the Farm Owners Academy, and subsequent training as a farm business coach. Dave has a compelling and enlightening story to tell and does so in a very open and values based way. Episode Takeaways: There has always been a big pull towards the Australian nature and landscape for Dave | He grew up on a cropping farm on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia | His father helped him buy a farm on Kangaroo Island (KI) where his wife Becky had grown up and he no experience with livestock | There was a honeymoon period of 2 years until Dave started to really research and set goals and started to hit his KPI's | 'Quirky cooking' cooking resource helped Dave and Becky address their daughter's eczema skin condition with the GAPS (Gut And Psychology Syndrome) diet | The results of using food and looking at health differently was a catalyst for Dave looking at managing his farm more regeneratively - if we can heal the body can we heal land? Dave and Becky joined up as clients to the Farm Owners Academy (FOA) in 2015 and have been in the Platinum program for 3 years | Greg Johnsson of FOA had been advising Dave on Kangaroo Island prior to joining FOA | FOA is a values focused training program and Dave was able to identify his true values through the program and set a new course in life and farming with these values as the guiding principles | Life is often about finding the balance between time and money, and we spend our lives on the ladders of life, of either the ladder of purpose or ladder of ego | Dave was on the ladder of ego for many years feeling he had to prove himself to his father, himself and his community | Men potentially spend more time on the ego ladder | Dave uses the analogy of shooting an arrow to explain the catalyst for progress is often pain. There is pain in pulling back the arrow however this has to be experienced to move the arrow (life) forward | Dave is now a coach with FOA | Dave lost ownership of his farm on KI back to his father and essentially was made an employee of the business | Personal development and FOA were essential in guiding Dave through this period | He now helps farmers through his coaching with their accountability and achieving their goals. Anger is a symptom of fear | Journaling and affirmations are a big part of Dave’s life and for his clients | 'Look good, feel good, play good' is one of Dave's mantras | Win your morning, elevate your life | 20:20:20 - spend the first hour of your day split into 20 minutes sections - 20 workout, 20 meditations and/or journaling and/or affirmations | 20 education, listen to a podcast, read a book | The happy hormone serotonin is released from gut when working out | Robin Sharman's areas of life to focus on - heart set, health set, mind set and soul set | Women are more proactive in change | Farmers who go off on a spiritual journey are the happiest they have been - their lives flow. More time, more money, their families' are happy. Wayne Dye - “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change” | It’s exciting to know that there are 1000’s of years of knowledge for us to learn | When I slowed down, everything sped up - a hard paradigm to break through | Always live above the line | We don’t own our kids | Children need 2 things in life - love & chores! Episode Links : Dave Westbook AKA @adventurefarmer Evie and the Bushfire - Becky Westbrook (children's book) Farm Owners Academy (FOA) Profitable Farmer - FOA podcast Quirky Cooking - Jo Whitton GAPS (Gut And Psychology Syndrome) Robin Sharmar - leadership expert
Peter Andrews is one of Australia's landscape geniuses, who has been battling to change the stats quo attitude of government, farmers and land managers to hydrology and restoring landscape function for 40 years. Charlie sat with Peter at his farm in the central Tablelands of NSW while he recounted his formative years of desert life, how that informed his lifelong passion to restore the oldest continent in the world, and highlights that the healing of this land is totally within our reach if we reinstate a few simple principles of land management that had kept this landscape the most productive in the world. Episode Takeaways: There is a predictable natural sequence within the landscape we just have to recreate and nurture it | Peter’s property at Bungonia was bought to be a demonstration site, this region of NSW was a very over exploited area given its location between Sydney and Canberra | Plants are specialists at bringing various components and elements into a landscape | We don’t recreate the old landscape, we recreate the processes and function of the landscape | The landscape evolved due to plants managing water | Frequent fire, flood and drought are symptoms of a dysfunctional landscape | Peter grew up at Broken Hill where his experiences of desert storms and floods started him on his journey to rehydrate the landscape of Australia | Pioneering plants are essential to repair the landscapes | The current agricultural system that replies on the removal of specific plants is costing our farmers businesses and the landscapes health | Peter’s experience with sheep health in those early years identified the importance of nutrition and how a functioning landscape provides a broad range of plants to provide this nutrition | Over-stocked properties and poor understanding of hydrology has caused the degradation of the landscape | Early experiments on the family property at Broken Hill included ripping along the high water mark of food plains | The Australian landscape had a higher percentage of pines and palms than is currently there | We are generally left with fire recovery desert plants, mostly eucalypts | Water much more influential in the atmosphere than carbon | Hot air produced inland from a lack of transpiring vegetation and moving towards, and being absorbed by, the area over the moist ocean creates damaging weather events | Capillary action and gravity are the fundamental phenomena NSF relies upon to work | Fire flood and drought are opportunities to change the pattern and create plant succession | The Peter’s horses performance were results of the management of his land, where a fundamental principle was to let all plants grow | Willows are suckers in the landscape wounds that are creeks and rivers | Peter was able to double the aquatic life in riparian zones in 2 years using willows to heal them | 95mm dew can be accumulated in a year where ground cover is maintained | Restoring deciduous green trees in flow lines reduces fire risk | The eucalypts in the landscape before human management were huge, towering above the canopy and had the role of reducing the escape of moisture from the area | The best management post any fire is to spread seeds of deciduous shrub and tree species | It all gets back to human and environmental health and this is Peter’s motivation. Episode Links: Tarwyn Park Training Australian Story ‘ Land Regeneration -Peter Andrews’ - 2017 TALS Institute - Peter’s ‘The Australian Landscape Science’ Institute Dr. Jan Pokorny - Scientist
Charlie caught up with Stuart Andrews, the son of the founder of Natural Sequence Farming (NSF) Peters Andrews, the day after Stuart had completed a 4 day NSF training workshops at Charlie's farm Hanaminno. Stuart is an incredibly open and honest man, and he left few stones unturned in taking Charlie thought the fascinating and often turbulent life as the son of Peter Andrews, the legacy Peter has left, and the continuation of his fathers life work. Episode Takeaways: Stuart believes that we can never bring our landscape back to how it was, but we can rebuild the function it once had | Stuart describes the current Australian landscape like a dishevelled dinosaur skeleton, that we need to piece back together to restore landscape function | Peter’s teaching style was challenging | Stuart was growing up on their farm Tarwyn Park under Peter’s management, whilst Peter was still figuring out the principles of Natural Sequence Farming | Stuart left school at 15, and it’s not so much that he hated school but he loved the farm more | Tarwyn Park was a thoroughbred stud running large herds of horses, a very different management style to conventional studs | With Peter’s focus on understanding, experimenting and developing the NSF principles, and not on the horse business, meeting the financial needs of the farm was challenging when Stuart was in his late teens | The horses were his test case, using these sensitive creatures in the landscape to test his theories | The bank repossessed the farm in 1994 for 6 weeks before Peter managed to secure a Research and Development grant which secured the property again from the bank for another couple of years | The bank came knocking on the door again in 1998 and Stuart sort finance to take over the properties and the debt. Peter refused to hand over property, however he finally did release the property and the horse business to Stuart | Stuart agreed with Peter that he could continue to do NSF work on Tarwyn Park | A visit from the then deputy Prime Minister John Anderson validated on a public & national stage the work Peter had been doing | In 2010 coal miners started to take interest in the Bylong Valley area and for 3 years the Andrews family battled with the miners, then eventually chose to sell - as the threat of being surrounded by the mine was greater than any desire to stay, fight and then put up with that situation | There have been many benefits to landscape of miners 'locking up' the country in the Bylong Valley they bought | In 2012 Stuart ran his first NSF training program | His family now live on one of their farms on SE Queensland - Forage Farms, and produce meat chickens, eggs and pork, inspired by Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm | Stuart believes we have created a massive drainage system in our landscape, and we must break this paradigm of how to manage water effectively if we are to restore its function and our farms Episode Links: Tarwyn Park Training Forage Farms - Stuart Andrew’s farm enterprise, Sunshine Coast, Queensland RCS - Holistic Agribusiness education providers Australian Story ‘ Land Regeneration -Peter Andrews’ - 2017 Low Stress Stock Handling - Grahame Rees Polyface Farm - Joel Salatin
This is the Part 2 of Charlie's 2021 'Farming Matters' Conference Special. Charlie continues his collection of interviews with presenters and attendees at the 2021 Land to Market 'Farming Matters' conference. In Part 2 Charlie speaks with Sam Johnson from Boxgum Grazing, legendary mentor and Holistic farmer David Marsh, Courtney McGregor the Sustainability Officer at Harris Farm Markets, and Harry Youngman, farmer and co-founder of Tiverton Agriculture Impact Fund. Episode Links: 2021 'Farming Matters' Conference organised by Land to Market Australia. Report by Soils to Life. Interview 1 (0:05:50) | Sam Johnson of Boxgum Grazing, NSW. Interview 2 (0:23:48) | David Marsh holistic farmer. Interview 3 (0:45:39) | Courtney McGregor Sustainability Officer Harris Farm Markets. Interview 4 (1:08:42) | Harry Youngman farmer & co-founder of Tiverton Agriculture Impact Fund. other links of interest : Provenir - Quality meat through highest welfare on farm processing. https://www.rcsaustralia.com.au/RCS - Holistic Agribusiness and education services, Alan Savory - holistic farmer, ecologist and founder of the Savory Institute. Lyn Sykes - Farm Family Facilitator.
Charlie attended the recent 'Farming Matters' conference organised by the awesome crew at Land to Market, and did a series of quick interviews with some of the presenters and attendees. In part one Charlie speaks with Tony Hill, Executive chair of Land to Market, CEO of Maia Grazing Peter Richardson, Brian Wehlburg the prolific Holistic Management educator, and Rachel Ward, Australian actress, producer, director and passionate regenerative farmer and advocate. Episode Links : 2021 'Farming Matters' Conference organised by Land to Market Australia. Report by Soils to Life Interview 1 (00:05:21) | Tony Hill ( Exec Chair) - Land to Market Australia Interview 2 (00:21:21) | Peter Richardson (CEO) - Maia Grazing Interview 3 (00:32.15) | Brian Wehlburg (Founder) - Inside Outside Management Interview 4 (00:50:58) | Rachel Ward - Australian actress/film maker and passionate regenerative farming advocate. Rachel was interviewed by Charlie for The Regenerative Journey podcast in 2020 (Ep 17)
Charlie's guest this week is Aaron Mckenzie, the movement & lifestyle coach. Aaron Mckenzie has been on a lifelong regenerative journey, and has been committed to supporting others in their own health journeys since the age of 19. Charlie and Aaron delve deep into the catalysts for his change, his quick tips for lifelong wellness and the importance of regenerative agriculture in restoring not just the environment but human health. Episode Takeaways: Mind, body & spirit are the pinnacles of Aarons health philosophy, being one of a few 'fitness instructors' who focus as much on food as physicality | He left high school at 13, and spent his time skateboarding | After a period of suffering bad skin and lack of direction a Naturopath and whole food eating turned his life around, and he completed his Higher School Certificate | At age 18-19 Aaron started his current work with clients | Some quick tips to good health - get plenty of sleep, wind down every night before bed, enjoy every mouthful when eating, retain good relationships, stretch daily, keep hydrated, work and focus on your breath and breathing | Aaron ate 1 full cow and 2 lambs over 10 months including their organs | He consumed 800g/day of meat which was approx. 2-2,500 calories a day | Plants have chemical defences to stop them being eaten and the culinary arts are a way to deal with these | Everything a human needs to be healthy is in an animal | Aaron monitored his changes via blood tests and other markers | Sleep helps regulate the hormones that regulate appetite. Less sleep = more cravings and snacking | Aaron advocates daily fasting of 14-16 hrs | Learning to say no and learning to prioritise are the 2 biggest positive steps one can take to reclaiming their life. Episode Links: https://www.originofenergy.com/ - Aaron’s website Origin of Energy - Aaron’s YouTube channel Fuelled by the Sun - You Tube short doco by Aaron when he visited Hanaminno Nov ‘19
Charlie was able to grab the very busy Neil Perry for a quick interview at his iconic Sydney restaurant Rockpool Bar and Grill. Neil is a cornerstone of the Australia restaurant industry, with many chefs hats under his belt, a rich history of contribution to the trade and a keen supporter of farmers and artisan producers for many years. Topics covered include his early appreciation of the seasonality of food, development of his unique culinary skills, the impact of Covid-19 on the food industry and the opportunity he sees food playing in the indigenous reconciliation process. Episode Takeaways: Neil Perry is best known for his signature Rockpool restaurants | He has been and still is a mentor to many | Whilst now he spends much of his time away from the pans he still loves getting into the kitchen, the smell of open cooking fires and the energy of the kitchen | Neil’s Father was a butcher and Neil lived on George’s river Near Sydney, NSW where fresh seafood is in abundance | Neil grew up with fresh eggs, chickens, veggies, and was immersed in seasonality and freshness from a young age |'Great chefs of France' cookbook was Neil's first inspiration, including chef Michel Gerard | Neil was the chef at Barrenjoey House at Pittwater, Sydney at the end of 1982 and one of the first chefs to reference the producers on his menu | The best dish starts with best ingredients | His genius is getting best out of people | Reconciliation has gone off the rails in recent years and Covid-19 has over run the climate movement | Australia has a wonderfully diverse culture, and this is represented in its food culture | Rockpool Foundation is Neil's charity that raised the money to fund Hope Delivery which | Finding staff is the only matter Neil is concerned about right now when opening a new restaurant due to lack of international students, and work visa holders as a consequence of Covid-19 and the restrictions on travel | There is a movement away from importing overseas produce as Australia is growing more of these once hard to find products | Neil uses vegetable or peanut oil when cooking Asian food otherwise he uses olive oil | Copper pots are beautiful to cook with! | His Qantas involvement is increasing as flight restrictions ease and more 'bubble flying' will take place | Neil’s new cookbook is due for release in October 2021| Neil reckons Aust. Domestic flights food is some of the best in the world! | If Neil could put a sign on a major highway it would say 'We are one' | Neil is a firm believer in the mantra of 'Community comes first'. Episode Links: Neil Perry - Chef Rockpool Bar & Grill - Neil’s restaurant Margaret - Neil’s new restaurant opening soon in Double Bay, Sydney Neil’s Qantas collaboration - Forbes Interview (2018) 'Great Chefs of France' - Book by Anthony Blake John Susman - An Early Collaborator of Neil’s Hope Delivery - Part of the Rockpool Foundation. Feeding 5000 people weekly. Served 300,000 meals in 9 months in 2020
In this episode Charlie interviews regen farming's powerhouse couple Mitch & Nina Bray. Charlie caught up with Mitch and Nina at their Noosa Hinterland farm midway through an Introduction to Biodynamics workshop that they were hosting. It was a lively conversation and is in fact the 'first' couple Charlie has interviewed for the podcast. Prior to meeting Mitch and Nina had led interesting and quite different lives. On meeting their pathways transected & their regenerative journey together began. Through environmental and health challenges they have been transitioning from conventional to regenerative cattle, crop and vegetable farming with great success. Episode Takeaways : Bought property in Noosa hinterland in response to a changing climate and seasonal pattern at their property at Ellangowan near Toowoomba in SE Qld, presents the opportunity to grow more food with the greater rainfall, and also presents challenges | Have a licence to grow hemp | Great rapport with a very like minded community on the coast, found their tribe | Together since 2010, Nina is a trained nurse and grew up on a farm, Mitch diesel fitter, who’s family is originally from Condobolin | Started on his small block with Nina | Underlining urge to farm even though both had chosen careers away from farming | Started with an independent agronomist and in the conventional farming space - with sheep, then cattle however due to flooding and trashing of fences decided to focus on cropping | The birth of their first child was the catalyst for change as Nina realised that her choices had far reaching impacts on her family and this was also true for their farming choices | Gained Organic certification for their home farm in 2014-15 which was essentially a trial block using more natural practices | Transitioned half their farm first | First organic crop was wheat | Organic corn out yielding conventional corn | An organic farm can still yield in dry years when conventional might struggle to produce, and in the dry years prices are better | Input costs are lower than conventional | Liquid injection great technique to add inputs | They won the Allan Brimblecombe Shield for the Highest Yielding Variety in a Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD) Variety Dryland Trial 2017 - 2018 | 11.7 bales/ha using their more natural biological inputs like fish and kelp emulsions and compost teas | ‘Less inputs more often’ is a principle that has worked well for them | They are growing on corn, soy sorghum, wheat barley millet, vetch, mung beans on their organic farm | The have tried ‘Relay Cropping’-eg sowing a legume into an already established wheat crop | Tip for farmers wanting to transition to more natural farming practices-stop expecting a clean paddock, managing a mixed of plants has benefits for nutrition and beneficial insects | They use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques to manage insect pests | Livestock are great at targeting unwanted plants in a cropping rotation system | Nina uses homeopathics on the cattle, trough dose-NZ business called Simillimum Health and Homeopathy | They use Buffalo fly traps and a ‘Bos Bag’ w diatomaceous earth | Cattle often get a shower in the yards of saline water, and they also use sulfur to help manage buffalo fly and ticks | Dung beetles came back when they removed much of the synthetic chemicals out of their system | Their Noosa Hinterland farm is 400ac and in conversion to organic now | They both attended our Introduction to Biodynamics workshop in 2018 where their love and use of Biodynamics on their farms started | In 2018 Mitch was very sick, having suffered an occlusion (similar to a stroke), and his speech and movement was impacted - he was in bed for 3 months, and too no medications – Mitch did everything naturally | Biodynamics makes your farms vibrant. Its energetic, palpable and you can almost feel the life force that comes from using Biodynamics | Biodynamics is a way of life. You can’t un-see it once you have seen it. Mitch and Nina think that whatever they grow someone will be healthier from it | Biodynamics is about growing together and working together | They don't believe you have to be a purist to incorporate Biodynamics into your farming practice. Episode Links: Bray Farms - Mitch & Nina Bray website FB - Bray Farms IG - Bray Farms / IG - The Beach Farm, Noosa Introduction to Biodynamics Workshops | Charlie Arnott & Hamish Mackay Biodynamics - Short read | Charlie Arnott Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Simillimum Health and Homeopathy - NZ animal health company Bos bag - Fly control measure John Feahan - Australian dung beetle expert Kandanga Farm Store - Mary Valley, Sunshine Coast QLD
Kate Nelson is a passionate and outspoken advocate of educating people to the ills and insidious nature of plastics in our environment and our bodies. Charlie and Kate touch on her journey into the world of activism and the many ways that plastics impact our lives. Her book 'I Quit Plastics' is a wonderful guide to navigating a world where plastics are everywhere but avoidable if one changes one's perspective and behaviours around plastic. Episode Takeaways : Currently living on 5 ac in an 1890s house | Climate awakening 2 years ago in an agricultural context | Grew up in Minnesota with much involvement in the lakes and water as a canoe camp leader | Environmental focus at college on philosophy and ethics | She volunteered for Jean - Michael Cousteau’s NFP and met oceanographer Dr. Andrea O’ Neill of USGS | Learning of the ingestion of micro plastics by marine life was shocking to Kate and set her on a path of advocacy | Initially very outspoken and was urgent to change the world! | Aggression and forcing people doesn't work | Contributed to the 'Save the Mermaids' campaign banning plastic shopping bags in California and helped influence government policy in California | Was the marketing director Tiki activewear in LA whom recycle plastic into activewear | Recycling is a many headed beast with greenwashing prevalent | Plastic is insidious and can be found everywhere, as ingredients in many products and as the packaging of many products | Plastic flakes and degrades into micro plastics, and it leaches into food and liquids it is packaged in | Plastic is also released with use - into the air, onto your food. It’s in clothing, in tyres... | The average person eats a credit card worth of plastic a week | Plastic is very functional product hence why it’s everywhere | Plastic bonds are loose so the chemicals it is made up of are released into the environment | Temperature and age of plastics will determine how quickly it breaks down | Off gassing is the airborne release of a chemical, a chemical in vapor form which happens with new plastic | Plastic is attracted to fat - lipophilic, which can accelerate how quickly it leaches | Some plastics are estrogenic, the pseudo-estrogens in plastic tell our bodies we’re pregnant and this growth response is linked to obesity and autism | Other medical and epigenetic impacts are cancer and heart disease, man boobs, and genital changes | The recycling industry didn’t develop at the same rate as the Plastics industry which has created the huge plastics in the environment problem | The disposable nature of current plastics is reflective of our ever increasing need for external gratification… and products are poorly made | Kate’s mentors include -Dr. Andrea O'Neill, Captain Charles Moore discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Sea Bin CEO Pete Ceglinski, Senator Pete Whish-Wilson, Maria Westerbos founder of Plastic Soup Foundation and Helena Norberg-Hodge founder and director of Local Futures | Plastic ash is 30x more toxic than actual plastic | Kate hosts many retreats for plastic free supporters. Episode Links: www.iquitplastics.com - Kate’s website Mercast podcast - Kate’s podcast I Quit Plastics - Kate Nelson’s book https://www.boomerangalliance.org.au/ https://algalita.org/ https://plasticfreebyron.com/ Ocean Futures Foundation - Jean - Michael Costeau’s NFP Dr. Andrea O’ Neill - Oceanographer w/ USGS The Plastic Soup Foundation - The Plastic Soup Foundation studies plastics and its impact on the environment founded by Maria Westerbos Estrogeneration - book by Anthony Jay Captain Charles Moore - Oceanographer and boat captain Pete Ceglinski - Sea Bin CEO Senator Pete Whish-Wilson - the 'surfing senator' Helena Norberg-Hodge, founder and director of Local Futures and director of 2011 doco. 'The Economics of Happiness'
In this episode Charlie interviews Grant Hilliard. Grant has been at the forefront of the paddock to plate scene in Sydney for many years, providing a vital link between curious and passionate 'eaters' in the city with the farmers who are producing regeneratively and ethically grown meat. Charlie and Grant traverse the line between government regulation, consumer sentiment and farming behaviours in exploring the current food system, its short comings and opportunities. Episode Takeaways: Grant operates a wholesale and retail butcher shop in Marrickville, Sydney, selling meat and cuts of meat not usually seen in butcher shops eg. 3-4 year old beef, sourcing direct from producers | Buying direct from farmers is Feather and Bones point of difference | Grant grew up in suburban Melbourne with little time on farms | At Primary school he did a farm trip for a week to a dairy, and witnessed the slaughter of a sheep for food, which had profound formative effect on him | He was a vegetarian for a couple years whilst living in a remote nature reserve | Grant studied communications in Sydney and was involved in the making of a number of films | Whilst studying he worked as a waiter to pay the bills, the famous Tony Bilson was one of his first bosses | He was the sommelier at Sean’s Panaroma in Bondi when he visited vineyards that got him interested in the location of food production | Information on the source of food was very scarce back then. He went looking for lamb, and found the rare Southdown breed near Oberon in the Central tablelands of NSW | He sold 3 different lambs to 3 different chefs, which was the beginning of his journey into sourcing good food direct from producers | The wool industry in Australia has pulled the meat sheep industry out of shape, with the wool breed Merino being used to produce most of the lamb available as a cross bred lamb | Grant visits every farm to understand them and provide that special link between farmers, not just between farmers and consumers | Whilst focused on rare breeds initially, Grant also now appreciates genetic diversity and the interconnection of things | Phenotype of an animal ( the influence of its environment such as food available) is just as important as it’s genotype | Feeding of animals in a restricted environment (such as in feedlots) restricts their ability to source a full profile of nutrients | A diverse diet produced in a diverse landscape produces a diverse nutrient profile in the product | Angus cattle as a breed are highly genetically meddled with | Grant only sells one Angus producer’s beef and it originates from an old closed herd from the US with original Aberdeen Angus type genetics | The breed has been genetically commoditized | The current beef available is a reflection on the convenience for processors with little regard for consumer access to quality produce | One needs less of the meat that Grant sources and it goes further with more variety of cuts and a shorter supply chain creating a more diverse and resilient business model | 3 main challenges the food system in Australia faces incl. incorporating indigenous wisdom into food production, recognizing and accounting for the true cost of food & creating government policy that recognizes we can't keep farming on a declining fertility plain | Political departmental disparity is challenging the effectiveness of food policy | A super department of health, land, environment & water would help address this! | Grant suggests if farmers are thinking about supplying good meat direct to wholesalers they need to consider their distance from processors and the overall logistics, and the quality of the water supplied to their livestock | Grant’s message of hope is that land can be rehabilitated and there is plenty if evidence of that happening at a rate faster than anticipated under the appropriate regenerative management. Episode Links : Grant Hilliard - Sydney Morning Herald article Feather and Bone - 8/10-14 Lilian Fowler Place, Marrickville, Sydney, NSW 2204 The Ethical Omnivore - Grant Hilliard’s book From the Feather & Bone website ‘The Ethical Omnivore is a user-friendly recipe and handbook that will open your eyes to a better way to buy, cook and eat. this book to answer the questions we're asked every day in our butchery and it's an unapologetic paean of praise for regenerative agriculture and the importance of community. We live in an affluent era marked by an increasingly fraught relationship to food, and meat is arguably the most controversial ingredient. There is a communal ache for authenticity, for a way forward with good conscience. Our book explores the solution: living with a conscience; asking the right questions of whomever sells you meat or of the labels you read; and learning how to respect the animal so much that you're willing to cook something other than chicken breast. We hope that it shows all of us how to live with less impact on the animals and environment that support us. Seans Panorama - Restaurateur Sean Moran Phion water device - NSW, Aus
My guest for Episode 26 of the Regenerative Journey is Cyndi O'Meara. Cyndi has been an advocate for healthy food production and consumption for many years. Her training was inspired by the need to understand why humans have survived for millennia and now are in the middle of a global health crisis. Cyndi is outcomes driven and an advocate for food production and processing transparency. She is particularly critical of the use of Glyphosate in farming and its insidious infiltration throughout our environment and our bodies causing much of the current ill health and chronic disease seen in our populations today. Her Nutrition Academy offers people protocols and practices to renew and manage their health and wellbeing... To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways: Cyndi had wanted a farm since a teenager, and to marry a farmer and have 12 children! | Her intention for buying her current farm was to help people get well using the farm as a retreat | She then decided that she didn't want to put the capital into the farm to create this kind of business, and instead changed the vision to the grazing cattle, using permaculture and syntropic farming practices | Her grandfather was an organic corn farmer in the US in the 1950s and her mum was the oldest of 11, and a member of the largest haemophilic family in world | Cyndi’s other grandfather was a NZ organic farmer | Cyndi attended University of Colorado and studied about food and culture, to help answer the anthropological question of how did man survive? | She studied to be dietitian in Australia but this study didn’t align with the anthropology she had studied | Cyndi started writing for a local paper where she was able to express her thoughts, until her articles began to conflict with conventional thinking and commercial interests - these articles later became her book | She offers programs and protocols for food and health in her Nutrition Academy program |She calls out fake foods, GMO 'food' and advocates for food system transparency | Synthetic biology and genetic modification is used to produce a myriad of food and fibre products, with horrendous consequences when eaten, worn or when they ‘escape’ in to Nature | Food irradiation to sanitize food is a problem, killing biome and nutrient value, and is being used more often in Australia to 'make food more safe'! | Health problem stem from problems in the paddock where food is grown, especially where glyphosate is used | The driver of human ill health is Big Ag, not the need to regenerate human health | Imprinting of diet when baby is in utero and the children will seek out that same food (and drugs) once born | Cyndi’s father was a pharmacist then chiropractor which meant he understood mechanism then moved to an understanding of vitalism | Dr Don Huber is a Glyphosate expert Cyndi has worked with. Glyphosate stops the critical shikimate pathway which is essential for amino acid metabolism and kills good microbes in soil and in our guts. It kills the good microbes that are needed to make essential amino acids | Chronic disease now everywhere can be attributed to the use of Glyphosate and other agriculture sprays such as arsenic, lead and DDT | In the1960s 4% of people had a chronic disease, now 38-40% of children have a chronic disease, for 65 years + and above the figure is 80% | Not just food important, lifestyle, mental state, exercise, following passion etc | Cyndi home schooled her children | Currently incensed by the governments poor understanding human health | If Cyndi was in government she would slowly remove all fake foods | Her genius is deciphering info and put it thru a vitality and a cultural history perspective | Cyndi is outcomes focused, the outcome of creating well being in her client | Conversations of change often happen around the kitchen table sighting an example of her friend who moved to an outback station and changed the food and cooking ethos of the men there with outstanding results | One of her inspirations is Dr Natasha Campbell Mcbride | Better to put effort now in the kitchen than put the time into the docs waiting room later | Episode Links: Changing Habits - Cyndi O’Meara’s website Lab to Table - book | New version of Cyndi’s original book Changing Habits Nutrition Academy - Cyndi’s online nutrition course Land to Market - Australian Holistic Management project Breathe - book by James Nestor Dr. Don Huber - Professor Emeritus of Plant Pathology at Purdue University ‘What the Bleep do we Know !’ - documentary ’Manifesting Matisse’ - book by Michelle Nielsen The Hidden Messages in Water - book by Masaru Emoto Joe Dispenza - chiro and author Bridging Science & Spirit - book by Bruce Lipton Biology of belief - book by Bruce Lipton Dr Natasha Campbell Mcbride The Fat Emperor Podcast - Ivor Cummins The Highwire Podcast - Del Bigtree Evolve w/ Pete Evans Podcast - Pete Evans London Real Podcast - Robert F Kennedy Jnr Up for a Chat podcast - Changing Habits 100 Not Out Podcast - Marcus Pearce & Damian Kristof Gemtree Wines - McLaren Vale, SA
Charlie's guest for Episode 25 is David Pocock. David has been named one of the best rugby players of all time, however his skills and interests go far beyond the international Rugby stage. Growing up on a Zimbabwean farm David's interest in human and Natural ecology has been nurtured from a young age. When his family fled Zimbabwe in 2008 he brought that love of the landscape to Australia with him. David has since juggled his rugby career and advocacy for the protection of environments and rural community development, both here in Australia and back home in Zimbabwe. Episode Takeaways: Dave grew up on a flower, vegetable and beef farm in middle of Zimbabwe | Alan Savory the well known and controversial farmer and politician was an inspiration, as was Johann Zietsman who both challenged the traditional mindset | Dave was always interested in nature and human ecology and wanted to be a park ranger | Both Dave’s parents are from farming families | Zimbabwean reform program in 1999-2000 was badly executed which led his family to be kicked off their farm and their emigration to Australia | Dave spent 3 years in high school in Brisbane and threw himself into sport in 2008-9 | In Zimbabwe, some of the projects that Dave has participated in, target food and water security issues, through organisations such as ‘Farming Gods Way’ | Dave advocates connecting with the Australian landscape by spending time outside and in nature developing one’s Ecological and landscape literacy | The somewhat necessary control of invasive species such as horses is controversial | Dave is completing a Masters of Sustainable Agriculture at Charles Sturt University | His father has been a significant mentor, as was his mothers father | Reading has played a big part in David’s connecting to Australia | Alan Savory was an outspoken politician against the Rhodesian gov ref. apartheid, and it seemed that it was his ( Alan’s ) moving away from Africa that allowed him to amplify his wisdom and Holistic Management (HM) education to a wider global audience | Dave doesn't feel fully accepted as a Zimbabwean now | Technology has brought us benefits but it has also brought us closer to the cliff edge | South Zimbabwean Project aims to support ag and community development to create thriving people and ecosystems as part of UNDP. Episode Links : David Pocock - Official website and Linktr.ee links IG - David Pocock In Our Nature - Book by David & Emma Pocock Alan Savory - Zimbabwean ecologist, livestock farmer, and president and co-founder of the Savory Institute Savory Institute - The Savory Institute equips land managers with innovative tools and curricula and conducts research on the ecological, social, and financial outcomes associated with Holistic Management Johann Zietsman - South African cattle farmer & practical scientist Zimbabwes Land Reform Farming God’s Way - A resource given to the wider body of Christ, to equip the poor and break the yoke of poverty first pioneered in Zimbabwe in 1984. MA Sustainable Agriculture - Charles Sturt University Call of the Reed Warbler - Book by Charles Massy Dark Emu - Book by Bruce Pascoe A Sand County Almanac - Book by Aldo Leopold Holistic Management - Definition Moorlands Lamb - Biodynamic lamb producer Vince Heffernan , Yass NSW Climate Change Adaptation Program (Zim) - UNDP
In the first Episode of Series 3 our podcast host Charlie Arnott picks up the mic and shares his thoughts and insights into the world of regenerative agriculture currently and identifies some key trends and areas of growth to watch in 2021. The episode also includes a preview of what's in store in the upcoming series. If the growing interest in the regen movement is anything to go by, then you would be strongly advised to fasten those seat belts and get ready for a powerful & life altering Series 3! Episode Takeaways: Charlie talks about activity on his farm 'Hanaminno' and compares January 2021 with that of 2020 | The growing consumer interest in the origins of the food they are eating | Simple concept - the impact of and the outcome of people being more curious about their food has a global significance | The role parents play in setting a good example - children are appreciating this and getting onto the band wagon, setting wonderful examples for life | Men are good at looking for solutions, it’s women who are good at getting the stuff done | Organic or non chemically produced food should be the normal and the chemically produced should be labelled ‘chemical’, turn it around | Re: the financial sectors growing interest in regen 'Formulating a value based on not the infrastructure. What hasn't been looked at until now is what's under the ground. What you can’t see is some of the most important real estate we have | More consideration should be given to how and who should be farming the land. Episode Links: www.charliearnott.com.au Patreon page for the Regenerative Journey podcast RCS - Grazing for Profit Course Growing Nutritious Food in your Backyard w/ Biodynamics Urban Taster session w/ Hamish Mackay & Charlie Arnott - March 2021 It's in the Soil - Harris Farm Markets regen campaign Feb 2021 Odonata - Nigel Sharp / Sam Marwood Cultivate Farms - Sam Marwood Venture Organic - Adam Gibson The Big Little Farm - film and film director John Chester
In Part 2 of Charlie's interview with Tommy Herschell, Tommy dives further into the workshops he facilitates, runs through his 'Form guide for a fella', and pulls apart the myth of the 'male code' or 'mens lore' using his own experiences and insights. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways: Tommy facilitates both men’s and boys workshops where he encourages them to tell their story and/or listen | The number 1 skill to learn from these workshops is that it’s ok not to be going good...’ | Form guide for a fella 1. Drop anchor - Stop for 60 secs, 2. Take stock-assess the situation, 3. Get out of the queue - step away from old paradigms and actions, 4. Road test -what’s another way to handle the situation, 5. Kill the pig - challenge yourself, 6. Eat the frog - delay gratification, 7. Chew the fat but don’t spin the yarn | People from the land are honest | Neil Pringle legend rugby league player mentor of Tommy’s | Find a mate you can talk to | Read a hard book Episode Links: Tommy Herschell – you can contact Tommy via his website / email & tel. # are at footer of page. Find ya feet - You Tube / Mahindra collaboration Raise - Tommy is an ambassador Tomorrow Man - reinventing masculinity
Tommy Herschell is well placed to facilitate workshops that break down the myth that men and boys can't talk about their feelings and problems, given his own experiences as a boy and young man. In this interview he courageously dives deep into his past, from a reliance on alcohol to help douse the pain of various childhood experiences, to now facilitating workshops to help males rewrite their stories of what it is to be a man, and societies expectation of them. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways: Tommy and Charlie met a few years ago in Melbourne at a conference and Tommy’s first trip to Hanaminno was to bring Charlie a couple of bee hives | Pittwater in Sydneys Northern Beaches is where Tommy calls home | He grew up in Tugan, QLD, and had typical boyhood fun in the suburbs and surfing | When he was 10 years old things changed for Tommy when his parents separated - his reaction and way to deal with this was to get into trouble at school and telling tall stories etc | He had anxiety about everything and drinking became a crutch in his late teens | His woodwork teacher inspired him to be a school teacher | He traveled the world with a surf magazine where he met his wife Clare | Tommy doused his problems with alcohol like farmers douse their problem (weeds, pests etc) with chemical poisons | Best mate Bing called him on his behaviour | Tommy says Clare has no filter and see’s the best in people! | She calls him out, and had the courage to help him break his destructive cycle of behaviour | A victim mentality played a big part in his life | MATE - stands for Meet At The End, and is derived from the World War 1 | He realised he needed to do the work he’s doing now, it’s a way to give back and is a kind of therapy for himself | Find Ya Feet was born via the relationship he developed with Bastien Madrill who was dying of an aggressive cancer, Ewings sarcoma. Bastien taught Tommy many things about life and his appreciation of it | Tommy now works in many bush community’s, including Dubbo, Trangie and Narromine, and with Matt Hayden in QLD | The workshops Tommy facilitates explore the concept of ‘men’s law’, and breaks down the myth that men and boys aren’t meant to talk about their feelings and problems they are facing | In 2 hours Tommy Herschell adds a truckload of tools to a blokes belt for when they need that helping hand to start the conversation that ultimately saves lives. He does that by championing vulnerability, role modelling speaking up, and showing a real man puts up his hand for help. This workshop transforms the bloke who thinks it's weak to speak into the champion who knows we go from zero to hero simply by tellin' and owning our story! ‘We’re allowed to make mistakes...It’s how we come back from those mistakes that makes a man a man‘. Episode Links: Tommy Herschell - Tommy's website Bastien Madrill story Farmers Friend workshops - Tommy & Charlie working together Matthew Hayden & Find Ya Feet - YouTube
Charlie attended university with 4th generation dairy farmer Chris Eggert. Whilst they hadn't seen each other since, they picked up right where they left off with a lighthearted and deep dive into Chris's life and regenerative journey. Having grown up on a conventional dairy farm to being regarded as one of the best dairy farmers in Australia, his ability to adapt general regenerative practices is an example of success. His philosophies are driven by logic, courage and positivity that continues the legacy of a family farm any farmer would be proud of. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways : Chris Eggert is a 4th generation from Wauchope, on the mid north coast of NSW | Eggert Farm (Oxhill Organics) has been certified organic for 20 years, converted in 2000 due to deregulation of the dairy industry | At that time the farm had just been bought from previous generation | Very conventionally run prior to going organic | His mother has built yoga studio on farm and is a very steadying influence on the men on the farm! | The family eats mostly from farm and nearby produce, and focuses on creating a community through food and health | Work was once a chore for Chris and now is relaxing due to his change in attitude | It was once all about production, highly NPK fertiliser dependent, with animal health regimes of hormones and antibiotics | Chris suspects the cause of most animal sickness was from the use of urea on pasture | He was going into battle with his cows every time at milking, now it’s a joy and type of meditation | Easy calving now, with no vet bills now - in 1999 before transitioning their vet bill was $20k | Improvement in soil takes time, improvement in animal health happens very quickly ‘once you take out the bad stuff’ | Farm biodiversity was not relevant back then | When Chris was young he wasn’t sure what wanted to do for a career | He attended University of New England (UNE) to do a Natural Resource Management degree, and deep down wanted to come back to the family farm | Chris did a Diploma in teaching in the 2000’s and taught casually at local high school to support income while transitioning | Uni taught Chris to work and learn | Deregulation of the dairy industry pushed Chris to change away from his conventional practices and there was a pull towards organic food through a growing demand for products | He went cold turkey and cut out all synthetic chemicals and fertilisers over night | Balanced soil creates healthy cows and the best milk | Chris attended a Holistic Management course run by legend HM educator Bruce Ward | Chris attended many conferences, read many books including Joel Salatin - You can Farm - followed the work of Elaine Ingham, Gary Zimmer and Jerry Brunetti and did lots of experimentation | Chris emphasises the importance of capturing nutrients (ie.manure and urine) in the system, and says he ‘farms vertically not horizontally’, focusing on the health of the soil | The head space of farmers and wellness is not generally of interest to banks and government | Customer understanding of the importance of clean nutritious food is increasing |A farm is a great place for kids to grow up | Chris’s protein and fat measurements are both 20-30% more now then when farming conventionally | He has a number of enterprises- lambs, chickens and pigs -diversity is important not just to the health of the farm but to the mental health of the human inhabitants | "Be you not someone else" | Chris used wood chip mulch to create fungal highways to spread biology throughout his farm via the cows feet Episode Links : Oxhill Organics HM educator Bruce Ward Joel Salatin- You can Farm - Elaine Ingham - Soil Food Web Biological Farmer - Gary Zimmer Jerry Brunetti - You Tube Mara seeds link https://maraseeds.com.au/
Charlie has interviewed Hamish Mackay many times for his Youtube channel and this interview is a poignant reminder that whilst the principles of regenerative agriculture, and specifically Biodynamics, remain the same, its application and adaption to landscapes and communities is ever changing and definitely on the rise. Hamish takes listeners for a ride into the world of Biodynamics, leaving us with very practical and compelling steps we can take to produce better food and improve the health of our planet. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways : Hamish grew up near Braidwood, NSW on a family sheep and cattle farm | Andrew his brother is his major mentor | Travelled Australia before going home to the farm and Alex Poloinsky visited the farm in 1972. Alex showed him his farm through different eyes | Alex made Hamish aware of his farm in a physical sense, made him aware of soil health | Hamish was also involved in the wool industry and worked at the famous Demeter Bakery in Glebe, Sydney | Change in the agriculture world is slowly happening and now building momentum | The practice of Biodynamics is very easy and is a form of environmental and food security when inevitably we meet challenges in the food production and environment health space | It will be important to have people in the world who are practicing Biodynamics to ensure food security as conventional practices continue to fail | 1960s was the start of change in the dairy industry in Australia | Currently there are many people in agriculture as a result of obligation to their family, rather than because it’s their destiny and are passionate about it | Spiritual science uses scientific methodology to investigate ‘things we can’t see’ | People are becoming more aware of value in organic produce both economically and nutritionally | We need to collaborate, not be competitive, in the regenerative agriculture world | Consumers are ultimately in the position to ‘judge’ the success or otherwise of regenerative farming practices | Regenerative farming is not prescriptive agriculture. That is one if its defining characteristic that sets it apart from industrial farming | The diaries of early white explorers identified that indigenous peoples managed the landscape as a ‘parkland’ like landscape | Bill Gammage in ‘The Biggest Estate on Earth’, Bruce Pascoe in ‘Dark Emu’ and Joseph Jenkins in ‘The Diary of a Welsh Swagman’ highlighted this phenomena | Our landscape is now a bit like teenagers going through puberty - its chaotic, and the recent Summer bushfires were a reflection of this | The Australian landscape was once managed, prior to white settlement. Now it’s being pillaged. It is ‘managing’ us. Again, the ferocity and complete disruption and destruction of bushfires reflects this | Biodynamic food and pasture is more mineral dense and therefore harder to digest and makes organs work harder (which keeps them healthier) In addition, one needs to eat less of it (and it is also harder to burn which makes it potentially more fire resistant) | Healthy humic aerated soil retains moisture and biology even in a drought | All mental illness has a physiological basis | Current industrial medical system treats symptom, not the cause | Nutritionally dense food impacts positively the social fabric of individuals, families and communities Episode Links : Hamish Mackay - Farming Secrets profile Hamish Mackay & Charlie Arnott | Biodynamics Workshops - 2021 workshop dates will be announced soon. Check back to www.charliearnott.com.au for dates. Martin Royds - farmer and regenerative farming advocate Mulloon institute - a research, education and advocacy not-for-profit organisation Blackthorn Trust - is a supportive therapeutic environment in which people can recover, grow and develop. Low Tox Life - Alexx Stuart
Charlie sat with Matt Moran in his restaurant 'Chiswick' in Sydney overlooking his kitchen garden from which herbs and vegetables are harvested to supplement the dishes prepared in the kitchen. It's a great example of Matt's dedication to seasonality, accountability and authenticity in cooking, and highlights his connection to the source of his produce and the farmers which produce it. And being a farmer himself he has kept his feet firmly on the ground despite his successes and critical acclaim. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways : Chiswick, the restaurant Charlie interviewed Matt in, has a rich history, is one of the oldest restaurants in Sydney and was originally a soup kitchen for navy personnel | The Kitchen garden at Chiswick makes its chefs accountable for what’s in season and on the menu | Covid has bought out the best and the worst in people | Matt grew up near Tamworth in the mid 70s then moved to western suburbs of Sydney and still had connections to farming through his family’s farm at Taralga | Matt’s interest in food started in the home economics class at high school because there were 18 girls and only 2 boys in the class! | Started his career in the kitchen at Parramatta RSL | Searched for work in kitchens during early year 11 | First apprenticeship at La Belle Helene French fine dining in Roseville with Chef Michael de Laurence | He loved his work and was besotted with food | La belle Helene cooking technique and refinement | Matt's appreciation of quality was developed at Matt’s second job, at The Restaurant Manfredi - he learnt about the importance of quality produce | His first restaurant was The Paddington Inn 1991 and first chefs hat at age 23 in the same year | One of his secrets to success was to surrounded himself with people smarter than him | He opened ‘Moran’s’ in 1995 & various others before opening his signature restaurant Aria | Turning point was decision to expand to give others (his staff and associates) the opportunity to develop their skills and opportunities | Bruce Solomon is his business partner. It was important to bring different skills to the table. And brings a customers (Non chef) perspective | High stress industry that has a history of suicide | Legacy of working long hours and lack of support. Culture of perfectionism and ‘don’t share your troubles’ | More openness and support now | Rates of suicide and history is similar to farming world | Planning to build farm stay accommodation at his farm near Thurstan similar to Kimo Estate farm stay near Gundagai | Olive oil is best for flavouring not cooking, grape seed best for cooking! | Definitely rest steaks before serving! | Advice for chefs. Don’t do it for the fame and glory. Do it because you're passionate about it. Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life | Matt is a Thankful4farmers ambassador - it’s a charity raising funds through product partnerships to then grant funds to regenerative farmers and associated businesses to promote the uptake of technology, regenerative practices, and enhance community and farming family well being | Matt is a judge of the delicious produce awards | Australia has the best produce in world. Chefs and customers are spoilt for choice and variety of seed stock, such as the variety of heirloom seeds at Diggers gardening club | Whilst the industry is very competitive, chefs are very respectful, supportive and friendly to each other | If Matt could put a billboard near a highway for all to see, he would have the message ‘Be Kind’ on it… Episode Links : Matt Moran Kitchen Tales - Matt's new YouTube series, Nov 2020 Chiswick Restaurant - Sydney Manfredi Restaurant - Sydney Genevieve Copland - Hospitality Trainer and Assessor Aria Restaurant - Sydney Kimo Estate - Farm Stay and venue, Gundagai, NSW Thankful4Farmers - Matt is an ambassador Delicious Produce Awards Lord Dudley Hotel - Sydney Straight from the Source - an online platform where you can search, explore and connect with the source of your produce.
This is the second part of the Charlie's interview with Mick Wettenhall. Charlie caught up with Mick Wettenhall at his property 'Weemabah' at Trangie, NSW to dig into his own regenerative journey. Mick most recently has been progressing research into a little know fungi that has an enormous capacity to sequester carbon in the soil. Mick would rather see an agricultural evolution than an agricultural revolution, highlighting that if we are to support the adoption of regenerative practices it needs to be 'adaptable' to their current farming situations. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways: Dr James White pioneered the research into plants farming microbes back in 2013 |Think big, start small, scale fast | There is a massive potential to sequest carbon in soil, farmers just need to know how | The key to driving a shift in farmers thinking of how they can contribute to reversing climate change is the conscious consumer through their buying choices | ‘Create a product or service that people can patronize to make that difference | ’The only thing missing to rapidly progress the research and uptake of carbon sequesting practices in this space is money | You can’t manage what you don’t measure | Farmers need to be remunerated for the carbon they sequest and nutritious food they grow | Hand held nutrition scanning technology is developing rapidly |Market gets what market wants |Create a demand economy lead by consumers to support farmers to grow more nutritious food |Mick uses a number of Johnson Su compost bioreactors to make fungal dominant compost which he then makes an extract from to spread on his crops | It is essentially a static pile aerobic compost | Once the thermophilic stage is complete worms are then added (vermophilic) | If the same amount of funds that is currently invested in industrial Ag ‘solutions' was invested in regenerative farming techniques........ | Truth is first ridiculed, then opposed then accepted as fact | Next generation will want to be part of the solution | Mick attended Landmark in his early 30s. It could be called a personal development course, however is so much more...Charlie has completed the course as well | Landmark Forum is essentially 'Holding a mirror up against ones self to help identify why one does the things one does '.... Episode Links : Aust soil planners group - Australia's largest sustainable group of farmers. ’Quality Agriculture’ - John Kempf David Johnson ‘The Great Disruption’ - Paul Gilding Landmark Forum
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