Uploaded April 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Listen on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2XhZfaJ or on Spotify: spoti.fi/2wmaAeW
In Episode 3 of the Happen Films podcast we speak with regenerative agriculture coach Jono Frew. Jono started his working life age 11 in farming and he’s been passionate about the industry from Day 1. But his career took an unexpected turn a few years ago and it’s impacted not just how he approaches farming, but how he approaches life.
As he moved from conventional agriculture to regenerative agriculture, Jono learnt not only that true farming solutions don’t come from a bottle, he also learnt how to cry freely, how to connect with his kids, how to share himself, and how to help fellow farmers steer a new, regenerative course for their own farms and families.
Jono’s an inspiration to us, a beautiful example of how reconnecting with the soil upon which all life depends can also reconnect you with your family, your community and your very self. Have a listen and let us know your own thoughts about the future of farming.
Follow Jono:
Website: naturalperformance.co.nz
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCLf9fd5Yg2dtGLr2fGqxL5g
Facebook: facebook.com/NPLregenerativeagriculture
** More about Happen Films **
Support us in making more films: happenfilms.com/support
Website: happenfilms.com
Twitter: twitter.com/happenfilms
Instagram: instagram.com/happenfilms
Facebook: facebook.com/happenfilms
Thank you to our wonderful Patreon supporters!
Alex Muir, Dave Webb, Jess O’Shea, Brett Davidson, Jess, Pierre Blom, Tabitha Bristow, Sankar Madhavan, Namaste Foundation
Enjoy the podcast!
Listen on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2XhZfaJ or on Spotify: spoti.fi/2wmaAeW
In Episode 3 of the Happen Films podcast we speak with regenerative agriculture coach Jono Frew. Jono started his working life age 11 in farming and he’s been passionate about the industry from Day 1. But his career took an unexpected turn a few years ago and it’s impacted not just how he approaches farming, but how he approaches life.
As he moved from conventional agriculture to regenerative agriculture, Jono learnt not only that true farming solutions don’t come from a bottle, he also learnt how to cry freely, how to connect with his kids, how to share himself, and how to help fellow farmers steer a new, regenerative course for their own farms and families.
Jono’s an inspiration to us, a beautiful example of how reconnecting with the soil upon which all life depends can also reconnect you with your family, your community and your very self. Have a listen and let us know your own thoughts about the future of farming.
Follow Jono:
Website: naturalperformance.co.nz
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCLf9fd5Yg2dtGLr2fGqxL5g
Facebook: facebook.com/NPLregenerativeagriculture
** More about Happen Films **
Support us in making more films: happenfilms.com/support
Website: happenfilms.com
Twitter: twitter.com/happenfilms
Instagram: instagram.com/happenfilms
Facebook: facebook.com/happenfilms
Thank you to our wonderful Patreon supporters!
Alex Muir, Dave Webb, Jess O’Shea, Brett Davidson, Jess, Pierre Blom, Tabitha Bristow, Sankar Madhavan, Namaste Foundation
Enjoy the podcast!

![Public Park Transformed into an Urban Food Forest!
The City Food Commons shares the story of Roimata Food Commons, an urban permaculture food forest initiative driven by Ōtautahi Christchurch local Michael Reynolds. The aim of the project is to empower the community to co-create space in a public park, reviving the notion of the Commons, which was once so common in societies around the world.
Planting began in 2017 – “we got permission [from Council] to plant 30 trees, so we planted 65” – and the food forest systems of the park now contain over 100 fruit and nut trees, many of them heritage trees, as well as over 1000 native plants, herbs, berries, vegetables, flowers, and perennial plants.
Michael calls the Commons “a step away from the transactional relationship that dominates the way that we act in the world”. The term Commons refers to a space that holds or creates resources that are nurtured by the community for the long term benefit of the community.
While the community is welcomed to working bees and planting days, participating in them is not a criteria for accessing the fruit and vegetables within. This free access to quality organic food is one of the many benefits of this Commons. Another is the community connections created as a result of coming together in the space. In addition, Michael has been able to convince the local council to stop spraying and to reduce mowing, a massive cost saving to the council that it would benefit from if more public parks were managed in this way.
Like all projects of this nature, accessing funding to employ people to maintain the Commons and undertake the work of connecting the community around it is a constant and often inhibiting challenge. But once these projects really get going they can become community-managed and really prove their worth to the community. Please help us share this film and inspire others to undertake similar projects in their own public spaces!
If youd like to help support us to make more films like this one, please consider joining our Patreon community! We release regular behind-the-scenes updates and exclusive content - https://patreon.com/happenfilms
Host a screening of this film in your community!
https://happenfilms.com/product/short-film-free-screening-license/
*More about Roimata Food Commons*
Website: https://www.roimatafoodcommons.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roimatafoodcommons
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roimatafoodcommons
*More about Happen Films*
We make short and feature-length documentaries, all about permaculture, resilience and sustainability.
Website: https://happenfilms.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/happenfilms
Facebook: https://facebook.com/happenfilms
*Subtitles*
Please get in touch if youd like to create subtitles in your language! https://happenfilms.com/contact Public Park Transformed into an Urban Food Forest!](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/flgeBJp53SQ/mqdefault.jpg)








