168. From Movie Sets to Regenerative Farms
Rachel Ward & Mick Green on new film & new life at Rachel’s Farm
Imagine transforming a cattle farm and family retreat into a carbon-sequestering biodiversity haven. What would it take? And how and why would you do it if you're a famed actress and filmmaker? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Rachel Ward, who embarked on this journey alongside former industrialised farmer and coal miner Mick Green. Their story is now the first Australian feature film on regenerative agriculture, and Rachel's first documentary. 'Rachel's Farm' has just premiered to acclaim in Sydney and Santa Barbara, and Rachel is about to tour the film around the country.
Rachel Ward driving us around her wonderfully healthy farm – with grandchild asleep at the wheel (pic: Blair Beattie).
“We’re so crushed by the stories of destruction and mechanisation and industrialisation, and I just wanted to see it where it was living again, where it was in sync with something that was right, that was in sync with us, where we could be part of nature.”
The first half of this conversation is with Rachel, and for the back half, we rope in Mick. Together, they share personal stories, experiences and insights on regenerative farming, the potential for more women in it, the powerful natural events that urge us to be more conscious of what we're doing, the importance of listening to the land, indigenous knowledge systems, and the liberation of frugal living in our quest for regenerative systems.
We also talk about the implications of leasing land for regeneration, embracing variety in our produce, and how connectedness to the land and our food sources can be fostered, ultimately inspiring more of us to contribute to a regenerative future for ourselves, generations to come, and the planet as a whole.
Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers (also available on the embedded player above), and a transcript of this conversation (please note the transcript is AI generated and imperfect, but hopefully serves to provide greater access to these conversations for those who need or like to read).
This conversation was recorded at Rachel’s farm, on 10 April 2023.
With thanks to Blair Beattie from Farmers Footprint Australia for taking the driver’s seat on our journey south from the northern rivers, to visit Rachel & family.
Click on the photos below for a zoomed in view. All photos by Anthony James except those noted as being by Blair Beattie.
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Find more:
Rachel’s Farm, including trailer, tour bookings and plenty to go on with.
If you’re interested in hearing more about the Sustainable Table report that Rachel mentioned, tune in to episode 161. For the World Science Festival panel on the synergies between regen ag and Indigenous Knowledge & practice, go to episode 157. And for the story of the rainbow serpent at the Haggerty farm in WA, listen to episode 143.
Regenerative Agriculture Conference in Margaret River in September 2023.
Music:
Regeneration, composed by Amelia Barden, from the soundtrack of the film Regenerating Australia, produced by the same Studio that’s helping tour Rachel’s Farm.