Man Spends 30 Years Turning Degraded Land into Massive Forest - Fools & Dreamers (Full Documentary)
The incredible story of how degraded gorse-infested farmland has been regenerated back into beautiful New Zealand native forest over the course of 30 years.
Fools & Dreamers: Regenerating a Native Forest is a 30-minute documentary about Hinewai Nature Reserve, on New Zealand’s Banks Peninsula, and its kaitiaki/manager of 30 years, botanist Hugh Wilson. When, in 1987, Hugh let the local community know of his plans to allow the introduced ‘weed’ gorse to grow as a nurse canopy to regenerate farmland into native forest, people were not only skeptical but outright angry - the plan was the sort to be expected only of “fools and dreamers”.
Now considered a hero locally and across the country, Hugh oversees 1500 hectares resplendent in native forest, where birds and other wildlife are abundant and 47 known waterfalls are in permanent flow. He has proven without doubt that nature knows best - and that he is no fool.
An audio described (AD) version of the film is also available at • Fools & Dreamers (Audi...
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* More about Hinewai Reserve*
www.hinewai.org.nz
/ hinewai.org.nz
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** Film credits **
Directed by Jordan Osmond & Antoinette Wilson
Written by Antoinette Wilson, Jordan Osmond, and Nick Tucker
Producer: Antoinette Wilson
Executive producer: Quatro Trust
Cinematography: Jordan Osmond & Jason Hosking
Editing: Jordan Osmond
Sound recording: Anna Veale
Original score: Karl Steven and Ariana Tikao
Sound mixing: James Henderson
Color grade: Mike Kelland
** Subtitles and closed captions **
We love that so many people have translated for our films here on KZhead. If you’d like to be part of that community you can contribute by clicking the "..." below the video and selecting "Add translations" from the dropdown menu. Thanks for your help!
We've just released one of the full-length interviews we did with Hugh Wilson on our Patreon page! Check it out at www.patreon.com/posts/exciting-change-89890553 🙂
Im a single mom from Philippines, working as a Domestic Helper in the Middle East, i bought 16 has abandoned farm in my place, the reason is to protect my village from flashfloods and to prevent gold mining.. 5 years ago i planted 2000 hills of trees, and 10 months ago i planted 500 hills of fruit trees and 1000 hills coffee, ficus and endemic trees.. At the moment im propagating bamboo and nursing pine trees as well as native trees and will be soon to be planted for my next vacation.
Excellent! World needs more such as yourself.🌜🌞⭐🌍🌙💛✌
That is incredible. You're amazing!
wow!!! congrats!!! amazing work
Thank you 😊. I wasnt able to take my vacay due to pandemic.. I sent my trusted neighbors to plant my bamboo and pines 2 months ago and it went well.
@@mizpahfanaa9030 Of course, it's affected us all. I'm happy to hear your neighbours have helped you. Hopefully you can go back soon!
I'm definitely inspired. In a very small way, I accomplished something like this, completely by accident. As a child, saving my allowance, I came up with $8. Not much, even in the 60s. But, when I explained my plan to buy "Duck Food" seeds from the back of a Sportsman's magazine, my father matched my funds and I sent the check off... and got my seeds in a few weeks. I took the seeds to a property that my father owned. "Useless" swamp land that was just mud and weeds in most years + $16 worth of seeds, which isn't that much.., but I planted what I could reach... Not much without a boat. Life happened and I grew up, joined the military and completely forgot about the swamp. I happened to return a few decades later and was amazed. Somehow the vegetation spread all over the 10 or so acres, stopped the drainage and evaporation, and the swamp became a lake. 3 to 4 feet deeper. The amount of wildlife had exploded. Someone planted fish, or they came in as eggs stuck to the feet of waterfowl (as some people claim) There were 4 pairs of swans living there. Wood ducks, a rarity in the area. Things I had never seen in my youth. The opposite side of the former swamp was owned by a local radio station. Seeing what I had done, they designated several hundred acres as a private sanctuary. The half dozen homeowners on "my side" shut down any hunting that used to be unrestricted. Soooo.., I know the satisfaction you feel. Just a few tiny steps by an ignorant kid that wanted to photograph ducks... and nature took over. I consider it one of the great things I've done in this life. It is definitely the same as one's love of our mothers.
What a beautiful story. Thank you for your childhood dream, and for sharing your story. So uplifting! ❤️🌲🌱🐝💐🕊🦜❤️
this is a beautiful an inspiring story.
👍
Would love to see some pictures/videos from of this place.
A magnificent example how a little pure love and willing effort can create bountiful miracles! Nature is wonderful!
This man is like Santa, but instead of handling gifts to kids, he gave the world one giant present.
He kind of reminded me of the way my uncle looked. He looked like Santa, too. :)
exactly, couldn't have put it better myself
🤗😂😁
I doubt he would give coal to tha naughty children as well, we'd just burn it.
Damn, this is so right.😊 Hope we as a generation will put in our own contribution.
when this guy said we don’t expect to change the world, just do the right thing in this small corner of the world. We really need more people like this guy!
we need all of china to be like this guy or there's literally no point
@@leeboi222one quick question, who does china produce for?
@@tofupowda China's bullshit is not the rest of the world's fault. It was all enabled by the Chinese communist party.
@@totallynotdelinquent5933 what are you saying? do you even know how much the west, specifically the US, consumes from China? LMAO
"It's the people that pay the drug dealers that are bad" smh. OP is talking about charity starting at home. You two are arguing about China Vs the US when it will be global government that dictates what we can and can't do no in just our own countries but in our own houses in the name of "the greater good". China has it's own problems it needs to fix, the US has its own problem's it needs to fix. But as individuals we should work on what is around us.
About 30 years ago I replaced the grass lawn around my house with trees and shrubs. The neighborhood began as a forest and the contractors who built the subdivision removed most of the forestation and replace it with grass lawns. The few trees that remained in the neighborhood were removed by neighbors who cleared their lots with chainsaws and planted grass lawns. Now my property is surrounded with a tree canopy that does not need to be mowed, watered or fertilized. My house is cool and comfortable on all but three or four days out of a year when the outside temperature is over 95 degrees F. Those are the only days that require my central air conditioner to run. Most of the neighbors who clear cut their lots have to run their air conditioners 24 hours a day for, at least 6 months a year. My electric bill is about 1/4 th of the amount the neighbors pay. Once the forestation is started it completely takes care of itself and requires virtually no maintenance or intervention. The other lots in the neighborhood over the last 30 years have turned into patches of brown dead grass and patches of dirt that can no longer support plant growth. Without human intervention of watering, mowing, reseeding, applying weed control chemicals, insect control chemicals that kill grubworms, and fertilizers, grass lawns do not survive in our area. Deep root shrubs and trees are able to withstand periods of drought and remain green with almost no human intervention. david
You KNOW, David… GOD REWARDS STEWARDS OF HIS CREATION! Thank you and many blessings; in Jesus NAME, Living His PROMISE OF EVERLASTING LIFE!
That's what I want to do too! I would love to have ferns and trees.
It all makes such perfect sense. One would think it would catch on.
I spent Memorial Day weekend eradicating (trying to anyway) Black Swallow Wort in my hometown. Perhaps I saved a few Monarch butterflies in the process. It's a good start I think.
What I would like is for food to be planted as well. Because having large plots of land that produce nothing for people to eat, it sounds like a bad idea. This guy still has to eat. Does he buy his food from those big farmers that puts lots of monsanto in their soil?
Last year,I went down South to meet this amazing gentleman.I have read all his amazing botany books and when I met him,it felt so unreal.He was a living Lorax,and better. He made me crawl,climb,and hike,to show me every beautiful plants in this forest.Hugh,you are an inspiration.May I and more people can walk on your path and grow more prosper and sustainable nature
Wow that’s awesome if we all behaved like he does we can make a huge positive impact
Wow lucky you...god bless him and his family. World needs more people like them.
I am so jealous of you doing that
LOL.... Living Lorax has got to be the best compliment that Hugh can get!
where this at?
New Zealand shares a similar forest history with Ireland. Ireland was once 80% forest, eventually human activities brought that down to 1.4%. It's inspiring to watch this wonderful dreamer help nature to heal. I understand this man deeply, I've dreamt everyday of doing the same here, all I need is for the space to open up for me & I too will silently dedicate my entire life to mother nature.
it is uk that lead to the overcrowded cities etc.. which have brought the immigrants. It is the same situation in turkey now, puny dictator erdogan let 10 million syrians into the country for the last 10 years and syrian women fertility rate is even higher than their pre-civil war in turkey. 1 millon kids have been born from these immigrants so far and more are on the way. So eventually they need place and food and have costed turkey 40 billion dollars so far. That's why the apartment prices are skyrocketed and everywhere becomes concrete. They destroyed the forests and that's why there is extreme drought in turkey now, for example in my city, in winter almost everyday was rainy in winters before but for the last 2 years, through out the whole winter only 2-3 days it rained. turkey is becoming a desert day by day which arabs like to live in as they are used to.
Right..
Speak to six random people about your dream and watch it happen.
Greetings from Romania... I have seen your comment - Ireland is my favorite country in the Europe outside of Romania ❤ I do hope so to succeed to increase that 1.4% Went 1 week ago to Dublin again and seen that hills around Dublin are losing trees again ... I was so upset to see Tiknock Hill this way. Fingers cross for Ireland 🇨🇮
Colonisation took our trees. A squirrel could travel the length of the country without ever touching the ground. Now we have the lowest forest cover in Europe.
"Do your best ..... you can do it at any scale you want." Yes! Plants on a balcony, in a window, a yard, a median. Amazing human being. Thank You!
The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds. -Dalai Lama
So true, indeed. The planet needs dreamers. Most of the problems we are facing nowadays are associated with what the establishment sells as "successful people." Success has made a failure of our planet.
So true
We need to redefine success
Well I guess that depends on your definition of success, most Americans have been brainwashed into thinking monetary success = emotional/spiritual success.
@@tbone84828 it is already for Awakened people) there are two parallel worlds we live in, so there are two different definitions of Success, depending on which world we live. Thanks for pointing it out, it's a very important statement that you did!😉😊
Genius is often attributed to mathematicians and physicists. This gentleman is a genius in the field of conservation science. What an incredible achievement!
@Jonathan Genius an overused term. More suitable words to describe him would be persistent, very focused, curious and hard working.
if it's of the heart, they dont consider it genius--lol, what a way to live
I think that is an excellent description! noun: genius; 1. exceptional intellectual or creative power or other natural ability. 2. a person who is exceptionally intelligent or creative, either generally or in some particular respect.
100% He should be given a nobel prize!!
@@redefinedliving5974 I think they more so meant that "genius" does not have to be a phrase that we consider more important than persistent or curious. At least for me genius is less important than dedication; why praise someone for something they can't control when I can praise them for their actions instead
When you love what you do everyday it's not called work, it's called living. Hugh has the energy of a teenager and absolutely loves his life and reservation. I love this man and cannot wait to visit
I would love to do this, I am only 23 but it’s one of my dreams to buy a small plot of land and replant forest, when he said at the end you can only do your little corner really touched me and made me cry, what an inspiration
Let's go you can get land in USA 3k down 200 a month, go get degraded land and start planting Im with you !2023
What an amazing this to want at 23. Bless you. I don’t doubt you will see your Forrest.
"We need a more fools and dreamers in the world, I think" I think too.
well youre the fool.. we need more fools like you
@towels towels politicians are a breed of fool that is useful to nobody. the fools and dreamers we need have dirt under their fingernails.
and investors with ecological knowledge
we need less of everything actually, especially influencers
''But dreaming just comes natural Like the first breath from a baby Like sunshine feeding daisies Like the love hidden deep in your heart.'' ~John Prine ''Every living thing comes from, & returns back to His ever changing dirt. In between those two times; are they not fashioned by His Light, & Living Waters?'' ~Just another one, of the many one's of we... awaiting His return 9621
I inherited a few hectares of forest from my past father. Nothing much but I decided to preserve that land and forest instead of cutting the trees for money. This video inspired me.
Here king, you dropped this 👑
Thank you 😘
Thank u so much for doing this, your action might save countless species later on.
Good work brother that's awesome.
Thank you for doing this🌸
I was inspired by him and other permaculture dreamers to leave my Tech job and go back to the land. I am leaving my job in a few months in Miami to go back to my home country Colombia to start a project like this.
I wish you all the best!
Would you like to update us? What happened to you and your plans?
I just did a bit a small part of this magical forrest walk today. Its truely unbelievable what he did but its there! You can drink water from the waterfalls where most of our NZ streams and rivers have been ruined by farming. Thank you Hugh! You are a environmentalist amongst many who are just talk.
I visited Hinewai as a botany student in 97 or 98. Amazing to see how far it has come and that Hugh is still there with the same passion for the project. He is a true hero for living to his principles and teaching so many what is possible.
@Joe Smith New Zealand I believe sir.
Lucky you. .👍🏻
Hey could you give me tips on how to plant trees in a very rocky soil? or tips on how to find reforestation projects and such? I'm from another country, and I would like to help my land grow better but I don't know where to start.
Alistair Bull hello, I want to work with plants when I get a job. I’m thinking of going into botany. Can you tell me what it is you do?
Botany should be required in high school.
That man has kind eyes, a gorgeous laugh, a good heart in his chest, and a clever head on his shoulders. A true inspiration.
Well said
And I think it's adorable that he's sitting in the grass sketching what looks like a palm tree or something.
He looks so incredibly healthy for someone his age, really shows what being active your whole life can do
What an amazing person. I hope NZ are proud of having such a soul among them. Imagine a world with 10-20-1000000 like him
I've walked through Hinewai about three times over the years. A great place, and Hugh is a lovely guy.
"Though the problems of the world are increasingly complex, the solutions remain embarassingly simple ." Bill Mollision
"Man" is the only animal who creates the 'problems of the world'. Without humans mishandling our Ecosystem and polluting our Earth, there would be no "problems".
@@TheJcfclark Appreciate your comment. A dissuaded and jaded stranger would had probably remarked something along the lines of either social engineering or antinatal sentiments as proper solutions, but I think there still is a need to look for positivity and find solutions that aren't Draconian or brutal if we are to stick to The Golden Rule principle.
Amen!
@@TheJcfclark It may be hard to believe, but humans are the only ones who can set this planet in the right direction now. Reforesting the planet, cleaning pollutants from rivers, removing invasive species, switching to cleaner energy. That's the truth.
@@tparker2095 If humans would just stop, like we did when the world shut down in [March] 2020, Earth would begin to heal. Earth, like the human, is a living being. And like the human body, Earth can heal itself.
I'm "helping the honey bee" by planting flowers in my yard. I gotta admit, seeing the first bee on my flower gave me more pleasure then I expected.
I just killed a bunch
@@Meekerextreme killed a bunch of what....twinkies?? Yeah, we can see that.
Meanwhile me.. Was picking flowers from the savanna and put them in water pot. A week later i found a lil green caterpillar on the flower. So exhauted. I love forest but i have anxiety seeing caterpillars😢
@@Meekerextreme you definitely must not kill bees. Have a bee keeper remove them. They'll do it for free. Bees are critical to our entire existence and are dying off terribly.
@@skyinuri8868 Had you ever seen... I guess they call it jewel caterpillar in English they are absolutely gorgeous
We are experiencing overdevelopment of the environment on a massive blind scale. People like this good man should be allowed to save lands and restore some nature before we end this world. We are on the cusp of very crucial times and we must heed the warnings.
This is hugely inspiring! The planet urgently needs 100 million people like this guy.
I like the fact that he's living and doing the "green" lifestyle while not trashing or denying modern technologies
You dont have time to do both.
@@MrLoobu time maybe yes but they are yet not possible to combine. A lot of things should rather not be touched by technology and always be done manually and/or with simple tools.
I totally concur..it's all about the freedom of personal choice and sense of self accountability that too a very simple and life altering choice of personal social responsibility.
@@cleansyak don't be close minded lol.
Environmentalists are rarely anti-tech, that’s propaganda. Industry and capitalism (greed) are the enemy, not knowledge.
Please make a donation to the reservation, even a portion of one one of your lunch helps them! I made a donation and one day out of nowhere I got a hand written mail from Huge, thanking me in the sweetest way possible.
How can I make a donation?
@@josevalenzuela583 At the end of the video (28:39) it states: “FIND OUT HOW TO SUPPORT THE RESERVE AT FOOLSANDDREAMERS.COM” Not trying to be condescending, but I think that’d be the best resource to find out .
Hugh is a good man, high spirited with a caring nature and full of enthusiasm with a " no such thing as can't" attitude. If you think you can or if you think you can't, you'll be right... . We installed Hugh's Evacuated Glass Tube Solar Hot Water Heating system in 2012, great to see him promoting that technology as his point is if you want to conserve energy, dont use fossils if you have other choices and can afford to help in other ways. ...Best to use solar thermal energy to heat your water first, saves a family of 4 on average of 35% on energy costs in total per year, we know as we've been installing these kinds of systems since 2003. Hugh's system comes from Hejiah in China. SunshineSolar are the agents for importing and distribution here in NZ. Hugh is right, bikes for transport make the most sense where ever possible. Hydrogen-Electric paired with graphene super capacitors is the way forward, to wean off fossil fuels, synthetic fuels are best, made from Water, CO2 and off peak grid electricity. Sunfire.de offer this technology. Otherwise it will all.lead to more war. . . As in the movie "War Lords of the 21st Century" my father warned me about the future in 1982 when he took me to that movie at MidCity Cinema. Friends of my Dad made the movie and filmed it here in New Zealand. Best wishes to you all, God bless from us at envirowise.nz
Trang Luu ...okay, I'll send 1/3 of a tomato and 1/4 of a sanger.....cheers!
How did he get your adress if you donated over the website?
Amazing man, real example of good, hard working human being who changes world for the better not just talking about it.
What an inspirational story, good on you Hugh, you are a bloody legend and the world needs more people like you. To see the impacts humans have had on NZ in such a short space of time is very sad. Demonstrating that part of the solution is to do nothing more than give nature the space to repair itself is such a good example for others to follow. My wife and I purchased 150 acres of degraded farmland in the SW of Western Australia that borders a national park and our dream is to allow the land to return to the native woodland, this story gives me hope and inspiration that it is possible.
5:43 “Why are you restoring the forest?” is like saying, “Why should you love your mother?”
My mother stole 60 acres of 2nd generation forest in Western Washington from me. She had it all clear cut and sold off leaving her only child with no family or home. Evil.
@@russellm7530 that is so sad on so many levels.
Both good questions yet still needing a response to those that...do not. If you interact with the uninitiated you become an ambassador for the common good of everyone. It can plants seeds in the minds of those who "just don't get it".
Jes great!~I do all the time and showing it. im now working on the mirrors under city trees planting bulbs and citchen herbs!
The same people ask why you are reading when they see you with a book. ''Whatch u readin fer?''
He has so much peace in his face, smile, voice and soul. What an incredible story. I wish Iraqis can work to counter the damage of wars and drought like this man
They can.
Maybe if Iraqis are all well-doing colonialist descendants apt at raising huge funds from nondescript sources for prestige projects.
Have a look at Greening the Dessert in Jordan (Geoff Lawton).
I have been here at Banks Peninsula during my travelling in New Zealand in 2020 and did some hiking in this beautiful nature reserve! What a passion from these people to help restoring it. The results are incredible! What a beautiful country New Zealand is and nice people living there.
what will happens when he dies? will they destroy it again and exploit it for a few bucks
What a remarkable man. He truly has found his purpose in life. 🌿
Dewanga W. As Mark Twain once said, the two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.
I don't think it is finding his purpose but more like having awoken to the fact that there is no separation. Like loving your Mother (5:48 ) who gave birth to him and raised and sustained him. Loving bird life as a child and being fascinated and in awe of the plants that he grew in his garden as a child. Though we are all connected to Nature he really knows it in his being....to the majority of us it is just words.
He is still trying to find the purpose but still searching
Think about the fact that this man is 75 years old. His energy is amazing!
His soul is fat AF, tho.
@@emanuels4961 ???
@@EmilM-pb2hn you know.. big soul? It's a good thing xD
That is What doing What you love Does to you! And beeing a little of a foolish dreamer 😂
Yupp
We need open land to feed our bodies and wild natural lands that feed our souls and imagination. Love this
This man is truly living. I feel jealous but I don’t want to be. This man has inspired me.
"We need a few more fools and dreamers in the world, I think."
We need a ton more. Majority of people today are sheepsters (naive unimaginative hipster sheep people) who casually fallen into a trap called consumerism without any positive gain instead destroying our planet and with it our future.
theREALmurtibing it will go down the pan if everyone thinks like you....
So true..
Thanks Internet, mobile phone, electricity for letting me see this video 🌞🌞🌞🌞
We need these fools and dreamers to be the leaders of the world.
"the world needs more fools and dreamers" may this man live forever through our history books, what he has done is beyond words. very well played old chap.
sadly he wont be in any history books lol just look at what in them now
💥💫🙏✨🌍🌠
The world is already full of fools.
There some people in this planet who brings great thoughts of inspiration, love, compassion, and well being, not only to humans, but to Earth itself. This gentleman is one of those people. One of the few, who don't only think for themselves enrichment of wealth, but to humanity. What a great video to find that there's someone who really cares.
This man is a hero. People like him have a special place in my heart.
Hugh Wilson and his ilk are the true heroes and warriors of our time. I thank them from the bottom of my heart and assure them that I do my best to do my small bit for our planet, our home.
@james jezinvedn Not in its literal form and certainly not meant in the negative as I am sure you understood.
@Earthly Fireflies ... thank you for sharing this.
@Earthly Fireflies ... yes, I would ... thank you.
"Our intention was just to do the right thing in this corner of the word. If that's repeated over and over again, the possibilities are immense. The problems are immense but the solutions are immense too."
We're big fans of what you're doing in your corner of the world, Ben :)
@@happenfilms thanks, ditto!
Larry Niven, the "hard" science fiction writer, once wrote he thought we'd destroy this planet until it was almost unlivable ... then, fix it. The good part being that then we'd know how to terraform other planets!
@Allen Marlin Let's check back in with each other in 2100. 😁
@Allen Marlin I'm not familiar with Russian studies but I have looked at American astronauts, and I agree with you on the results. Not saying space will be easy ... but ... "The Earth has been the cradle of mankind. Yet we cannot stay in the cradle forever." One of the earliest Soviet scientists who developed the equations to solve orbital calculations.
This is beyond fascinating. No science gibberish, no expensive tools, no capitalism bs... Just a nature-loving person who's devoted his life to it. If environmental activism looked like this, the world would now be overgrowing with greenery right now. Hugh is a national, hell... he is a global treasure that everyone around the world should look up to.
If environmental activism doesn’t look right to you do it yourself!
Science gibberish?
@@savannap5124 pretty sure I saw it in the comments being used, that’s why I commented haha
Imagine thinking science is gibberish. kek
@@SS369 Ecology is a scientific discipline and science is the way we understand how the world works, if we didn't have it we wouldn't understand why destroying the biosphere is so bad and almost nobody would care about environmentalism.
Inspirational. I love the 'fools and dreamers' label. I always considered myself one of those. Trying to do my part in Galicia, NW Spain. Bring back native plants and regenerate an old granite quarry. Fighting invasive Australian Acacia and Eucalyptus pulp plantation.
Someone should nominate him for the Nobel prize he deserves it. In the world of fake environmentalist, he is doing an amazing job!
sits in their new tesla and on their new iphone they complain about farmers using diesel tractors or people eating meat
@@einar8019 The issue is not a few modern conviences, but in areas we dont need them why destroy stuff for it? Big solution is shipping industry going to traditional methods. Building sustainable buildings. Less roads more railroads. More natural building material. Less robots doing work more good old fashioned human labor.
@@joseonwalking8666 exactly!!!!
@@joseonwalking8666 sometimes.. in the comments.. you stumble upon a view you have never heard before. Like the idea that robots replacing humans for certain tasks might be non-environmentally friendly. It's a interesting take. I don't know if it's true but something to consider.
He knows his plants, hes certainly a revolutionary of sorts. He is to forestry perhaps what Nikola Tesla is to electricity or maybe Viktor Schomburg is to water
This man is a gift and a treasure. I adore his smile and energy. Thank you for spotlighting him and his work!
if this guy was a grandfather, he would be an immense blessing to his grand children
These are the environmentalists I can get behind. Hands on and dedicated. One action form one man can change the lives of thousands.
"The problems are immense, but the solutions are immense too". Hugh
That quote is beautiful. I like it
We are each a piece of the solution. There are so many ways to be more in harmony with Nature and walk gently upon the Earth (please add to this list any that I left out): 1) Organize, coordinate, and consolidate your trips away from home... for shopping, work, visiting.... 2) Re-use your resources... refill bottles and jars.... 3) Re-purpose your resources... old clothing can become smaller or interesting new designer clothing, or shopping bags, or braided into rope or rugs. Search online for repurposing common household items into fun and useful items! 4) Recycle and compost... bring what you can to be made into new materials, kitchen and yard waste makes wonderful rich soil that you then don’t have to buy! 5) Tap into Renewable Energy... passive solar and geo-thermal energy with the design of any building; set black pots in the sun to pre-warm water for cooking; cook when you can with solar cookers; place a large tub of water in a south window to collect the heat of the sun to regulate a room’s temperature; soak your grains and legumes overnight and maybe sprout them too before you cook them to increase their nutrition and reduce their cooking time; set heat absorbing rocks on your radiator or near other heat sources to help regulate the temperatures... 6) Eat your leftover food... a lot of it makes delicious soup when added to a broth! Bread crumbs flavored with your favorite spices from dry bread is better than any store bought variety. 7) Learn what heals you on a daily basis... the edible weeds growing nearby are likely healers specifically for you, take time regularly to decompress through being in touch with Nature somehow, focus on what brings mutual joy to you and those who live around you or who touch your life in some way; keep your focus proactive and on win win scenarios and solutions.... 8) Plant something and nurture it. Help someone with their plants or garden if you don’t know much about plants. 9) Learn about the concept and lifestyle of Permaculture.
@@louisegogel7973 you can show people a video I made too 😄 kzhead.info/sun/mqVqd7l6i6pmZmg/bejne.html
This is great and inspiring! Let me introduce another competent fool, a LOVE ALL MUSIC dreamer, who developed a true natural worldmusic. Check out this same awareness in music! It's only one from 200 beautiful nature-music movies! kzhead.info/sun/eqqnms2xa6t8apE/bejne.html
Simply put, this man is the epitome of the term "A Life Well Lived".
What a wonderful world we would have if everyone adopted just a tiny bit of this mans view. Absolutely amazing, love it! ❤️❤️❤️
Have you - did you?
Imagine ... this man plants a forest and big wild animals come live there and have families... I think he has been awarded by nature herself... he must be sleeping like a baby every night God bless this man and may he live looooong🥰
"Bicycle is the peak of transportation technology" That's so true!
Yes, I agree, 100% and respect your saying 💗. Let's go green 🌿 :))
Bicycle Rickshaw: Am I a joke to you?
@@JarthenGreenmeadow they're hard to fit in tight spaces
I think it's sad that once a person reaches adolescence that they automatically have to purchase a vehicle.
One vehicle per every human being then all that ancient fossil fuel burned daily and for mostly non essential reasons
Not only Hugh has found the true meaning of being human, he’s also one of the healthiest & happiest ones in this world.
And just think about what he leaves behind.his legacy.Not many make the world a little bit better than before.The man is living his dream.
Anyone can if they own land, its actually the simplest thing to do when companies get out of the way and give us our land back.
I am deeply impressed of what Hugh has created in his lifetime. I makes more sense than lots of other jobs we are doing as human beings. I send a big THANK YOU.
So beautiful history, after massive destruction we can see the forest thriving again! thanks to those Men and women who are putting in the effort for this change to happen! Big hugs from Brasil
My family has embarked on an attempt at native dry/mesic forest restoration on 1600 acres of land in Hawai‘i. We also want community enjoyment/benefit to be part of the package. It's going to be a long and difficult project, but I'm proud and grateful for the opportunity to do it. A pleasure to learn about Hinewai... uplifting and inspirational!
Nice plan! It's can be not so hard, as Nature provides us with everything (for instance - birds and flying foxes are among the best planters
@@meruvillerupaya3242 Nature is itself something that is being provided. Nature cannot provide, as it itself is being provided to you, by The Father in Heaven. God is the one providing and deserves the credit. Please understand that God created all of this (this world), it did not just appear out of nothing on it's own.
@@stephanieadlersfeld8713 sod off with your god, wichever one you refer to.
would be cool if we got in touch, we are doing something like that in Mexico, we created also an institute
@@eduardomen81 Where in Mexico??
I grew up here, always wondered why no one planted trees again on Banks Peninsula. It's such a barren dry wasteland. Then Boom! Who would have thought Gorse could solve NZ problems, when I thought it was the problem. What a guy! Theres a few Aussie blokes who discovered how to turn nutrient deficient land into usable farms and slo repairing water ways to bring back water to dried up creeks. You could do a series before the knowledge is lost. Fell in love with this piece. An inspiration to us all. Will share with all my friends and family back home. Made me want to move back there and help. Thank you!
So much passion and love for the land A man really walking the talk and constant action to call for the landscape Beautiful 💚🌿
He turns something no one dares to do into something that is encouraged for everyone to do! We praise for such a pioneering action.
My family and I are currently on 4 acres of forgotten old growth forest just south of Seattle Wa. We were displaced by greedy developer's and rendered houseless. Rather than remain in the city chaos the love of my life and I found Inspiration in this story and am restoring this beautiful patch of forest wetland that's is being chocked out by surrounding housing developments. A true purpose, walking with an open mind and heart; the spirit willing in the path of the native indigenous harmony in simplicity, not excess. I am forever greatfull to have seen this video. It saved my existence from certain doom.
One of my favorite video games as a kid had a scene where a robot spent 400 years rebuilding a forest, and it's something that's always stuck with me. It's amazing that it can be done by mortals in a mere 30 years. How truly inspirational!
Greg Cale what game was it?
@@bullskitter ChronoTrigger for the SNES, one of the all-time greats. Here's the scene in question: kzhead.info/sun/a8ODdcx6fnappZE/bejne.html
Chrono Trigger is my favourite game of all time and that scene stuck with me as well. I love it so much, thank you for remembering that.
Stidy western civilization and you'll be more amazed what early man is capable of around the world. The Fertile Crescent, the Incas, Aztecs, Mayans, Greeks and Romans. It doesnt take long for nature to reclaim agricultural land. Just look at Chernobyl.
This one guy can do what the governments cannot! Amazing inspiration!
Hugh is a gift to this earth. Many lessons can be learned from this man, what a great inspiration.
I appreciate this documentary so much, I live in South Africa and want to make the same thing happen to help our wildlife come back. This film will be the catalyst for change.
Eendag...
Doen dit
You can help by using Ecosia! It's a search engine that uses its profits to plant native trees in their habitats around the world. They have a youtube channel that documents their projects regularly too.
We are doing this on the Garden Route. 80 hectares so far and thriving.
kan jy afrikaans praat???
This is my new go to film if ever I start believing that we cannot make change on a personal level. Hugh Wilson speaks with words of wisdom!
Paul White my new tonic and antidepressant
Gotta Love That common sense
true that Every individual can make a difference if they're determined to! Imagine now if we all start working together for same purpose
My biggest heartache in life is the devastation of natural habitats by man on a daily basis. You just have to zoom into any "green" looking area on Google Earth to see the infection we create. I applaud people like this who are making a genuine change. I intend doing the same in my little bit of our precious Earth. Thank you for sharing this documentary Happen Films.
Invest in the future:)
This man should get an award or something. Love the way he thinks with his care for nature
Inspiring! I planted 300 hazel trees in my local park here in South London. We created a forest school for local primary school kids. Wherever you are you can make a difference.
Forest schools are destroying our local healthland as so many groups from all over the city are using the space. They are not always a good thing. Be careful how you treat the land and the species around you, esp the birds, who will move away to avoid disturbance.
I’ve heard those forest schools are awesome! For kids right?
I live in the silicon valley. The hills surrounding the entire valley are completely barren. People think it was always that way, but it was not.
Yes, it’s sad to look at those hills here in the Bay and know it was once so different. One reason I often find myself going back to Santa Cruz. So much more wild green around.
I lived in Silicon Valley before that's what it was known as, and we had orchards and orchard of plums, prunes, and many other fruits. SOME of it certainly could be put back if there were the will (God knows there's enough money there to accomplish that), but those people seem to be only interested in money, money, and more money. When my partner and I had 20 acres in Oregon we (he mostly!) planted over 500 conifers on our acreage, as his career was forestry, and that's just what made sense to us to do. We moved to the east coast for several years and then back to Oregon. When last I checked and I drove past the old place the trees were about 25 feet tall. A mini forest. People of that sort that Hugh Wilson is, are the people who inspire whole generations and will help to save our world. #ThankYouHugh Well done, @ Happen Films, for telling this story so well. Gorgeous work.
silicon valley residents always ignoring the beautful area between them and santa cruz
That will become increasingly true everywhere. It needs to change. We plan on buying land to plant trees on.
Bring back the coastal redwoods in your area. Make it a mission. Those trees are one group of only a few old stands left that help sustain the energy of this planet. Getting lost on purpose in the community forest next to Arcata was the high point of my life so far.
This guy is my new favorite human being. What a bloody legend!
This is awe inspiring. If we survive on this planet and manage to bring it back to full life it’s because of people like Hugh.
Amazing film! We bought an eight hectar block of old farmland 2 years ago. We told the local farmer to put his cows somewhere else and since then the forest is regenerating so fast, it's a joy to watch.
Tshaika hopefully the indigenous eco-systems will continue to thrive without man’s stupidity
@@annieconway8998 I scared that five gee will kill everything on the planet if we can't stop it.
@@tshaika9165 hey, bachelors in biochemistry here can say without a doubt that 5G doesn't do anything to you enough for it to matter, at the very least it's non-ionizing as well, so it's not causing cancer. If you want to be worried about that, the thin film of fossil fuel excess that coats every breath you take is kind of... you know, a much bigger and more pressing thing
@@NoConsequenc3 I'm highly sensitive to EMF, so I can decide for myself what has a negative effect on my body, without consulting any paid -off scientists. People less sensitive than me who are living too close to those 5g antennas get nose bleeds and severe headaches. Stop buying that brainwashing propaganda about the harmlessness of untested technology.
@@tshaika9165 5g is fine bro.
I love people like him. I also just start to plant trees on all of my fields to give some shadow for my vegetables. I just planted 50 Trees in my Garden the last 3 years :)
What vegetables do you grow? Wouldn't it be interesting if the trees you planted for shade were also fruit trees?
@@alicia-hd2cs hey, i grow everything from tomatos, peppers, chillis, cucumbers, melons, all div. Herbs. Sometimes 50 different things, mostley for harvesting the seeds. I plant everything from fruit to normal leave trees, or pines.
Sounds like you've started a food forest 🙂
Fool and a dreamer?Id say he was wise and a realist.I love stories like this.A little bit of hope still glimmers in this world.
I appreciate people like this so much. I also feel that connection to nature, where it's the same parallel as loving your mother, except nature is the mother of us all, and life would be impossible without her. Where I live, no one cares about the forest anymore. The roadsides are littered with trash, and as the years go by, more and more disappear to make way for buildings and parking lots. It's hard to watch the place of your childhood disappear into nothing.
I have 10 acres in southern Washington State where I am doing the same. Love your creative approach with the invasives!
where do I start?
That could be done on a smaller scale by people who have huge expanses of lawn. If it became a thing to plant at least 1/3 of your property with trees it would make a big difference over time. Lawn, after all is useless, polluting, time consuming and expensive.
Learn about how to have an organic lawn, or go with an alternative lawn that utilizes native plants. Seek out native flowers, trees, mosses, lichens, fungi, etc. for your yard, and create a design that is more natural and that appeals to you. This will support native pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. Learn about mycology and how certain types of fungi support the various native plants and trees you have access to, as well as how they can drastically increase the immune systems of bees. Research mycorestoration and how fungi can purify water and clean up pollution. Get involved in local native plant societies and restoration efforts. Find a local mushroom society. Make a firm commitment to learn how to manage land without the use of pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers, and herbicides. Listen to interviews and podcasts from Advancing Eco Agriculture, and consider how you can apply some of those principles and practices to your own property, even on a small scale. Be inventive and think outside the box for ecologically healthy solutions to problems you encounter. Be creative, and enjoy nature. 🌿🍄🦎☺️
I'm looking at land that is stunningly pristine with no invasives! I'm afraid to do anything as humans so easily muck things up. I've got to find a permaculture consultant to help me get started w making the most of the land while being a steward of the land as well.
My mother stole 60 acres of 2nd generation forest in South western Washington from me. She had it all clear cut and sold off leaving her only child with no family or home. Evil. Just evil.
Very inspirational! 'No one person can solve these massive problems, so all you can do and all the universe can expect of you is to do your best.' -Hugh Wilson
This man is delightful and so thoughtful.
I'm completely blown away and amazed that people like Hugh exist! His story and the work he's done for almost all of his life is just...wow! He is a gift from God for this earth! This is the 3rd time I've watched this and...every time I couldn't stop myself crying a bit! It's impossible for this kind of acts to not touch something in your soul! I hope God will keep Hugh alive another 100 years...or more!
I personally know Hugh from my previous travels to NZ. He is an amazing person, and he has done an amazing lifetime work in Hinewai reserve. Wish there were more people like him. Keep up the good work and shooting such nice films. I have friends in Australia who also had done bush regeneration, would be interesting to do a film with them too. Best Wishes, Istvan from Hungary
I am buying 20 acres of barren land in India and making it a open land 'baag' a forest of native trees using miyawaki way
Great work
Where are you from?
@Lets Change The World - Together. From which state of India is what I asked for actually! I am from India too..
Miyawaki method can be used in small patches and not on 10-20 acres of land. There are many videos about indian people who turned semi Arid and arid areas into forests. I would suggest you to dog trenches and ponds and convert atleast 5-10% of your land for rain water harvesting method. . Please watch KZhead channels "scroll eco" and "down to earth" to learn more. 👍🏽
kzhead.info/sun/dpRxdqWZZIiinWg/bejne.html
This man is an example for us all, and he deserves the recognition of the highest possible recognition. A good person, a great conservationist. Thanks for sharing, it's given me hope.
One single man doing everything. His so amazing. We all need to learn from him
I visited this place and meet Hugh about 20 years ago. Even back then I was hugely impressed by what he was doing and the massive chances seen in the landscape. Banks Peninsula has lost so much forest, and looking at its barren hills its hard to imagine that once its was an ancient forest of Rimu, Totara, Kahikatea and Beech. Great effort and passion. Hugh is one person I really want to be like~
This is my dream in life. To regenerate a forest for wildlife and live off of the land.
Your dream will become true. Believe it and you'll see it💚
I have the same dream! But no land and no means to do it.
learn to do it on mars (and space more generally). Not a lot of competition so if you do it you'll be at the front of the line.....besides...if you can do it on mars...
@@chrisallum9044 We can't do nothing on Mars. Don't believe the bullshit that Elon Musk buffoon spits around. All we have now is Earth, about which we still know next to nothing. Let's focus on preserving it. When we nail it, we can start thinking about Mars...
Me2💚🌱💚
Utterly inspiring. We need more people like this and more projects like this. Here in the UK, developers are taking over and it seems literally nothing is safe anymore. Ancient forest is felled, ancient and historic monuments and places are under threat. It seems not one piece of green land is safe or sacred. We are a tiny island, yet our government doesn’t seem to care. It’s terrifying.
ONE OIECE
There are some inspiring rewilding projects taking place in the U.K. It’s good to look them up as a reminder that it’s not all terrible.
I've been there as a volunteer. Its not only both amazing as a forest, but the little sanctuary, the home made train and tracks and art hidden around here and there makes it extra special 😊
What a beautiful, intelligent,forward thinking soul. I adore him. ❤️
Is forward thinking the starvation of people?
Trip D it maybe our undoing
@@tripd4949 no one in New Zealand is starving... Only third world people's who shouldn't be reproducing are starving.
what an amazing person. really impressive. seen people like him restores my faith in humanity
Yes he doesn't care about anybody...., at least he is not harming anyone or the environment..., He is a great human being n great service for the environment....👌👌👌👌
@@navarra-qf2ds so what? You'd lash out at that? Get a fucking hobby
this is beautiful. we’re given water, food, air, and shelter by the earth and so many of us will only continue to harm it in return. gorgeous to see someone so in love with mother nature as to help her restore some of the land
As a U.S. citizen, I have always (my adult life) had a strong closeness/admiration for this Island Country. New Zealand is, without question, of among few on page one, having the greater social presence and dedication to the rule of law. In my final chapter, my bones would rest well here. North I.- - South I. Either - -OK! Thanks so much, Hugh Wilson for this presentation.
The world needs more "fools an dreamers" like him.
It kind of reminds me of that Beatles song "Fool on the hill"
we need to be like him.
It has always been a pipe dream of mine to one day buy some farmland and take it back to how it ought to be. Warms my heart to see someone actually doing it and with such spectacular results! What a beautiful human being
Though, take "it" back to live on/off it. Sustainable methods to survive & thrive. Passive solar, capture rainwater, food forest benefits wildlife too...
I have the same dream
It will be waste. We need food.
have you read the book Wilding? google knepp, they have let it all go wild
FacePuncher you must be fun at parties
Someone should nominate him for the Nobel prize. He deserve it !
A very cynical-ignorant thing to say, and I wouldn't even object, hah. It fits into all the human theater. Alfred Nobel was an explosives manufacturer who supplied the weapons industry. In the same sense it is also worth pointing out that the Pulitzer Prize is named after someone who helped inflame a war through a sensationalist media war with his competitor Hearst. It should not surprise anyone that with such levels of unaddressed but abetted corruption we end up with the German Green Party being a gigantic menace to the whole environment including humans. The lesson is that unless people wisen up and learn the crucial value in overcoming fear as motivation, the lessons will get harsher and harsher.
What a WONDERFUL project, brought into being by one man’s dream and a support team of dedicated people. Thank you for this encouraging video. ❤️🙏🙏🙏❤️
There are other people too who say that older people lose their fire to complete their passion. This video proves otherwise. The fire never ceases.
no one says that... at least people who think. what actually happens is people have their tendencies exaggerate further over time
@@raymondflagstaff2919 nothing to lose
@@raymondflagstaff2919 'When our memories outweigh our dreams, it is then that we become old.' - Bill Clinton. It is a common belief that old people stop trying to accomplish their dreams. People actually says that.
@@_Vivienne_ a nice saying but sounds like something Mr. Clinton should be saying in front of a jury of his peers to be believable. (epstein anyone?)
I feel I should ask my local school to show this at assembly. I'm in Northland and the terrain fits the bill perfectly. They go home to the short term scenery. So inspiring. Thank you.
Great man and a much greater human being. Deserves a noble peace Prize for bringing about an amazing change that most of us think are impossible and too taxing
What an amazing man and what a beautifully simple vision. His “counterintuitive” comments on the function of gorse in the forest growth cycle is profoundly illuminating.