Amazing 23-Year-Old Permaculture Food Forest - An Invitation for Wildness
In the small town of Riverton at the bottom of New Zealand’s South Island is Robert and Robyn Guyton’s amazing 23-year-old food forest. The 2-acre property has been transformed from a neglected piece of land into a thriving ecosystem of native and exotic trees where birds and insects live in abundance. Robert and Robyn are a huge inspiration to us, not only for their beautiful approach to healing the land and saving heritage trees and seeds, but for the way they’ve impacted on their local community.
They’ve operated an environment centre in their town for over 20 years, where the community comes together to learn and discuss, buy produce and sit by the warm fire over a cuppa. We’ve even heard of folk who’ve up and moved to Riverton because they’re so inspired by the Guytons!
South Coast Environment Society: www.sces.org.nz
Robert and Robyn on Facebook: / theforestgardeners
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I just got a 50 acres of erotioned land in the east side of Guatemala, my Main goal is to fix and make that place a Paradise, by my example the surrounding communitys Will start doing the same. I belive we can change these world for the better step by step. Cheers from Momostenango Guatemala.
I'm with you, Alejandro!
Alejandro! Send us an update! How is it going?
I just read this. Alejandro, how is your paradise doing?
We are with you!
Alejandro, ¿como te fue con tu proyecto?
“My philosophy in life about what to do in the world isn’t to go to a pristine area and live there and enjoy your life; it’s to find a place that’s degraded and fix it up” - Robert Guyton. Love that philosophy. We need more Roberts in the world. Thanks for the amazing video.
I loved that quote so much that I just had to put it at the beginning! Hopefully this film will inspire a few more Roberts and Robyns. Glad you liked it Justin :)
Hardly relevant though is it? this place is about as pristine as it gets, it`s NZ ffs.
Super easy to have that kind of land right
dumatwo Yes actually. Any yard or land not covered in concrete could be changed to be this way. That's the point. Get rid of so much grassy lawns and plant like they have. From tall trees for shade on down... Imagine - ugly neighborhoods. Areas of urban blight. Old Supermarkets that have been closed - could become forests that create clean air, cool in heat, warm in cold, bring food, and have songbirds etc. As well as lots of fresh organic fruit, vegtables, spices, herbs (you can even make hot and cold herbal drinks from those.) But we need to look at land that way
The good news is, degraded lands are usually the most affordable. With good reason. The property in central Ontario Canada that my wife and I bought in 1984 was identified as a gravel pit on one topographical map. It was actually 32 acres of degraded farm land further destroyed by humans with destructive habits, toys and machines. Almost no trees and no wild life. It was essentially a man made desert. We bought it cheap and have for over 30 years worked hard to bring it back to a state of natural health. Now we live in a paradise with trees gardens and wildlife all on the edge of a city surrounded by agricultural deserts. There is still plenty of work to do as there can only do so much one can do in a life time. The key is to do whatever you can to make where you are better in whatever way you can. Plant trees, practice good land stewardship and be patient.
"I haven't done anything at all. I've just stopped interfering..." Words to live by.
What a powerful thought.
"Life is Easy. Why do we make it so hard?" - Jon Jandai
@@YourFrienjamin mostly because that's half the fun. We just forget that the other half is fun too.
@@Ludifant really? stressing over money, bills, "career", etc is half the fun? we are brainwashed into the corporate system.. that isnt fun
Having grown up with straight sided very neat vegetable gardens, fruit trees planted in rows with lots of mowed grass underneath and my chickens confined in pens, I’m hopping it’s not to late to change as I head into my 70’s. Moving house soon looking forward to a new garden and challenge doing it the permaculture way this time, it’s never too late to learn.
G,day hope you're doing well,books my bill Mollison has good books on permaculture.
I hear ya, somtimes It's clear to see it less about learning maybe more about being human and excepting it's alright to be human and allow people to be organised on thier own terms so we can all have a part of paradice and feel comfortable together
I hope it's going well--it's never too late to start! Best to learn through trying things, but if you decide you want to learn a bit via reading, I can't recommend Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway enough. I only started learning about permaculture in the past year, and that book is such a phenomenal resource for getting into permaculture. I read through a lot of forums at first to find book recommendations, and that one came up more than any other, and for good reason. Mollison is great as well of course, seeing as he co-founded the modern movement, but I personally found it a bit denser, so just my two cents. Anyways, sorry for rambling on, I hope you're finding some happiness in your new place :)
I'm 27year old born Jamaican living in London it's my dream to return to Jamaica and live this way , cannot wait, wonderful food forest garden
Digioia lifesLovers yes! this is my dream too, i’d love to live near blue mountain.
@@leaf1952 I'm from trinityville lots of mountain where I am 1 day. 1 day
Then just do it!!!
@@boblee5472 definitely going to ❤️
beautiful dream! Love it
I can't tell you how relieved I am to hear from others who are allowing some "wildness" into their yards. I'm doing the same in the suburbs and it's not always appreciated by everyone and it can feel lonely to be so different.
Human-generated wildness, Barbara - it's humanity's only viable future, imo :-)
same, everyone out here in the suburbs has the mentality that all they need is a green lawn in the yards. They don't know about all the types of plants and trees that they could get to make their plot of land look more appealing and healthy. People out here have so little care for their outdoor living that in the bay area of california, an average yard is literally the size of a narrow alley, people don't know what they are missing.
good news is when shtf you will have plenty of food to live off. i'd rather be living like you then them.
It dont matter what they think, they just have bad spirits and they like the ugly world
Please upload the pictures of your yard and dont ever feel lonely in your efforts as we re all here to enjoy your hard work .
This is such an inspirational couple. Because of this video I've started to convert my grassy areas into permaculture and now I have a bird, bug, bee oasis. We've never seen this many animals on our 2.5 acres and the bird song is so magical. I shared this video with my 80+ year old friends and that has inspired them to do the same. Our friends think we haven't weeded our flower beds and the weeds have taken over and we say "No, that's on purpose...it creates habitat, keeps the soil moist and feeds the bees". Thank you for producing this video and opening my eyes to alternatives to conventional gardening. LOVE IT!!
God bless you
Oh Jennie, good on you. I was given a boost too, by Robyn's words.
Oops Robyn's love for her apple trees. Roberts' philosophical words are what inspired me the most.
Walking on weeds, rather than using blades, weedwhackers or herbicides, is such a simple, effective and non-toxic idea. I LOVE IT!
Yeah, until you step on a venomous snake. Best wear some cowboy boots if they're around.
Snakes go away if you make noise
@@elloohno1349 tell that to a cotton mouth. Most bites occur due to people stepping on or too close to snakes. Some snakes rely on their camouflage.
@@CriticalThinker27 no snakes in New Zealand
We've been developing a forest garden for over a decade. As I was watching this video, I kept thinking, "these folks sound like they've ACTUALLY grown a forest garden". There is a stark contrast in the dialogue of someone who has just earned a permaculture certification and someone who has been "forest-gardening" for a considerable part of their life. Beautiful documentary!
Thank You ... All who are responsible for this video and it being here. This is how my late husband Rick wanted us to live ... along with solar and hydro power. We had 9 acres, had been a fruit orchard at one time so still had some fruit trees there when we came along. We only had 6 1/2 years there before he died but he at least died while working toward this goal, he was a very content man. He would have loved this video ... this man makes me think of him ... a lot. He was such an intelligent but humble and soft spoken man, who believed with all his heart that nature knew best and we needed to learn to work with it ... he would never use pesticides or herbicides ... He lived what he preached in his Environmental Resources class he taught (he was a biologist).
My favorite part is that he goes out at night and plants things on the sides of the road 😂
Guerilla gardening! I have a friend who does that too.
Beautiful! I’m over here taking notes. I need more layers
@Skanda Annadana q
@@goodlifehomestead6876 this is the kind of guerrillas i wanna see
@@goodlifehomestead6876 i love setting mints free ;)
It's such a joy to watch Robyn. She seems like a butterfly herself. So happy with her lifestyle and garden.
Ah yes..
Yes, her joy is so evident! It is so pleasant to see her enjoyment.
that's what struck me too. Thus, she's a very authentic voice in agroforestry.
Indeed. God bless you!
This is my idea of heaven on earth. Beautiful people who truly understand how we are connected deeply to the Earth and all of her Beings. Try living without the earth, try not breathing her air or drinking her water or suspend yourself from her gravitational pull. It's not going to happen. The Earth is our home. We need her to survive and thrive. This video lifts my spirits and that couple truly are amazing people. I wish the world was filled with more like them. Namaste.
I agree I agree I agree
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Well done Say brother ir sister, cheers and love from Guatemala
Agree 💪
It lifts my spirt up see people like this wonderful couple, they are enjoying nature naturally !!! Greetings from Argentina
Full respect. I want to do something like this with my life.
Best of luck with it Eric :)
Same Here
Satisfy your ego my property ♥
ME TOO
If we valued fertile soil like we do gold, the world would be a very different place
Whenever Robyn would be on ....I could not help but smile...she's infectious....the insects and the birds and the insects and the birds and the .....insects ....birds.
When I moved here twenty years ago I pretty much quit mowing, put in a huge garden, and bought several fruit trees. The earth took care of making her own permaculture situation. I'm enhancing it now that I'm learning more. Thanks for this video and cheers to the community around the world.
God bless you
This is my future! I have dozens of illnesses and autoimmune diseases but this life is going to heal me, I truly believe that ❤
Be a vegan, but do it for the animals and perhaps the planet, but forget human health. There are too many of us. Coming from a disabled vegan.
It looks a million times better than a lawn. and is less work to maintain.
We're talking about the beard, right?
Robert Earnshaw 🤣
too bad you would probably get fined for that.
It takes time and effort to create and maintain a fruit forest, plus you still have to pull weed out, prune branches, irrigate when it's very dry and keep certain animals (feral pigs) off
Less work to maintain? Not likely but that doesn't stop me I look forward to landscaping 'work' in my yard.
I began gardening in a similar manner about 6 years ago, totally unaware of this potential trend. Lets hope it's a natural revelation emerging in the human psyche. We need it.
Take a look at Masanobu Fukuoka
I think it is. God bless you
"There are a lot of things that could depress you out in this world , but if you take that each negative act as an opportunity or provocation to do your thing, then it's a winnable game" Thank you for such motivational words. Saving the world, planting a food forest. Sometimes I just feel like I will have to do it all alone, as I am not living in a community that is enthusiastic about these ideas. Sometimes I fear failure and loneliness. But thank you from the bottom of my heart, for the words that keep my dream alive.
It all starts with one person, be the change you want to see in the world ( or in your community) Good luck and don't give up
right there with you ❣️🍄 when i feel lonely in this dream, i think of the mycelial network.... connecting us all in unseen ways so that a few of us bloom here and there in every community (like a fairy ring of mushrooms).... slowly but surely awakening the larger whole.
Walking on weeds, rather than using blades, weedwhackers or herbicides, is such a simple, effective and non-toxic idea. I LOVE IT!
These lovely people just can't stop smiling, doesn't it say a lot about the kind of life they are living.
I love Robyn's movements and flow as she talks. Such beautiful energy.
Me too :-)
"The Cosmos is Conscious, Consciousness is Creative, We that Know this are the Future" and these two restoration masters are definitely Conscious! ☯️☮️
These people have such a beautiful garden and way of thinking about life, it really inspired me!! This way of living is truly my dream. Their forest garden kind of reminds me of the garden of eden!!
The "Real" Back to Eden gardening
I will create this. I’m glad we are all able to access this inspiration. This generation will make this a thing again. I believe it. Thank you!
I could listen to them talk about their forest garden until the moment I die. How wonderful, what a beautiful property and life they have. 🌱💚
What a gift to nature and humanity are those two beautiful eloquent people. I will share this here in Ireland. Thank you
This is my favourite of all permaculture forrest these 2 guys are so humbled by nature is amazing to watch
Thanks so much for making this film. Robert and Robyn are true elders who show us that we are not inherently destructive-carbon-burning-Peter-Pans-who-never-want-to-grow-up, but sensible regenerators of the flowering earth, making more life possible for all life forms, generation after generation.
this is true meaning of gardening: shaping the nature while being a part of it and by this entering a state of relationship.
Truly inspiring. A lot of people prefer this kind of living now. Thanks for giving people great ideas!
It’s how humans are meant to live & how we did for a long time until money came along .
I love these people, they remind me of good grown-ups from my childhood.
This is amazing. Honestly, the way she mentioned apple trees are as unique and worth considering as much as people gave me more empathy for people - I need to be as forgiving and encouraging as I am in my garden, real talk
your garden is a reflection of you beauty. God bless you.
@John Maybe it's the spider god that he/she wants to bless the couple....? ;-)
Mobile al here. Mild food forest started in the burbs...city came and at first said “ your yard should look like your neighbors”. One has half a row of shrubs by the front door, one has grass and an oak tree, one has a chain length fence to keep the pit bulls contained with in the dust holes they have dug. Once she learned about all the butterflies and bees and hummers...also no turtles and rabbits...she got interested and she came back with her big girl camera. Now I am eating blackberries and loquats in April until the lychee and blueberries, peaches, plums, figs, mornings, pears, apples, lemons, limes persimmon...yep. The neighbors were curious but no one complains now.🙊
been following the guyton's for some time, i love them and absolutely LOVE this interview. Thank you so much for sharing this gem of the permaculture world, they are silently living the dream.
Thanks so much for this Jordan, liked and shared as always.
Permaculture Homestead where can I find more information on the Guytons? Thank you!
K Jackson I think their channel is food forest
absolutely inspiring.
this lady is so warm-hearted and mellow, lovely to watch and listen to her:)
I want to have this on my wall playing on repeat
1:39 the pride beaming through her demeanour is so heart warming. makes me want to pursue this
They are living a dream. Very happy for them !
You are AWESOME! Best KZhead clip ever made. The light and love you are shining into our beautiful world is delicious. Much love and respect for you both.
I love Robert's comments at the end about it being a winnable game if you focus on what you can do to rebalance the world and bring a diversity of life into it. I love the idea of a forest garden and hope to emulate their example on a smaller scale someday.
this documentary delighted my heart because in a difficult world of today it's so so good to see and know that there are people doing wonderful work for our beautiful planet!
This is so beautiful! Your giving back to the Earth! This makes her happy, and the humming birds and pollinators also! 🌻 🌎 🕊
Thank you happen films, your videos changed my life and gives me so much inspiration, I'm so grateful and happy that peaple who respect nature stil exist
Absolutely incredible but I want to mention.... The gentleman’s beard is the perfect length and density that it looks like his head is floating most of the time and I can’t unsee it! Amazing! 🙃
You have been doing such a great job. Please continue doing these kind of films to spread the idea of sustainability.
Thanks Amiel, that's really encouraging to hear!
We are planning to move in to NZ and I hope I could participate on this kind of advocacy when we get there. Thanks!
Please differ individual sustainability from governmental sustainability.
"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself" -Leo Tolstoy This couple changed themselves, and it had wonderful results for the portion of the world that surrounds them. I wish them a beautiful life, but they don't need my wishes as they have made their lives beautiful all in their own...
Thank you you guys are amazing I’m praying more people wake up and realize we need to help mother earth heal
I'm so grateful for the time I spent with these two in their beautiful forest garden in December last year :) Such a beautifully shot and well told piece, well done :)
I just loved watching Robyn holding hands with her garden as she was being interviewed :) A lovely and inspiring film - thankyou !
This was amazing , exactly how I want my life in the future.
i grew up on a colony of old hippies where everyone's garden looked like this. Watching made me want to go back so bad, and plant a wild garden of my own :)
During corona quarantine.. i replant a lot of veggies, root, ryzome, bananas.... now after starting working back, whenever i came home, i will go to check on my plant and greet them for about 15 to 20 minutes.... It's calming to me...idk... I love it to see them grow
Absolutely stunning. my husband and i LOVE how beautiful you two make your life and home one. peopke dont take the time anymore to LOVE WELL. YOU TWO ARE AN INSPIRATION. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR BEAUTIFUL WORLD
This man is my spirit animal. I wish more people had his philosophy.
I love how healthy they both look! Thanks for sharing this with us. :)
this couple is so cool. it's evident they understand what makes a good life
one of the bes examples of the permaculture mindset i've seen. thanks for your hard work Happen Films, it's greatly appreciated
Cheers Ricky!
thank you so much for making this, we enjoy them so much!
That's great to hear! It makes all the work worth it :)
Only one thing, try to make more please
Donate and they could probably make more. If each of us viewers donated 10 cents that'd be 20k. If each of us gave $1 that's 200k!
This was the first permaculture video I ever saw and I have been studying it ever since
You two are salt of the earth. Thank you for your example.
So inspiring! These people are amazing, and what they have created is absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for this!!! You are what human beings should be to this world. An integral part, not a hindrance.
Mrs. Guyton's joy is telling. Kudos to these awesome people🥂
Thank you for make this world a better place.
What a lovely place to be.... it's wonderful to see people working with and preserving the natural balance. Great film as always 😊
What a lovely couple and what a beautiful forest they maintain.
I kind of tripped out for just a second when she said early spring in October lol. Absolutely amazing property.
Yes, I took a moment too, it is an upside world, opposite to the northern hemisphere
Love love love that you sneak out at night and plant things along the road side!!
Bio-diversity and environmental productivity are related, this has stuck with me since resource management in community college! Live it, please!
What a brilliant film - thank you so much for sharing the Guyton's inspiring work. Putting it into practice here in Ghana!
Thankyou for what you did for our earth
Yho. So self sustaining. Amazing what a food forest can become in 23 years. Love this.
So far I've mixed some herbs and winter vegetables with shrubbery along a neglected side fence in my yard .
what's the result?
This is the most beautiful Food Forest i have ever seen.
What a wonderful video. I have been doing permaculture for over a year now, and my wife and I love it. We have a pretty small property, but it is about 1/3 permaculture and producing nicely. One day, we will buy some acres and do it on a larger scale. True peace is found in nature.
Powerful leaders from Southland, thank you for sharing your garden and your wisdom.
Man, people are living some interesting ways out there, good for them.
" Fixing up a place that has been degraded!!" - good to know there are kindred spirits!!
Hear! Hear!
FANTASTIC. HOPEFULLY, THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE LIKE THIS COUPLE. LOVE IT SO MUCH.
I loved how you have shared your beautiful place and life, living in your magic place , that you have built fir yourselves . You can see the Happiness coming out of you . I particularly enjoyed watching you expressing yourself with your open arms , where you looked like a butterfly with extra joy , while describing what you was talking about 🦋🎊. Thank you 🙏 🎉💗
This is the most uplifting film I've ever seen.
Absolutely gorgeous food forest and a truly inspiring story. So much wisdom and beauty in this film, thanks to all who made it!
His beard has simultaneously evolved with the food forest, with a ground layer, vines, and canopy, lol.
Great face for sane and kind normal people who like perma living. Great well spoken people who themselves are fruitful and kind people.
Just perfect. Many thanks for the kindness and generosity of all participants in this project of love and respect.♡
This is amazing.... I've been working on a permaculture model for the past four years.... I am super inspired. xoxo
Thank you very much for this documentary film. I started to build my own permaculture food forest a few years ago in Korea. I am building it very slowly and with small size step according to my condition. I am also very happy to see and enjoy the future of my forest like Guyton's.^^♡
This kind of living would feed my soul. So inspiring. Thank you for sharing
Love what they have done to that once barren land. Its a gift to have people likethem around in this Planet.❤❤❤
Man the time and devotion must be countless.
Keys879 -I smile because I notice you didn't call it work. 😀
It's an everyday, every hour devotion, indeed
Since becoming a farmer I hardly work at all but im out about doing stuff all the time. Enjoy it so much not like work at all.
there's still weeding.......
Its love :)
beautiful documentary, cant believe you made it by yourself
Thanks! It was the combined effort of me, my partner, and a friend of ours to make this :)
this is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
do you need an intern?
how long did the whole process take? In order for it to be natural. What do you first lay down to create the ecosystem WILD?
It's mimicking nature. Think in layers, like an eco-system. Search on google for "permaculture". Be well.
These are the kind of people who are changing the world and getting us all on the right path. Brilliant, truly inspiring.
Each one of us owes it to the earth to do this. Land that is deemed useless after years of tilling sells pretty cheap, what they don't know is that with permaculture it can come back to life 😊 This is our opportunity people!!!
I love both of you and everything you do i have watched this video so many times its so amazingly beautiful and informative thank you i love permaculture gardening!!!
My favourite go to video whenever I need more inspiration!
What a couple of absolute legends
I have so much respect for these people.