🌱 Youth Getting Into Syntropic Agroforestry: A Visit from Jared 🌱

The future of regenerative agriculture and food security is bright when young growers step up! 🌿🌏 It’s always exciting to see passionate youth diving into the world of syntropic agroforestry. Recently, I had the pleasure of hosting Jared and his father, Steve, for a tour of Troppo’s tropical food forest in Te Puke, Bay of Plenty.

Jared reached out to me via Instagram (love that social media is connecting growers! 🙌) because he was eager to see how things are done here. He’s been following Byron’s program, which gave him a strong foundation, but he was keen to explore different setups and get his hands in the soil. Of course, I said yes—how could I pass up the chance to show a fellow plant lover around? 🌿😃

🌳 Different Takes on Syntropic Agroforestry 🌳

Jared’s background in syntropic agroforestry follows Byron’s program, which emphasizes a structured overstory. My setup, however, gave him a fresh perspective:

• 🏡 Urban Scale – My food forest is in a smaller space, showing how syntropic principles can work even in backyards or small plots.
• 🌱 Epic Plant Diversity – Instead of strict succession planting, I focus on growing a wild variety of plants, making every square meter count.
• 🌴 No Dominant Overstory – While classic syntropic systems favor large trees for structure, my system adapts to urban growing by working with what’s best for the space.

Jared soaked it all up, asking great questions and making observations about how my setup differs from what he’s studied. It’s awesome seeing someone young so switched on about regenerative growing! 💡🌍

🌿 Growing the Passion 🌿

Beyond just sharing knowledge, I wanted Jared to take home something tangible, so I gifted him a few plants to add to his collection. Watching someone’s excitement over new plants never gets old! 😆🌱

Moments like these remind me how important it is to support the next wave of growers. Seeing young people get stoked about sustainability, edible landscapes, and regenerative farming fills me with hope. It’s this generation that will push the boundaries of what’s possible with food forests and syntropic systems! 🌍💚

🌾 How Can We Get More Youth Involved? 🌾

Jared’s visit was a reminder that there are so many young people interested in this movement—but they might not always have access to the resources or mentors they need. If you’re a grower, consider:

👉 Offering farm or garden tours 🏡 👉 Sharing knowledge through social media 📲 👉 Gifting or swapping plants 🌱 👉 Encouraging curiosity & questions 🤔

Every bit of knowledge shared helps grow the next wave of regenerative farmers and food forest creators. If you’re a young grower or someone looking to connect with others in the scene, reach out! Let’s keep the momentum going and build an abundant, green future together. 🌿✨

Have a story to share? Drop me a message—I’d love to hear how young people are shaping the future of food! 🌏🍃

#SyntropicAgroforestry #FoodForests #RegenerativeFarming #YoungGrowers #GrowTogether