Not Your Run-Of-The-Mill Event
It was the end of April and the team were getting excited for the new NPL website launch and branding update, as well as Jake's big move to Matakana with his partner Emma and their team of dogs, when Jono created “how great it would be to hold a workshop in the South Island before Jake departs!?”
“Uhh, when are you thinking we will run this event Jono?” asked Jake and Greer.
“How about the 26th of May?” replied Jono.
The team started to raise their eyebrows and after some cheeky looks from Jake and Greer, excitement broke out, and we enthusiastically started creating the ins and outs of the workshop. We very quickly discovered that we were going to need more than one day to deliver the minimum of what we wanted to cover.
We also knew that this wasn't going to be your run-of-the-mill event, and so when it came to “what are we going to name this event?” Jono suggested (with the “joking but not really” look in his eye);
“Why don't we call it a Not Workshop?”
And so it became the 2 day NPL “Not Workshop - Practicality & Perspective”
“THIS IS GOING TO BE AWESOME!”
We became laser focussed, with integrity and clear, authentic communication being at the heart of our work and how we operate both individually and as a team.
Greer set up a ‘Shop’ on the website to sell the tickets, and started creating and sending promotional material out to our network - people started buying tickets from all over the country!!
We booked out the entire Old Bones Lodge just out of Oamaru for our team and some other attendees, and headed to Scotts Brewing Co for dinner the night before Day One of the Not Workshop - we all left with not just full bellies but full hearts after some great conversations and lots of laughter!
The first morning of our Not Workshop began with a crispy white frost and a gorgeous sunrise.
After a team huddle on the lawn, setting our intentions for the day, we left for the Opera House.
People started rolling in as early as 8.20am - keen beans!
At 9am sharp, Jake opened the workshop and lead the participants through a short and powerful breathing exercise
We created that it is your level of participation that will dictate the value you get from these 2 days.
We asked the participants to create their value commitment with a scale from 1-3, 4-6 and 7-10 - there were lots of hands up for the 7-10 range!!
In the section ‘Dirty Talk’, Jono spoke to the current paradigm of agriculture which mostly consists of treating soil like dirt.
He created that in order to step out of the current paradigm and into a new world which we create, we must acknowledge and take responsibility for where we wound up. No blame or shame or guilt, simply acknowledging.
This created a sense of freedom from the past and allowed the participants to let go of a lot of baggage - and it was fun!
Then it was over to Jake with the section ‘Farming Aligned with Nature’ where he created, in detail, the fundamental principles and ethos of regenerative agriculture.
Jake highlighted using the term ‘Regenerating’ rather than ‘Regenerative'‘ as it is a journey, not a place to get.
During the morning tea break, participants were given an assignment: to talk to one person you haven't met before and ask something you wouldn't normally ask - and no small talk or ‘weather waffle’ allowed!
After the break, Greer jumped in with ‘What is Healthy Soil?’.
This was the biggest section with the most material to cover and Greer nailed it!
Greer broke the section up with stretches and even an interactive demonstration (with the help of some brave volunteers) of how the soil food web works.
We had one participant share that if Greer had been her soil science lecturer at university, she would have passed first time!
Then it was over to Jono for the Management section who covered some of the practical “low hanging” management tools and techniques farmers can use to increase soil, plant, and animal health. This section had lots of people furiously taking notes!
After lunch, people jumped into cars to the Natural Dairy just out of Oamaru for the practical element of the event.
It was a cracker day for getting outside and getting our hands in the soil.
The participants were split into 5 groups and given equipment and resources to evaluate the health and function of the soil in two different paddocks.
People were blown away with how easy it was to identify the health and function of the landscape from what they had learned just on the first day!
Being able to connect and share knowledge and experience made this part of the workshop one of the most impactful.
After spending 2 hours digging holes, beating infiltration rings with hammers, sniffing soil, and recording information we headed back to the Opera House for a debrief.
People shared what they discovered, and we finished Day One with giving an assignment to complete overnight; to write 3 words that describe the future you are creating.
Day Two started with sharing from what came up from doing the assignment.
“WOW!'“ doesn't even begin to describe what was created.
It was one hour of courageous and authentic sharing and EVERY SINGLE PERSON shared.
The room became so peaceful and alive at the same time as everyone got present to how incredible they all are and what the world could be like in taking on regenerating their agroecosystems.
Siobhain Griffin took the stage with an incredible presentation on adaptive grazing principles and planning.
There were LOTS of hands going up and LOTS of questions, so much so that we gave the participants and option to hear more from Siobhain after lunch - of course they said yes!
The Epigenetics section that followed, led by Jono, stretched the participants' brains and beliefs as Jono created the incredible impact our environment has on cell function and gene expression not just with our plants and livestock, but with ourselves!
Nearing the close of Day 2, it was clear that these people sitting with us were not the same people that had walked in the day before.
There was a new level of connection, a higher more vibrant energy and power and lots of wider and brighter eyes looking out at each other and the world.
The last section was about creating THIS IS IT; the participants shared what actions they were going to take in their businesses and in their lives.
There were lots of watery eyes as people vividly created what they were committed to and why.
We had a huge round of applause before completing the FIRST EVER Natural Performance “Not Workshop”, and after lots of mingling, connecting, and plenty of heartfelt thanks, we packed up and debriefed outside.
Peace and contentment was present as we acknowledged each other for what we had just caused - hugs and smiles all round.
WHAT A RIDE!!
WHAT PEOPLE HAD TO SAY
⬇
WHAT PEOPLE HAD TO SAY ⬇
“Great work on your first Not-Workshop! Particularly for me reinforcing the importance of diversity, grazing management and practical education on visual soil analysis. Creating a healthy space giving participants the opportunity to share experiences and taking away confidence to adopt regenerative practice in everything we do.”
“Great people! Great 2 days, thanks so much. Deep and meaningful, out of comfort zone, but that’s good”
“Thank you for an inspiring couple of days and the opportunity to network amongst like-minded farmers. I’ve never gotten so much out of a workshop - you guys took such a different and refreshing approach...you have helped me find the passion, inspiration, and innovation in farming again”