How My Path to Syntropics Began
The Spark of Inspiration
Ten years ago, I first heard the term “food forest” while working as one of the lead gardeners at Solscape in Raglan. The idea instantly sparked my imagination—what if every backyard could be transformed into an abundant, self-sustaining ecosystem?
At the time, I didn’t have my own land to create a food forest. Instead, I focused on growing annuals and deepening my understanding of soil health, composting, and the power of cover crops. While living in Golden Bay, my partner and I built our home on wheels - a house truck—and parked it on a permaculture and biodynamic farm. The incredible family we lived alongside inspired us in so many ways, shaping my growing passion for regenerative practices.
When we decided to move back to Kerikeri, my hometown, my partner Leonie found a course through Permadynamics that piqued my interest. This amazing family had transformed their degraded land into a lush, thriving landscape using permaculture and syntropic agroforestry. It was the first time I’d heard of syntropics, and it resonated deeply. A method of growing that regenerates the soil, supports the ecosystem, and produces an abundance of food—it was everything I’d been looking for.
Unfortunately, this was during the COVID era, so courses weren’t running, but I joined their online community and dove into their educational videos. I spent hours soaking up knowledge—becoming a bit of a couch potato in the process!
James pruning his food forest
Building My First Food Forest
Later, we moved onto my good friend Sylvan’s property, where we built the tiny home we live in now. His 5-acre plot was a blank canvas - just kikuyu grass and clover on a north-facing slope. My mind raced with possibilities for what the land could become. Sylvan generously handed me the reins, giving me the freedom to bring my vision of a food forest to life.
I started small, planting three tithonia (Mexican sunflower) and a handful of unique subtropical fruit trees. Although I had little hands-on experience, I had a gut feeling this was my calling, to create food forests for myself and others. That same day, as if the universe agreed, I met Sjoerd, who was hosting a syntropic workshop with Bryon Grows. I’d been following Bryon’s work for some time and jumped at the opportunity to attend.
The workshop was a turning point. I met other passionate growers, gained practical experience, and felt the power of community. Learning from others, I quickly saw the potential of syntropics in action. On our exposed hillside with compacted clay soil and relentless winds, conventional planting methods had failed - young citrus trees struggled and died. But when I began implementing syntropic techniques, everything started thriving. Windbreaks of tithonia and bana grass protected the young trees, shielding them from harsh winds and preserving soil moisture. The land began to feel alive, vibrant, and homely.
Joining Food Forest Pioneers: A Turning Point in My Syntropic Journey
Even after watching every online video I could find, I was hungry for more. By sheer coincidence or fate Bryon Grows launched a community called “Food Forest Pioneers,” aimed at helping people start their own food forest businesses. While I desperately wanted to join, the cost was beyond my budget. But as life often does, it threw me a lifeline. A serendipitous meeting left Bryon at my house for three hours, during which we had a deep conversation about the course. I knew I had to be part of it. With the generous help of a family member, I made it happen.
From that point, my passion exploded. The course gave me the confidence to step out and share my journey. I started making awkward but heartfelt videos for Instagram and helped friends kickstart their own food forests. Along the way, I’ve continued learning about plant dynamics, community-building, and the importance of creating resilient, regenerative food systems.
I feel incredibly blessed by the opportunities that have come my way and am deeply grateful to everyone who’s supported me on this path. I can’t wait to see what this next year brings as I keep growing, learning, and building a more abundant, sustainable future.
With gratitude,
James
Feeling inspired? Join me on Instagram @Simply.syntropics for tips, videos, and stories about building your own food forest!
