🏞️ Introduction: A Farm Beyond Conventional Thinking
Nestled in the lush hills of Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, lies Mangarara Station, a farm unlike most others. This isn’t just a place where animals graze or crops grow — it’s a living ecosystem under the care of Greg Hart, a visionary farmer who transformed a conventional sheep and beef farm into a regenerative model of hope, health, and harmony.
This is the true story of how one farmer saw beyond short-term profits and chose to farm for the future — regenerating the land, rebuilding biodiversity, and reconnecting people with the natural world.
🌾 A Shift in Perspective: From Extraction to Regeneration
Greg Hart didn’t start as a regenerative farmer. For years, Mangarara Farm operated like many others — grazing livestock intensively, using synthetic fertilizers, and clearing land for production. But something began to feel off.
The way we were farming was degrading the very foundation of our livelihood — the soil.” – Greg Hart
In the early 2000s, Greg began to question the long-term sustainability of his practices. Increasing input costs, declining soil fertility, and unpredictable weather patterns were warning signs. But even deeper was a moral question — were they being good ancestors?
This internal conflict became the seed of a radical transformation.
🌱 The Regenerative Turn: How It All Began
Greg Hart’s turning point came after encountering the principles of regenerative agriculture and holistic grazing — systems that work with nature, not against it.
Here’s what he and his team began to change:
- 🌿 Holistic Planned Grazing
Greg began mimicking natural herd behavior. Instead of keeping animals in fixed paddocks, they moved them in tight groups, allowing long rest periods for grasses to regenerate. This method:
Reduced overgrazing
Boosted soil carbon sequestration
Increased the diversity and resilience of pasture
- 🌳 Tree Planting and Agroforestry
Over 85,000 native trees were planted across the property through a partnership with Air New Zealand. These trees:
Stabilized soil and reduced erosion
Restored native bird habitats
Created silvopasture systems, combining trees and grazing animals
- 🐮 Integrating Diverse Animals
Greg diversified the farm from just sheep and beef to include chickens, pigs, and heritage cattle breeds, creating natural nutrient cycles and improving land use.
- 💧 Water & Wetland Restoration
Streams and wetlands were fenced and restored with native plantings. The result: cleaner waterways, richer aquatic life, and better flood resistance.
📈 Economic Reality: Regeneration Works
Unlike many who believe regenerative farming sacrifices profit, Greg found the opposite.
Lower input costs: Less need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
Higher resilience: The farm handled drought better than neighbors
New income: From farm stays, eco-tourism, educational events, and ethical meat sales
It’s not about going broke while saving the planet. It’s about building a system that’s profitable, resilient, and meaningful Greg Hart
🧑🤝🧑 Community, Education & Future Generations
Greg didn’t keep his learnings private. Mangarara Farm now offers:
Farm tours for students and urban families
A farm lodge where visitors can stay and experience regenerative agriculture
Workshops on carbon farming, permaculture, and food sovereignty
The farm has become a hub for transformation, inspiring hundreds of visitors each year.
🌍 Climate & Soil: A Farm That Heals
One of the greatest impacts of Mangarara Farm is its role in carbon sequestration. Healthy soil stores up to 5x more carbon than degraded soil. Thanks to regenerative grazing and tree planting, the farm:
Restores soil organic matter
Pulls atmospheric carbon back into the earth
Increases biodiversity from microbes to birds
🏅 Recognition & Global Inspiration
Greg Hart’s efforts have gained international recognition. Mangarara Farm has been featured in:
National Geographic’s “Living Soil” series
Regeneration International and Savory Institute’s global movement
NZ Government environmental success stories
We’re not just farmers. We’re custodians of the land, part of a living system that we must leave better than we found it.” – Greg Hart
✅ Key Takeaways from Greg Hart’s Story
Principle Description
🌱 Regeneration Working with natural systems restores life and productivity
💰 Profitability Lower costs and diversified income create stable profits
👨👩👧👦 Community Connection to people and land is central to success
📚 Education Knowledge-sharing inspires more farmers to shift mindsets
🌏 Climate Action Healthy farms play a key role in reversing climate change
🧭 Final Words: The Future Grows Here
Greg Hart’s journey is not a dream — it is a living, breathing example of what’s possible when we farm not just for ourselves, but for future generations.
If farmers across New Zealand and the world adopt even a fraction of Mangarara’s regenerative model, the impact on food systems, ecosystems, and human well-being will be profound.
This is the most meaningful work of our lives — to regenerate what we once took for granted.” – Greg Hart
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