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Our new feature-length documentary The New Peasants Other films you might like Simple Living, Permaculture, Community, Urban Living 12 mins A Day in the Life of Woody A Day in the Life of Woody showcases the unschooled life of 11-year-old Blackwood, a boy who has been schooled from home all his life. Community, Permaculture, Regenerating Nature, Farming 12 mins From Weedy Forests to Grassy Woodlands A film exploring how the simple practice of grazing goats on wild lands can lead to a healthier forest and a more connected community. Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste, Urban Living 12 mins Creatures of Place This family live an incredibly simple life, yet they have an abundance in so many things – food, community, time to create a beautiful life. Share your thoughts about The New Peasants Which film are you commenting on? Your name or username Your comment * Required Submit comment Your comment has been submitted “ Martin Shaw, author of Smokehole “ Uncle Charles Davison, Jen Ridley and family “ David Holmgren, permaculture co-originator “ Su Dennett, permaculture elder “ Helena Norberg-Hodge, filmmaker, writer, activist Thank you! This film was made possible through the generous financial support of the Biome Trust with assistance from The Gift Trust . How to watch The New Peasants can be rented from Kinema for both at-home and community screenings, bought from our Store for at-home and community screenings, and watched at home on a range of library and other streaming platforms. We’ll update this page with those details as they become available. Rent the film Streaming Platforms (we will add new platforms as they come available) Amazon Prime Plex Fawesome Shelter Hold your own screening How about bringing together friends and acquaintances to view the film in a community hall or local cinema? Meg, Patrick and Woody, who feature in the film, are often generously available to video call in to these events, if the time zones align. Buy a screening licence If you're intention is to hold an online screening or you'd like access to a ticketing platform and promotional tools, you can also purchase a screening licence from Kinema (this option is also best for schools, universities, councils and other government organisations). Contact us if you have any questions about hosting a screening. You can also visit our Host a Screening page for more info. Scroll down to view three short films we've previously made about this wonderful family. Financed with the assistance of Documentary Australia "With this documentary Happen Films are revealed as masters of their craft honed over the years through an ethos of DIY minimalism to create a powerful and loving portrait of life lived to the full in the relationship to place, kin and community." – David Holmgren, permaculture co-originator What happens when the values of the culture you’ve always known no longer align with how you see the world? The New Peasants offers an intimate look into the life of Meg, Patrick, Zephyr, and Woody. A family who, for 20 years, have been transitioning away from modern industrial culture toward a radically simple, sustainable, and beautiful way of life. Concerns about the industrial food system and environmental crises provided the family’s initial motivation to live differently. Now it’s 15 years since they’ve eaten from a supermarket or owned a car. The household, living intentionally below the poverty line and meeting 80% of their needs without using money, is nonetheless rich in so many ways. Wealth is found in their cellar of preserved foods, connections with community, saved seeds, homesteading skills and the time to focus on what really matters in life. Yet the decision to live this way has brought profound challenges for their family, in the form of their eldest son’s encounters with the law. These experiences have produced immense grief, but, in the end, also great joy. This film shares the unfolding journey of a family rejecting the mainstream culture and working to create a new one. A culture and economy that draw on ways of the past while stepping joyfully into the future. For everything they’ve let go, something has been gained. With every challenge, something learned. This is one family’s response to the predicament of our time, offering an inspiring glimpse into the kind of future, culture, and economy we can create. This family’s way of living shows that transformative change begins at the home and community level and that we can all participate in creating a better world. "A gorgeous film about wealth, just not the kind you may expect. The nobility of peasantry is in full effect throughout this lovingly crafted work. Brave, funny, kind, proper. Amen to the handmade life!" – Martin Shaw author of Smokehole "Overwhelmingly beautiful portrayal of lives lived with purpose, beauty and courage in all its rawness, pain and worthiness." – Su Dennett, permaculture elder "A resplendent open window into the lived experiences of conscious simplification, connection to land and intentional community compass." – Uncle Charles Davison, Jen Ridley and family "The New Peasants offers an engaging and inspiring insight into one family’s response to the predicament of our times." – Helena Norberg-Hodge, writer and filmmaker Community, Farming, Food & Gardening, Homes & Building, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste About The New Peasants 66 mins “ A gorgeous film about wealth, just not the kind you may expect. The nobility of peasantry is in full effect throughout this lovingly crafted work. Brave, funny, kind, proper. Amen to the handmade life! Martin Shaw, author of Smokehole Direct message ” “ A resplendent open window into the lived experiences of conscious simplification, connection to land and intentional community compass. Uncle Charles Davison, Jen Ridley and family Direct message ” “ With this documentary Happen Films are revealed as masters of their craft honed over the years through an ethos of DIY minimalism to create a powerful and loving portrait of life lived to the full in the relationship to place, kin and community. David Holmgren, permaculture co-originator Direct message ” “ Overwhelmingly beautiful portrayal of lives lived with purpose, beauty and courage in all its rawness, pain and worthiness. Su Dennett, permaculture elder Direct message ” “ The New Peasants offers an engaging and inspiring insight into one family’s local response to the predicament of our times. Helena Norberg-Hodge, filmmaker, writer, activist Direct message ” Five ways you can help increase our reach and impact Click on the options below to find out more about each one. Find out how Add text Add text Add text Add text Add text Add text Add text Add text Add text Add text

Watch all of Happen Films documentaries about simple living, sustainable living, community resilience. ALL FILMS Browse all films Here you'll find all the films we released from 2015 to 2025 – short films, mid-length films, feature films. Our films cover a huge variety of topics under the Happen Films umbrella themes of community resilience, living simply, and transitioning to a more beautiful world. There's something here for everyone! Filter options: Use the buttons below to filter the list of films. You can select more than one option, and click again to deselect. Mid-length (21–40 mins) Short (0–20 mins) Feature (+40 mins) Community Economy Farming Food & Gardening Homes & Building Mindfulness Permaculture Regenerating Nature Simple Living Urban Living Zero Waste Farming, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Regenerating Nature 15 Years of Limestone Permaculture Farm 12 mins Limestone Permaculture Farm is a 1-acre property in Stroud Road, NSW, Australia. This is our third film with them! Community, Farming, Food & Gardening, Homes & Building, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste The New Peasants 66 mins Our new feature film won Best Environmental Documentary at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2025. Food & Gardening, Homes & Building, Permaculture The Plummery, 5-year Revisit 12 mins In this film we revisit The Plummery, the 100sq/m backyard garden in inner-city Melbourne where Kat Lavers lives and gardens. Regenerating Nature, Food & Gardening, Community Rongoā Māori 11 mins Rongoā is the healing practice and an essential element of the worldview of Māori, the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand. Simple Living, Permaculture, Community, Urban Living A Day in the Life of Woody 12 mins A Day in the Life of Woody showcases the unschooled life of 11-year-old Blackwood, a boy who has been schooled from home all his life. Mindfulness Flute Making and Human Making 17 mins A mediation on the unexpected similarities to be found between making a beautiful Japanese shakuhachi flute and making a beautiful human. Community, Food & Gardening, Simple Living, Zero Waste, Economy, Urban Living Being the Change at 85 13 mins Helen Dew is an 85-year-old activist with a passion for gardening, community resilience, biochar, seed saving and living simply. Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Regenerating Nature, Urban Living The City Food Commons 12 mins The commons has been an almost-forgotten concept, and yet once provided so much community resilience. This film showcases a new approach. Permaculture, Simple Living, Homes & Building, Community Strawbale Dream Home 25 mins Follow Adam and Sian as they build their traditional timber frame home combining timber joinery, strawbale and cob. Zero Waste, Urban Living, Simple Living The Rubbish Trip 17 mins What does it mean to be on the zero waste journey? And why is it important for us each to take personal responsibility for our waste? Zero Waste, Community, Urban Living, Food & Gardening Ben & bEartha: A Community's Compost Love Story 39 mins Follow the remarkable journey of a passionate man making composting at a community-wide scale not just a dream but the real thing. Regenerating Nature, Food & Gardening Fishing for the Future 17 mins A small-scale, thoughtful and ethical approach to fishing our oceans is possible – this family is leading the way. Permaculture, Food & Gardening, Urban Living, Regenerating Nature Growing Wild Together 16 mins We revisit the food forest we filmed five years ago to discover what's changed and how much more wild it's all become – plants and people! Food & Gardening, Community, Permaculture, Urban Living Together We Grow: The Story of Common Unity 39 mins Learn the variety of ways this community comes together to help those in need to have access to great food and meaningful connections Community, Farming, Food & Gardening, Permaculture Hua Parakore 8 mins Hua Parakore encapsulates the principles behind growing food from a te ao Māori – Māori worldview perspective. Farming, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Regenerating Nature The Food Forest Farmers 24 mins What role do humans play in Earth's ecosystems and how can we be good stewards of the land? This film showcases syntropic farming as a way. Community, Permaculture, Regenerating Nature, Farming From Weedy Forests to Grassy Woodlands 12 mins A film exploring how the simple practice of grazing goats on wild lands can lead to a healthier forest and a more connected community. Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Regenerating Nature, Farming Limestone Permaculture Tour #3 17 mins Our second film with Brett and Nici of Limestone Permaculture, and the third film in our Permaculture Tours series. Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Simple Living, Regenerating Nature Melliodora Tour 11 mins A tour of David Holmgren and Su Dennett's 1-hectare permaculture paradise – explore the home and garden of the co-founder of permaculture. Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Regenerating Nature, Urban Living An Invitation for Wildness 20 mins The Guytons have made a name for themselves as forest gardeners. In this first of two films we tour the forest when it is 23 years old. Regenerating Nature, Simple Living Fools & Dreamers 30 mins Does regenerating a native forest mean hundreds of staff or volunteers planting individual tress? What about leaving it to nature? Community, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste, Urban Living A Life with Less Waste 8 mins What secrets does this family hold to reducing individual impact on the planet by reducing family waste streams? Permaculture, Food & Gardening How to Make Seaweed Gomasio 11 mins A step by step guide to foraging for edible seaweeds at your local beach and making gomasio to season your meals. Permaculture, Community, Food & Gardening, Simple Living, Urban Living The Plummery 8 mins Find out how to grow an abundance of fruit and vegetables even when you have a tiny backyard garden in the middle of a busy city. Permaculture, Simple Living, Urban Living, Zero Waste, Food & Gardening, Community, Economy Degrowth in the Suburbs 15 mins What does sustainable living in the city look like? This film explores the different methods one family employs to reduce their impact. Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Simple Living, Urban Living Abdallah House 14 mins A tour of a very small urban section that has been developed using permaculture principles to make best use of the space. Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste, Urban Living Creatures of Place 12 mins This family live an incredibly simple life, yet they have an abundance in so many things – food, community, time to create a beautiful life. Community, Simple Living, Regenerating Nature, Urban Living, Permaculture, Economy, Farming, Food & Gardening, Homes & Building, Zero Waste Living the Change 86 mins Living the Change is a feature-length documentary that explores solutions to the global crises we face today. Farming, Permaculture, Regenerating Nature Restoring Paradise 8 mins A short film showcases Mangarara Farm, where holistic grazing practices are regenerating the land to the biodiverse fields that once were. Farming, Food & Gardening, Permaculture The Future of Food 5 mins Frank and Josje discuss Community Supported Agriculture as a sustainable and viable food system for the future. Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste Closing the Loop 7 mins Learn about how this couple manages their composting toilet, why it's so important, and how easy it is! Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Urban Living Urban Abundance 5 mins This couple have turned their urban back yard into beautiful neat rows of market garden and help others to garden in their own back yards. Simple Living, Homes & Building The Handmade Housetruck 12 mins Explore the simple life and beautiful home of this couple in their beautiful off-grid handmade tiny house truck, built with love and skill. Community, Permaculture, Simple Living, Homes & Building Living Simply in an Off-Grid Tiny House 6 mins Living simply in just 20 square metres this family has found a different way of living that helps them to feel more sustained and content. Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste A Simpler Way 78 mins What would it look like to live within Earth's available resources? This group came together to explore a one-world-footprint lifestyle. Farming, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Regenerating Nature, Economy From Finance to Farmer 15 mins Explore the beautiful food forest Andrew Martin has created from a paddock of grass, and learn all the reasons why he's doing so. Simple Living, Homes & Building Off-Grid Tiny House on Wheels 17 mins This 17-minute tiny house tour takes us through all the highs and lows of building a tiny house on wheels. Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Urban Living The Food Is Free Laneway 4 mins A film showcasing Lou and the Food is Free Laneway she initiated alongside her house, following the principles of #foodisfree. Farming, Food & Gardening, Permaculture Purple Pear Permaculture Farm 6 mins A tour of Purple Pear Farm, where permaculture principles and biodynamic farming guide the management of gardens and animals. Community, Simple Living, Permaculture, Homes & Building, Zero Waste $420 Tiny House 4 mins This film showcases the build of a very tiny house, built using reclaimed materials by a couple with no previous building experience. Simple Living, Homes & Building Earthbag Timelapse 2 mins A 3-minute time lapse showing the build of an earthbag tiny house built by unskilled labourers at Wurruk'an, in Gippsland, Australia. Farming, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Regenerating Nature Limestone Permaculture Tour #1 13 mins The first of two Happen Films tours of well known Limestone Permaculture Farm, where an abundance of food and medicine is grown on 1 acre. Community, Permaculture, Simple Living, Homes & Building Building a Beautiful, Rustic Tiny House 8 mins Meet Taj as she gives a tour and describes living simply in this 10 sq metre tiny house built using reclaimed materials. Community, Permaculture, Simple Living Agari Permaculture Farm 4 mins A short film showcasing Agari Permaculture Farm, a place for exploring natural building and permaculture.

Happen Films makes inspiring eco documentaries about sustainability, resilience and people making change for a more beautiful world. STORIES FOR A MORE BEAUTIFUL WORLD We are impact storytellers And we believe in the power of documentary film to tell compelling, engaging stories. Stories to inspire change. To share wisdom. To shift us toward an ecological culture, and a more beautiful world. From 2015 to 2025 we shared the stories of passionate people who are sowing the seeds of a more beautiful world, in their own lives and in their communities. In 2026 we've paused our work during a time of transition, but our films remain available to watch here and on YouTube. To share our films in community events, we have screening licences available from our Store. Our 2025 feature film, The New Peasants , is now screening on Amazon Prime, or you can watch it via our Store. And we have 44 short and feature films that are free to watch at home – so come on in and be inspired! We are impact storytellers STORIES FOR A MORE BEAUTIFUL WORLD 44 Films 67M Views 556k Followers “ A gorgeous film about wealth, just not the kind you may expect. The nobility of peasantry is in full effect throughout this lovingly crafted work. Brave, funny, kind, proper. Amen to the handmade life! Martin Shaw, author of Smokehole Direct message ” “ A resplendent open window into the lived experiences of conscious simplification, connection to land and intentional community compass. Uncle Charles Davison, Jen Ridley and family Direct message ” “ With this documentary Happen Films are revealed as masters of their craft honed over the years through an ethos of DIY minimalism to create a powerful and loving portrait of life lived to the full in the relationship to place, kin and community. David Holmgren, permaculture co-originator Direct message ” “ Overwhelmingly beautiful portrayal of lives lived with purpose, beauty and courage in all its rawness, pain and worthiness. Su Dennett, permaculture elder Direct message ” “ The New Peasants offers an engaging and inspiring insight into one family’s local response to the predicament of our times. Helena Norberg-Hodge, filmmaker, writer, activist Direct message ” Our new feature-length documentary The New Peasants Our new feature film won Best Environmental Documentary at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2025. Watch this film WATCH OUR LATEST FILM RECENT SHORT FILMS Farming, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Regenerating Nature 12 mins 15 Years of Limestone Permaculture Farm Limestone Permaculture Farm is a 1-acre property in Stroud Road, NSW, Australia. This is our third film with them! Food & Gardening, Homes & Building, Permaculture 12 mins The Plummery, 5-year Revisit In this film we revisit The Plummery, the 100sq/m backyard garden in inner-city Melbourne where Kat Lavers lives and gardens. Regenerating Nature, Food & Gardening, Community 11 mins Rongoā Māori Rongoā is the healing practice and an essential element of the worldview of Māori, the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand. Simple Living, Permaculture, Community, Urban Living 12 mins A Day in the Life of Woody A Day in the Life of Woody showcases the unschooled life of 11-year-old Blackwood, a boy who has been schooled from home all his life. LATEST MID-LENGTH FILMS Permaculture, Simple Living, Homes & Building, Community 25 mins Strawbale Dream Home Follow Adam and Sian as they build their traditional timber frame home combining timber joinery, strawbale and cob. Zero Waste, Community, Urban Living, Food & Gardening 39 mins Ben & bEartha: A Community's Compost Love Story Follow the remarkable journey of a passionate man making composting at a community-wide scale not just a dream but the real thing. Food & Gardening, Community, Permaculture, Urban Living 39 mins Together We Grow: The Story of Common Unity Learn the variety of ways this community comes together to help those in need to have access to great food and meaningful connections Farming, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Regenerating Nature 24 mins The Food Forest Farmers What role do humans play in Earth's ecosystems and how can we be good stewards of the land? This film showcases syntropic farming as a way. OUR FEATURE FILMS Community, Farming, Food & Gardening, Homes & Building, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste 66 mins The New Peasants Our new feature film won Best Environmental Documentary at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2025. Community, Simple Living, Regenerating Nature, Urban Living, Permaculture, Economy, Farming, Food & Gardening, Homes & Building, Zero Waste 86 mins Living the Change Living the Change is a feature-length documentary that explores solutions to the global crises we face today. Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste 78 mins A Simpler Way What would it look like to live within Earth's available resources? This group came together to explore a one-world-footprint lifestyle. “ Jordan and Antoinette, thank you, thank you so much for bringing us this knowledge. @sharonadlam3195 YouTube ” “ You and the stories you tell are an inspiration for all of us, we are following you from the Sahrawi refugee camps in southwest Algeria, and we learn from your experience, we are also working hard to grow food in the desert, our community really needs access to local food and we working slowly to get it done the right way. Keep up the good work and keep sharing the beauty and love you see in this world. @Motif Art Studio YouTube ” “ I have now watched a number of your videos. As a gardener, seedsman and garden educator, I think these are brilliant. Clearly presented, visually engaging and very inspiring. @syalutsa YouTube ” “ It's awesome what you do, Happen Films! You inspire me A LOT! @umrespiro Instagram ” “ I'm so happy I found this channel. Your documentaries are stunning - thank you! This is the way of the future. @mathildamoon2100 YouTube ” “ Thank you for your enlightening information, you have changed my perspective. Keep inspiring a better more meaningful way. Anthony Patreon ” “ These films inspired me ten years ago and they continue to inspire me today. @shaelinwood8165 YouTube ” “ I love your work. I watch your documentaries over and over! Thank you! @claudiavarino2712 YouTube ” “ I love your films. I love the people you’re filming. Thanks for inspiring us to remember who we are as Nature Beings. Maya GiveForms ” “ Your work was a great eye-opener for me, thanks for your great green stories. Lena GiveForms ” “ Thank you for your gorgeous films, I'm learning so much and you've piqued my curiosity to go and learn more! Greatly appreciated. Mary YouTube ” “ These videos give me hope and make me dream of what I can do. They show me there are people doing the right thing. Thank you. Leah YouTube ” “ I have been going through each of your films on YouTube and want to say thank you for the inspiration you share with others! Rose Patreon ” “ I have been learning so much from watching your films and videos. It has helped me to reflect on the state of our world and to give form to thoughts that I had intuitively within me but that your films helped to shape and bring clarity to. Laura Email ” “ Your work is so inspiring and a light to navigate important change! Thank you! Laura Patreon ” “ 'Living the Change' has just given me such a deep and profound inspiration to change how I choose to live my life. Thank you so much for creating this and sharing it with the world. @alwaysaboutthejourney YouTube ” “ Thank you for the awakening and inspiration! Chad GiveForms ” “ Thank you for releasing your art for free. It is a testament to your interviewing and editing skills that 'Living the Change' explains so many complicated systems and their interactions so clearly and concisely. @KenTanis YouTube ” “ Living the Change' film has become the catalyst in my action to build a food forest on the property left to me by my late father. Permaculture farming here I come! @rbsax YouTube ” “ I love your work. I watch your documentaries over and over! Thank you! @claudiavarino2712 Patreon ” “ These films inspired me ten years ago and they continue to inspire me today. @shaelinwood8165 YouTube ” “ So proud of humans like you guys - thank you for inspiring me and so many others - you guys rock! Lorna GiveForms ” “ Long time fan of your work - thank you for all the information and inspiration! Dorene GiveForms ” “ There's no way I can watch one of your films and not feel inspired. @suburbanhomestead YouTube ” “ As a cinematographer myself, I really appreciate the artistic flavour of motion imagery... And of course, the content is educational, entertaining and most importantly it is inspiring! @whiteroomfd YouTube ” “ Your films are absolutely beautiful, real jewels of hope for the future. @odiepapa6033 YouTube ” “ A few years ago I watched a video about food forest on your channel. I was extremely inspired, and started my own organic indigenous food forest because of it! After 3 years of hard work, it's finally starting to look like a permaculture but it will take a lifetime to accomplish. Thank you, it changed my life! @Im-just-Stardust YouTube ”