Celebrating Soil

Fran Bailey was inspired by the United Kingdom’s Groundswell Festival – nicknamed the “Glastonbury of farming” – to do something similar here in Aotearoa. So she founded the Underground Festival, a two-day celebration of food from the land. Describing the festival as being about soil, food and farming, along with a bit of music for good measure, Fran says Underground isn’t just for farmers – it’s for anyone curious about where their food comes from and keen to hear directly from the people producing it. “It’s that curiosity, and hearing farmers speak with passion about their land, food and animals, that sparks change, hope and optimism,” she says. Held on 18 and 19 February in Waipara, Hurunui, at Greystone, one of the country’s leading regenerative organic vineyards, the 2026 lineup includes: Angela Clifford from The Food Farm; Jessica Hutchings, a hua parakore-verified grower and founding trustee of Papawhakaritorito Charitable Trust; and Renata Gilbert, aka @theconsciousbeekeeper, who will lead a session on natural beekeeping and how to make hives for native bees. Molly and John Chester – the couple behind the acclaimed documentary The Biggest Little Farm, about their biodynamic farm in Southern California – will be screening their film the night before the festival, and speaking on both days. Adding to that impressive lineup, Pounamu Skelton – featured in the Ngahuru Autumn 2022 Edition of Shepherdess – from Te Waka Kai Ora the National Māori Organics Authority of Aotearoa, will run a hands-on session bringing a te ao Māori perspective to compost making. “What’s unique about Underground is the range – from small-scale growers and land holders to large-scale regenerative and organic dairy, sheep and beef operations, there’s something for everyone,” Fran says. “We’re putting farmers on stage, talking about what they’re doing, why, how it’s going, and how it all links back to food, health and environment. Farming can be really hard and isolating, and Underground is a place where we can come together, celebrate farmers, enjoy really good food from the land, maybe pick up a few ideas to try in the garden or on the farm – and leave inspired.”