Farm Boys mixes food production with wave carving

Self-proclaimed as the "world's greatest (only) hardcore surf and gardening show", the newly released six-episode series, Farm Boys, shows the struggles and joys of carving out a sustainable lifestyle in some harsh Australian countrysides.

Oh, and there's a bit of surfing thrown in as well.

The series follows "earthly wizards" Heath Joske and Addy Jones as they set about building a productive garden in the dry Australian bush, using old junk, a handful of seeds and a lot of hard work.

There are no Akubras or RM Williams boots, hi-vis vests or much in the way of personal protective equipment.

There are, however, genuine insights and attempts by two blokes happy to mix board shorts and long-sleeve khaki work shirts.

Across the series, the pair catch up with a network of surfing friends who've all made a life out of growing their own food, in their own backyards, in their own way.

It goes behind-the-scenes to view Heath's property at The Bight, South Australia, as well as the Joske seniors' lush patch on NSW North Coast.

The show is presented by surf and clothing brand, Patagonia and shot by Harry Triglone of Fun Boys Entertainment Systems.

Heath and his family moved to rural SA in 2017. When they found it difficult to get their hands on local fruit and vegetables, they started learning to regenerate a barren property to grow their own.

"Surfers are very privileged in that we get to spend a lot of time in nature, and you get to experience a lot of unspoiled places that experience that beauty quite often," Heath said.

"Farming in a regenerative way brings you closer to that, that feeling we get out in the water all the time, and it also lessens your reliance on systems that are damaging nature constantly."

Simplicity is at the core of a lot of the family's methods.

"A lot of us could, and should, live simpler lifestyles to take the pressure off our planet," Heath said.

"We tend to overcomplicate life."

While Heath drew on the knowledge handed down from his mother, who grew vegetables at the Nambucca Valley childhood home, he also picked the brains of colleagues to discover innovative ways of making the most of what he had.

This has included using grey water to fertilise crops, brewing compost teas, building a composting toilet (complete with access ladder extracted from an old grain header) and adopting a permaculture approach.

Heath, a surf ambassador for Patagonia for the past five years, said there were synergies between surfing and food production.

One clear connection was the need to observe the natural environment and be aware of the signs, be they wind, tide, swell in surfing, or rain forecasts, soil health or pest pressures in farming.

Another major link was that both activities develop a deep love for the natural environment which in turn fosters an urge to look after it.

Heath is now exploring other growing techniques including those based on Korean farming styles which take permaculture even further.

Although not producing primary products for commercial output, Heath said industrial food production was full of chemicals and problems.

"It's not really food any more," he said.

But when the growing procedures are taken back to a more natural, holistic method, flavour returns, according to Heath.

"The difference is obvious," he said.

"If you feed the soil it will feed you.

Heath said the aim of the warts-and-all series was to encourage viewers to do their bit and grow something.

"I hope it just inspires them to start that process and dive deeper into the awesome, crazy network of gardeners and all the information that's out there. Just get amongst it," he said.

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