About Us

Our Story

"Our entire approach is chemical free."

We Forest Earth was born from an awareness that weed ridden land can be optimized to its maximum potential, whilst harmoniously bringing ecosystems into balance – without the use of toxic chemicals . We Forest Earth focuses on the interconnectedness of nature and community. Bridging the gap between land and custodians

Through witnessing mushrooms using trees as their host aiding in the decomposition of the host and noting the natural succession in mushroom log cultivation – the act of biomimcry, Mycoregen was spawned.

Definition Mycoregen – verb – The process or action of regeneration through the application of mycelium.

At We Forest Earth we rebalance ecosystems overtaken by woody weeds and convert them into food and medicine through the use of endemic fungi. Our combination of mycoregen and unique species plantings, we develop functional, productive and complex environments. Initially working alone, Pierre knew he could not continue on this path solo, and through small workshops and open conversations he began to inoculate members of the community. A movement to create a community and environment focused Not For Profit – from this We Forest Earth was created. We now have a dedicated team of 7 project managers that push the nutrient cycle to move at unprecedented rates with a focus on maximizing native food production whilst regenerating disturbed land.

We Forest Earth is dedicated to the development of complex ecosystems, above and below ground with the intention of growing food and medicine. By focusing on identifying and isolating edible and medicinal fungal strains found naturally occurring on target woody weeds we have been able to develop an arsenal of cultures in our efforts to transform perspectives and landscapes. This continued effort by our growing team to expand our culture bank ensures that biodiversity is ever expanding and ongoing research and development is testing for commercial viability of different cultivars.

Our entire approach is completely chemical free as the safety of our team, our volunteers, our staff and the entire community is paramount. By not using herbicide in our practice we are able to avoid the exposure of proven toxic chemicals to our local waterways, our delicate soil food web and the diverse ecosystem we are trying to rebalance.

Our current success in the application of endemic fungi strains to woody weeds as well as in the management of emerging forests offers a safer alternative that can generate an income and provide additional food security whilst regenerating the country back into balance. Our in depth ecological restoration plans account for unique client and site requirements, whilst supporting local vegetation communities, including rare and endangered species and promoting the development of habitat for our local fauna. Our chemical free approach can save clients money by allowing the slow phasing out of the canopy promoting the emergence of native species beneath and minimising the disturbance to the seed bank, resulting in the reduced need for excessive plantings.

We currently have 7 projects in our portfolio with many people around the northern rivers using mycoregen in their backyard to convert woody weeds into food and medicine. We provide monthly educational workshops between our multiple project sites and offer private consultations and regeneration works. If you would like to support WFE on our journey to growing food and medicine – we are accepting donations* through our website.

*We Forest Earth will not (1) be directed by a donor to act as a conduit by passing a donation of money or property to other organisations, bodies or persons; nor will it (2) act as a collection agency for tax-deductible donations intended by a donor to be passed on to another organisation, body or person.

Chemical Free Rainforest Management

Team

The Crew

Pierre Loiseau

Pierre is a Founding Director of WFE & our lead citizen mycologist.

Raised on an organic farm in Tairāwhiti, Aotearoa his appreciation of natural processes and recognition of poor land management practices led him to explore holistic alternatives.

Over the 8 years of practising organic bush regen; Pierre witnessed the function of fungal decay within the context of weed burdened ecosystems. Inspiring the experimentation of applying endemic mycelium strains as a means to phase out woody weeds. Pierre believes this biomimicry can serve to help rebalance weed infested ecosystems, while reconnecting people to Country. Seeing woody weeds through a different lens, he creates a tangible interface between life and death. Ushering in a new regime of perspective as to how we view our engagement with nature.

With a deep reverence for indigenous land practises and natural function Pierre sees We Forest Earth as a platform for individuals and communities to come together to solve ecological and social problems together. Stitching together the fragmented ecological and societal problems through the common unity of love of nature.

Rachael Sanderson

After spending 6 years living in Hong Kong, a highly toxic and polluted environment.

Rachael Sanderson, now a small scale regenerative farmer from Murwillumbah, cares deeply about restoring natural ecosystems alongside growing nutrient dense organic food. Rachael currently manages two small scale farms in the Northern rivers, Ravens Place Farm & A little Greener Farm that both focus on makig organic food financially accessible to everyone.

Rachael is the Secretary of We Forest Earth and you will see her managing our administration, social media, networking and community building, as well as getting her hands in the earth revegetating local projects and farming across the farms she manages.

Taranar Sloan-Harris

With a passion for regenerating landscapes and learning ways in which people can belong and benefit from doing so, Taranar found himself excited by the ways in which we can celebrate human involvement in developing ecosystems. Dreaming of an earth where we can find a balance of human behaviours and needs whilst enriching the health of the land around us.

Throughout the journey of learning to create resilient and abundant food gardens Taranar found himself embracing and harnessing the power of using endemic plants and fungi and these relationships into the complex web of life within these ecosystems.

Taranar is collaborating with We Forest Earth to support the process of developing, educating and the implementation of the incorporation of endemic plants and fungi. This ultimately empowers individuals to reclaim their potential for the role they can play in creating and complexifying the life systems that supports their community and the earth at the same time.

Troy Rees

Troy has a generational background in large scale Agriculture where glyphosate use is common practice. Since learning about negative health impacts of the use of these chemicals he started chasing information and learnings in organic food growing. This led to a Permaculture Design Course through Ella’s Farm in Bilambil which kickstarted his passion for chem-free regeneration of landscapes in combination with food production. Later finding passion and work in conventional Bush Regeneration, Troy was again faced with the use of chemicals. Shortly thereafter, he could no longer comply morally which led to the connection to Pierre and We Forest Earth. In the past years since that connection, Troy has become the Project Manager for We Forest Earth whilst also practicing Mycoregen through his own Bush Regeneration business mostly in Southern Bundjalung Country – the Ballina and Lismore Shires.

We Forest Earth acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Country on which we work, live and grow. We recognise this land was never ceded and honour their continuing connection to land, sea and sky and thank them for protecting Country and its ecosystems since time immemorial. We pay our deepest respects to elders past, present and emerging.