Human Connection
Talking with our family of wool farmers
We’re in the middle of a situation that’s uniquely global, while at the same time, uniquely human. COVID-19 has drastically changed how we interact. Yet, at a moment when we can’t be together physically, we’re finding new means of human connection. And that’s more important now than ever.
So in this time of social isolation, we’re sharing the human stories behind Allbirds. Without them, the mission of better things in a better way wouldn’t be possible. And sure, our headquarters is in San Francisco, but we’re intimately connected with people in South Korea, South Africa, the Netherlands, Brazil…the list goes on.
But today, we’re in New Zealand, home of our ZQ Certified Merino sheep farmers. Here, sheep outnumber humans six to one, so our farmers have their hands full. Thankfully, they all made time to talk about rallying around our shared goal: leaving the planet better off than we found it.
Temple Peak — Glenorchy
Mark and Amanda Hassleman bought Temple Peak in 1979, and they’ve been raising merino sheep on their land ever since. Beyond producing wool, their reason for being is pretty straightforward: making sure they have a good answer when their grandkids ask, “what did you do about climate change?”
With that as their ambition, they use sustainable techniques like increasing plant diversity to keep the ground covered, helping to create healthy, microbe-rich soil. This systems level thinking, in turn, attracts native birds and bees. “You’ve got to farm in a way that you think works for the big picture,” Amanda says. “It’s about planning to be here right through, farm right through, pass it onto the next generation, and have a long term perspective.”
Northburn Station — Cromwell
Tom Pinkney and Bevan McKnight are the co-owners of Northburn Station. Tom says it well when he shares that farmers are “the people with the greatest to gain, but also the greatest to lose if we don’t look after our land.” Bevan echoes a similar sentiment when he says that, “every farmer in New Zealand, deep down, wants to leave the land in a better way than they found it.”
To ensure they’re doing their part, Tom and Bevan focus on grazing their sheep in a way that lets the land recover and plants grow back — not only for the health of their flock, but also because it’s what’s best for the environment. Since they implemented these practices, they’ve seen a notable resurgence in a variety of trees and plants around the property.
Tuohy’s Gully — Cardrona Valley
Willie and Sarah Scurr — along with their children Briar, Will, Thomas, and Angus — are the family behind Tuohy’s Gully. When Willie was presented with the decision to become the fifth generation of Scurr to take over the farm, he knew he and his family were committing to a lifestyle. “Summers can be hot and dry. Winters can be long and cold,” Willie goes on. “You never really stop, because you’ve got animals to feed, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Speaking of feeding, they work with a local distillery whose facilities are right down the road, using their spent grain to feed their animals and eliminate waste. “We see ourselves as custodians of the land,” Sarah says.
For more stories, follow @allbirds on Instagram, and to share your own, be sure to tag #weareallbirds.
