"I love being surrounded by people that know about all this stuff - soil scientists, regen' people, and learning myself. That's how this place sort of works, isn't it? You get involved. You get pulled in."

Harley sits down with Chris "Shervo' Shervey, Woodford's Site Manager, who oversees 500 acres with a team of five full-time staff and conservation land management trainees. It's a conversation about sustainability, slowing down and the surprising way a metalhead punk rock folky ended up finding purpose in his work at one of Australia's most ambitious environmental projects.

Chris first came to Woodford as a patron in 1997 and returned as a volunteer before bringing his background in construction and bridge building to complement his passion for trees, plants, and regenerative land practices.

He's the guy who can turn visionary dreams into timber, steel, and working infrastructure. His journey mirrors Woodford itself: someone who arrived for the music and stayed for the mission.

This conversation digs into the philosophy behind a 500-year plan, the challenge of being patient when you want to fix everything at once, and why the best infrastructure is the lives on well after you.

This episode is for:

• Anyone curious about what happens at Woodford when the festival isn't on
• People interested in regenerative land management and large-scale sustainability projects
• Folks who wonder how festivals actually work behind the scenes
• Anyone considering volunteering or working at Woodford

Dive in to hear about why:

• A 500-year plan makes more sense than trying to fix everything tomorrow
• The best role isn't always being the visionary - sometimes it's being the person who can find the timber
• Kids building three-story pallet forts with power tools is actually good parenting
• Leaving things better than you found them is part of the essence of Woodfordia

Learn more about what's on this year including hearing Chris on a sustainability panel: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/programme

Jag your tickets here: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/tickets/

FOR MORE:

Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/

CREDITS:

Host: Harley Breen

Guest: Chris Shervey

Producer: Benny Wallington

Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jamieson

Video and audio: Coeur Visual

Music by: The East Pointers

Recorded on Jinibara Country

#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #Sustainability #RegenerativeLand #FestivalLife #SiteManagement #thankyouforyourshervice #shervology

Join the Woodfordian Citizens:

Perks -

- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.

- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.

- Bonus podcast content

- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets

- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk Festival

Visit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizen

More information at www.woodfordia.org

For the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.com

For Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/

Credits:

Host: Harley Breen

Producer: Benny Wallington

Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jameison

Audio mastering: Kieron Atkinson

Music by: The East Pointers

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