What do you get when you mix big hearts, big flavours, and a film that digs deep into the dirt? You get Messy. But not just any messy, our kind. The beautiful, bold, soil-under-your-nails kind.
On a crisp Autumn evening at HOTA (that’s Home of the Arts on the Goldie), we threw open the barn doors and rolled out the red carpet, farm-style. Messy: Regenerative Agriculture had its big-screen debut in the HOTA theatre, and what a night it was. The room was buzzing with farmers, foodies, film lovers, and folks who care deeply about where their food comes from and where the planet’s headed.
This wasn’t your average premiere. It was a hug for the soul and a rally cry for the soil. Shot across the lush hills of the Granite Belt and the thriving corners of South East Queensland, Messy doesn’t filter the journey. It shows the good, the grubby, and the glorious in growing food that gives back to the earth. Because healing land isn’t tidy, it’s raw, real, and yep, messy.
And just when the credits rolled and we thought our hearts were full, Palette Restaurant served up the encore. Every plate was a love note to the land, bursting with regeneratively grown produce (some fresh off the trees at Messines Farm) and crafted to taste like home, only fancier. Think soil-to-fork storytelling with flavours that made your tastebuds do a happy dance.
Head Chef Dayan took the stage between courses to walk us through the exquisite three-course meal, sharing the what, where, and why behind each dish. With genuine passion, he spoke of choosing sustainable, locally sourced ingredients not just for their flavour, but because good food should honour the people and places it comes from. For him, it’s not just cooking, it’s storytelling on a plate.
Our MC, the marvellous Amy McDonald, stitched the whole evening together with her signature warmth and wisdom. She reminded us that regenerative farming isn’t just a way to grow food, it’s a way to grow connection, community, and care.
As the night wound down and glasses clinked in celebration, one thing was clear. Messy isn’t just a doco. It’s a seed. And with the right crowd (that’s you), the right care, and a little bit of compost, it’ll grow into something mighty.
To all the legends who came along, thank you. Your energy lit up the room.
And to the growers, makers, and storytellers behind Messy, you’ve planted something truly special.
The full Messy doco series is now live on YouTube.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75r0PfsLhxcww0lE1_HPSs7A8oCWmbRi&si=h7NlVJDFgo0XNlIt
We’d love for you to share it with your family, friends, and community, or even host your very own screening. Because change starts with a story, and this one’s worth telling. Watch now, get inspired, and let’s get Messy!
View the image gallery:
Want to help create a future where food is grown with care for people and planet?
👉 Come along to one of the community screenings or host your own
👉 Join GBSAN or your local food movement
👉 Watch Messy: Regenerative Agriculture and start the conversation
Together, we can grow something better. 🌱
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External Resources:
Hosted by: Messines Farm
Date: Tuesday 20th May 2025
Venue: Palette Restaurant | HOTA – Home of the Arts
Address: 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Event Time: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
🎟️ Upcoming Screenings and Events
We’re also encouraging schools, community groups, and local changemakers to host their own screenings to help spread these positive, practical stories far and wide.
To connect with Messines Farm and explore its produce, visit the online store or follow the journey on social media. Join the Farm-ily today at www.messinesfarm.com.au.
At Messines Farm, our farm-ily nurtures every step: we grow it, we pick it, and we sell it! As a family-owned orchard embracing regenerative agriculture, we prioritise soil health, biodiversity, and sustainable food production. By cultivating these values, we’re sowing the seeds for a more abundant future for our community and planet alike.
Kristen Joell
Marketing & Events Manager
Natura Pacific | Messines Farm
🌐 messinesfarm.com.au
