42 Acres Retreat:
A Collective Transformation Journey
A Collective Transformation Journey
MEMBERS' TESTIMONIALS
“I offer heartfelt thanks to UNDP’s Conscious Food Systems Alliance for convening a diverse array of visionaries in rural England. We co-imagined a way forward, built on a holistic foundation of people, Nature, and indeed, the cosmos. One that nourishes individual and collective bodies, souls, soils, and more. Rather than technocratic “solutions,” we can weave together wisdom and knowledge—ancient to modern—in support of local people, farmers, and communities as they care for Nature, land and each other.”
— Ann Hendrix-Jenkins, Facilitator
“Traditional wisdom has long recognized the importance of relationships, and modern science—from systems and complexity thinking to quantum physics—reminds us that everything is interconnected, entangled. Feedback loops, networks, and participation are not just abstract concepts; they describe how life itself works. When we take part in a system, we inevitably shape it, and it shapes us in return.
Transforming food systems, therefore, is not just about policies or technologies—it is also about awareness and intention. It’s about recognizing that what we eat, how we grow food, and how we relate to each other are threads of the same fabric. We are part of the system we seek to change, and that realization can be both humbling and empowering.
I left the retreat with a lot of new learnings and insights. What “authentic power” means, that besides mindfulness, we dearly need also heartfulness. And I made a lot of new friends. It reminded me that real transformation begins with connection—with each other, with the earth, and within ourselves.”
— Malte Reshoeft, Swiss Church Aid HEKS/EPER
“The experience opened a whole new portal of what’s possible when we integrate awareness, compassion, and connection to the land into the way we grow, share, and relate to food. It reaffirmed what movements like Save Soil and Conscious Planet have been saying so powerfully—that true regeneration begins from within.
It was deeply inspiring to witness how many global leaders, practitioners, and changemakers are already doing this work—quietly transforming systems from the inside out—for people and for the planet.”
— Sumita Hutchison, NHS Vice Chair, West of England Nature Partnership Chair & Save Soil EU/UK
“Consciousness is love. Love is not a feeling — it is a state of being. So what is a conscious food system? It is Nature (humans included) first and foremost. It is one that embodies love, care & compassion. As I continue this journey towards Conscious Food Systems, I’m carrying a new rule of thumb: Connection. Care. Wisdom.”
— Eva Monterrosa, The Foundation for Fresh Produce, Food and Nutrition Bulletin & The Food Culture Alliance
“I had the rare gift of pausing, of listening deeply to the land, to food, and to the quiet wisdom that breathes through all living things. Among kindred spirits of the Conscious Food Systems Alliance, we explored what it means to weave Spirit, faith, and indigenous knowing back into how we grow, share, and bless our food and Nature. We spoke with soil as teacher, with seeds as elders, with silence as nourishment. We remembered that food is not a commodity, but a communion.”
— Xiaoan Li, The Fetzer Institute, G20 Interfaith Forum & Transformative Educational Leadership
“I’m deeply grateful for the love, wisdom, and connection we shared. Special thanks to our elders and teachers, Satish and Gary, and to the CoFSA team for their amazing support. Honoring all the farmers, researchers, Indigenous peoples, policy makers, and private sector friends walking this journey together. I’ll carry this spirit to the Maasai people.”
— Dalmas Tiampati, Maasai Land and Community Steward, Maasai Center for Regenerative Pastoralism
“I would like to thank you all for sharing so much of your personal experiences and spiritual knowledge. This retreat was a time that I will treasure for the rest of my life; you all are an amazing group of people. I hope we could stay connected and find ways to collaborate. I am on my way back home with an enormous sense of gratitude, joy and love.”
— José Joaquín Campos Arce, Sustainable Agriculture Network
