For the Love of the Land

A community Documentary Project

--Full Episodes Coming Winter 2026!--

The Land is Everything.

For many of us, connecting to the land is more than just a way to survive. It is our heart, our soul, our way of walking in this world. There are so many ways of living in this world that create happiness and connection for us, and so many of those involve connecting to land and nature. Some people take that connection to heart and orient their entire lives around nature, in a way that adds value not only to their own lives, but to community and the land itself as well.

This documentary series aims to showcase some of the stories of people who live with the land as their ally, their kin and their purpose, just as I try to do. I hope that by sharing these stories we can inspire other people to live their lives more connection to the land and to nature, whether that is in big ways or in small ones.

My name is Taryn Pickard and I am a photographer and filmmaker on Vancouver Island with a deep passion for helping people tell their stories. That is what this series exists to do- to help those who are making big things happen in this world share what they are doing. We focus on people who have oriented their lives around connecting themselves and others to the land, whether that is through farming, culture or healing work. 

Season 1 is all about connecting to the land through food! We will start with three episodes about people who have approached connection to land with something different at its center- self, community and the land itself. We will look at farming, community gardens and language and culture as ways to connect to us to the place we call home. The entire season is based in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area, but we have plans to expand that out in coming seasons.

The Preview

Are you interested in getting involved?

Do you love behind the scenes content, and getting closer to stories like these? Do you want to get to know the people in our stories a bit better, and learn more about the process of creating these short films? Join us on Ko-fi with a monthly subscription to get access to full interviews, articles about our guests and more info about the projects each of them are working on!

Why Connecting to the Land Matters

One of the biggest things we are missing in this world today is belonging. Disconnecting from the land and from place has disconnected us from community, and from ourselves. Choosing to actively connect back to place and to where we live- to build an actual physical relationship with the land on which we live- can give us the tools we need to feel that sense of belonging and connection to self again. Creating this enriches our lives in ways that can’t easily be described in words, but are felt in the core of our being when we have them. Belonging to somewhere gives you a sense of pride, of confidence in who you are, and a sense of safety and conviction. All of this helps to lower levels of stress and anxiety, and creates more space for love and care where it often feels like there isn’t time. By connecting to the land we choose to see it as the living being that it is instead of the commodity we have been taught to use it as. This also gives us permission to see ourselves more wholly, instead of just for the production value we are often told is all we are worth within capitalism. 

I have seen the incredible change that exists in myself when I choose to build a relationship with the land I live on. I have seen the effect honouring the land as a living and functional being has on people’s sense of personal value, and their connection to community. The land gives us so much, and often when we stop to listen, we see that all she asks for in return is our presence and our protection.