Soil. People. Resilience.
Everything we grow begins below the surface. .
Who we are
Above & Below Collective brings together the Birchall and Schutt families — two generations working side by side across soil, people, and purpose.
From our home base at Waionehu Farm in the Lake Ōkaro catchment, we’re building a practical model for resilient farming and thriving communities.
Our collective includes:
• Waionehu Farm Ltd – a family dairy platform using HALTER collars, diverse pastures, and soil-first systems to grow healthy land and livestock.
• Schutt & Sons Transport Ltd – local experts in lime, compost, and biochar mixing and delivery, helping close the loop between soil and supply.
• LandGirl / Above & Below Coaching – supporting farmers, families, and teams to build resilience from the inside out — in land, business, and life.
Together, we’re redefining what it means to farm — growing resilience from the roots up.
Our Services
Coaching for people who want to start on their resilience journey.
Meet our Coach - Megan Schutt (née Birchall)
Kia ora, I’m Megan Schutt — founder of Above & Below Collective, Operations Manager at Waionehu Farm in Waimangu, Rotorua, and co-owner of Schutt & Sons Transport Ltd. I’m also a proud mum of four busy boys who keep me grounded (and busy).
I graduated from Massey University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) and have worked across every level of the industry — from Farm Assistant to Operations Manager. Along the way, I’ve led and contributed to several key regional projects, including serving as Project Manager for the Okaro Catchment Lake Restoration Group (OCLRG) through a three-year Sustainable Farming Fund grant, and helping establish Project Rerewhakaaitu, which continues to link farmers, science, and water-quality outcomes across our catchment.
At Waionehu Farm, I’ve overseen a five-year transformation from a conventional dairy platform to a fully integrated resilient and regenerative system.
That work has led to:
A 25 % increase in pasture diversity and stronger year-round feed resilience.
Noticeably improved soil structure and worm counts (49 worms per spadeful in recent VSAs).
Reduced fertiliser inputs without loss of production.
Integration of biochar, compost, and HALTER technology for more efficient, low-stress management.
A thriving multi-species pasture and cropping programme across both dairy and young-stock blocks.
We’ve learned how to grow more grass with fewer inputs, build soil biology instead of buying it, and keep our people and animals healthier in the process.
My professional development has followed that same path — practical, evidence-based, and human-focused — through the Nicole Masters Soil Resilience Tour (2023), Nicole Masters MasterClass (2025), and the Integrity Soils SHIFT Coaching Programme, alongside EBS Business Coaching, where we’re applying regenerative thinking across all our family businesses.
What I offer as a coach is built on lived results — turning real paddocks, real budgets, and real people into regenerative systems that actually work.
My goal is to help others do the same: build resilience, balance, and connection between people, soil, and purpose.
Our Services
Coaching for people who want to start on their resilience journey.
You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin with. My coaching is designed for people who care deeply about their land, animals, or business but aren’t sure how to take the first steps toward change.
Together, we start where you are — grounding ideas in real-world practice, building confidence, and creating systems that last long after I’m gone.
The goal? To coach myself out of a job by helping you grow the skills, clarity, and resilience to lead your own journey.
Grounding Sessions — $1,450 + GST
A full-day (6–7 hour) on-farm coaching and system design session for working farms or multi-enterprise systems.
We’ll take a deep dive into your farm — from soil to livestock to business goals and strategy — and map out a clear, resilient path forward.
Together we’ll define your goals, identify leverage points, and outline practical, profitable actions you can take straight away.
Includes:
Pre-session discovery form and current system review
Full-day on-farm visit (6–7 hours, including lunch break)
Farm walk and discussion of soils, pasture, livestock, and cropping
Business and people systems review (optional focus area)
Values and goals alignment
Post-session summary report and next-step strategy
Optional soil or pasture sampling coordination (additional cost)
Perfect for owner-operators, farm managers, and family businesses wanting clarity, alignment, and direction.
Ongoing Coaching — from $250/hr + GST
Once your Grounding Session is complete, many clients choose to stay connected through ongoing coaching. These sessions keep your plan alive and adaptable — helping you make confident decisions as seasons, goals, and conditions shift.
Includes:
Regular online or on-farm sessions (monthly, seasonal, or as needed)
Accountability and goal tracking
Interpretation of new soil, pasture, or animal health results
Practical support for implementing regenerative practices
Optional written notes or action list after each session
Tailored packages and ongoing support rates are available for returning clients and multi-session plans.
This is about keeping momentum — steady, guided progress so the changes you start actually stick.
Small Block & Lifestyle Landholders — $950 + GST
A half-day (3–4 hour) on-site or online session designed for landholders under 10 hectares.
We’ll walk your block together, explore your goals, and create a regenerative layout that suits your life — whether that means growing food, grazing animals, building soil, or simply creating more ease and abundance.
Includes:
Pre-session discovery form and aerial map review
On-site or online session (3–4 hours)
Walk-through of existing layout: fencing, pasture, gardens, water, and shelter
Regenerative design ideas for soil, compost, garden, or small stock systems
Identification of “quick wins” and next steps
Post-session summary report with tailored recommendations
Optional soil testing or mapping add-on (additional cost)
Ideal for families, small farmers, and new landholders ready to make their block thrive.
One-Off Problem-Solving Session — $395 + GST (up to 90 minutes)
Sometimes you don’t need a full coaching plan — you just need clarity.
This focused session is designed to help you troubleshoot a specific issue, make a key decision, or sense-check your next step.
Examples:
Pasture or crop not performing — what’s actually going on?
Interpreting soil or herbage test results and knowing what to do next
Planning a new paddock, grazing rotation, or input change
Deciding whether to invest, rest, or re-seed
Includes:
Pre-session background form or document review
60–90 minute Zoom or phone consultation
Optional brief written summary of next steps
No long-term commitment — just a practical, focused discussion with clear direction at the end.
Community & School Sessions — No Charge
Sharing the story of soil, food, and connection.
We welcome school and community groups to visit Waionehu Farm and see what regenerative farming looks like in real life. These sessions are relaxed, hands-on, and designed to spark curiosity — not classroom lessons.
Groups can explore soil structure, roots, and pasture diversity; meet the animals; walk through our vegetable and multi-species paddocks; and learn how simple changes in farming can make a big difference to water, climate, and food quality.
It’s about building connection — between people, food, and the land beneath us.
What’s included:
1–2 hour on-farm visit and guided walk
Age-appropriate activities and Q&A
Regenerative bingo or observation worksheets (for school groups)
Time for kōrero, reflection, and questions
Cost:
Free — this is part of our commitment to community education and connection.
Best suited for:
Primary and secondary school groups
Environmental and sustainability clubs
Community or rural networks
Contact Us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!