top of page

FILMS ABOUT SIMPLE LIVING

As our so-called developed societies have become ever more deeply entrenched in running the ratrace and consuming 'stuff' we've created all the waste and sickness in planet and people that are the inevitable result. For some, the calling to a simpler way of life overrides the messaging from advertising and social norms. What drives them? What does a simpler way of being in the world look like?


In these films we gain an insight into a variety of approaches to living with less, from holding it as a philosophical value to employing it as a strategy in some elements of the day to day. Here are stories from people who have thought deeply about how they live in the world and have insights to share with us all.

Filter options:

Use the buttons below to filter the list of films. You can select more than one option, and click again to deselect. 

Meg, Patrick and Woody harvest acorns on their front lawn.

Community, Farming, Food & Gardening, Homes & Building, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste

The New Peasants

60 mins

A new feature film releasing in June 2025 about the philosophy and lifestyle choices of an Australian family living profoundly simply.

Woody smiling up to a person out of shot

Simple Living, Permaculture, Community, Urban Living

A Day in the Life of Woody

12 mins

A Day in the Life of Woody showcases the unschooled life of 11-year-old Blackwood, a boy who has been schooled from home all his life.

Photograph of Helen Dew smiling at the camera, holding a freshly harvested basket of greens.

Community, Food & Gardening, Simple Living, Zero Waste, Economy, Urban Living

Being the Change at 85

13 mins

Helen Dew is an 85-year-old activist with a passion for gardening, community resilience, biochar, seed saving and living simply.

A before and after layout of photos of Adam and Sian's empty paddock and newly built strawbale hom

Permaculture, Simple Living, Homes & Building, Community

Strawbale Dream Home

25 mins

Follow Adam and Sian as they build their traditional timber frame home combining timber joinery, strawbale and cob.

Image of Liam and Hannah speaking to camera about zero waste.

Zero Waste, Urban Living, Simple Living

The Rubbish Trip

17 mins

What does it mean to be on the zero waste journey? And why is it important for us each to take personal responsibility for our waste?

Photograph of David Holmgren kneeling amongst the greens of an abundant garden bed at Melliodora.

Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Simple Living, Regenerating Nature

Melliodora Tour

11 mins

A tour of David Holmgren and Su Dennett's 1-hectare permaculture paradise – explore the home and garden of the co-founder of permaculture.

Poster artwork with Hugh Wilson looking up into the trees of Hinewai Nature Reserve.

Regenerating Nature, Simple Living

Fools & Dreamers

30 mins

Does regenerating a native forest mean hundreds of staff or volunteers planting individual tress? What about leaving it to nature?

Photo of Lauren, Oberon and their two daughters harvesting vegetables from a garden.

Community, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste, Urban Living

A Life with Less Waste

8 mins

What secrets does this family hold to reducing individual impact on the planet by reducing family waste streams?

Kat Lavers holds a basket full of freshly harvested veges, standing in front of her tiny but abundant garden.

Permaculture, Community, Food & Gardening, Simple Living, Urban Living

The Plummery

8 mins

Find out how to grow an abundance of fruit and vegetables even when you have a tiny backyard garden in the middle of a busy city.

Sam and Helen's urban backyard garden

Permaculture, Simple Living, Urban Living, Zero Waste, Food & Gardening, Community, Economy

Degrowth in the Suburbs

15 mins

What does sustainable living in the city look like? This film explores the different methods one family employs to reduce their impact.

Photograph of Richard standing in front of his garden wearing a red t shirt and a brown hat.

Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Simple Living, Urban Living

Abdallah House

14 mins

A tour of a very small urban section that has been developed using permaculture principles to make best use of the space.

Meg, Woody and Patrick sit at the outdoor kitchen table eating dinner in orange bowls on an orange and yellow checkered table cloth.

Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste, Urban Living

Creatures of Place

12 mins

This family live an incredibly simple life, yet they have an abundance in so many things – food, community, time to create a beautiful life.

Poster artwork for Living the Change with green lettering, a blue planet and a black background.

Community, Simple Living, Regenerating Nature, Urban Living, Permaculture, Economy, Farming, Food & Gardening, Homes & Building, Zero Waste

Living the Change

86 mins

Living the Change is a feature-length documentary that explores solutions to the global crises we face today.

Greg proudly shows off two of his humanure compost piles made of pallets

Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste

Closing the Loop

7 mins

Learn about how this couple manages their composting toilet, why it's so important, and how easy it is!

The tiny house truck from the side showing the loft over the truck cab, French doors open and stained glass windows.

Simple Living, Homes & Building

The Handmade Housetruck

12 mins

Explore the simple life and beautiful home of this couple in their beautiful off-grid handmade tiny house truck, built with love and skill.

A photograph of Tom and Sarah side by side and smiling at each other, with Neesa on Sarah's lap eating a pear.

Community, Permaculture, Simple Living, Homes & Building

Living Simply in an Off-Grid Tiny House

6 mins

Living simply in just 20 square metres this family has found a different way of living that helps them to feel more sustained and content.

Photograph of a round tiny house lit up against a starry night sky.

Community, Food & Gardening, Permaculture, Simple Living, Zero Waste

A Simpler Way

78 mins

What would it look like to live within Earth's available resources? This group came together to explore a one-world-footprint lifestyle.

A photograph of Fred's tiny house taken at night with bright lights shining out the windows.

Simple Living, Homes & Building

Off-Grid Tiny House on Wheels

17 mins

This 17-minute tiny house tour takes us through all the highs and lows of building a tiny house on wheels.

Photo of the side of the green tiny house, it's two windows open, with a large pine tree behind it.

Community, Simple Living, Permaculture, Homes & Building, Zero Waste

$420 Tiny House

4 mins

This film showcases the build of a very tiny house, built using reclaimed materials by a couple with no previous building experience.

A photograph of an round earthbag tiny house, showing one window and the door.

Simple Living, Homes & Building

Earthbag Timelapse

2 mins

A 3-minute time lapse showing the build of an earthbag tiny house built by unskilled labourers at Wurruk'an, in Gippsland, Australia.

Photograph of the rustic tiny house at night with starry sky behind and geodesic dome lit from inside the house.

Community, Permaculture, Simple Living, Homes & Building

Building a Beautiful, Rustic Tiny House

8 mins

Meet Taj as she gives a tour and describes living simply in this 10 sq metre tiny house built using reclaimed materials.

Photograph of the entrance to the Agari kitchen showing pieces of splayed timber climbing a tree trunk.

Community, Permaculture, Simple Living

Agari Permaculture Farm

4 mins

A short film showcasing Agari Permaculture Farm, a place for exploring natural building and permaculture.

bottom of page