Choosing Life: Farming, Disability & Healing Through Nature – Henrich Berkhoff | EP 39
In this deeply moving episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson welcomes Henrich Berkhoff, farmer, father, politician, and founder of child-protection and education initiatives in Germany.
From facing a devastating prenatal diagnosis to creating one of Germany’s first Green Care Farms, Henrich shares how his son’s birth with spina bifida transformed his family’s life—igniting a mission to integrate nature, farming, and inclusion into education and policy.
From facing a devastating prenatal diagnosis to creating one of Germany’s first Green Care Farms, Henrich shares how his son’s birth with spina bifida transformed his family’s life—igniting a mission to integrate nature, farming, and inclusion into education and policy.
A lifelong advocate for children’s rights and special education, Henrich speaks about building community (“the tribe comes to you”), turning crisis into growth, and working with government leaders to make nature-based learning and therapy part of the public system.
✨ “We can do more with our human power than we ever think.” – Henrich Berkhoff
✨ “If you follow your feeling, you stay outside.” – Henrich Berkhoff
✨ “If you follow your feeling, you stay outside.” – Henrich Berkhoff
🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How Henrich’s son’s diagnosis reshaped his life and purpose ([00:08:00])
- The choice between termination and life—and what love decided ([00:10:00])
- How crisis builds community: “the tribe comes to you” ([00:24:00])
- Turning disability into advocacy for inclusive schools ([00:31:00])
- Why farming taught him political courage ([00:41:00])
- How ancient instincts meet modern overload ([00:48:00])
- Rewilding and the role of agriculture in healing ([01:00:00])
- How Green Care Farms connect nature, therapy, and education ([01:03:00])
- Why nature is medicine for the mind ([01:11:00])
- Gratitude to the special-needs children who teach us meaning ([01:37:00])
🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:
- [00:01:00] Henrich appears from the forest, explaining why he always feels at home in nature.
- [00:08:00] The moment he and his wife learn their unborn son has spina bifida.
- [00:10:55] Choosing life despite medical advice to terminate.
- [00:23:50] How community formed around their decision.
- [00:31:10] Creating the first inclusive local school for children with disabilities.
- [00:41:00] Why being a farmer trains you to be an advocate.
- [00:46:00] How hunting sharpened his sense of responsibility and balance with nature.
- [01:03:00] Founding the Green Care Farm and discovering science behind happiness in nature.
- [01:20:00] Reframing education: movement = learning.
- [01:37:20] “Disabled people give us the answers to our questions.”
📚 Projects, Programs & People Mentioned:
- Henrich Berkhoff – Farmer, politician, and founder of the Child Protection Association (Münster region, Germany) https://greencarefarm.de
- Gitti Berkhoff – Nurse, equine-therapist, and co-founder of the Green Care Farm - Podcast on Equine Assisted World with Rupert: https://equineassistedworld.com
- Julian Berkhoff – Their son, born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus
- Movement Method and Horse Boy Method – Developed by Rupert Isaacson & NTLS
- Green Care Farm – Integrating therapy, inclusion, and sustainable farming https://greencarefarm.de
- David Doyle – Irish autism advocate and movement-in-nature pioneer
- CDU (Christian Democratic Union) – German political party
- Technical University of Munich (TUM) – Research on learning through movement
- Concepts: Rewilding | Inclusion | Nature as Medicine | Education Reform | Community Healing
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Website: https://rupertisaacson.com
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📚 Books & Resources:
- Rupert Isaacson – The Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home, The Healing Land: https://longridehome.com/books
- Henrich & Gitti Berkhoff – Green Care Farm Germany
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