About Us
Who We Are
Land & Legacy Academy connects families, schools and communities with working farms — for learning, stewardship and legacies that last generations.
Our Mission
To reconnect people of every generation with the land through hands-on, asset-based learning on working farms — building responsibility, real skills, stewardship and enterprise from the paddock up.
Our Vision
A national network of partner farms where families, schools and communities learn, grow and build legacies together — and where every child in Australia can experience what it means to care for land, animals and each other.
About the Founder
Mutsa James Simango, CPA, CGMA
Mutsa James Simango is the Founder of Land & Legacy Academy.
A qualified finance professional, CPA and Chartered Global Management Accountant, James has spent more than twenty years advising businesses, entrepreneurs and organisations across Australia and internationally.
Following a significant experience of professional burnout, he discovered that meaningful recovery came not only through clinical support but also through reconnecting with nature, farming and purposeful work.
That experience transformed his understanding of education, wellbeing and community.
Today he combines his background in business leadership with a lifelong passion for agriculture to build innovative educational experiences that reconnect people with land, practical skills, resilience and stewardship.
His vision is to establish Australia's largest network of learning farms, creating opportunities for families, schools, universities, partner farms and communities to learn together through authentic agricultural experiences.
James believes that the future of education lies not simply in classrooms, but in experiences that develop character, confidence, practical capability and a lifelong respect for the natural world.
Why Land & Legacy Exists
Our Purpose
Australia is becoming increasingly disconnected from the land.
- Many children have never grown food.
- Many families rarely spend uninterrupted time together outdoors.
- Many young people graduate with academic knowledge but little confidence in practical life skills.
- Many professionals are experiencing stress, isolation and burnout.
We believe these challenges are connected. Land & Legacy exists to rebuild that connection.
Through real farms, real experiences and real relationships, we help people rediscover confidence, curiosity, stewardship and purpose.
We don't simply teach agriculture. We use agriculture as a platform for learning about life.
The Journey
Founder Timeline
Early Years
Developed a passion for agriculture while studying agricultural science at school.
Professional Career
Built a successful career in finance, accounting and business advisory.
Burnout
Experienced severe professional burnout requiring months of recovery and professional support.
Recovery
Found healing through gardening, farming, animals and reconnecting with nature.
Vision
Began developing the concept that became Land & Legacy.
Today
Building Land & Legacy Academy as a national network of learning farms across Australia.
Our Values
What Guides Everything We Do
Everything we do is guided by these principles.
Stewardship
Care for the land, animals and one another.
Learning by Doing
Experience is the greatest teacher.
Community
Growth happens together.
Resilience
Challenges build character.
Curiosity
Never stop learning.
Integrity
Do the right thing, even when nobody is watching.
Hope
Every person can grow beyond their current circumstances.
The Team
The People Behind Land & Legacy
Our leadership team and mentors bring decades of farming, teaching and youth-development experience.
Sarah Mitchell
Founder & Program Director
Founded Land & Legacy after 15 years in experiential education and agricultural sustainability.
David Chen
Operations Coordinator
Coordinates partner farms, mentors and families to keep every semester running smoothly.
Emma Rodriguez
Curriculum & Safety Lead
Designs the curriculum framework and oversees safety protocols across all partner farms.