the “Guardians”
An Earth Guardian chooses discomfort in service of something greater.
This series follows tree planters living at the intersection of capitalism and conservation — restoring what has been cut down while confronting the system that demanded it.
A Guardian represents growth — ecological and personal. To plant is to believe that tomorrow matters.
Guardians of the Earth ZSN II
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The second chapter of the trilogy roots deeper into the unforgiving working life of the bush — where endurance is tested internally and externally.
For over 90 days, 13 tree planters live and camp in remote wilderness, moving contract to contract across a relentless season stretching from Northern Ontario to Grand Cache, Alberta.
In isolation and exhaustion, identity is stripped back to its core. Merit is earned the hard way. Mental warfare meets physical brutality. And through it all, camaraderie takes root — binding a crew together in ways few outside this world will ever understand.
Guardians II is an immersive descent into the season that defines them — not just as workers, but as individuals choosing discomfort in pursuit of something greater.
Premiering LIVE April 17/18
Guardians of the Earth (2022)
Watch ZSN I
The first chapter in the Guardians Trilogy begins at the edge of the Canadian wilderness — following a rookie tree planter stepping into one of Canada’s most physically demanding and quietly transformative industries.
What begins as a personal leap into the unknown becomes an intimate portrait of those who choose this path — young planters drawn to adventure long days, remote camps, relentless terrain, and a purpose rooted in restoration.
Through lived moments in the field, the film reveals the resilience, grit, and conviction driving Canada’s reforestation efforts — and the individuals willing to endure isolation, exhaustion, and the elements in pursuit of meaning carved out of unforgiving terrain.
This was the ignition of a much larger story.
Guardians III
In production
Project “ZSN TR33” is currently entering the end of its production cycle and will be the final act in this ground-breaking trilogy series. Filming in the of years 2024-2026, the last Guardian’s iteration will include 30+ individual interviews across each layer of the industry - Tree Planters, Deliverers, Management and Reforestation Clients.