You are what you eat…so you’d better start paying attention to what exactly that is. These films provide a refreshing education on the current state of agriculture, and point out positive sustainable and organic practices that you can take part in. The Meatrix and Frankensteer expose the ways of unethical farming, while others provide us with role models through CSAs, Cuban community, sustainable lemon farms, organic choices, and a new wave of female farmers leading the way.
The Meatrix I, II, & II 1/2
Louis Fox, 2006, 10 min., animation
New York, NY
Our heroes Moopheus, Leo, and Chickity take the red pill, enabling them to see the horrific truth of what’s really going on with the food we eat today. They wage war on industrial agriculture, indecent dairy conditions, factory farm pollution, animal cruelty, and the horrors of meat processing, exposing the lies our society tells itself, vowing to turn things around. The Meatrix has been created and produced by Sustainable Table (www.sustainabletable.org) and Free Range Studios (www.freerangestudios.com).
Frankensteer
Ted Remerowski and Marrin Canell, 2005, 10 min. segment., doc
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada & U.S.A.
Frankensteer is a disturbing yet compelling documentary that reveals how the ordinary cow is being transformed into an antibiotic dependent, hormone-laced potential carrier of toxic bacteria, all in the name of cheaper food. Frankensteer reveals some startling facts. Every year 50% of the total tonnage of antibiotics used in Canada ends up in livestock. And every year cattle raised in massive feedlots are routinely dosed with antibiotics even if they are not sick. For more info. on the full length 48 min. film, see www.bullfrogfilms.com.
Back to the Land…Again
Gretta Wing Miller, 2006, 20 min., doc
Wisconsin
Back To The Land…Again presents the state of the art of organic agriculture today by highlighting the work and dedication of a collection of Wisconsin farmers. With their beautiful farms as its canvas, and their sustainable practices as its palette, Back To The Land…Again explores the emergence of the organic industry and its rising market share and the implications of the National Organic Standard for an audience that agrees that eating organically is ‘better for you’, but doesn’t have full understanding of, or trust in, the organic label, and demonstrates that organic agriculture is a means of reversing the decades-long disappearance of the family farm.
For more info. on full length 57 min film, see http://web.mac.com/milhug/iWeb/BacktotheLand/Again.html.
Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
Faith Morgan, 2006, 20 min. segment, doc
Cuba
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba’s economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people. They share how they transitioned from highly mechanized agriculture to using organic farming and urban gardens. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis, is an example of options and hope. For more info. on full length 54 min. film, see www.communitysolution.org
Good Stewarts – NY Premiere
Dulanie Ellis, 2006, 19 min., doc
Ventura County, CA
What is sustainable agriculture? Are strawberries that are grown organically but shipped 1,500 miles sustainable? Beyond assuming that it’s the farmer’s duty to be a good steward of the land, what role does the consumer or the governmental official play in ensuring that agriculture remains viable and we maintain our food security in this country? How can we help our farmers survive in the global marketplace? Many communities are asking these questions. Nowhere are these issues more critical than in Ventura County, California, with some of the richest topsoil in the world, with the urban pressure of Los Angeles knocking next door. Good Stewards is a call to action for us all. www.walkyourtalkproductions.com
Ladies of the Land – WORLD PREMIERE
Megan Thompson, 2006, 29 min., doc
Minnesota, Pennsylvania, NYC
Women are the fastest growing demographic in American agriculture, and they are doing things differently. While the average farm size in the U.S. has grown dramatically over the last 50 years, women tend to run smaller operations. Many choose organic and natural methods, in contrast to the highly mechanized and chemically-dependent farming that dominates the rest of the agricultural industry. And many women strongly value their relationships with the community, from selling their products at local markets, to using their farms as “de facto community centers.” Ladies of the Land takes us on a journey through America’s new heartland. www.ladiesofthelandmovie.com