“Food Fight” is the exploration of food politics at its best — it gives the viewer tools to be proactive in the food movement.

It analyzes the history of food, from the beginning of the Farm Bill to the overabundance of processed food. It talks about the movement to use organic, local produce, meat, and dairy – how it started, and how it is currently. It delves into how the Farm Bill is used today and the people trying to move it back to its original role of supporting the farmer.

“Food Fight” is beautiful. It shows green, growing plants, down-to-earth farmers, and gorgeous food. It emphasizes the pleasure that food can bring and all of the sensory experiences that go along with it.

Maybe most importantly, “Food Fight” is inspirational. You’ll want to do more after watching this film. This documentary emphasizes good food so poetically, how can you not feel inspired to shop at the Farmer’s Markets, create your own garden, and purchase as much fresh, wholesome food that you can?

“Food Fight” will be the next installment in BriarPatch’s Film Festival Follow-up. See it in the Community Room on February 26, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Related posts:

1. The Golden State of Food
2. Living Lands
3. Eat Local Extravaganza

In between brown leaves and late blooming asters in my garden, new colors are showing through where the red chard, second planting of purple beet greens and bright green pea vines are reaching for the sun … in a hurry to produce before they really get cold.

My garden is a tough environment for even the hardiest veggies to grow up in.  The shade canopy of the old oak trees closes in tighter each season, until the only direct sun catches the main garden for a few short hours in midday.

This spring I resorted to ‘guerrilla gardening’ tactics … boldly planting my sun-loving tomatoes and peppers in the middle of my neighbor’s unfinished driveway project.  They grew there in the construction zone as happily as weeds !  Full sun where the trees had been cleared, a temporary deer fence made of sturdy mesh meant to reinforce concrete slabs, good compost in holes dug out of the freshly piled driveway bed dirt, a deep layer of straw mulch.  A garden ! …. with permission from my neighbor, of course, and with the understanding that the backhoe will be back to finish the road project at some point in the future.

For my fall veggie patch, back in the shade … I plan to use some season extending strategies* to help them make the best use of those 3 hours of warm sun.  I’ve never done this before, so it will all be an experiment.  But if I get to enjoy late season fresh food from my own garden, the work will be waaayyy worth it !

If you aren’t the lucky steward of a fall garden plot, you will still find all of the fall fruits and vegetables you could ever want from the local growers.  The local farmers markets are at their most colorful peak right now, with squashes, pumpkins, apples … I even found avocadoes, grown by Chaffin Family Orchards, just ‘up the road’ in Oroville.  So, what’s stopping you ?!  Get out there and enjoy the fall harvest.

* you can find all sorts of season extending ideas and advice at Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply & Nursery.  And there’s still time to plant some late greens, if you hurry … maybe a ‘kitchen window garden’.  Healthy locally grown, veggie starts are still available at Peaceful Valley Nursery, Weiss Bros. Nursery, and at the front door at BriarPatch.**

**  and many other farm stands, and local nurseries that I haven’t visited recently ….. sorry if I didn’t mention them all.   I do get around a bit, but I just can’t be everywhere ….. hard as I try !!

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