BriarPatch Blogs » organic

“Homegrown”

Mellisa Hannum — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:29:19 +0000

“Homegrown” is 52 minutes of inspiration.

To watch it is to desire to do more with what you have, to strive not to take anything for granted, and dog-gone it — to go out and garden.

It’s a film about a family. A family that is close and caring and devoted to each others’ well being. It’s about the Dervaes Family. They have created a small, organic farm in Pasadena, Calif. It’s not in the outskirts of the city, either. It’s in the heart. They live off the grid, use bio diesel for their car, and are able to harvest 6,000 pounds of produce on a piece of land maybe just a bit more than 1/5 of an acre.

What may be the best thing about “Homegrown” is that it will make you feel warm and fuzzy. This is how feel-good movies should be. Thank goodness we get to experience it in such a nicely thought out documentary.

Employee Art Show

What Does Organic Mean, Anyway?

Mellisa Hannum — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:33:35 +0000

“What’s Organic About Organic?” It’s one catchy film title and probably a question that’s swam up to the top of your brain a time or two.

What about big business? It’s a lot easier to find organic products at the store, but how has this affected the small organic farmers that started the movement?

“What’s Organic About Organic?” explores how the business of organic vs. conventional products has changed in the last few decades and how the growing demand for organics could be affecting the requirements of those products.

The film focuses mainly on the small farmer – the dairy farmer in Florida, the neighborhood garden in Brooklyn, the entrepreneur at the farmers’ market. It touches upon the pinch locals feel financially when organic foods are imported at a lower price than what the rancher down the way can compete with, and it shows what can literally be the life and death struggle of the small farmer versus big industry.

It’s a serious film, but it shows the good that has come with the dedication of people who believe in healthy food. You get to experience a bit of a canning class in an urban setting, a young boy philosophizing about the gloriousness of ducks, and a farmer sampling her homemade sausage at her local food co-op.

It shows the best of what organic food can be and underscores how important it is, both for the health of human beings and the health of the planet.

A “Food Fight” You Won’t Want To Miss

Mellisa Hannum — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:17:39 +0000

“Good food should be a right, not a privilege,” said Alice Waters of Chez Panisse in the documentary, “Food Fight.”

“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.