Explores sustainable agriculture and the contrast between chemical and organic farming.
An emotionally charged documentary about the use and misuse of technology on the American farm. In less than fifty years the face of agriculture has been utterly transformed by synthetic chemicals which have had a serious impact on the environment and on the health of farm families. This film tells the story of two farmers, different in all details, yet united by their common goal of producing healthy food.
One of the farmers is the father of the filmmaker. Herbert Smith was a hero of his age: dedicated, innovative, a champion of the new miracle sprays of the 50s. His fate is the heart of this film. The other, Fred Kirschenmann of North Dakota, is a hero for our age. Faced with a shattered economy and the devastating environmental effects of conventional chemical farming, Fred steered his land through the transition to organic farming. Twenty years later, the Kirschenmann farm is a thriving testament to ingenuity, hard work, and a reverent understanding of nature.
Fred proves that sustainable agriculture is a viable alternative on any sized farm and that we can bring health and beauty back to the Garden.
Awards
~ CINE Golden Eagle
~ The Chris Award, Columbus International Film & Video Festival
~ Silver Spire, San Francisco International Film Festival
~ Silver Plaque, Chicago International Film Festival
~ Best Environmental Program, MountainFilm in Telluride
~ First Place, Documentary, BACA/Brooklyn Arts Council
~ Best Documentary, Canyonlands Film and Video Festival
~ Best Doumentary, Crested Butte Reel Fest
~ Best Documentary, Hope and Dreams Film Festival
~ Best Director: Minnesota Film & Video Expo
~ Bronze TELLY Award
~ Bronze Apple, National Educational Media Network Competition
~ Bronze Award, CINDY Competition
~ Bronze Award, WorldFest Houston
~ Third Place Documentary, Central Florida Film & Video Festival
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