Award-Winning Film Growing Cities
Earth Day Film & Panel Discussion
by Lee Warren –
Organic Growers School will host the film, Growing Cities, a documentary about urban farming in America, on April 22, 2015 (Earth Day) at Lenoir Rhyne University of Graduates Studies, at 36 Montford Ave, in Asheville. The film examines the role of urban farming in America and looks at the power it has to revitalize our cities and change the way we eat.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the event, and the film starts at 7:00 p.m. Panel discussion to follow the movie. Growing Cities filmmakers take a trip across country meeting city dwellers across America who are revitalizing their communities and re-imagining the food system one rooftop farm and backyard chicken at a time.
From rooftop farmers to backyard beekeepers, Americans are growing food like never before. Growing Cities tells the inspiring stories of these intrepid urban farmers, innovators, and everyday city-dwellers who are challenging the way this country grows and distributes its food. From those growing food in backyards to make ends meet to educators teaching kids to eat healthier, viewers discover urban farmers are harvesting a whole lot more than simply good food.
Cost: By donation at the door. No advance sales. Runtime: 92 mins. Rated: TV G
Message from Dan Susman, Director
Urban agriculture is a topic fraught with apparent contradictions—where country meets city, cement cherry tomato, and the lines of producer and consumer, farmer and customer blur. The imagery is equally as stark—cucumbers peering through chain link fences, skyscrapers towering over compost piles, and the cacophony of subwoofers and roto-tillers on the same block. It’s the power of this tension, this seeming impossibility, which we use to bring viewers into a world of new possibility—where together we can create healthier, more sustainable communities.
When we first got the idea for Growing Cities a couple years ago, we started with the simple idea that anyone, anywhere should be able to meaningfully participate in their food system. It’s this premise that has guided us throughout the filmmaking process, from deciding which cities to visit, what themes to explore, and which stories to tell. The journey hasn’t been easy, from sleeping on floors, getting paid almost nothing, and consuming more PB & J’s than anyone should eat in a lifetime. But, being our first feature film, I guess we shouldn’t have expected anything less. And who am I kidding, it’s definitely all been worth it!
Screening in Asheville on Earth Day
Growing Cities, A Film about Urban Farming in America (90 minute film). Wednesday, April 22, 2015, Earth Day. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., film starts at 7 p.m. Panel discussion to follow the movie. Screening held in the Boardroom (2nd floor) at Lenoir Rhyne, Asheville Campus, 36 Montford Avenue, Asheville, NC.
Organic Growers School is a 501c3 non-profit with a mission to inspire, educate, and support people to farm, garden, and live organically. www.organicgrowersschool.org
