What happens when a maverick Midwestern farmer and community outcast melds the traditions of family farming with the power of art and free expression? You get the film The Real Dirt on Farmer John. Sponsored by the Chestertown Spy’s Marty Fujita Film Project, and co-sponsored by Homegrown and Green Promotions, this award-winning documentary will be shown on Thursday, June 3 at 7pm at the Prince Theatre in Chestertown. Proceeds from the $10 per person suggested donation will benefit Colchester Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) located in Galena, MD.
The Marty Fujita Film Project was created by Spy publisher, Dave Wheelan, in honor of his friend and Spy green editor Marty Fujita. An early advocate of food-to-school programs, as well as founder of Food for Thought in Ojai, CA, Fujita helped organize the first benefit film for Colchester, with the showing of “Food Inc.” in September of last year. She lost her battle to cancer six months later at the age of fifty-four.
Marty Fujita and daughter Dana
“Marty was a remarkable educator by nature, and she understood how powerful these documentaries can be to change behavior,” said Wheelan. “She was instrumental in my own education on the subject. And as the green editor, she helped guide how the Chestertown Spy covers farm and food issues, and believed in what Colchester CSA is doing, so I feel it’s a fitting tribute.”
The Real Dirt on Farm John is the story of John Peterson, “Farmer John”, and his 25-year journey to preserve his family’s farming legacy, heralding a resurrection of farming in America. The film focuses on how loss and tragedy in John’s life takes him from heartbreak to reflection to transformation leading to the founding of Angelic Organics, one of the largest Community Supported Agriculture farms in the United States, a beacon of today’s booming organic farming movement. A moderated discussion will follow the film presentation.
For more information about the film presentation contact Jenn Hicks [email protected]. For more information about Colchester Farm CSA in visit the website www.colchesterfarm.org. For more information about the film and Angelic Organics visit www.angelicorganics.com
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.