the greenhorns! / a documentary film about farmers in america

A friend sent me this link because she thought I might be interested and I definitely am! The statistics of farms closing in Upstate New York daily is somewhat staggering. I feel connected to all these farmers but especially to the farmers in Upstate New York where I have a house and rely on many local small farms for my CSA and seasonal produce. Food is such a huge part of going Upstate, everything revolves around it. Dinner parties, potlucks, canning, and family dinners would not be the same without them. I have the greatest respect for these farmers who are struggling to make it in harsh economic times. Farmers are the people who work very hard night and day for you because they love it... and it is what they know. I grew up on a very small family farm in Massachusetts. We had a handful of Jersey's (Tuesday Well's, Elsie, Carnation, Buttercup and Dirty Face), goats, chickens, pigs, capons, ducks, geese, horses, two Scottish Highlanders, dogs, cats and one monkey. Let me tell you, it was an inordinate amount of work in the years that we ran it. Imagine your local cheese maker, or dairy farmer or your CSA farm and then imagine your local greenmarket or co op without some of these faces and vendors. it is a grim scenario. It is ironic that so many farms should be closing at a time when we are having a virtual food explosion. If you are  a documentary buff or interested in where you food comes from... come out and support! I bet you won't come away disappointed!

see a description of the film below from their website. 

The average age of American farmers is 57, and in New York State, a farm is lost to real estate development twice a week.

If those statistics leave you wondering about who will be growing your food locally and sustainably into the future, you can learn all about it in a new documentary tomorrow night, and help support a new coalition of young farmers.

The Greenhorns, a 4-year-old nonprofit whose mission is to “recruit, promote and support the new generation of young farmers in this ample and able 21st century America,” hosts the premiere of its namesake documentary at the Anthology Film Archives Wednesday night from 7 to 9 p.m. A panel discussion follows the 50-minute film.

Tickets are $45 in advance and $100 at the door, with all proceeds benefiting the National Young Farmers Coalition, a fledgling organization created by and for the next generation of America’s farmers.

The film, which showcases “a new generation of young agrarians who farm with their brains as well as their bodies,” will have additional showings throughout the summer; check The Greenhorns website for dates and times.