Tuesday, December 6, 2011
What’s ‘Organic‘ about Organic?
Directed and Produced by Shelley Rogers: 59 minutes / 2010 / Documentary
7:30 pm / St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay
What’s Organic illustrates that the organic food debate extends well beyond personal choice and into the realm of social responsibility. It delves into the debates that arise when a grassroots agricultural movement evolves into a booming international market. As the film moves from farm fields to government meetings to industry trade shows, we see how our health, the health of our planet, and the agricultural needs of our society are all intimately connected. The film compels us to look forward, towards a new vision for our culture and encourages us to ask, “How can we eat with an ecological consciousness?”
JOIN THE DIRECTOR, CO-PRODUCER AND A ST. JOHN ORGANIC FARMER AT OUR POST FILM DISCUSSION!
Shelley Rogers grew up in rural East Tennessee. Shelley has a Master’s degree in Media, Culture, and Communication from New York University and a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Smith College. She has worked as a freelance Assistant Director/Assistant Camera on several independent film productions in New York City and has served as a production intern at the Media Education Foundation and in GOOD Magazine’s web video department. She believes it is our social responsibility as citizens in a democracy to stand up for our right to live in a healthy environment and have access to diverse, independent media. She maintains an urban existence in NYC by growing vegetables on her fire escape and composting her kitchen scraps.
Marty Mesh started his career as an organic farmer and now serves as an advocate for organic farmers throughout the world. He volunteered countless hours of advice and input to this film because he feels that there is great potential for the film to empower and inspire audiences to support organic agriculture.
Josephine and Hugo Roller started Josephine’s Organic Greens on St. John in November 2006. Despite island challenges of poor soil, harsh weather and cost of land, they have persevered giving St. John restaurants, visitors and residents a flavorful, healthy, local choice for organic greens and herbs.
*An On Screen/In Person program made possible by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Regional Touring Program.