**Music in trailer: Wait and
See by Lindalou and Michael Ryge**
http://www.jamendo.com/en/track/162051/wait-and-see
Hope yo see you at the rough-cut screening this Sunday!
When: October 20, 2013 at 2pm
Where: St. Helen's Community Hall (St. Helens, Ontario)
Google Map: http://tinyurl.com/kc8sc5f*
Why this film?
The politics of food, land use and resource management
are the most pressing issues the world faces today, and it’s all happening
right in our back yards.
In a region dominated by
monocropping and industrial agriculture, Fran and Tony McQuail have built a
sustainable and ecologically sound farm that stands as a model for others.
Meeting Place Organic Farm has been living the principles of sustainable food
production for forty years in Ontario’s most agriculturally productive county (http://huroncounty.ca/econdev/agriculture.php)
and inspiring others to do the same.
What the McQuails have built over
the past forty years at Meeting Place Organic Farm is unique and inspiring and
has the potential to spark real change in the way that we view our relationship
with food and the ecosystem.
Not only does this film explore
the very real ways one farm has contributed to the long term ecological
viability of agriculture in Ontario, it is also a call to action for all those
who believe there is a better way to take care of our planet and feed the
world.
The McQuails have inspired a new
generation of ecological farmers in their region – but this film can reach
beyond their farm gate and speak to urban dwellers and farmers in other regions
interested in living a more holistic life.
Director Rebecca Garrett and
Production Assistant Britt Gregg-Wallace have known Fran and Tony for many
years and have always been impressed by their commitment to organic farming,
ecology and social justice. When Rebecca first started thinking about telling
their story through film, she was inspired by the
breadth and depth of their involvement in the organic agriculture movement, in
politics and in their community.
Once Rebecca and Britt started
working with the McQuails, their appreciation for them grew and it became clear
that their actions – from running for political office, to training young
organic farmers, to limiting their use of non-renewable resources – were
deeply integrated with their values and intersected with their everyday
lives.
Project Summary
The film follows the McQuails
from the chicken coop to the campaign trail and back again, as they work tirelessly
and cheerfully to find thoughtful solutions to immediate problems on their farm
and beyond with an eye on what is best for the planet and future
generations.
Rebecca and
Britt have done initial filming and conducted meetings and interviews with Fran
and Tony at their farm as well as with other members of their communities. Now we
are working on this campaign to generate enough resources to keep filming, do
additional research, and continue editing.
The fall will
be spent preparing a rough-cut version of the film for a public screening
on October 20th, 2013. Members of
the community and individuals who contribute to this campaign will be invited
to see a rough version of the film and asked to share their ideas and
feedback. In the winter and spring of 2013-14 the feedback received from
the community will be incorporated into the final edit in preparation for a
summer 2014 release.
We plan to submit
applications to show the film at several film festivals including Hot Docs and the Environmental Film Festival in Toronto.
We need your help!
If you believe in this
project, help us make it happen! In return for your generous contributions, we
have some awesome perks for you. From an invitation to the rough-cut screening
and a farm tour in the fall, to organic meat and a copy of the final film,
there is something for everyone. Check out the perks on the right side of this
page.
We want to acknowledge all who
contribute to the project (both financially and through community feedback) by
thanking you in the credits. When you do make a contribution, please let us
know if you want your name to be in the credits or whether you would prefer to
remain anonymous.
Other Ways You Can Help
There are other ways to help too!
If you like what you see here, share this link with your family, friends,
coworkers and broader networks. You can use the Indiegogo share tools on this
page. Check out our Facebook page!
Who Fran and Tony Are
For the past four decades, Tony
& Fran McQuail have owned and operated Meeting Place Organic Farm near
Lucknow, Ontario. In their early twenties and with limited experience in
farming, they bought a rundown farm in 1973 and applied their considerable energy
and interest in ecology, nature and renewable energy to the sustainable
production of food. The 100 acre Meeting Place Organic Farm has evolved into a
diversified operation with grass fed beef, pastured pork and chicken, a large
vegetable garden, an apple orchard and a 25 acre wood lot. Integrating many
forms of renewable energy into their farming operation, they do much of their
farm work with Belgian work horses that were bred and raised on the farm. The
farm has been organic for 35 years and they have found the organic community in
Ontario to be a great resource and support over the years. Their involvement in
training the next generation of organic farmers and political action around
food production through the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario, the
Collaborative Alliance For Farmer Training (CRAFT) and as Holistic Management
certified educators makes them an invaluable resource for today and the future.
Want to get in touch? Email us: meetingplaceorganicfilm@gmail.com
