Co-produced by Monadnock Food Co-op and Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition (MFCC), the Monadnock Farm Tour & Film Festival celebrates local food and farms on Friday, August 23 – Sunday, August 25 throughout the Monadnock Region.
Day One: August 23
On Friday, August 23, the Festival kicks off with a screening of The Need to Grow at 7 p.m. at the Colonial Theater in Keene. Local food trucks parked in front of the theatre will offer freshly prepared entrees and appetizers, and live music inside will make for an informative, fun, and food-filled night out. Hosted by the Monadnock Food Co-op, this film delivers revealing evidence of the importance of healthy soil and how localized food production works to regenerate Earth’s dying soils.
Day Two: August 24
On Saturday, August 24, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., sixteen local farms will offer tours of their land. Special activities include a “milk and cookie bar” at Manning Hill Farm, short films in the barn at Sun Moon Farm, dressage demonstrations at Peep Willow Farm, horse-drawn hay wagon rides at Earth Haven Farm, and much more. Tickets for the Farm Tour are $5/per person or $10/car and can be purchased at farms during farm tour hours or online at https://farmfilmfood.eventbrite.com.
Two, award-winning films will be offered Saturday night in Hancock and Peterborough. “Root, Hog, or Die” will be shown at 6 p.m. at Post & Beam Brewing in Peterborough. The title is a common American catch-phrase for self-reliance dating from well before 1834. This film captures the tightly knit communities of generations of dairy farmers in the rural hill towns of New England. The film is hosted by Grow Eat Drink Monadnock.
Main Street Cheese in Hancock will host, “Tackling Climate Change through Food.” This 45-minute set of short films explores how farmers and the local food movement work to provide solutions to stem climate change. A discussion with light refreshments will be served. This film starts at 7 p.m., and an RSVP is required at mainstreetcheese@gmail.com.
Day Three: August 25
On Sunday, August 25, Fertile Fields Farm will close the festival out with a screening of “Secret Ingredients” at 6:30 p.m. at the Brattleboro Food Co-op. This powerful film shares remarkable stories of people who regain their health after discovering the secret ingredients in their food and making a bold commitment to avoid them. A discussion with herbalist, Cindy Hebbard will follow the film. RSVP is required at 802.257.0236 (30 maximum).
“What better way to celebrate NH Eat Local Month than with a festival like this?” said Jen Risley, Monadnock Food Co-op Marketing Manager. “Local farms, thought-provoking films, and fun!”
“Eating locally grown food is an investment in our physical, environmental, and economic well-being, and that of future generations,” said Roe-Ann Tasoulas, director of MFCC. “We genuinely hope the community supports this festival, as well as local farms throughout the year by purchasing their goods.”
There is a suggested donation of $10 at each film screening. For information, film details, and more visit the event page, www.mfcommunitycoalition.org/farmfilmfood.
The Farm Tour is paid in part by funds provided by NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food. The Film Festival is sponsored by Belletetes, Elm City Brewing, C & S Wholesale Grocers, Yankee Farm Credit, The Works Cafe, Savings Bank of Walpole, WS Badger Balm, True North Networks, Archway Farm, Stonewall Farm, The Hungry Diner, Monadnock Conservancy, Prime Roast, and NBT Bank. This event is also with support from in-kind sponsors: Cheshire County Conservation District, Gem Graphics, Walpole Creamery, Healthy Monadnock.