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Good Stewards

“We all have to eat” opens Good Stewards, the latest of three films in the Sustainable Ag Series. This short doc (19 minutes) looks at the roles that consumers, farmers and policy-makers to be good stewards of the agriculture that feeds us. Home Grow’n, the second in the series,  explores how communities are preserving their precious farmland by using Smart Growth principles to develop their urban areas. Mi Casa Es Su Casa, began the trilogy, shining a light on the deplorable housing conditions that farm workers endure.  Each film was used as the opening to three different Ventura County (CA) Summits. They’ve been combined on one DVD to make it easy for other communities to deal with these closely integrated issues to preserve local agriculture.

Good Stewards Running time : 19 minutes
Home Grow’n Running time : 30 minutes
Mi Casa Es Su Casa Running time : 17 minutes
Available in DVD

Good Stewards Director’s Notes

“There’s a lot of talk these days about sustainability and the “3 E’s” – environmentally safe, economically viable and socially equitable. I belong to an amazing group called the Ag Futures Alliance (AFA) who works with the sustainability model. I say ‘amazing’ because it’s not often that you get Ag people and environmentalists and labor advocates all working together. “Good Stewards” came about when one of the farmers in the AFA pointed out that we needed to address environmental stewardship principles for farmers to follow. That Stewardship Committee hammered on a white paper for a year before we realized that you couldn’t deal with just the farmers, because they are in a market system driven by consumers and regulated by policymakers. So the report, and the film, became a guide of sorts for all three groups (farmers, consumer & policymakers) to understand how to support and secure our food system. Everybody has their part to play in protecting agriculture.”

Testimonials

“Dulanie’s films are beautifully crafted and wonderfully compelling. She weaves a tale that captures the essence of an issue, and moves the viewer to ponder. Her films are an effective motivator for inspiring community action.”
Leslie Leavens
Leavens Ranches

“Dulanie’s ability to capture so much information and put it together in such a concise, informative and entertaining way
is seen in every one of her films.”

Barbara Macri-Ortiz, Attorney

“Dulanie understands the issues, evokes the pithy comments, and captures the powerful images that get to the heart of things. We are enlightened and energized by her work.”
Michael Dimock, Executive Director
Roots of Change Foundation

Home Grow’n Director’s Notes

“The title was chosen because we are “grow’n homes” on some of our richest farmland. This is the film that launched Walk Your Talk Productions; because I live in one of the most beautiful and productive agricultural communities in the world, and I became enraged as I saw it being paved over for housing tracts. I simply had to know what it would take to save this farmland. The answer is….. build your towns and cities smarter. As I listened to urban planners and civic leaders speaking in terms of 20-year plans I kept asking the question, “Who’s thinking about 300 years? Who’s thinking about civilizations?” Every great civilization of history fell as they destroyed their topsoil.”

Testimonials

“Home Grow’n is a home run! It tackles the complex and emotional subjects of housing and farmland protection in a compelling and comprehensible manner. Dulanie’s deft touch behind the camera and in the editing room create both visually appealing and fast moving films. I recommend her work highly.”
Joseph McIntyre, Executive Director
Ag Innovations Network

“Dulanie’s films have been a critical tool in the effort to reawaken urban residents to farmers essential contributions to the community’s life, contributions that are relevant today but will become even more critical in the future. Her documentaries have allowed thousands to see, hear and feel our fundamental relationship to farming and food.”

Michael Dimock, Executive Director
Roots of Change Foundation

Director’s Notes

Mi Casa Es Su Casa is like the little engine that could. I was already in production on Home Grow’n when a friend on the Ag Futures Alliance came to me and asked if I could possible just do “a little something” about the plight of farm workers who needed decent housing. They were having a Summit and wanted a short 15-minute film to “put a face” on the problem, to open the event. I said I couldn’t do it, I was already doing Home Grow’n. The next morning I called her back and said of course I would do it, who else would do it? That was five years ago. “Mi Casa” has screened hundreds of times in multiple venues, it’s become curriculum in colleges and universities, and its success got me the money I needed to produce Home Grow’n.”

Testimonials

“Mi Casa Es Su Casa launched a program that has changed peoples’ perceptions of farm workers and their place in our community. It has been shown hundreds of times in schools, churches, city councils and to civic groups, winning the hearts and minds of viewers.”
Ellen Brokaw, Chairwoman
House Farm Workers!

“Dulanie’s films have impact. Her film Mi Casa, Su Casa has been critical to expanding awareness about the need for adequate housing for farm workers. More importantly it has moved audiences to take action.”
Joseph McIntyre, Executive Director
Ag Innovations Network

“Mi Casa es su Casa does an excellent job of engaging the audience in a way that educates them and inspires them to take action and become part of the solution to the problem.”
Jessica Arciniega
House Farm Workers!

Good Stewards Running time : 19 minutes
Home Grow’n Running time : 30 minutes
Mi Casa Es Su Casa Running time : 17 minutes
Available in DVD

Our price: $20.00