Free "Fresh" showing at MCHS

Though snow is still fresh in the minds of Madison County residents, area gardeners are already planning this year’s community garden and related projects.

Farm to Table, whose members often act as advocates for a “buy local, eat fresh” mindset, are planning several new programs for the year including showing the documentary film “Fresh” and organizing canning lessons. They are also restarting the community gardens with the goal of an early planting in March according to organizing member Jan Richter.

The group invites community members for a free 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27 showing of “Fresh” a film about the farming industry in the Madison County High School auditorium.

The movie, according to Richter, though opinionated, does not have the same perspective as something like Robert Kenner’s film “Food Inc.”

“It was very engaging, an interesting documentary (and) quite powerful,” Richter said in a phone interview last week. “It has a lot of information about how food is grown and the ways (used) from factory farms to small operations and it’s very non-confrontational.”

The movie is apparently designed to present information about farming practices and help the viewer understand the industry.

“Clearly they want people to understand that most food production no longer comes from small farms and that it is a problem,” Richter said. “(Though) the movie is quite respectful of people trying make a living off the land.”

Farm to Table is inviting the community to come see the film to promote an understanding, in part, of the options for fresh produce currently available in the county, according to Richter.

“Our hope is to that people will value local foods because here in Madison it’s not hard to work with local producers, certainly during the season it’s not hard, so people will support local producers,” Richter said. “Anybody who wants to learn more about the nutritional value of the food they’re buying (should see the movie). We take (food) for granted but it’s a fascinating thing, it’s kind of the core of our existence.”

Spring programs

In addition to the movie night, the group is also in the planning stages of this year’s community garden project and organizing a canning class for people new to the craft. The group is hoping to rent a community kitchen for the class and have an instructor and a food safety expert to help teach it.
“It’s not an easy thing (canning),” Richter said. “(Homemade) breads, jams and jellies (sell) at a farmers market but you can’t sell pickles (and other homemade canned goods) because the chances of toxins.”

The canning classes would give new canners a chance to learn safe methods under professional supervision. However, the class may be driven by community interest, according to Richter, meaning that if people do not say they are interested it may not happen this year. Along with the possible canning class other cooking classes, including several for Madison youth, are also in the planning stages.

Early gardens

The community gardens, started last spring, are again on a piece of land off U.S. 29 in Oak Hill loaned by Madison farmer Mayo Yowell and open to the public. The garden plot is free and some tools were donated to the project last year but gardeners need to put in the time, according to Richter.

Early work on the gardens is important, she said, especially if gardeners want to raise peas, potatoes, radishes or spinach – all plants that start in the early spring. Last year 12 plots were started and the group is hoping for more this year.

“It’s only the things that won’t stay through frost that you have to wait until May to plant,” Richter said.

The gardeners had a late start last year, according to Richter, as people did not start planting until April. This year, the goal is to have an organizational meeting in the beginning of March in hopes of having spring produce.

“We will till (the area) in February (but) people should be contacting me now to (arrange a plot),” Richter said. “I will set up the day when everybody can come and choose an area – some people will be able to work the same plots (as last year).”

Along with starting earlier there will be some changes to the gardens this year, though they will still be free for who ever would like one, Jim Cook, a new member of the group, is building a solar pump to help keep the rain barrels filled for gardeners to use. During dryer periods the barrels will now be filled with water pumped from a well-water supply.

“For people who want gardens – they can choose their plot and we are hoping to get a volunteer with a truck to bring manure (or) if we get donations we could arrange for a dump truck of manure,” Richter said. “If they can’t make it on the designated day (for orientation) we can arrange something.”

Gardeners may also have a chance to start raised beds, according to Richter, if there is an interest.

To reserve a seat for the movie or a garden plot, or with information on a rental kitchen facility contact Jan Richter at (540) 948-3272 or janisrichter@msn.com. For information on the movie, visit http://www.freshthemovie.com.