"spectacular and memorable . . . . a very important film . . . . Watch it!"
— Deborah Madison, author of Vegetable Literacy and Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone
For a quarter-century, Henry and Hiroko Brockman have run Henry's Farm, an idyllic family farm in Congerville, Illinois. Armed with intimate knowledge of soil, plants, and micro-climates, Henry produces an astounding 650 varieties of organic vegetables every year. But despite the farm’s success and support from many loyal customers, Henry dreams of scaling back. The physical demands of farming have taken a toll on his aging body and, like his fields, Henry needs a fallow year. So he puts his former apprentices in charge while taking a year's sabbatical with Hiroko in her native Japan for some well-deserved relaxation and renewal.
But things do not turn out as planned. While former intern Kris Pirmann leads the farm crew in Henry’s absence, turbulent weather strikes and devastates some of the crops. Daughter Aozora, a recent college graduate and poet, returns to work long hours on the farm, while longing to write. Meanwhile, Henry’s sabbatical frees his mind enough to let climate change enter his consciousness, unbidden and unwelcome, and he realizes he will have to re-envision the future of farming — for himself and for coming generations.
Steeped in images of natural beauty, this thoughtful, engaging, and quietly observed documentary shows us what’s involved in bringing good food to the table, and how biodiversity, adaptability, and resilience are key to survival in an evermore unpredictable future.
Steeped in images of natural beauty, this thoughtful, engaging, and quietly observed documentary shows us what’s involved in bringing good food to the table, and how biodiversity, adaptability, and resilience are key to survival in an evermore unpredictable future.