A Family Farm

Two families. One farm. A Family Farm is the story of the farm at 1900 Route 66 in Ghent, NY. From the late 1930s to 1970, the land was known as the Brisklea Farm. Run by the nationally recognized breeder Ralph Cooley and his wife Dot, the farm helped set the standard for the Ayshire cow. The farm was eventually sold and broken up, and the Cooleys retired. More than 30 years later, Carlo and Dominique DeVito restored it to a small, working family farm now known as the Hudson-Chatham Winery.

Producer and Director: Carlo DeVito
Photography and video: Carlo DeVito, Ralphy Cooley III, Dominique DeVito, and
Matt Weismantel
Editors: Carlo DeVito and Dominique DeVito
Run time: 26 minutes

Medicinal Wetlands

Medicinal Wetlands is a pilot program about the environmental and cultural history of the Shaker Swamp in New Lebanon, NY – a community project working with a team of scientists, archeologists, historians, and local producers who are exploring the medicinal plants and rich human history of the wetlands. The swamp became an industry birth place when the first pharmaceutical laboratory and factory in America was built in New Lebanon. The project will document the farming, harvesting, and distribution of rare, curative plants, as well as capture the unique sense of place and continuity of knowledge developed and passed along by many generations of skilled practitioners. The film’s director is a Research Associate at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History Anthropology Department.

Director, Photographer, and Editor: Theodore Timreck
Run time: 12 minutes

Chatham Grown

Back by popular demand, Chatham Grown gives an introduction to the farmers and farming issues in Chatham, NY, as the town works to maintain its agricultural economy in the midst of development pressures. This film describes thee fragility and changing nature of land use patterns and discusses ways that land can be conserved for agricultural use. The story is told in the farmers’ own words. All work on Chatham Grown was done by local residents and the film received its premiere at the 2007 Farm Film Fest. We are proud that director Courtney Hunt has a feature film being presented this month at the Sundance Film Festival!

Director and Photographer: Courtney Hunt
Editor: Tish Streeten
Producer: Chatham Agricultural Partnership
Run time: 21 minutes

CARETAKER WEEKEND (IN 5 MINUTES)

This unique film condenses 40 hours of a weekend at Caretaker Farm, a CSA in Williamstown, MA, into 5 minutes of screen time. The director wanted the viewer “to be able to see what happens over a weekend on the farm in a different way, especially the sun and other environmental factors that move in a different way than we usually get to see them.” He also wanted convey the feeling of so much happening at the farm – it’s a busy place. Look closely, and you’ll be able to see some details even during the dark night scenes!

Director, Photographer, and Editor: David Lachman
Run time: 5 minutes

AMERICAN HARVEST

This film is a documentary that explores the complex issue of immigrant workers and their place in the American food system. It includes a journey from Florida to New York, including a trip to the Mexican border, revealing the lives and issues of legal and illegal migrants and farmers working toward a better life. Much of the farming in the Hudson Valley depends upon immigrant workers, yet they are out of sight for most of us. This film was shown at the 2007 New York Annual Farm Bureau meeting to a standing room only crowd. It has been shown at numerous film festivals, winning awards at several.

Director, Producer, Photographer, and Editor: Angelo Mancuso
Run time: 100 minutes

PREPARE TO MEET YOUR MAKER

Following the Farm Film Fest, you are invited to meet the filmmakers, local farmers and members of the Chatham Agricultural Partnership, Chatham Film Club, and Columbia Land Conservancy upstairs at Peint O Gwrw (down the street from the Crandell). There is no charge, and snacks will be provided. Cash bar.