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URBAN GARDENING STUDENTS RESPOND TO EATING ALASKA
-Where does our food come from?
"What are the consequences of our current food system?
-Is it better to eat local or organic? To be a Vegan vs. Vegetarian vs. Omnivore?
-What can be learned from indigenous food practices?
-Could you actually kill an animal for its meat?
We made Eating Alaska to add to the conversation about how what we eat matters and connects us to the place we live. We wanted it to tie into efforts from community gardens and college campus efforts to promote sustainability to fossil fuel free days and electric car conversions that help us take care of our planet, our communities, families and ourselves.
Here is an example, from Austin Texas. We shared Eating Alaska with some participants in Urban Roots is a youth development program that uses sustainable agriculture as means to transform the lives of young people and increase the access of healthy food. On a 3.5 acre urban farm, the project brings together Austin youth ages 14-17 from diverse backgrounds to grow food, to serve people in need, and to gain valuable life, job, and leadership skills.
After the screening, one of the Urban Roots coordinators asked during the question and answer session, how do you talk with people about food choices?
The coordinator shared her experience of running into walls and defensiveness when she raised issues around food and making choices to eat more locally, more sustainably or just to eat good healthy food. Since I enjoy putting out questions, instead of attempting to provide answers, I turned to the students and asked them how being involved in their project had changed their thinking and the way they eat. They shared great stories of awareness and changes in their lives and their families by being involved in a program that connected to them to the source of their food. Seems like the answer to working with the walls is conversation, discussion, interaction, modeling, action. It all helps.
This is some response that also got passed on to us later:
"It was really great to see other kids. I was able to relate to this movie more because of the interviews they did with people my age. I was very interested in their lifestyle. How these teenagers are so accustomed to hunting. It would be like a different world to me."
Kayla, 16 years old, youth leader with Urban Roots
"It was cool that they used what they had. They ate what was near them.
What I thought was cool was how the main character and the other women were so strong. They survived in the forest for a long time. I don't usually see women doing that kind of stuff."
Mohammed, 15 years old, agriculture intern, Urban Roots
"It was amazing to see him harvesting sea cucumbers under water in freezing temperature."
Raymundo, 16 years old, agriculture intern, Urban Roots
EATING ALASKA ON NEW DAY DIGITAL
You can now look at Eating Alaska on-line!
This is a great option for previewing the film for a community screening, home viewing and for out of class assignments for students. This week a university student contacted us after he missed an screening in a Geography class. It was great to be able to send him to the site, where for a small fee he can stream the film on demand. School and Institutional use can be arranged too. Click here to go to Eating Alaska on New Day Digital.
03/22/2010: "YOUTH PROGRAMS, QUESTIONS, STREAMING"
URBAN GARDENING STUDENTS RESPOND TO EATING ALASKA
-Where does our food come from?
"What are the consequences of our current food system?
-Is it better to eat local or organic? To be a Vegan vs. Vegetarian vs. Omnivore?
-What can be learned from indigenous food practices?
-Could you actually kill an animal for its meat?
We made Eating Alaska to add to the conversation about how what we eat matters and connects us to the place we live. We wanted it to tie into efforts from community gardens and college campus efforts to promote sustainability to fossil fuel free days and electric car conversions that help us take care of our planet, our communities, families and ourselves.
Here is an example, from Austin Texas. We shared Eating Alaska with some participants in Urban Roots is a youth development program that uses sustainable agriculture as means to transform the lives of young people and increase the access of healthy food. On a 3.5 acre urban farm, the project brings together Austin youth ages 14-17 from diverse backgrounds to grow food, to serve people in need, and to gain valuable life, job, and leadership skills.
After the screening, one of the Urban Roots coordinators asked during the question and answer session, how do you talk with people about food choices?
The coordinator shared her experience of running into walls and defensiveness when she raised issues around food and making choices to eat more locally, more sustainably or just to eat good healthy food. Since I enjoy putting out questions, instead of attempting to provide answers, I turned to the students and asked them how being involved in their project had changed their thinking and the way they eat. They shared great stories of awareness and changes in their lives and their families by being involved in a program that connected to them to the source of their food. Seems like the answer to working with the walls is conversation, discussion, interaction, modeling, action. It all helps.
This is some response that also got passed on to us later:
"It was really great to see other kids. I was able to relate to this movie more because of the interviews they did with people my age. I was very interested in their lifestyle. How these teenagers are so accustomed to hunting. It would be like a different world to me."
Kayla, 16 years old, youth leader with Urban Roots
"It was cool that they used what they had. They ate what was near them.
What I thought was cool was how the main character and the other women were so strong. They survived in the forest for a long time. I don't usually see women doing that kind of stuff."
Mohammed, 15 years old, agriculture intern, Urban Roots
"It was amazing to see him harvesting sea cucumbers under water in freezing temperature."
Raymundo, 16 years old, agriculture intern, Urban Roots
EATING ALASKA ON NEW DAY DIGITAL
You can now look at Eating Alaska on-line!
This is a great option for previewing the film for a community screening, home viewing and for out of class assignments for students. This week a university student contacted us after he missed an screening in a Geography class. It was great to be able to send him to the site, where for a small fee he can stream the film on demand. School and Institutional use can be arranged too. Click here to go to Eating Alaska on New Day Digital.
Ellen Frankenstein, on 03.22.10 @ 10:59AKT
