From the Ground Up

Director/Cinematographer: Kristi Stephens Adams
Producer: Timothy O'Connor Fraser
Editor: Sara Maamouri

From the Ground Up is about people and transformation, where abandoned lots, streets and even whole neighborhoods can become fertile places for people to grow. In the 1940s over 20 million Americans had vegetable gardens that provided 40% of the produce consumed in the U.S. That spirit has risen again; today everyday people have taken responsibility to improve their health and well being, and their communities, by growing food in America's cities.

There are three primary components to From the Ground Up: the one-hour documentary, a WebDVD with an Urban Farming Toolkit, and a web site with resources and links for how people can get involved in urban farming, finding local food and building stronger communities.

From the Ground Up, goes into the fertile urban farms and gardens to meet extraordinary people who are achieving amazing results through ordinary actions. The simple act of planting a seed, watering and harvesting the fruits of their labors teach all people a valuable lesson about how our food comes to be and the earth itself. Everyday, hundreds of organizations throughout the U.S. are helping people to feed themselves, but it is not an easy for them to overcome environmental and political challenges, motivate others and make their neighborhoods more self-reliant.

Most American's know very little about the Victory Gardens that changed the face of our cities during the two World Wars. During WWI and WWII people around the country grew food in back yards, on balconies, in parks, at work, anyplace they could. The US government supported these new farmers by providing literature and training for them to be successful. Also by integrating this new idea into every part of their lives at school, work and social events. Why would the government take the interest and time in these urban farmers? The victory gardeners were doing an valuable service to the country - they were saving resources by growing their food locally thus saving gas, oil and coal as well as enabling farmers to send their food overseas. For From the Ground Up, this is proof that change is possible when given the appropriate conditions and support. We will show the parallels between then and now, how in and around urban centers and across the nation, people have again been growing food for local consumption, for some of the same reasons and some new ones as well: better nutrition, improved air quality, higher property values, community involvement, stress relief and boosts to local economies. We will also explore the reasons and circumstances why this incredibly success movement ended and the obstacles urban farmers face now.

America has new issues regarding scarcity today, not because of low food supplies, but because of lack of access to healthy, affordable food. Excessive resources used to grow and transport food, and a large percentage of food spoils in transit. Presently most of the food sold travels on average about 1,200 miles from farm to grocery store. Where better than the U.S. to show direction and leadership in sustainable urban farms? The time of Victory Gardens was a time of immense national strength, largely because people were working together. Communities were growing their own food, and these voices from the past and the people working today on urban farms are showing us there are ways to solve the inherent imbalance in the food supply. What needs to happen to make this a viable option? Support, resources, usable land, infrastructure and most important - motivation.