On Wednesday, March 6 Awareness Film Night and Sooke Food CHI will be hosting their annual Farming and Gardening Gala at Edward Milne community school. The theme is, “Stories from women farmers, old and new.” The evening will include films, a panel discussion, booths featuring local produce, products, farming and gardening information, tea and goodies by the EMCS Culinary Arts class and gift basket door prizes.
The leading film is a classic from the 1990’s titled Outstanding In Her Field, an all-women cooperative project made by and featuring women farmers of Southern Vancouver Island, including Sooke’s Mary Alice Johnson. This film had the aim “to inspire others to involve themselves in sustainable agriculture on any scale - to join us in this lifestyle that nurtures the ecosystem, our families and our communities and ourselves.” An aim that has been realized in most remarkable ways.
This half-hour-long movie will be followed by several film clips featuring women farmers from Sooke and Metchosin in 2013 as a preview to the planned Outstanding In Her Field, the Sequel. A post-screenings panel discussion will celebrate the experience and unique contributions of women in sustainable agriculture, including such issues as farming with small children, the special roles of husbands of women farmers, access to land, the physical demands of farming and exploring why it is that so many new farmers are women. Doors open at 6:45; film starts at 7:30. Admission by donation.