The virtual screening will be Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 6:00 PM     
                                                                 Link for more Info and tickets:  Festival Info & Tickets 

In a race against the end of farmable soil, three individuals fight for change in the industry of agricultural food production, calling for a revolution. ​ "The Need to GROW" delivers alarming evidence on the importance of healthy soil — revealing not only the potential of localized food production working with nature, but our opportunity as individuals to help regenerate our planet’s dying soils and participate in the restoration of the Earth.

FREP has 2 copies of the film and we are happy to make it available to small groups or individuals who would like to view it. Please contact Becky Hoag at 630-482-9157

The Need to Grow film trailer            The Need to Grow website
Michael Smith's Regenitech
Eric Cutter's Alegria SoxxBoxx              Alicia Serratos' 3 Sisters Seed Box

Renowned photographer James Balog (prominently featured in “Chasing Ice”) uses his camera to reveal how environmental change is affecting the lives of everyday Americans. Following the four classical elements—air, earth, fire and water—to frame his journey, Balog explores wildfires, hurricanes, sea level rise, coal mining, and the changes in the air we breathe. He takes it further by examining the effects of the fifth element—the human element—to tell an urgent story while giving inspiration for a more balanced relationship between humanity and nature.  We were honored to hold a Skype session with James Balog at the end of the screening.             
The Human Element Website & Trailer

What values do rural and urban people have in common? What are the challenges we can solve together? Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman tells the inspiring story of heartland conservation heroes who are feeding the world while stewarding the land and water. One of the darlings of last year’s Sundance Film Festival, the film celebrates the agricultural entrepreneurs who are doing things like revolutionizing industrial scale agriculture to rebuild the fertility, biodiversity and resilience of soil. This gorgeous film with abundant visual appeal is directed by Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Susan Froemke and Emmy winner John Hoffman, and narrated by journalist Tom Brokaw.

This film focuses on educating about how and why native plants are critical to the survival and vitality of local ecosystems with a goal to inspire people to plant native plants, providing a call to action to change our garden choices to include native plants. We were honored to have the filmmaker/directo Catherine Zimmerman join us for the screening. Following are helpful links for learning more about the film and the topics discussed in it.

Faith In Place (sponsor of OEFF)            
Sacred Ground (featured in the film, program of National Wildlife Federation)