The Peconic Land Trust, a nonprofit organization that helps conserve the working farms of Long Island, produced a documentary last year entitled “Growing Farmers” that chronicles their work with local farms. The film will have its first screening on the North Fork this Saturday, June 8 at 3 p.m. at the Cutchogue Library.
The documentary tells the personal stories of various farmers on Long Island who are leasing land that is either owned or managed by the Peconic Land Trust due to financial difficulties.
“Access to affordable farmland is certainly a real challenge to farmers – both those new to agriculture as well as those who are looking to expand their existing operations,” said Trust President John Halsey.
“Growing Farmers” premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival in October, and has since been screened at various locations on Long Island to help shed some light on the situation for residents.
“Getting to know some of the young farmers and hearing their stories was inspiring,” said co‐Producer Hilary Leff, who is also the Trust’s Vice Chair of the Board. “The work that the Land Trust is doing in helping to keep farming on the East End is so important on so many levels.”
The film screening also includes a panel discussion with Dan Heston, the Trust’s North Fork Stewardship Manager, Chris Browder of Browder’s Birds and Stephanie Gaylor of Invincible Summer Farms.
The Cutchogue Library is located at 27550 Main Rd in Cutchogue. For more information, visit the Peconic Land Trust’s website.
http://www.peconiclandtrust.org/
