Look & See revolves around the divergent stories of several residents of Henry County, Kentucky who each face difficult choices that will dramatically reshape their relationship with the land and their community.
In 1965, Wendell Berry returned home to Henry County, where he bought a small farm house and began a life of farming, writing and teaching. This lifelong relationship with the land and community would come to form the core of his prolific writings. A half-century later, Henry County, like many rural communities across America, has become a place of quiet ideological struggle.
In the span of a generation, the agrarian virtues of simplicity, land stewardship, sustainable farming, local economies and rootedness to place have been replaced by a capital-intensive model of industrial agriculture characterized by machine labor, chemical fertilizers, soil erosion and debt — all of which have frayed the fabric of rural communities. Writing from a long wooden desk beneath a forty-paned window, Berry has watched this struggle unfold, becoming one of its most passionate and eloquent voices in defense of agrarian life.
Filmed across four seasons in the farming cycle, Look & See blends observational scenes of farming life, interviews with farmers and community members with evocative, carefully framed shots of the surrounding landscape. Thus, in the spirit of Berry’s agrarian philosophy, Henry County itself will emerge as a character in the film — a place and a landscape that is deeply interdependent with the people that inhabit it.
Directed By: Laura Dunn | Jef Sewel
Genre: Documentary
Run Time: 82 min
MPAA Rating: NA
Origin: USA
A film showing and panel in partnership with Plainsong Farm, Local First, and the UICA, this documentary delves into the life of Wendell Berry as well as the interdependence of land and community.
It may be taste. If you have a sweet tooth, maybe you’d consider a decadent layered chocolate cake with fluffy whipped frosting “good”. Or for the savory side, a bowl of soup that has a harmony of seasonings and flavors singing out. That sounds good.
Or based on presentation. They say we eat with our eyes, so the appearance of a plate could mean everything. Freshness is also key–does it look like it just came from the garden or was it forgotten on a counter at the back of the kitchen somewhere.
At Access of West Michigan, we appreciate a more specific definition than something that just tastes yummy and looks appetizing. And for good reason. In our effort to promote sustainable, wholistic solutions to poverty, the food we work toward is more than just a plate of chocolate chip cookies.
According to the Michigan Good Food Charter in 2010, which presents a vision for improving Michigan’s food system, “good” food has four requirements.
Healthy
First and foremost, food that is good is food that is healthy. Which means those packages of frosted mini donuts probably won’t cut it. The charter states that healthy means the food “provides nourishment and enables people to thrive.” Healthy foods like ripe red strawberries, bushy stalks of deep green kale and whole grain oats provide essential nutrients to give energy and sustainability.
Green
No, in this case green does not refer to money. Rather, the charter defines green as food that “was produced in a manner that is environmentally sustainable.” Biting into a crunchy Granny Smith means that the grower didn’t need to use harmful pesticides that hurt the earth, animals and humans. No obnoxious or harmful fumes were emitted into the air while washing potatoes. Good food is not only based on the food itself but protecting and preserving the environment in which it’s grown.
Fair
This has become a buzzword in today’s culture, referring to justice in the production of food from start to finish. Yet it’s a concept of the food system that is of high importance. The charter describes “fair” as “no one along the production line was exploited during its creation.” This element of criteria for good food ensures that those involved won’t get abused or taken advantage of in supporting both those who eat and those who grow or produce it.
Affordable
Having food that is healthy, green and fair is so important. But what if people can’t even purchase or obtain it? Affordability means that no matter their income level, social status, age or gender, everyone should be able to have access to such food.
So why is this definition of “good food” important?
For our co-executive director Emma Garcia, it provides a path toward improving how food pantries serve their community.
Charitable food organizations, or those that distribute emergency food such as a pantry, don’t often find it easy to follow these guidelines. Garcia said that when the charitable food system began, it was a fairly straightforward concept.
“For the surplus of food, rather than it ending up in a landfill, give it to people who need it,” Garcia said.
Yet a lot of the food that is produced in surplus and is often donated is unfortunately foods that don’t meet these four criteria for “good” food.
Through our Farm to Pantry program, we are working to make good food a reality for all by investing in our local food economy and partnering pantries with small West Michigan farms to better our community and practice good food values.
In preparation for an upcoming Poverty Simulation, volunteer staffers Mary, Cindy, Tom and Rhoeda were busy at work compiling participant packets and organizing materials.
The Poverty Simulation is just one of many programs at Access of West Michigan to create solutions to poverty through education and collaboration. The goal in these seminars is to bring awareness of the realities of poverty and to encourage people to get involved.
The “Living on the Edge” poverty simulation provides an opportunity for participants to walk in the shoes of someone living in a low-income environment. The participant must navigate with their “family” how to provide for expenses, make ends meet and be sustainable throughout the event.
As staffers of the events, Tom and Rhoeda have been working with and learning from these simulations. What began as a way to simply get involved with the community has become a meaningful experience of inspiring participants to engage and learn.
Both Tom and Rhoeda, married, retired and living in Muskegon, volunteer to prepare for the simulations by preparing the packages of money and ensuring all participants will have what they need. At the simulation events, Rhoeda loves interacting with the “family members” working hard to stay afloat.
“I like interacting with the participants,” she said, “watching them get into their roles, with their comments, discussions — they’re deep in thought.”
Tom has also been moved by his experiences of being a part of the simulations.
“I heard a participant comment on how she really thought about it when she had to go do the different things, like leaving her child home to go work,” he said. When families are involved, things get personal.
Rhoeda gets excited about these events, because they’re so important.
“The way it changes people’s attitudes,” she said. “The way they treat people in poverty can make a big difference.”
Mary and Cindy also volunteer in the preparation for the simulation, and equally appreciate the opportunity to watch people’s attitudes change.
“I like to see the interactions with the families,” Mary said. “They cooperate with families, make a community of their own.”
After an afternoon of packing, planning and preparing, the team of volunteers was ready for the upcoming event. For them, it’s not just hours to fill their time, it’s an opportunity to create an awareness of poverty — on a personal level.
And these staffers would know. Some have lived it.
Tie up those shoe laces and grab your friends, the Access of West Michigan 40th Annual Hunger Walk is coming to downtown Grand Rapids on Sunday, May 7. Registration and food festival — including live music, a food truck, activities for kids and more — begins at 1:30 p.m. at Park Church, 10 E Park Pl NE, Grand Rapids. The walk begins in stride at 2:15 p.m.
Since 1977, the Hunger Walk has raised over $6 million for local and international organizations promoting a thriving food system through the support of thousands of individuals, businesses and congregations.
This year, the goal is to extend that support by raising $110,000 and have over 1,000 walkers. Participants, whether individual or in teams, collect financial pledges for walking the 5K to celebrate and generate awareness for the mission of organizations working to reduce poverty and food insecurity. The focus is on the dual themes of celebration and solidarity.
“We walk to celebrate the good that we have done in the last 40 years, we also stand in solidarity with those still facing issues of systemic poverty, inequity, and disparity,” said Access of West Michigan Co-Director, Emma Garcia. “The Hunger Walk is a way that our community members can show public support for economic justice, health equity, and the need for a food system that provides good food to all people.”
Join the legacy of promoting a thriving food system through donating, sponsoring, volunteering or walking. Learn more here.
For more information on this exciting community event, please contact: Savion Sanford,
Hunger Walk Coordinator at 616.774.2175 x 2 or email savion@accessofwestmichigan.org
Access of West Michigan is located at 1700 28th Street in Grand Rapids.
What better way to support the community than through listening to local artists, enjoying delicious food and drink and having the opportunity to win prizes.
On Sunday, April 9 from 4-10 p.m., Access of West Michigan is hosting the annual Feedback Concert, held at Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids.
The evening will feature three great local artists who also call Grand Rapids home. The Legal Immigrants, Conrad Shock and The Noise and the Honeytones will light up the stage with their unique sound and high energy.
Founders Brewing Co. offers a venue full of atmosphere and fun.
Access of West Michigan will be there with a 50/50 raffle for prizes to win. A silent auction, featuring cool merchandise from some great area organizations, will also raise support for Access of West Michigan.
Access of West Michigan is a nonprofit organization serving Grand Rapids in developing holistic solutions to poverty by cultivating equitable systems through education and collaboration. Since 1981, Access has been committed to serving those in need and promoting opportunities for access to good food.
Tickets for Feedback 2017 are $5, with all proceeds going to Access.
Come join Access and the community in celebrating and supporting holistic solutions to poverty!
Health professionals gather in “families” in preparation to experience a “month” in poverty. Photo by Ellie Walburg
By Ellie Walburg, Access of West Michigan
Reading a news article about someone living in poverty is one thing.
Actually experiencing it is another.
Metro Health Hospital Servicesrecently hosted a poverty simulation workshop with Access of West Michigan. The goal of the poverty education program is to create awareness of the realities of poverty and bring inspiration for change in an experiential way.
Participants in the ‘Living on the Edge’ poverty simulation at Metro Health were assigned profiles detailing their name, age, family, income level and other related details. Each “family” then completed four weeks, made up of 15-minute increments, in providing groceries, paying bills, attending doctor’s appointments and other requirements as outlined on their profiles.
Afterwards, participants engaged in small group discussions to debrief and learn from one another’s insights.
Linda Bos is a registered nurse with Metro Health and attended the workshop. She, along with Heather Rayman, were given the roles of a 75- and 72-year-old couple struggling to make ends meet. Bos, playing the role of Anthony Xanthos, and Rayman playing his wife, Zelda, spent each “week” trying to keep up on their mortgage payments, provide $50 for food and make it to expensive doctor appointments.
At one point during the four weeks, they couldn’t buy groceries. Towards the end of the month, they were evicted from their home as they couldn’t provide proof of their mortgage payment.
Mobility was also a major issue for them.
‘We were struck that we were always concerned about traveling places,” Bos said. “We were never together — it split us up. We never did things together.”
Conversations about how they were doing or if they wanted to plan a vacation never arose during their time of balancing their meager budget and keep all their bills afloat “We sure didn’t talk about anything fun,” Bos added.
To accompany the small social assistance check they received for the month, Bos sought out other options.
“I also tried to get a job, but there was age discrimination,” she said. “There were forms to fill out that were difficult.”
Access of West Michigan Staffers share their own story of poverty during group discussions. Photo by Ellie Walburg
Not having an opportunity for additional income made balancing finances even more troublesome.
“There was no way out for us,” Bos said. “Neither one of us could get a job.”
Rayman was reminded, “Don’t forget we have to eat at some point in our life,” as she recalled the struggle of purchasing weekly groceries.
For both Bos and Rayman, living life as an elderly couple with little money was an eye-opening experience.
“Everything was tension-producing rather than pleasurable,” Bos noted.
That tension is something Bos knows first-hand. While currently employed and doing well, she has felt that same stress.
“There was a time when I didn’t have money to buy diapers, when we didn’t have money to pay the mortgage,” she said
Bos and Rayman agreed that this simulation could change the way they work with their patients and others they encounter.
“I think for me, I’ll be much more cognizant of transportation needs,” Bos said. “I’ll think, ‘What can I do to relieve some of those transportation issues.’”
Bos’s work as a nurse involves serving moms and newborns.
“I try to be very intentional with younger moms,” she said. “I’ll ask, ‘Do you need anything else for your child?’ ‘Do you have diapers?’ ‘Do you have formula?’”
She said she anticipates building upon that intention with those she sees.
“I think so often we don’t want to offend people,” she added. “But it’s really just about asking, ‘I want to help, what is it that you need?’” That intention, she said, can come through her following up with her clients through phone calls or other additional conversations.
Staffers Candice and Cindy are ready at their “health clinic” table to help participants. Photo by Ellie Walburg
Rayman added, “I feel like this makes me much more aware of things like transportation, medication, samples, getting them to a care manager or something like that — things I didn’t really think of before.”
As the simulation event drew to a close, attendees were reminded that while they stopped playing a role in a fictitious family, there are so many in the community who must continue with that difficult reality everyday. And now that the participants had experienced the frustration and stress of living in poverty, they, and all, are left with the question Bos wondered, “What might you do differently?”
By UICA and Access of West Michigan
