FILMS
Films are shown in the Crown Room at Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Avenue in Maplewood.
7:30 PM. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated.

March 15 – Homegrown

Homegrown is the inspiring true story of the amazing Dervaes family who are living off the grid in urban Pasadena, California. They raise chickens, milk goats and harvest over 6,000 pounds of produce on a tiny suburban plot. This film is an intimate portrait of what it is like to live a Little House on the Prairie lifestyle in the 21st century. They demonstrate just how productive and sustainable a backyard garden can be.

March 29 – Mad City Chickens

Mad City Chickens documents the return of the urban backyard chicken in Madison, Wisconsin. It is a sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical look at the people who keep chickens in their backyards. From chicken experts and authors to a rescued landfill hen or an inexperienced family that decides to take the poultry plunge—and even a mad professor and giant hen that takes to the streets—it’s an informative, humorous and heartfelt trip through the world of backyard chickendom.

April 5 – Dirt! The Movie

DIRT! The Movie, tells the amazing and little known story of the relationship between humans and living soil. The film offers a vision of the critical connection between humans and the six inches of topsoil that sustains us. Dirt profiles global visionaries who are determined to repair the damage we’ve done before it’s too late. If you care about your food, water, the air you breathe, your health and happiness…… it’s time to see DIRT! The Movie, roll up your sleeves for action and Get Dirty.

April 20 – Big River and Farming with Nature

Big River is a documentary about the ecological consequences of industrial agriculture. Follow Ian Cheney and Kurt Ellis (King Corn) by canoe as they trace the path of the residual herbicide and fertilizer used on their Iowa farm. Their journey downstream reveals the environmental impact of these widely used chemicals. Farming with Nature is an exploration of the amazing permaculture practices of Sepp Holzer. Mr. Holzer has transformed an Austrian mountainside into a “food forest” of terraced vegetable gardens, orchards and fish ponds that supplies the local community with sustainable food.

April 26 – The Real Dirt on Farmer John

The Real Dirt on Farmer John is the epic tale of a maverick Midwestern farmer. An outcast in his Illinois community, Farmer John Peterson bravely stands amidst a failing economy, vicious rumors, and violence. By melding the traditions of family farming with the power of art and free expression, this powerful story of transformation and renewal heralds a resurrection of natural farming in America.

May 4 – FRESH

FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a brighter future of our food and our planet.

A Chemical Reaction

Date and location of this St. Louis premier showing to be determined

A Chemical Reaction, explores the effects of pesticides and herbicides on human health. It tells the story of one of the most powerful and successful community initiatives in the history of North America. When Canadian dermatologist, June Irwin makes the connection between ordinary lawn chemicals and her patients’ health problems, her scientific findings persuade the town of Hudson to ban the use of all lawn chemicals. The most mighty chemical companies in North America put their full legal weight on the town to challenge the ban.

WORKSHOPS
All workshops are held on Saturdays from 9:00-12:00 noon
at Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Avenue, Maplewood.
To register call Sue Kaiser at 314 630-5910 or email brickcitygardens@yahoo.com.
$45 per workshop or all six workshops for $210 – a savings of $60.

March 20 – No-till Vegetable Gardening

Mother Nature doesn’t plow the soil to plant her seeds, and neither must you. Learn how to grow a garden using labor-saving, no-till methods that prepare and fertilize the soil simply by adding mulch and compost to the surface. This modern, organic approach has many advantages as it saves time and labor, preserves the life of earthworms and other beneficial soil life, prevents erosion and soil compaction, and greatly reduces weed growth and evaporation of water. In doing so, it more easily grows beautiful, healthy plants. Taught by Patrice Gros. Patrice Gros is a certified organic vegetable farmer from Eureka Springs, Arkansas who has been using no-till methods at Foundation Farm for 12 seasons. He also teaches workshops and trains aspiring farmers at Foundation Farm School.

April 3 – Chickens 101 Raising Chickens in the City

Provide your family with truly fresh, organic eggs by learning how to keep chickens in your backyard. This comprehensive workshop tells you everything you need to know, from coop design and feed formulas to city ordinances governing urban livestock. Taught by Julia Weese Young. Julia is a long-time urban chicken farmer who teaches classes on raising chickens.

April 10 – The Art and Science of Composting

Homemade organic compost is the best thing you can add to your garden. Composting is a living process in which ordinary ingredients are transformed into a magical substance that fertilizes plants, conserves water, introduces healthy microbes and prevents disease. Learn how to recycle your leaves, grass clippings and food scraps into the “black gold” that will grow a healthy, abundant garden. We will cover thermal composting, worm composting, and biodynamic starters. Taught by Frank LeBeau. Frank is an organic market gardener, landscaper, and farm hand.

April 24 – Permaculture – Creating a Backyard Garden of Eden

Permaculture is based on the design of nature. It was formulated by Australians, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren who carefully observed how native plants grew in the wild. By applying their understanding they have created abundant “food forests” in various climates around the world. Their designs bring plants, sun, soil, rain and organic matter together to create self-sustaining, “permanent agricultural” gardens. Once established, these gardens require minimal maintenance and produce a cornucopia of crops for generations. Taught by Bill Wilson. Bill Wilson is the co-founder of Midwest Permaculture in Stelle, Illinois and teaches permaculture courses throughout the United States.

May 1 – Beyond Organic Gardening

Grow healthy, nutritious crops using the most advanced ecological practices. Learn how to create raised garden beds with well-structured soil and a correct mineral profile. Discover how to create a “living soil” with beneficial microbes that provide fertility and protect plants from disease. Triple normal garden yields by using intensive planting design and biodynamic preparations. Taught by Mark Trela and Frank LeBeau. Mark Trela is a biodynamic farmer from Terra Haute, Indiana with 25 years experience growing wine grapes, cut flowers and vegetables.

May 8 – Wildly Abundant Gardening – Controlling Pests and Providing Fertility Naturally

Grow a luscious, healthy pest free garden. Learn how to make safe and effective organic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers from inexpensive household products. Control weeds and prevent plant diseases by using compost teas, companion planting and attracting beneficial insects that eat the bad bugs. You

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