Film to promote Farm to Table movement

MILFORD — Local farmers and business owners will soon be stars at the Black Bear Film Festival. The locals are being featured in a film to promote the Farm-to-Table Movement, sponsored by the Delaware Highlands Conservancy.

The film, "Shop Local: Find Your Experience," will air at the Pike County Library at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19. Four other short films will also be shown. All of the films will demonstrate how communities, neighborhoods, and schools across the country are seeing the benefits of eating fresh, healthy, local foods and finding ways to connect to the land, whether 100 acres of farmland or small rooftop gardens, according to the Conservancy web site.

Afterwards — to learn more about the farm to table movement — a panel and Q&A session with Sue Currier and Bethany Keene of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, filmmaker Christopher King (who directed the Conservancy’s Shop Local: Find Your Experience film), Grant Genzlinger (VP of the DHC’s Board and chef and co-owner of Settler’s Inn), and Brian Naftal of Flatbrook Farm will be held.

"A few years ago we initiated a program for shop local, save land," said Bethany Keene, Reach Coordinator for the Delaware Highlands Conservancy. "We wanted to connect local people with farmers. And this short film promotes shopping local."

The short film is about three to four minutes long.

"The film highlights providers owning local businesses and what supporting the community means to them," Keene said.

Directed by Christopher King of Milford, the film interviews locals such as Calkins Creamery on Honesdale; Hillside Woodworks of Sullivan County; Journey’s End Farm of Newfoundland and Vapiano Arts of Sullivan County.

"Christopher really worked hard on developing our vision," Keene said. "He gave us a beautiful product."

For more information on the Delaware Highlands Conservancy call 570-226-3164 or 845-583-1010 or email info@delawarehighlands.org or visit www.facebook.com/DelawareHighlandsConservancy.