Sundance Channel's Big Ideas for a Small Planet: Food

By JULIETTE ROSSANT Super Chef applauded the first version of the documentary series, Big Ideas for a Small Planet, part of Sundance Channel's The Green, which highlighted green issues and heroes. The Green is starting its second season April 1st, with 13 new episodes of Big Ideas for a Small Planet. Dedicated foodies and their kids should not miss April 29th's Big Ideas for a Small Planet: Food. It is often hard to take an important idea or movement and see how it might apply to everything and everyone. It is important to be reminded that we can all do our part for environment, by examining concrete examples. The documentary first profiles Amy's Kitchen, the organic vegetarian frozen and canned food company, which started in response to the founder's inability to find good organic prepared foods after their daughter (Amy) was born. The documentary follows the family to an organic farm, their factory's test kitchen, and a test run for kid's quesadilla meal. The next segment profiles Alex Jamon, a 17-year old Zuni high school student who decided to start an organic garden at his high school. He gets a grant to build a greenhouse so the students can grow vegetables year-round. They use tradition Zuni organic farming methods producing beautiful vegetables for a salad bar. The last segment profiles the Benziger Family Winery, which has been practicing biodynamic farming on 85 acres for two decades. The farm does not use pesticides, but instead uses natural birds and insects for pest control. An extended family of Benzingers live and work around the farm creating a wine that reflect the soil and nature. The already-converted might feel awash in too much preaching about the importance of the environment, but this is healthy stuff for the rest of us who need prodding to buy (sometimes more expensive) organic produce or wine, or encourage our kids to build their own schoolyard vegetable farms. Every little bit helps. Previous articles: Emeril Green: Emeril Lagasse on Planet Green Sundance Channel's Big Ideas for a Small Planet: Food Slow Food Tucson Film Festival Culinary Tourism: Hidden Harvest Jay Weinstein: Ethical Gourmet Year's Most Important Movie: Store Wars Alice Waters: Green Screen Film Festival [Chefs & Politics- complete] [Food Television - complete] Technorati Tags: superchefblog, Juliette Rossant, super chef, celebrities, chefs, food, restaurants, cooking, branding, cuisine, blogging, food blogging --> back to Super Chef