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Film Common Ground in Davis – One Week Only

By Scott Steward

What do you say to a flash mob climate action watch party?   Varsity Theater owner Sinisa Novakovic successfully brought the film Common Ground to DAVIS during the films premiering run (many thanks). The closest theater was San Rafael.  

What does this mean?  That you can bike to see what Climate Change Solutions looks like.  I’ll be going to one of the two showings today (4:10 and 6:00 Sunday – today). There are 2 other showings Monday and Thursday at 6:00

Common Ground provides many answers to how we get ourselves out of this climate catastrophe.  

I will see the Davis showing, 616 Second Street, and I would also like to hear directly from the Common Ground directors at the San Rafael showing on October 22nd.  I already bought a ticket for that show too :).

 

The Common Ground Trailer is HERE!

 

May we find inspiration in the film and take action amidst the havoc of desperation caused by those that wield terrible powers of which we must dispatch from them as quickly as possible and find our additional power in that act – and also do that as quickly as possible.

The living earth demands no less.  Common Ground summary follows.

Common Ground is the highly anticipated sequel to the juggernaut success documentary, Kiss the Ground, which touched over 1 billion people globally and inspired the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to put $20 billion toward soil health. The film profiles a hopeful and uplifting movement of white, black, and indigenous farmers who are using alternative “regenerative” models of agriculture that could balance the climate, save our health, and stabilize America’s economy – before it’s too late.

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Comments

8 responses to “Film Common Ground in Davis – One Week Only”

  1. Tuvia aka Todd Kft.

    I am generally aware of regenerative agriculture but I have no clear picture of how many farms/ farmers/acres etc in Yolo County manage or are managed by these methods. (It feels similar to the imported water for ag issue which directly relates to the health of Clearlake in the next county over….). I think for many people with more than a casual curiosity, it’s not clear what’s being grown adjacents to Davis, with the exception of corn, the sunflowers and fruit trees – the latter really only right before harvest.
    In the broader picture, as far as I know, there’s not yet a labeling /branding system for food which is grown using regenerative practices, though some organic farms clearly use it — but at the same time it’s not clear if all regenag is certified organic.
    More locally, in other words, within the city borders, we have a soft policy to, for example, leave the leaves…. Then we have this stupid and murderous Claw which supports official and actualized policy… And stupid related negatives such as leaves and yard waste in bike lanes, which the city does little about year after year. The city is still fighting the existence of arboreal micro-ecosystems — I assume that the soil in cities is a tiny proportion of the overall picture, but the awareness here and policy here seems to bear a relation to awareness of the larger regenerative agricultural situation.
    The trailer looks great, perhaps even too beautiful. To be honest, I’m not sure if it will inspire me or just make me more depressed about the whole situation.

    Reply
  2. Roberta L. Millstein

    To me, the local relevance is to encourage the city and county to make encouraging/supporting regenerative agriculture part of their respective climate action plans.

    Reply
  3. Tuvia aka Todd Kft.

    Roberta: What can the city and county do that’s actually concrete in regards to encouraging/supporting? I’m not clear about things like bans except those dhemicals which are not allowed by Federal (and State?) law and some kind of proximity ban on aerial spraying (is this a local law?)
    That’s why I mentioned branding: Some people will pay more – and according to the trailer costs for food can go down, so… – but also food prices have gone up.. so who knows?

    Reply
  4. Scott Steward

    There are 4 other showings – 6:00, Monday the 16th through Thursday the 19th – and perhaps a more extended run in the future.

    Reply
  5. Roberta L. Millstein

    Todd, I believe that both City and County rent out their own land to farmers. They could enforce requirements on the type of farming that occurs on municipal land. Or if that is too much of a stick, they could use a carrot (pun may or may not be intended) via financial incentives to switch to regenerative agriculture on municipal lands or other lands within the city/county.
    Seems to me that Yolo Land Trust could play a role here, too. I don’t know if it’s too stringent to write farming methods into future easements, but I think it’s something worth talking about.

    Reply
  6. Ron O

    In partial response to “Tuvia’s” comment, I recently learned (via someone who participates in Davis’ community garden on 5th Street) that the Yolo county landfill gives-away free, high-quality compost (twice/year, I understand – including during the month of October).
    This compost is the result of Davis (and other Yolo county cities, I would assume) food/organic waste collection program (the bins), the contents of which is then composted. I’m not sure if the source includes the leaves/branches that are picked up from the street (outside of the bins), but I would assume it does – since the same type of material also goes into the bins.
    I recently picked up a big pile of this compost, myself. (It’s apparently delivered directly to the Davis’ community garden site, so they don’t have to make a trip to the landfill, themselves.)
    But if you want to pick up some compost yourself, the location is quite a ways inside the landfill itself. And I definitely don’t recommend using a bicycle to get there or to pick it up.
    I plan to pick up another load this month myself, so am (slightly) reluctant to tell you all about this – less they “run out”. 🙂
    But for sure, the landfill itself (and the activities there, including what I assume is the collection of methane gas) is quite impressive. It’s almost worth a trip just to see what they do. It’s far more than just a “dump”.

    Reply
  7. Tuvia of Universe

    Tuvia is my real name… as is Todd.

    Reply
  8. Scott Steward

    I saw it this past Sunday, it was well worth the time and it was an inspiring and non-gloss look at what can help our predicament. Particullarly meaningful for our intense agricultural surroundings. I’d be curious is Tuvia would agree after seeing the film.
    Showtimes for Monday October16th – Thursday October 19th
    6:00pm
    Showtimes for Friday October 20th – Sunday October 22nd
    (3:45)pm
    Showtimes for Monday October 23rd – Thursday October 26th
    (3:45)pm

    Reply

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