Grown in Detroit | Reactions

Inspirational

This film told me that there are people who cares. But I´m really sad that this school is closed. What happens all those wonderful and awesome girls now?

awesome

this is a great film, very inspiring!

Great Example

This film is truly inspiring. I can picture more schools using urban farming to teach values and life skills as time goes on. This is important knowledge to pass to each new generation: real nutrition and self sufficiency. I also appreciate the ability to watch on demand.

Yay for On Demand!

Grown in Detroit is a wonderfully inspiring movie. Documentaries like that often don´t find their way to big screens or local dvd stores/libraries, so I think it´s a great opportunity to be able to watch it on demand. As I was already a paypal member making the payment was easy. I received the code a second later. Quality of the film and streaming were excellent. I got cut off at one point but it was no problem re-accessing the page and continuing the film were I had left it. I wished that more independent films and especially documentaries would opt for on demand as a way to a global audience. The internet is certainly a place for sharing with no borders. But with tools like that you get the feel it is a place of supporting and contributing to independent stories on ad-free platforms. Christina, Bremen (Germany)

Grown in Detroit

I am truly grateful to all of the dedicated teachers and to this wonderful school. You have given these beautiful new mothers an opportunity to learn, grow and to be proavtive in their lives. God Bless you all and thank you!

Catherine Ferguson Still OPEN!

Catherine Ferguson Academ recently made the transition from a Detroit public school to a charter school. They are open and still accepting students.

Grown in Detroit

What an amazing island of human beings! This film leaves me with hope for the people of Detroit. I have hope that this island can ripple out into other lots, becoming other farms finding many ways of commerce and ultimately to prosperity.

Detroit shuts down Catherine Ferguson Academy

With the economic devastation deepening in Detroit, school officials shut down another 50 public schools - including Catherine Ferguson Academy, featured in this documentary: http://wsws.org/articles/2011/jun2011/cath-j08.shtml Video of the reaction from the principal and others seen in the film: http://wsws.org/articles/2011/jun2011/cath-j08.shtml

Love it

Great documentary- We need to get Jamie Oliver and the Food Revolution crew in here!! http://abc.go.com/shows/jamie-olivers-food-revolution

Grown in Detroit

This is an amazing documentary. I am a Detroit native and it is refreshing to see this kind of learning in the school system. Please continue doing these activities with the students at your school. I love it!!! This documentary has greatly inspired me. Everyone needs to see this documentary.

Inspiring

CFA looks definitely worth supporting as an empowering organization for many with little voice;

Fantastic

The story was phanominal! Very moving and and emotional. Is it true that the sity is trying to shut down the school?

Good work

Absolutely loved the story, and the film. I work for a transition house & emergency shelter in northern BC (Canada). We started a community garden/greenhouse project last year, and this project adds another level of inspiration. I remember Detroit from 1966, when I lived in Windsor, briefly, as a mess of grey buildings. To see the green spaces warms the heart.

Great film

Very thought provoking and nicely done. I am going to post the link to my facebook page.

Inspirational!

Thank you so much for making this film. These young single mothers and The Catherine Ferguson Academy are so inspirational. They are taking action to better their lives and their community.

praise

i would like to say that i think you captured Detroit as a city that lost alot, but still have a society of proud people. I am resident that is fortunate to not be impoverished but once was and Cathrine Acadamy and their staff I think is developing confidence and indepence in woman who would otherwise be thrown to the street and should be comended for the uncanny human spirit

We can grow Detroit!!!

I think the city can create a serious growth industry and at last find salvation if even a quarter of the ideas from this film catch on. Try calling Detroit a food desert after a few enterprising young women stake their hearts and families and KNOWLEDGE on the many vacant lands, building the agricultural belt into the "abandoned areas"...thus feeding not only themselves and their families, but also the entire tri-county (and beyond!) area... As Detroit once shaped the urban landscape of the 20th century, so again shall we in the 21st!!

Brenda

Poverty will only be iradicated when we break the cycle of teenage pregnancy and single motherhood

Great idea for downloading

I think it was an ingenious idea to have people be able to donate and watch the movie. I would totally buy some of those tomatoes. Peace

Keep up the good work!

This is a great film that demonstrates the power that detroit has to better itself, even though we are dealt a bad hand. I thank god that cathline ferguson academy offers such important education for our pregnant teens. It is also valuable for everyone to know how their food is grown and how easy it is to grow yourself and without the use of any chemicals. we have to create our own grocery stores with farms, because overpriced junk food from the corner liquor store isn't nutritious, nor helping our community make money. keep up the good work!

EXCELLENT AND INSPIRATIONAL DOC!!

Congrats to all of you and girls from the project, i live in MalmÃ¶ Sweden, and right now i amr eading a Master on Human Ecology, my thesis probably is gonna be about urban agriculture...and this doc illustrates my ideas...:D I encourage you to keep on filming these kind of projects to be able to make a newtwork of urban agriculture in your country...would this be possible? has it been thought? any comments or ideas please do write me...laramielizarralde@hotmail.com. My congratulations again!!

Great Film

The way that these instructors have been able to reach these students and motivate them to make a commitment to their education is inspiring. I think it would be great to see other programs like this expand beyond Ferguson Academy and into other Detroit Public Schools.

mascha poppenk

just saw you on Model-D and was in awe! 1 1

Grown in Detrot

Very good documentary about one solution to a very big problem. I was impressed by all the girls and their willingness to be in school given all the obstacles in front of them.

A+++

This film is incredible, both in execution and the story being told. You become so involved in the story about urban farming that you forget this is a fully functioning high school, and this is only one of many stories that could have been told about these girls. Not only is it inspiring to see these urban farms growing in Detroit, but also to see these girls become women through getting themselves educated and motivated.

I liked the fact that you gave alot of time to show the character of the individual students, how involved they could be, how they treated their children,etc, especially the bus scene. I think concentrating on what the students were learning, made me learn too. I didn't know very much about farming before, but adding in the business aspect which they were being taught,I could see where there might be a monetary future for the students that they can invent. I could see them bringing in marketing, pricing, etc. and then you are not just learning arithmetic & history, you are doing arithmetic and making history. This part of the filming I thought was truly helpful for us the viewer.

Excellent

Journaliste pour ARTE, j'étais à Detroit récemment pour un reportage sur le urban farming et j'ai tourné à la Catherine Ferguson Academy. Je viens de regarder votre film, et il est formidable, juste, touchant. Félicitations. Laurent Cibien

Amazing film, great characters, tired factoids

My wife and I were very impressed with the production value, characters, and powerful and eye opening story told in this film. For those of us living in Detroit, many of the images in this film are all too common, and it is wonderful to see the Catherine Ferguson Academy in such vivid color. Their story is one of courage and reserve that is also so common in this city.

With that said, I would like to call to task the little factoids interspersed throughout the story. Saying that Detroit's current state was completely driven by "automotive decline and race riots" is such a tired and shallow history of the very complicated history of our city. (what about public policy, real estate red-lining, police brutality, land use covenants, etc.) The other factoids were similarly broad and useless.

Yes, I understand the bold effect. Stark black and white set against the similarly stark and desolate images of the CFA neighborhood and general ruin of the city. The factoids added a certain drama to the film. But with so much depth and insight about the current state of Detroit provided by the CFA story, I'd like to see a little more than the standard lines about Detroit's history.

Fortunately, the factoids did not take anything away from the women (and men) of Catherine Ferguson Academy. Thank you for the stirring depiction of them and our fair city.

My only critique is that the film was too short.

My only critique is that the film was too short. There was so much more I wanted to see, so much possibility in this school and this movement. Just an all around inspiration to watch and learn from. A concise story with a clear sense of purpose throughout the film. Bravo. JC

As the narrator says, food comes from the ground, not the grocery store!

A fantastic film showcasing how people can make a difference - those who inspire and make things like this possible and also those that contribute/participate. I was truly inspired by the girls participation and enthusiasm. Inspired by the teachers - their passion, motivation and relationships with the girls. I'm a dietitian, working with the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition program in Toronto - educating women, including teens, on how to follow a healthy diet to improve the health of themselves and their babies as well as promote breastfeeding, I look forward to showing this video to them as it becomes available to educate them from a different perspective - one that makes them think differently about the food they feed their familes. As the narrator says, food comes from the ground, not the grocery store! Madeleine

"...an excellent and thoughtprovoking film..."

I thoroughly enjoyed the film, but for me watching the film and reading the positive reactions posted here changed my perspective. There is a sense of pride in the accomplishments and the novelty of the idea, as well as the desire to see a positive story emerge from Detroit that balanced some of the nagging questions I had after watching the film. I enjoyed the honesty of the film, not portraying the farm activities as a utopian ideal, but an activity that the young mothers were engaged with to varying degrees, from the keen summer students to the dozing student or cellphone toting apple picker. I would have liked to see more reactions from the mother's themselves on the perceived value of their farming activities, and the structure of the school. There seemed to be a heavy emphasis on the official goals as outlined by the science teacher and the headmistress. In the end, an excellent and thoughtprovoking film. Aaron Lawrence

Great film!

Great film! I particularly liked its honesty, and I thought it well-edited. Didn't like the music for it, which I thought too eerie for the content. But all in all, a great film, and I'm glad this effort was documented.  That said, the idea of turning the vacant lots of Detroit over to farming is really exciting! Urban farming has been a particular interest of mine for awhile- I hope this idea catches on in other cities. Thank you for making this film!

Paula

Powerful movie experience.

What a powerful movie experience. I'm going to college in Tarpon Springs, Florida and trying to inspire my college to do a small local farm. I would love to find out how I can support you and show your video to others. Our school has these great summer trip programs and there to these out of nation areas, I would much rather visit within America and do an activity. I also wanted to find out about setting up summer intern programs. During the summer in Florida its incredibly too hot to grow food.

Thanks,

Eric Stewart

Love the honesty...

The almost opening statement: "You can't determine the kind of ancestors you inherit, but you can determine the kind of ancestor you will be", is a good introduction. I like the fact that it illustrated turning negatives into positives. I loved the young women in the film. I loved the honesty in the film. I think that it is time for us to start similar programs in all our cities.

Paul McIntyre

Beautiful film!

I was so moved by this beautiful film. Your passionate work to help these young women create a healthy future is outstanding. I would like to help promote your efforts on our website www.askinyourface.com. We are a Michigan website all about informing and inspiring women to be fit for their future in every way possible. Please contact me at info@askinyourface.

Yours Truly,

Allison Stuart Kaplan

ASK Speciality Training for Women

"outstanding job"

For me, the film had several important messages:

1) empowerment of each individual;

2) creative use of resources;

3) eco-friendly farming; and

4) emphasis on healthy eating.

These are issues that many people are very interested in today. I thought the film did an outstanding job of showing how a situation which might be perceived as very negative (teen pregnancy) could be turned into an opportunity (learning entrepreneurship by growing and selling produce). The film is a job well done.

TS Morgan

"Beautifully done and thoughtfully demonstrate"

This was an excellent representation of how hope itself can be cultivated, nurtured and grown in people as well in cities that are looking for another chance at life!

Beautifully done and thoughtfully demonstrated. Kudos to everyone for their hard work and perseverance!

J. A. Carlton

Screenwriter

"to learn agriculture they learn for themselves value of healthy food"

As a Norwegian, having seen the movie and read some of the coments, it isn't any kind of unclear that this is a movie made for a US domestic market. Yet on the other side this movie does prove that one good idea can change lives in an entire city, and altohugh agriculture can not be used for every town, I am sure that there are other ways to include practical learning to help adult-kids to gain a better footing in the world they way to early become a part of.

About the movie: I like how it went from the introduction where it seems to be focused on more of Detroits "bad" sides... the negative. We see from the classroom that many of the students doesn't seem interested in what is going on. Yet this progresses and further into the course (have no idea if this is a 1 year thing or more?) how they get involved, how they see that this matter and how this can help in so many ways.

For this kids to learn agriculture they learn for themselves value of healthy food, for them and their children. If they can produce by themselves (og in a group) they can earn money on a buisness and save money on own-grown foods. In the learning process many different types of subjects are being entwined into the buisness. And also this project is taking advantage of free land in Detroit making it useful again instead of being empty lots.

I also want to coment on what I thought was a great image. When we see the small children have nap tip, it cuts to two students also sleeping. It was one of the strongest points made that the young kids and students are BOTH "kids" in a way... (hope you understood that).

Good job on the movie, thank you for letting me watch.

Katrine.W

Student at Uni.Lillehammer. Norway

Movie- and Tv-Sience

"a refreshing film about the benefits of organic farming"

In a world where organic is a trendy idea and only the rich can afford the organic produce at the grocery store this was a refreshing film about the benefits of organic farming. In the film someone said this is a win-win situation, and I could not agree more. The benefits that these young women take from this knowledge of farming and self owned business can be applied to many different aspects of life and the city of Detroit residence can also benefit from low cost healthy produce and products. What can be learned from this film can be applied to many communities that are seeing the unfortunate effects of this down economy and the results of factories leaving an area lost with nothing to look forward to.

Ashley Malinowski

"This film is sacred work: we need these stories"

I loved the teacher's comment to the new students: "didn't they have a farm in your old school? they didn't?! What kind of a school is that?!"

What kind indeed! Every single child should be milking goats, growing food, thinking about "agricultural business" -- as Wendell Berry says, "the act of eating is an agricultural act."

This film is sacred work: we need these stories, we need these beautiful women in their full power.

Gratitude and blessings on Catherine Ferguson Academy and the filmmakers.

"Detroit is not dead. Far from it"

There are many powerful and beautiful things about "Grown in Detroit," but for me the most powerful and beautiful thing is the fact that the film lets the people of Ferguson Academy tell their own stories by simply observing (and not questioning) them. And I think the simple B&W text insertions are way more powerful than the all-too-common-in-a-documentary voiceover narration. "Grown in Detroit" proves yet again that Detroit is not dead. Far from it. Hopefully gardens of beauty like Ferguson will spread across the city, state, nation and world. Here's to that!

Jason Morit

"Keep up the good work!!!"

Saw the movie and was really glad to see the other side of the US and the fact that there are still people who care for the less fortunate in this world. The filmmakers did the same with another documentary about a school for children with learning and behavior problems in Amsterdam - The Netherlands. Keep up the good work!!!

Remco

"the turning of the tide"

I tripped up on this film while researching detroit in view of buying a place there. It was a wonderful evening, sitting with my collaborators and watching a warts and all but heartwarming doco about this unique city. It was also fascinating watching it 6-months pregnant, and this drew sharply into focus the different experiences that these young mothers may have. They are brave, and their teachers courageous. I hope the initiative continues to grow, and that the girls realise the possibilities contained within the lowest ebb... the turning of the tide.

Clare Lewis

"love the intimate portraits of the very real situations"

Really loved this film, grew up near the area - so sad to have to watch whats happening - but this is a great film. Beautiful camera work, lighting, and love the intimate portraits of the very real situations happening in Michigan.

Niko

"potential for those with vision"

Makes me proud of what people are doing to help our city bounce back. The biggest issue is the crime situation in the city. The urban/rural beauty that is now Detroit has much potential for those with vision. Thank you to these filmmakers for their investment.

This "little film" is HUGE

Mascha Poppenk has said, "It's the people in the film that deserve all the credit; we were so honored that they let us into their lives and even film it!"

But, as the saying goes, "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

Mascha and Manfred Poppenk have - so, so beautifully - made sure we have heard the sound of the transformation and promise offered us all by the example of the programs originating at Catherine Ferguson Academy in Detroit.

This "little film" is HUGE, on many levels. It points the way out for so many of us who find ourselves to have become "extraneous" people to the dominant economic system. Instead of embracing victimhood, the young women at Catherine Ferguson Academy are learning and succeeding at helping themselves and, in the process of striving to create a piece of a new, independent economy, show us all the path to follow out of the morass we've allowed the elites to make of our society.

Make SURE you see this important, beautiful film!!

M. Hirzel

"In love with CFA"

Great film...super visuals....wonderful talent!

But i am in love with CFA!

I lived 5 years in Detroit and spent many hours working in a volunteer capacity at Catherine Ferguson Academy. During this time i as very blessed to give tours of CFA to the likes of Ossie Davis, Danny Glover, David Korten, NYT staff, Nobel Peace Committee members, folks from South Africa, Europe, South Korea, France, Germany, Hopi Elders...and so many more kindred spirits from around the USA and world. Thus i have a deep and abiding love for the entire staff, students, children, animals, plants, bees and yes the microbes at CFA. They are like family to me!

So to see this film brings tears to my eyes...tears of memory...tears of joy..tears of hope...and tears of love! This film is truly outstanding, superb artistry, magnificent content and story line and this film provides us an opportunity to peer into the future....a sustainable future. The foundation of sustainability is our sacred connections with Mother Earth...and our sacred connections with women. The film shows so well that the connections between young mothers and Mother Earth are so deep, sacred and healing. We all come from the Earth...we all come through women...and this movie courageously shows us that when we allow young mothers to heal and be nurtured then the entire village grows and is nurtured.

This film should be made available to every school in the USA..and beyond...to give a look at the future. This films invites every school to be part of the movement to teach eco-literacy...Earth literacy....as the foundation of every childs educational experience.

This film allows us to see through the lens of Catherine Ferguson Academy the importance of ...the necessity of...the sacred relationship between sacred Earth connections and our own deeper humanity.

Mascha and Manfred deserve not only the award for best documentary at this grand Austin Film Festival...but also Academy

Jim Embry

"transparent, honest and inspiring"

I saw a screening of this film last night at the University of Michgan, and it is a truly powerful story of a group of people who ARE making a difference in Detroit. Mascha and Manfred's work is transparent, honest and inspiring. Go see it!

-Allison Riccardi

Lecturer, UM

"a genuine interest and passion for Detroit"

This film is a good model for communicating about social issues in a compassionate and direct way. Often when people talk about Detroit, feelings of pity and guilt come through, which is not the case with this film. The film communicates a genuine interest and passion for Detroit as it is now, not as it exists in our imaginations or memories. It tells an honest and beautiful story without romanticizing or aestheticizing poverty.

Sarah Berkeley

"I can't wait to show this film to my students"

I'm so excited about this film and about the work of this school. I teach anthropology and have been doing research on re-creating local food systems--this film tells in a simple, direct, well-conceived manner one of the most important stories of our time. Reinventing the infrastructure that allows us to feed ourselves locally, AND to educate ourselves, including our young people, how to make a thriving, alive culture out of our food production--wow, how could that not be a "win-win" as the principal of Catherine Ferguson Academy says?

I can't wait to show this film to my students, and to use it to further excite them about the work that is ahead of us all. Thanks to the film-makers for telling a story that needs to be told, and for the teachers and girls of the school for being the change we need to see in the urban U.S.!

David Syring

Assistant Professor of Anthropology

University of Minnesota Duluth

"a social document"

Grown in Detroit is first a social document, that shows the desperation and struggle for the future of a group young Moms in a dying area in the modern western world. At the other side is a document of hope en shows us the quality of agriculture as a development tool in a Urban Area. Urban Agriculture has a lot of possible strategies. The strategies that is presented in this documentary are the education and development strategy beside the survival strategy.

We can say one thing for sure: This Documentary has done Urban Agriculture in the Netherlands a lot of good Publicity and put Urban Agriculture on the Map. We are sure that the people in the US can benefit the same way. So go watch this in your local cinema. Or organize a screening yourself!

Bas de Groot

"there is hope for all of us"

Let the whole world see this film. If there can be so much hope in a city like Detroit then there is hope for all of us. Spread the word to all people you know and make them watch this film. What a great film, with a smile on my face and a tear in my eye, without taking a breath i have watched it and it made my day. Thank you!

Andre

"honest and inspirational!"

Great documentary, honest and inspirational! Isn't this the real American Dream? These girls are empowered to turn problems into opportunities, to stand up for their own development, to find a way to support themselves by working together. Furthermore, the project connects these girls with nature, a connection that is lost for many others living in cities...

"great hope for the future"

Loved this movie - I have been raving about it to every one I meet since seeing it. In terms of documentaries this one has a silver lining - the changes that have come to Detroit and the ability to overcome such advertisy AWESOME! I am all about the organic community and getting closer to our earth - the idea of teaching young moms who might not have any other opportunities how to connect with the earth in such a way gives me great hope for the future. If you haven't see this film - I would highly recommend checking it out!

organicyogamom

"moving and imformative documentary "

What a truly wonderful film. I loved that the scenes were simple and that they spoke for themselves. A very moving and imformative documentary about the plight of the women and staff at Catherine Ferguson Academy. It's heart warming and awe inspiring to see these women work hard at changing their situations and learning skills that they can use. Urban farming is such a wonderful idea for all the vacant land in Detroit. I have been purchasing their produce at Eastern Market without realizing it was for such a wonderful cause, I will definetly continue to do so. I hope to see future documentaries and projects from you!

Jen

"the model for all cities"

I thought this documentary was amazing! It should be the model for all cities to follow in the USA and worldwide. Everyone should know how to grow their own food and learn the importance of health and nutrition above all else. I would love to see a follow up to the documentary showing whether they were able to buy up some of the vacant lots in Detroit and plant more farms for the community. This film should be shown in all of the public and private schools as our children are our future.

Shelly

"an oasis of hope in the city I love"

I wanted to express my gratitude on producing such a wonderful film about an oasis of hope in the city I love. Your naked lens focused on the perseverance of these teachers, administrators and most importantly the students/mothers to overcome obstacles to achieve a better tomorrow. Thanks for shinning a light on those beautiful souls that the rest of the media have written off.

Michael in Michigan

"enlightening"

The film was enlightening to know that people was working together allowing young mothers a second chance by educating them in a positive way. The positivity was so uplifting to see in this documentary. I'd like to see more. The film makers did an excellent job with this piece.

Evangela Lawler

"showed how things really are"

I really liked the film. I liked the fact that it took place in Detroit and showed how things really are like there. The concept of the film was good because it showed people the struggles that teenage moms go through on a daily basis but it also showed how these young ladies are taking the second chance that is given to them and using it to do something that can have a positive impact on their lives and their families lives.

"a remarkable documentary"

This was a remarkable documentary and it clearly shows the potential that these communities have. The teachers in the documentary are doing a fantastic job and have come out with a great plan that I hope will be copied by struggling communities throughout the US.

"I wasn't ready for the movie to end"

I don't know where to begin to describe so many remarkable things about this movie: Catherine Fergusen Academy, the people who work there, the teen moms AND their babies that spend their days there, the urban farming movement, the possibilities for Detroit and other cities... I'm overwhelmed. And I wasn't ready for the movie to end, either. Thank you, Mascha & Manfred.

Sally

"solution instead of problems"

I was impressed by the documentary. The creation of green farm areas within the city of detroit has great potential to turn a blight of the city into an economic viability. It is good to hear of solution instead of problems.

Joe K

"such a creative and beneficial idea"

I loved seeing a positive view of Detroit and young pregnant mothers. It is such a creative and beneficial idea. Hopefully this project can be implemented all over and help people struggling in this economy.

Natasha Perkins U of M

"The sky is the limit!"

You did such a great job on this film! What a unique and important topic! Hopefully Detroit as a city can follow the example in your film and turn urban farming into a significant part of the economy and way of life in the city. I'm sure as the film gets more exposure, more people will discover what a great documentary it is. The sky is the limit!

Tom Pietrowsk

"if Detroit can do it"

This film was amazing !!! we taped it and wathced it a few times and each time we start to tear up at different parts! It is a wonderful thing to see Detroit in a positive way...if Detroit can do it, why not the state, the country, the continent. Even if the urban farming does not succeed, the amount of confidence and knowledge gained, the sense of empowerment, the inclusion of many subjects being learned used in the real world, wow !! i do not know what this type of experience would have done for me as a 16-year old...can;t wait to see what your team putso ut next. Footage can get you so far, but the cinematogrophy (spelling?) and music were wonderful. The factoids were short and sweet and powerful. The flow and progression of the film kept me wanting more and more .... so please give me more !! best of luck and see you soon (on the television that is).

"Detroit continues to surprise"

I was absolutely riveted to this piece. What a great documentary about a wonderful group of educators who are providing a positive outlook for these young ladies. Detroit continues to surprise and inspire me with stories like this. I will continue to follow these film makers to see what they can inspire us with next.

Lori Watson

"Lena is continuing to struggle"

Lena is continuing to struggle with life and remaining strong in the face of obstacles.

She is working on her GED but having difficulty with the math section. She plans to go on to college in January. The girls are growing beautifully and many think they are fraternal twins since they are so close in size now.

Uhurah

(Grandmother of Lena, the student at home and in bus with two daughters)

Uhurah

That's it, next year, I'm building a press..."

Having now finished the documentary, I miss the cider press my grandfather had even more....

That's it, next year, I'm building a press and inviting all the neighbourhood kids over for a cider party, if the apple tree is healthy enough to produce fruit.

Thank you for producing this documentary. I'll be following you on FaceBook and your blog and I hope to see more announcements of great documentaries like this!

Dalrymple School

"made me want to move back to Detroit"

This film made me want to move back to Detroit and volunteer at that school! That is huge, because when you don't live there any more, you only hear the bad stuff. Of course, there was a punctuation error in one of the factoid screens, but I forgive you because you're foreign!!!

Jeanette

"why the heck isn't anyone doing this in my town?"

I'm currently about two thirds of the way through this documentary and my strongest thought is "why the heck isn't anyone doing this in my town?". The way that the farming is integrated into the curriculum is phenomenal. Where I am in the film, the students are using a statistical analysis to sort the apples they picked and determine ways to make the most profit from their harvest. I want to show this documentary to our school board, to our city government, and to every teacher I know. My town (Albion, hour and a half from Detroit along I-94) may be smaller, but we've got an average generational age gap of 16 years- that's a lot of young parents. We have a lot of people who could benefit from urban farming, but we've got a city government that doesn't understand agriculture's value, nor do they understand Michigan farming law...and I want them to see this and know that they are dead wrong about farming being undesirable and dead wrong about it being a bad idea in the cities. When you have a town with little to no job market and a lot of unemployed folks, farming is what brings in money, brings up standards of living, and increases public health and welfare.

Please put this to DVD so I can encourage massive circulation of the DVD and please please please keep up the great work! I would love to see you do more documentaries on our cities and on amazing projects like these that show the world that Detroit (and the rest of the Midwest) can recover from it's industrial collapse with the power of the ideas of people who live and love here.

Maybe you could do a documentary on the agricultural school in Chicago?

http://www.chicagoagr.org/

Dalrymple School

"would love to see a follow up"

We watched this film in my Urban Politics class and I was very impressed by the whole story. It is great to see some of the postives that are happening in the Detroit area, espcailly for young mothers for getting second chances like that. I would love to see a follow up to the film in the future.

Kelly

"a job well done"

Well done! Loved it, and what you're doing. How can we get involved? Where are you located? I have to say this is just what Detroit needs. Congratulations on a job well done. Please do an update on the girls you featured!

Carey Geyer

"a beautiful portrayal of Detroit!"

Thank you for creating such a beautiful portrayal of Detroit! It's a very thought provoking film that shows the reality of Detroit...but, also the empowerment and perseverance of Detroiters. I appreciate seeing a positive view that is rarely portrayed by the media. I'm completely impressed with the efforts and determination of both the school staff and students.

"I like to see more"

I enjoyed the film very much, but would like to see more of the story. See how this project is progressing and maybe follow-up with any students who have graduated since this was made. It was good to include personal stories, showing the girls at home and also enjoyed the fact blurbs, such as why there is such a lack of public transportation in the city.

oh, and a real bonus to me showing the girls being educated about why it is important for babies to be nourished by breast milk while coinciding with milking animals at the farm.

Detroit and other cities, heck Michigan in general, need to have their stories told like this and I am excited to see your future work.

Heidi P

"Fabulous film!"

Fabulous film! I love how the school is using a service-learning pedagogy to help pregnant teenagers sustain themselves and transform Detroit. Lots of love for everyone at Catherine Ferguson Academy.

Pamela

"a truly beautiful film"

As a Detroiter, my confidence and hope for our city grows leaps and bounds when stories like this make it into people's hearts (and to public media). This was a truly beautiful film, for both its subject and tone. I would love to buy a dozen copies on DVD and give them away to friends and strangers alike.

Muzachary

"non sensational documentary"

I am a Detroiter and an Alumnae of the school this was a non sensational documentary - it was honest and done in great taste - I loved it I found myself crying and smiling the whole way through I appreciate the honesty and the light that you shined on these Young Women in our community.

Sabrina Nelson Artist/Activist

We would love to know what you think of the film!