Faulkner County Library to screen 'Establishing a Food Forest'

The Faulkner County Library has announced a free movie night screening of "Establishing a Food Forest." The movie will begin at 6:30 p.m. June 26 followed by a discussion.

The movie will be screened in the auditorium of the Faulkner County Library. The community is welcome to participate in the discussion following the movie. There will be free popcorn and drinks. Help the library reduce and reuse by bringing your own bowl for popcorn.

In "Establishing a Food Forest," Geoff Lawton, managing director of The Permaculture Research Institute, presents Food Forest systems from beginning stage through their maturity. Geoff Lawton is one of the first "wave" of permaculture designers and teachers in Australia. He has been implementing and thinking about permaculture for many years and has become internationally recognized as a repairer of landscapes and a creator, even in the most unpromising ecosystems, of food forests and abundant, productive landscapes.

The film offers an inspiring and enlightening immersion in his work and thinking and also a moving look at just how productive permaculture systems can be if they are sufficiently well thought out and designed. This full-length film starts with a class in forest ecology, structure and pattern.

The aim of Lawton's food forest approach is the creation of systems, which are productive and abundant yet, which require very little maintenance. It is entirely possible to design and plant a forest, which, within a relatively short period of time is productive and relatively self-maintaining.

As we stare headlong into a future with less energy and more localized economies, and where the power to alter landscapes and soils granted to us by fossil fuels has started to wane, we will look for ways of producing food that build soils, feed people, protect soil, lock up carbon and increase our biodiversity.

For more information on this event, or to volunteer to help with this event contact Sarah Mattingly at 327-7482 or e-mail to sarah@fcl.org. Refreshment donations are welcome (two-liter drinks are needed for this event).

This event is free and open to the public.