The Film

Reviews of The Real Dirt On Farmer John

USA, 83 minutes

An epic tale of a maverick Midwestern farmer, this critically acclaimed documentary follows the colorful John Peterson, a farmer, artist, and innovative thinker in rural Illinois who has struggled to redefine his family farm for over twenty years. With the death of his father during the late 60s, John turns his traditional family farm into an experiment of art and agriculture, making it a haven for hippies, radicals and artists. The film charts the end of this idealistic era as the farm debt crisis of the 80s brings about the tragic collapse of the farm. After much soul searching, and in defiance of all odds, Farmer John gradually transforms his land into a revolutionary farming community and one of the largest Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms in the United States.

Buy the DVD – The Real Dirt on Farmer John

Reviews (Courtesy of IMDB.com)

Movies like this just don’t grow on trees…

What a wonderful little film! This is much more than the old story about the American farmer’s attempt to save the family farm. It is an historical document, of sorts, on the life of one Illinois man, John Peterson, his family, friends, and community. It took a little while for the film to get started for me. I had to get use to John’s low-key personality, but as the film progresses, it reveals a complex, intelligent, and determined man, who’s story is a unique one. Director Taggart Siegel, a friend of John’s, sifted through hundreds of hours of footage, shot by himself, John, and home movies from John’s own family. It is simply amazing to see such an interesting life story unfold before your eyes in less than two hours time. Compelling, educational, and deeply moving, it is a film you will hold dear to your heart.

Touching, inspiring, hits close to home, no matter where you live…

I knew I would love this movie and the character of Farmer John from the opening scene where he tastes the soil in his fields and says it’s tasting good today.

Having myself been steeped in west coast Burning Man culture, I immediately recognized and honored John Petersen as a true Burner – even if he’s never been to the desert festival himself. He’s an artist, an entrepreneur, a dreamer and a builder. But what’s more, he’s a real person. His story is really our own story. He’s a regular joe with a real heart, real fears and real stumbling blocks. His repeated failures… and then eventual success, through perseverance and love, is inspiring to every one of us because that’s how it really happens!! This story isn’t full of cinematic glorification!

I loved this movie because it isn’t a fantasy about creating intentional community or CSAs or going back to the land or any of that. It’s about the hard, slow, steady and arduous process of the development of a human being who wants to make something good in this life. It’s about years of reviews of trying and failing and trying again. It’s about working through that feeling of failure to finding out what successes lie on the other side of failure. We’ve all been there. Disillusioned by our current lives and world situations. Can we really do what we envision? Can we really make a difference and make our ancestors proud? Do we really have what it takes to learn how to set up a website and be the caring stewards of this land we were given? Do we have what it takes to provide for our future generations?

I felt this movie is a story about how to *really* be successful, find happiness and make a difference. We can’t control what the world may do around us, but we can chose our own paths. This movie reminded me that it’s okay no matter where we’re at along our path, so long as its focus comes from a true place within. If we do that, we, like Farmer John, may realize one day that we’ve finally worked our way into the idealized vision we always had of our lives – we may find success and happiness.

Plus, you just can’t beat that bug song Jamorama guitar and Learn And Master guitarmusic video where they’re in the bee costumes!!!

I LOVED it.

See it. Rent it. Buy it. Give it as a gift to loved ones.

Full of heart and soul

Some movies are so full of heart and soul, are so much a reflection of their times, they feel like they were, in some strange way, destined to be made, and to make a mark, not only in the world of cinema, but in the American social fabric, as well. The Real Dirt on Farmer John is such a movie. At this time, many of us are yearning for a more truly compassionate and caring nation, for a more inclusive and understanding society, for a return to deeper, more spiritual values, and a sense of personal (rather than corporate) empowerment. Now along comes the maverick, All-American, Farmer John Peterson, a real third-generation Illinois farmer, and his true story of soil-based soul, devastation during the farm debt crisis of the 1980s, and resurrection in the 90s as a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm now serving 1200 families in the Chicago area. Filmmaker Taggart Siegel has effectively woven together Peterson’s home movies from the 1950s, with footage from the 70s (when the farm was a hippie art commune), the 80s (when Peterson lost almost everything), from Mexico (where he sought solace and healing from his failure), the 90s (when Peterson experienced his resurrection) and recent years, as the farm now brims with organic produce, student farmers, families and children. The film reflects the struggles of American family farmers over the last fifty years and, more importantly, the universal Hero’s Journey through life, death and rebirth. The scenes of Peterson with his mother overflow with love. But love and deep caring are the essence of the film. And at a time when we are bombarded with darkly cynical fare, The Real Dirt on Farmer John is the deep, fresh, lively flavor that will most satisfy our hunger for goodness and meaning. To be savored, like a fine meal ….

An inspiration for about everyone

My family and I saw this movie at the Chicago premiere, where Farmer John held a Q&A session afterward. I was afraid my son would be bored (he’s an antsy fourth-grader), but because we’ve been members of a CSA farm for he past three years, I thought he would do well to sit and learn. By the end of the movie, he was asking me whether we could sign up for a share at Angelic Organics! Even if you’re not into CSA farming, though, this story is an inspiration… for anyone who’s loved and lost, or who’s failed at something that meant everything to them, this movie will touch your heart. Bring tissues because unless you’re a stone or just not paying attention, you’ll be teary-eyed at least once. I thought Taggart also did an excellent job filming this movie and culling years of videos toward the end result: a moving, inspirational film. The only negative I saw about this movie, and it’s probably a result of the directors and writers wanting to have a positive, uplifting message, is that I don’t think there was much exposition on why the family farmer has become largely extinct. I would have liked to see more about corporate agriculture and the dangers is poses — thus making CSA farms all the more important. That being said, many movies that seek to provoke social change have an air of guilt about them; you feel bad that you don’t do more, or you get the sense that things are so bad that it’s not even worth trying. This movie did the opposite; I left feeling like the world was worth saving after all. I believe seeing this movie made me a better person.

What else can you ask from a movie?

What I loved about The Real Dirt on Farmer John was that it is history, but is also a personal story that stirs the heart and soul. It is not just a movie of the small farmer in America, it is about someone’s passions and the trials of one’s life. This film will be a surprise for who everyone who watches it. It can be transformational. If you or someone іn уουr family іѕ charged wіth driving under the influence in San Diego, you will need to hire a San Diego DUI attorney who is working in an established law firm, as these legal companies only hire the best lawyers in order to keep up their good name and practice. Go see the documentary if you have the chance, it is quite spectacular. It has a great story, it is humorous, tragic, and wonderful. Good commentary on urban sprawl, crisis in the farming industry.

On a limited budget

I didn’t see it as a literal documentary, obviously certain liberties were taken to tell the story on a limited budget. It was both touching and true to its time. I’m hoping that it will get into distribution and certain that it will create a buzz. The story of the family farm still needs recounting even though it was a media darling twenty years ago. His struggle to succeed and to keep seniors healthy by supporting original health care with a Medicare Supplemental Insurance is universal… The underlying Medicare health plan was also keeping with the times, having been a student in Wisconsin in the early 70′s. When you laugh and cry and root for the underdog, it becomes personal. What else can you ask for from a movie?

More reviews at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0439774/reviews