For the past two years, University of Delaware Cooperative Extension worked alongside the USDA Northeast Climate Hub to host screenings of the documentary film, Delmarva and Ground for Change, across the Northeast.
Since 2023, nine screenings have engaged 40 different organizations, including local farms, conservation districts, land trusts, university extension, and federal agencies. Each event has been a catalyst towards increasing interest and conversation around soil health and climate smart farming.
In fact, 88% of viewers who provided feedback after watching the film indicated they would recommend it to others. Seventy-seven percent said that the film left them more interested in soil health, and 79-83% indicated that their knowledge increased on the five conservation practices featured (cover cropping, conservation tillage, planting green, rotational grazing, and subsurface drip irrigation) as a result of watching the film.
And now, students are joining the conversation.
In addition to hosting a film screening this past Spring, University of Maryland Extension introduced the film to students in their Workforce Development Extension Internship Program. Twelve students from across Maryland viewed the film, participated in group discussions, and wrote blog posts reflecting on what they learned from the film. Their insights highlight the scenes and details from the film that were important to them, providing valuable perspectives from future agricultural professionals.