Infecting Brains with Permaculture: Making a new Documentary about Building Resiliency to Wildfire

Hello Folks,

A little over 4 months ago my brother, a cinematographer in Alberta, sent me the information about a grant for documentaries being submitted in June.

After a few months of hemming and hawing over the idea I thought sure why not. My brother's suggestion was to do a "permaculture" doc and I wasn't that inspired. I've seen a fair few of permie docs and I didn't know if I had much to add to the conversation.

When I found out that the production of the doc had to be between Sept and May a permaculture doc was out. Not much growing or to show that looks good on camera for Northern Permie sites in NA over that time period.

It was then I happened on the idea of a documentary about Fire. My partner's place was close to being consumed by fire in 2015 which spurred by designers' mind into action. We removed trees around the house by 15-20m and built bioswales with the brush and trees on the areas that were prone to fire. There's still much to do to increase the fire resiliency of the property but the work did much to assay our immediate concerns.

It was at this point that I thought this could be the focus on the doc.

Facing Fire: Building Resiliency to Wildfire was born... a permaculture doc in disguise.

With only 5 days until the submission, I worked 14 hours days to put together the pitch.



Focusing on the problem that most conventional folks face but providing solutions, or as Paul once said during a presentation I attended, bricks in the wall that anyone can build, is a subversive way to build a cultural currency to begin a conversation, and perhaps change a few minds in the process.

And that brings us to today.

There are 3 days left to vote for the project.

https://www.storyhive.com/project/show/id/3989

You can vote once a day for this project from July 31 until August 2 12pm PST.

You can further help this documentary be made through sharing this video.


To keep abreast of what's happening with the film sign up for wildfire facts, updates, reminders to vote, vlogs, blogs and webinars in the future.
http://eepurl.com/dz3DKP

Finally, I've put together a Facebook Page for updates.
https://www.facebook.com/facingfiredoc/

Thank you for your support.

Looks awesome Javan.  I will keep voting!

Javan,

This is of great interest to us and I am voting for you all the way. My husband and I just moved into an 11 acre parcel of forested land in northern Idaho and the first order of business is to thin the small trees, keep meadow plants down near the house, and take our dead wood and do something permie-ish with it.

Wildfire mitigation will be high on our list for a good long time as we add to our homestead.

Good luck with the video.

Thanks Robin and Chris I appreciate the help!

In design work I use gardens, hugels and bioswales to create fire breaks and increase fire resiliency.

I just wanted to draw attention to this important thread.  Bump.  And highlight this:  

     You can vote once a day for this project from July 31 until August 2 12pm PST.      

hi Robin and others interested

My husband and I just moved into an 11 acre parcel of forested land in northern Idaho and the first order of business is to thin the small trees, keep meadow plants down near the house, and take our dead wood and do something permie-ish with it.

Wildfire mitigation will be high on our list for a good long time as we add to our homestead.

 You might want to check out this thread I started last year: Firestorm British Columbia: The Thread  There was quite a good discussion about a lot of strategies.  I'm going to bump that thread up, because it's becoming more and more pertinent as Fire Season progresses, and Ontario has been having serious problems this year.  

Welcome to the forums, Javan! What an awesome, media-rich and inspiring first post. I hope we get you lots of votes and support for your documentary. I voted yesterday and today and will pop in again tomorrow.

Good luck!!