The documentary Six Inches of Soil has earned a lot of praise and attention since its release last year – and this Sunday it will be showing at the Radway Cinema in Sidmouth:
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It hasn’t been without its critics, however. In a review from the London-based Culture Vulture, Phil Kirby fears that most of his neighbours don’t have the choices to make an impact:
I don’t mean this negatively. I really love the idea of regenerative agriculture, being nice to our fellow creatures, supporting local producers and looking after the soil. I just don’t understand how I convince my neighbours this has any relevance in LS12. And how I support it other than as a very nice notion, which I’m very glad a few people are making a go of but can’t see what else I can contribute. Anyway, go see the film for yourself. Let me know if you have any better ideas.
Similarly, in an other review from the Sidmouth-based Bite-Sized Gardening, Stefan Drew fears that the documentary is not clear enough in what it wants to achieve:
Life on earth is totally dependant on the Six Inches of Soil that covers most of the land. And this film reminds us of that. I fully support that notion, have adopted No Dig myself and the need for farms to be farmed regeneratively. But I do feel this film is a missed opportunity. It romanticised small scale food growing whilst the reality is that it is a relentless battle with the elements and other pressures. It also provided consumers and farmers with aspirations but failed to firmly point them in the right direction. And it muddled emotion with facts.
To judge for yourself, firstly, here’s the trailer, which might help gauge the feel of the documentary:
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More importantly, coming along to the screening in Sidmouth this coming Sunday evening will allow attendees to actually discuss the issues raised – as there will be a panel of local farmers chaired by Dr Emma Pilgrim, who is ‘passionate about soil’ and who put on a wonderful ‘show’ at the Library over the weekend on the issues.
Here she is talking about World Soil Day and why it matters in the Herald.
And here’s the supplement to the poster Emma has put together, showing that the evening at the Radway Cinema should be very promising and thought-provoking indeed:
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