Six Inches of Soil Documentary Screening Now
For the past two years, Matthews Cotswold Flour has been a strong supporter of documentary film Six Inches of Soil, which had its first global screening in Dubai at COP28 on 9 December 2023 and first UK screening at the Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) on 4 January 2024.
Powerful Regenerative Agriculture Documentary
If you cast your mind back to 2022, you might remember reading a blog on the website announcing the film and its first of two successful Crowdfunding projects. Now that it’s completed, out in the world and creating a hugely positive buzz, the team behind the project are working hard on screenings. As one of the film partners, Matthews Cotswold Flour is excited to be sponsoring a sold out preview screening on Thursday 8th February at 5:45pm – 9:30pm at FarmEd.
What it's all about
Six Inches of Soil tells the inspiring story of young English farmers standing up against the industrial food system and transforming the way they produce food - to heal the soil, our health and provide for local communities.
Half the food we eat in the UK is produced by about 180,000 farmers, who manage 70 percent of our land. Current “industrial” mainstream farming practices significantly contribute to soil degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change. Regenerative farming practices, (within an agroecological system) promote healthier soils, provide healthier, affordable food, restore biodiversity and sequester carbon.
Regenerative Farmers' Journey
The film tells the stories of three new farmers on the first year of their regenerative journey to heal the soil and help transform the food system - Anna Jackson, a Lincolnshire 11th generation arable and sheep farmer; Adrienne Gordon, a Cambridgeshire small-scale vegetable farmer; and Ben Thomas, who rears pasture fed beef cattle in Cornwall.
As the trio strive to adopt regenerative practices and create viable businesses, they meet seasoned mentors who help them on their journey. They’re joined by other experts providing wisdom and solutions from a growing movement of people who are dedicated to changing the trajectory for food, farming and the planet.
What people are saying:
“I really loved the film… Not only did you present the problems really clearly … I think it’s so encouraging that we actually saw the soil go from dead to live in three or four years,” Anna Locke, Author of The Forager’s Garden and ORFC audience member.
“The summary of soil and agriculture was incredible and to see these farmers doing what they’re doing is so inspiring, it’s made me optimistic,” Rachel Joseph, ORFC audience member.
“An excellent film really put well together, told the journey, told the story. Brilliant to see young people, the next generation coming forward with enthusiasm and knowing we’re in safe hands in farming,” Martin Howlett, Farmer.
“Six Inches of Soil is the best agricultural documentary I have seen yet in my life,” Genna Tesdall, A Well Fed World and COP28 audience member.
“Wow Six Inches of Soil what an amazing movie! I never thought I could watch a movie about soil and get emotional,” Michael Aggrey, Movement Strategy Centre and COP28 audience member.
Find out even more
With the help of its partners, the Six Inches of Soil team has created an online resource so people can dig deeper on regenerative farming, healthy soil, the food system, climate and nature. Their vision for the film and impact campaign is to inspire farmers with the confidence and practical knowhow to adopt regenerative farming approaches; to give consumers the impetus and the information to rethink their food choices; and ultimately create a groundswell of public opinion leading to policy change, support and funding for a British regenerative farming and agroecological revolution.
This blog was first published by Matthews Cotswold Flour. Huge thanks to Bertie Matthews and the team.
