Independent Lens Season 7 Episode 27 The Real Dirt on Farmer John

The Real Dirt on Farmer John is an episode from the seventh season of the critically acclaimed television show Independent Lens. The episode follows the life of John Peterson, a farmer from Illinois who inherited his family farm in the 1960s. John is an iconoclast, and his approach to farming is outside the norm. He is not afraid to experiment, and he embraces change.

The documentary focuses on John's journey as a farmer and the challenges he faced over the years. At first, John's experiments with raising exotic crops garnered him a lot of attention, but as the years went by, his farm began to struggle. He faced financial difficulties, and his eccentricities alienated him from his neighbors.

The episode presents a clear picture of the life of a farmer, and how difficult it can be to maintain a successful farm over generations. John's family had farmed the land for over 100 years, and he was determined to continue the legacy. But with rising costs, climate change, and increasing competition, maintaining a small farm was no easy task.

The Real Dirt on Farmer John is not just a film about one man's life, but also a commentary on the challenges that farmers across America face every day. The documentary explores the political, economic, and social factors that have given rise to big agribusiness, while small farmers like John struggle to survive. It shows how corporate farming practices are changing the face of the American landscape, and how small communities are being affected by these changes.

The documentary also explores the personal side of John's life. He was not just the farmer, but he was also an artist and an activist. He created a community on his farm and attracted people from all walks of life to visit and participate in his projects. He built a giant chicken coop in the shape of a giant guitar and turned it into a performance space. He also wrote and performed in a series of plays that were meant to connect people to the land and raise awareness about environmental issues.

The Real Dirt on Farmer John is a moving and thought-provoking documentary that exposes the reality of modern farming in America. It shows how difficult it is for small farmers to compete, and how the agricultural industry is changing. The film is not just about farming, but it is about the human spirit and the need for all of us to connect with the land and each other.