NEW HOPE INTERNATIONAL REVIEW ON-LINE

Fairview Gardens is a 12 acre organic farm surrounded by urban development near Santa Barbara, California.

This video, narrated by Meryl Streep, gives a very good insight into the history and future of the farm and the work it does.

20 years ago there wasn't much more to it than 6 rows of beech trees. Michael Abelman became the farm-manager and took a long hard look at the land. As the urban sprawl developed around it, the farm diversified to produce a large variety of fruit and vegatables.

In the winters Abelman travelled to China, Peru, Sicily and elsewhere, photographing and studying farming communities and their culture. Back in the USA he was alarmed to see land ruined by over-intensive cultivation using chemicals and pesticides.

In the 1980s the buildings finally surrounded the farm and the new residents began to complain about the noise of the animals and the smell of the compost. At one court hearing it was even suggested that the roosters should have their vocal chords cut.

Through operating an open-door policy, educating the community into the joys of the farm and teaching schoolchildren, they finally won the support of their neighbours. When in 1993 the land-owners were under pressure to sell to developers, they managed to raise $800,000 in eight months to save the farm. It is now protected as a Land Trust and Education Institution called the Center for Urban Agriculture

As such it serves not only the local community servicing most of its greengrocery needs but also passes on the knowledge it has acquired to the world-wide community through its educational programs.