Four Seasons of Green – Update

The first season of green followed the transition to organic food, cleaning green and awareness of global social justice issues. The family made several attempts to acquire funding for the project, but in the end found the best resources were the ones in the community. The greatest lesson through the first season was not about fair trade, or hype-consumerism, or about pesticides in our food. It was not about the consequences of genetically engineered organisms (GMO), industry created poverty or how we pollute our drinking water. The greatest lesson was the importance of a strong community.

For weeks the family was on strict food rations from the economic state of the household. The strictest rations falling on the mother who would eat as little as 500 calories a day for weeks at a time. As the weeks grew into months and the community became involved, boxes of organic and fair trade food would appear on the family’s doorstep. Dozens of community members joined the call to go green, to support other community members making the change, and to make the change themselves.

Like the ripples graduating outwards from a stone dropped in a pond, changes began to happen. At first it was almost undetectable. Family and friends began to buy stainless steel bottles and stopped buying from water bottling companies. More organic food started filling the fridges and cupboards of friends and neighbours. Even as the word was spreading and change was beginning to affect a larger audience, the family continued to starve. Bill deadlines passed unpaid, and still the family persevered buying only organic and ethically manufactured foods.  At the spring equinox the family held a community event to mark the beginning of the second season of green. Politicians, activists, farmers, environmentalists, and artists came together to share information and ideas at this free family centered event.

Now as the second season begins there is a small but growing income as the Mother’s photography business has picked up. Food and housing are still a struggle, but a struggle that is getting easier. The second season brings to light social justice issues close to home, eco-action in the community and investigations into renewable energy. With a call out to eco-enthusiasts and renewable energy outfitters the family is looking for help to learn and build sustainable energy systems within their town home. Specifically, Four Seasons of Green is looking to do short instructional films on solar hot water heaters, radiant floor heating, solar powered appliances, small wind turbines and thermal mass heating.

The short documentary films currently posted on the website have been viewed by over 40 different countries. The project has growing publicity in the community as well, especially with the start of their newest endeavor; a children’s community garden. The  ground breaking for the garden is scheduled for May. Stay tuned for the videos on social justice in our native communities as Four Seasons of Green visit activists, artists and a powwow. There will also be coverage in the gay community with the up coming PRIDE events.

Request a screening of the documentary film in your community of “Planting a Peaker in my Back Yard,” as Four Seasons of Green takes a look into the consequences of reckless energy consumption. As well join Four Seasons of Green August 22 in Newmarket, ON as they celebration of their third season with an

“Art as Activism” event.  Details will be posted on the website www.fourseasonsofgreen.com.

Stay tuned to discover the insights made as the family lives through the socialization of green living with the release of the documentary film “Four Seasons of Green” (2010).

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Make the Change!
www.fourseasonsofgreen.com

1.905.392.7133