Educational Media Reviews Online

Seeds of Change presents an example of how to combat food injustice in the prison system while also providing inmates with a sense of normalcy and opportunities to learn vocational and transferable skills. The film displays how the food in one Maine prison improved drastically after they prioritized buying and ultimately growing fresh ingredients.

Although health troubles in an organic farmer’s family led to him selling his farm to seek more stable work as Head Food Supervisor at a Maine prison, he saw an opportunity to employ his farming knowledge to improve the prison’s food quality. His reforms included purchasing local whole foods instead of processed foods, a baking program, composting, and an organic farm worked by a crew of inmates. In addition to giving the incarcerated productive and meaningful work on the farm and in the culinary apprenticeship programs, producing the better-quality food saved the prison money. His efforts demonstrated that cost is not an excuse to not give incarcerated people decent food. Serving food that people look forward to instead of dreading also created a calmer atmosphere during mealtimes. As a result, the state is implementing the program in its other facilities.

The film is well made and at only 26 minutes, is a great option for showing in class. It is highly recommended for courses in criminal justice as a means of showcasing a promising solution to a widespread problem in the prison system.

Awards:
Best Documentary Short, Lessons of Hope, SCAD Savannah Film Festival; Best Maine Film, Maine Outdoor Film Festival; Best Short Feature, Maine Outdoor Film Festival; Audience Choice Award, Best Documentary Short, Woods Hole Film Festival; Audience Choice Award, Best Documentary Short, Anchorage International Film Festival; Audience Choice Award, Best Documentary Short, Arlington International Film Festival; Human Rights Award, Mystic Film Festival; Tom and Ginny Knoll Award, In Celebration of Acts of Kindness, Cleveland International Film Festival

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