On Wednesday March 30th, Rural Vermont hosted a lively online discussion about the new documentary film “The Seeds of Vandana Shiva”. Working with the film’s director Camilla Becket of Becket Films and with sponsorship and promotion support from FEDCO Seeds and High Mowing Organic Seeds, Rural Vermont was able to offer free access to view this film from March 25-30. Over seventy people signed up to view the film and more than a dozen folks joined Rural Vermont staff, Graham Unangst-Rufenacht, and Board members, Cat Buxton, Marya Merriam, and Nour El-Naboulsi to share their impressions and responses to the film. 

The film explores the life story and growing legacy of Vandana Shiva, the Indian nuclear physicist turned ecological activist and seed saving advocate who has been described as “Monsanto’s worst nightmare.” There were many common themes identified by participants in our discussion including Vandana’s unflinching commitment to speaking truth to power, her deep and respectful engagement with the people whose causes and needs she has championed, from women fighting deforestation in Vandana’s homeland of the Himalayan region of India, to farmers victimized by the so-called Green Revolution, and now advocating for and facilitating seed saving around the world through her organization Navdanya. One participant, who has been a seed saver for 25 years commented: “I feel really grateful to be alive at the same time as Vandana.” 

The evening’s discussion concluded with an inspiring sharing of “What’s next?” - a question Vandana poses at the end of the film - revealing so many local and regional efforts that like Vandana are building community around vital needs through grassroots organizing.