"Symphony of the Soil" at Embassy of France

On August 24th, The Embassy of France will host The Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital and FRESHFARM Markets's presentation of the work-in-progress screening of the film, Symphony of the Soil, about the key role that soil plays in life on earth. Two 20-minute work-in-progress clips from Symphony of the Soil, an upcoming multi-part documentary film series directed by Deborah Koons Garcia, are the centerpiece of the event. Filmed on four continents and drawing from ancient knowledge and cutting edge science, Symphony of the Soil highlights the importance of healthy soil in creating nutritious plants that contribute to human well-being and the sustainability of our earth. The first clip from Soil and Life examines soil in all its complexity and mystery. Renowned scientists explore soil as a protagonist of our planetary story, including the birth of soil, its life cycle, the many creatures making up the soil community, nutrient cycling, and biological processes such as the carbon cycle and the nitrogen cycle. The second clip from The Anthropogenic Era investigates the human relationship with soil, the use and misuse of soil in agriculture, deforestation and development, and the latest scientific research on the significant role of soil in ameliorating the most challenging environmental issues of our time.Ann Yonkers, Co-Director of FRESHFARM Markets, will moderate the panel with award-winning filmmaker Deborah Koons Garcia, Chef Cathal Armstrong of Alexandria’s Restaurant Eve, celebrated sommelier and writer Derek Brown and Zach Lester of Tree and Leaf Farm. Derek Brown, who was named "Bartender of the Year" for 2009 by Washington City Paper and whose D.C. bar, The Passenger, was recently named one of the 10 best new cocktail bars in the nation by Bon Appetit magazine, has created a special cocktail for the event. The reception will also feature fresh tasting bites from Benjamin Lambert of Restaurant Nora. The event will take place at the Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Rd., on Tuesday, August 24 at 6:30 p.m. and will include a light reception. Tickets are $30 and are available online only at http://freshfarmmarkets.ejoinme.org/MyPages/FRESHFARMMarkets2010MovieNight/tabid/226336/Default.aspx. For further information on the event, visit www.dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org.