Ben Stechschulte

Visionary composer and performer Meredith Monk overcame hostile critics to become one of the great artists of her time. In her seventh decade of creativity, she ponders how such singular work can continue without her.

Small Farm Rising follows a group of first-generation farmers from three unique farms as they carry plants, land, and animals through an entire growing season. These modern small farms have robust business models, sustainable practices and deep connections to the communities they serve: a goat farm that produces award-winning cheeses; a horse-powered CSA (community supported agriculture) farm which provides 100 members with a full diet year round; and a vegetable farm run by two young entrepreneurs. Filmed in the Champlain Valley and Adirondack Mountains of New York State, Small Farm Rising explores the reinvention of small-scale agriculture in America, and the hard work and beauty found within that tradition.