“There was once a town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surroundings.” Thus begins Rachel Carson’s fable for tomorrow, the 3-page long first chapter to her 1962 book Silent Spring. Her text continues; a chronicle of disconnect between bee and apple tree, between hen and chick, between morning and the dawn chorus. A necessary and painful re-read in the heart of spring hope.

Posted on April 13th, 2009 in Christians, Educators, Environmentalists, Scientists

Comments (0) »

Please forward this trailer to anyone who you think might be interested in the film.

Posted on April 13th, 2009 in Christians, Educators, Environmentalists, Indie Film, Neo-Traditional Music, Parents, Scientists

Comments (0) »

I highly recommend this book. It takes the form of a scientist’s letter to a pastor, presenting an argument on behalf of saving life on earth. 

Posted on April 7th, 2009 in Christians, Environmentalists, Scientists

Comments (0) »

We filmed Theo near the rim of the Black Canyon in Colorado.  This was a place that was very special to her.  

Her independent spirit and point of view was refreshing, though the observations and data she has been collecting are sobering.  I appreciate her focus on the small dose, the long-term, and reproduction.  Her group’s work can be seen at www.endocrinedisruption.com

Posted on April 3rd, 2009 in Environmentalists, Parents, Scientists

Comments (0) »

As much as I’m thoroughly anchored and enthusiastic about our own moment on history’s timeline, I confess I sometimes feel out of step. By about one hundred and fifty years. Lately, I’ve had a few chances to figure out why.

The mid-1800’s was an incredibly formative time for the American identity and sense of nature. The influence, questions, and findings of scientists in the natural world were beginning to accelerate. At the same time, entering the words “revelation,” “Creation,” “awe,” and “God” into the searchbox of the day would most assuredly have returned a huge number of hits. American attention on Creation was full-tilt. The woods and rivers were being terra-formed. It was the early days of the industrial revolution. Ralph Waldo Emerson and others in the transcendentalist camp were mixing up ideas of God’s nature with God-in-nature. One of the musicians in Behold The Earth, Tim Eriksen, tells me that five thousand people would collect in a field just one town over from me (Hope, Maine) on a hot summer weekend and sing together. This was the music of the shaped note. Landscape painters like Thomas Cole and Asher Durand tried to reconcile the tensions between science and religion. All and all, it was a heady and heartfelt brew. 

The time period is a helpful cultural reference point, nudge, and vantage point towards a longer view. It is a part of understanding where we’ve come from, hence the retro 1800’s look and sound of our film. But don’t confuse the smoke for the fire.

We’ve traveled some significant distance since then. Here we are now. Where are we going?

Posted on April 3rd, 2009 in Christians, Environmentalists, Neo-Traditional Music, Scientists

Comments (0) »