The epic tale of a maverick Midwestern farmer. An outcast in his community, Farmer John transforms his world amidst a failing economy, vicious rumors, and violence. By melding the traditions of family farming with the power of art and free expression, this story heralds a resurrection of farming in the 21st century. Through highly personal interviews and 50 years of beautifully textured home movie film footage, filmmaker Taggart Siegel shares Farmer John's haunting and humorous odyssey, capturing what it means to be wildly different in a rural community.
Filmmaker Taggart Siegel has documented John's struggle to redefine his life and the family farm for over twenty years, witnessing the colorful drama of John's life. Photographs and home movies spanning 70 years are juxtaposed with recent footage.
With the death of his father during the late 60's, John turns his traditional family farm into an experiment of art and agriculture, making it a haven for hippies, radicals and artists. The farm debts crisis of the 80's however charts the end of this idealistic era and brings about the tragic collapse of the farm. During the 90's as the intricate weave of rural America unravels, vicious local rumors turn John into a scapegoat, condemning him as a Satan-worshipping drug-dealer. Threatened with murder, a home on his property burned to the ground, John forsakes his farm and wanders the ancient lands of Central America. Mysteriously, his quest leads him back to his hostile homeland. Defying all odds, he gradually transforms his land into a revolutionary farming community.
Out of the ruins of single-crop agriculture, John creates Angelic Organics, an extended farm village where people and art can thrive alongside organic agriculture.
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