Faced with the lack of fresh produce in a South Carolina food desert, Germaine Jenkins dedicated ten years of her life to creating Fresh Future Farm, an urban farm on an empty city lot. “Rooted” embarks on an intimate journey alongside Germaine, a Black mother-of-two, resolute in her quest to own the land she farms — a critical first step in establishing stability for her community and sowing the seeds of generational wealth for her family. 

The specter of sharecropping’s legacy looms over Germaine as she navigates Southern government, well-intentioned nonprofits, and the realities of becoming a community leader. 

When the demands of working both the soil and the politicians exact their toll upon her health, Germaine must look inward and recalibrate her personal notion of triumph. “Rooted” celebrates the power of one woman’s unyielding commitment to food justice, and illuminates the path towards societal—and personal— metamorphosis.

STAY TUNED HERE FOR PRE-FILM SCREENING EVENTS AROUND FARMING AND FOOD JUSTICE

More about Germaine Jenkins:

In 2014, Germaine Jenkins co-founded Fresh Future Farm on a vacant city lot with limited resources. For the last six years she has led a team that created abundance in a disinvested neighborhood. Jenkins has been featured in Food & Wine, New York Times, Essence Magazine and is now the subject of a full-length documentary describing Fresh Future Farm’s work to build community wealth and creative placemaking.

Germaine’s movement allies include Urban Growers Collective (Chicago), CooperateWNC (Old Fort, NC), Black Minimalists, League of Creative Interventionists, Equity at the Table (EATT), and Black Lives Matter of Greater NY.

Directed by Bridget Besaw and Par Parekh. Co-produced by Germaine Jenkins, Bridget Besaw, Par Parekh, Katie Mathews, Lauren Waring Douglas. Music composed by Kathryn Bostic.