Creating this film was deeply fulfilling and profoundly rewarding—an experience that reinforced my passion for storytelling and environmental advocacy. My greatest hope is that "Roots of Renewal" sparks meaningful reflection on the vital role Central American farmers play in combating climate change through agro-ecology.

Equally important, I hope the film illuminates the essential work of Sustainable Harvest International, and inspires audiences to engage with and actively support this transformative mission. 

2021-2022: Initial Ideas

Back in 2021, the first conversations sprouted quietly between Will, Tony, and myself. Our goal was simple yet ambitious: harness storytelling to tackle climate change and agricultural sustainability.

By 2022, Sustainable Harvest International joined our dialogue, helping to shape the early vision of what would eventually become "Roots of Renewal."

2023: Creative Development

The creative process in 2023 felt like tending a garden; planting ideas, watering concepts, and occasionally uprooting something we thought might flourish. 

We navigated through various iterations—at one point the project was titled Heartland, then Heart of Land, which we had to not use because it was too close to the 15 season long-running Canadian family drama series. Other iterations of the project included a travel style full feature film we could not feasibly fund. 

We also had meetings with renowned philanthropist and Executive Producer, David Shaw, who eventually became part of the film’s team. Each step shaped our story bit by bit. 

By year’s end, after many late-night brainstorming sessions, we secured the critical funding that turned our vision into reality.

2024 - Film Production and Post

Early in 2024, the wait was over and cameras finally rolled. This marked a significant turning point in our journey. Our first stop was Honduras, a special place filled with profound stories waiting to be told. Many of these stories unfortunately did not make it into the final film. 

Over five unforgettable days, we immersed ourselves in the warmth, generosity, and resilience of farmers like Gerson and Doña Isabel. Their wisdom, kindness, insights and connection to the land formed the emotional backbone of our narrative. Their stories illuminated the profound relationship between communities and their environment. 

From Honduras, we journeyed south to Panama, where Maria's voice and climate awareness resonated powerfully, adding another layer of depth to our story. Here, the vibrant landscapes didn’t just serve as stunning backdrops, they enhanced the visual language of our film, while also articulating the main message of the film.

During these travels, I handed disposable cameras to local children, inviting them to document their perspectives, their everyday realities. The raw, honest moments they captured reminded me of the quiet, often unseen layers of life that our film strives to honor.

After returning home, we began editing almost immediately—diving into the often dreaded, meticulous process of weaving together the grounded stories of our farmers with the rich, thought-provoking perspectives of global experts.

Between May and July, we conducted remote interviews with Paul Luu, Vandana Shiva, and Bill McKibben—voices that added depth, clarity, and urgency to our environmental narrative.

Each interview was a revelation, adding essential layers of insight and helping refine both the emotional and intellectual core of our documentary.

By late summer—after countless hours spent reviewing footage, reshaping sequences, and balancing perspectives—our story had finally taken full form, ready to be shared with the world. Well, almost.

Before editing was complete, we also recorded the voice that would guide audiences through the film—that of Flo Reed, founder of Sustainable Harvest International. Since establishing the organization in 1993, her deep insights and unwavering passion have made her an ideal narrator, gently leading viewers into the lives of the farmers and the heart of our story. Her dedication continues to inspire us.

In September, a special preview at the Clinton Global Initiative offered philanthropists and donors a glimpse of what we'd cultivated, an emotionally charged moment that validated the quiet efforts of the sleepless nights.

2024-2025: Film Launches

The journey reached an exciting milestone with the film's launch on the Waterbear Network, an innovative streaming platform dedicated to showcasing impactful environmental stories. Seeing Roots of Renewal among such meaningful content was incredibly rewarding and inspiring.

In its first three months on Waterbear, the film had over 45,000 views with 1,664 people donating directly to the network to continue their effort of making more impact-oriented documentary films. The film's newsletter reached over 600,000 recipients and the social campaign had over 2.1 million impressions with an engagement rate of 6.43%.

Campaign graphic from Waterbear.

In early 2025, we had the privilege of screening the film at the Super South Conference—a deeply personal yet universally significant event, where a room full of passionate viewers experienced firsthand the powerful intersection of ecology, storytelling, and humanity. (Read more about that event here).

The film was honored by the Webby Awards in the Video & Film - Public Service & Activism category. This category recognizes original digital or streaming video or film content created on behalf of a brand or organization to facilitate political change, public participation in civics, government policies/pursuits, social activism, or environmental causes.

Other winners and nominees in the category include VOX, BBC, Ogilvy, and Innovean Berlin.

But Roots of Renewal isn’t finished growing. We’ll continue planting seeds by entering it to festivals, and nurturing its message. Stay tuned.

Watch the Full Film Below or Stream it on Waterbear