a film documenting extreme weather events (specifically in 2023) in Franklin County through farmers’ struggles, and how that shapes consumer experience.
View the Film
“Rising River’s Edge is now available to view on YouTube for a sliding scale donation.
Host a Screening
See our pricing options and contact clara@thelavacenter.org to book an event.
Curriculum
What’s On Your Plate Research Unit
Unit Plan
Massachusetts Farms: The Changing Landscape: Stories Behind the Data
Extended Lesson Plan – 1 to 5 class sessions
Our team consists of LAVA staff and local filmmakers who interviewed three local farms in Franklin County, MA. The extreme weather in 2023 left farmers struggling with funds to make it to their next season. Damaging floods and late frosts contributed to major crop loss and revenue loss for the local farms in our county. This film documents 3 local farms (Clark Brothers Orchards, Red Fire Farm, and Just Roots) as they navigate difficult weather patterns in order to continue their livelihood. Franklin County’s strength comes from local farms who provide nutritional food to the public through farm stands and farmers markets. The mission of our film is to bring awareness to drastically changing weather, and that by supporting our local farms we can keep Franklin County strong, profitable, and healthy.
Our Team
Clara Witty – Project Director
Clara Witty lives in Orange, MA and works as a Co-Coordinator of the LAVA Center in Greenfield, MA. She worked on many projects at the LAVA Center including indiVISIBLE, On the Boards playwright festival, and a podcast trailer “Behind the Tofu Curtain”. Since graduating from UMass Amherst in 2022 with a Bachelor’s in Art History she volunteered for a couple of art museums, interned with a local theater company, and worked as a dispatch coordinator at an art shipping company.
Rebecca Rideout – Project Video Consultant
Rebecca Rideout lives and works in Greenfield, MA. She has held multiple roles on PBS-broadcast productions, films for museums nation-wide, and several major feature-length documentaries. Since founding Told Video in 2014, she has filmed, edited, and produced documentary-style marketing films for over four dozen non-profits, schools and businesses. Her focus and favorite topic for video production is soil health and regenerative agriculture.
Matthew Barlow – Project Director
Matthew Barlow, PhD, is an award-winning author and film-maker, and helps run the non-profit Life Literacy Education.
Hugh Finnerty – Project Videographer
Hugh Finnerty is a cinematographer, director, and writer working across documentary and narrative film. He creates thought-provoking stories that combine cinematic visuals with authentic human experiences, guided by a deep respect for the people and places at their center.
