The rehab of a former meat-processing plant on Chicago’s South-side may seem a strange place to start a project documenting green change in food systems across the American Midwest, yet that is precisely where the web-series “Redefining Roots” begins.  The meat-processing facility, now termed, “Plant Chicago”, a zero-energy sustainable green business incubator, will house an aquaponic farm, fish hatchery, micro-brewery, and 40,000 square foot shared kitchen, all powered by an anaerobic digester.  An apt place then, to start a series focused on innovative local food solutions. From urban markets and production, to local organic farms, Redefining Roots profiles the projects of local growers and entrepreneurs re-shaping America’s food system, one seed at a time.

Part documentary series, part how-to, part “Mr. Rogers goes to the
crayon factory,” Redefining Roots traces the interconnections in
“green” food systems.  Its main highlights being innovative and
sustainable techniques that bring food from farm to fork, meeting
plenty of insightful characters along the way.  More than just an
online show, Redefining Roots focuses on empowering its viewers by
means of information, connection, and instruction.  Redefining Roots
encourages viewers to get involved by sharing content and ideas for
new projects.  It also hopes to inspire viewers to work with, or on,
projects profiled in the show.  As an online media channel, Redefining
Roots connects problem solvers from differing fields and regions while
encouraging DIY experimentation and providing an outlet for otherwise
less visible, but no less essential, “green” projects.

There are plenty of food related problems out there:  from the
epidemics of diabetes and obesity, to urban food deserts, to
unsustainable resource use in farming, to greenhouse gas emissions
from food production.  Thankfully, there are plenty of clever people
working to address these problems.  There’s no single solution, and
the projects profiled on the show, even the show itself, are only
small parts of a sustainable future; but the whole is greater than the
sum of its parts.  We need each other’s help.  Let’s unite and find
our voice, so that together we can manifest our sustainable reality
and do what is needed to redefine our roots.