EARTHLIFE | Alewives

Описание: From the farm, we enjoy a lovely view of the salty sea, which in Maine has always been viewed as a source of abundance and resource. But there is another story - ecosystem scientists tell us that it is the thousands of rivers and streams flowing through Washington County forests, bogs and wetlands that drive the productivity in our coastal fisheries. Each spring millions of ‘forage fish’ surge upstreams and rivers to the warm lakes to spawn, a predictable and abundant buffet for all the others in the foodchain. Seemingly endless waves of alewives create cover for larger shad and for atlantic salmon; all contribute - with their lives, their bodies, their waste.

There are hundreds of thousands in alewives in single streams today, yet in the 19th century they say one could walk across river on the backs of the fish. Restoration of river systems, stewardship of watersheds, and respect for alewives will not only impact the ecological health of our region, it can also be a spring source of great pleasure and prosperity in the form of locally produced food, agricultural systems and ways of life that are tied to the land. Welcome to EARTHLIFE: ALEWIVES
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EARTHLIFE was produced by Greenhorns in July 2020 at our headquarters, Reversing Hall in Pembroke, Maine to replace the summer workshop series prevented by COVID-19.
Filmmakers: Elizabeth L. Smith and Noah David Smith
Additional underwater footage: Brett Ciccotelli
Editor: Archer A. Grano
Design: Amy Franceschini
Music: Pete Fitzpatrick
Special thanks to the Quimby Foundation for supporting this work.


Greenhorns is a 13 year old grassroots organization based in Downeast Maine - we produce media + programming of many kinds to celebrate and welcome the entry of the incoming generation of farmers. Please tune in to our radio show, OURLAND documentary series, film festival, almanacs, guidebooks and more at greenhorns.org