From Soil to Soul: A Docuseries & Food Sovereignty Movement
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Imagine a world where every community has the power to grow its own food, where children know the story of the food they eat and where their food comes from, and where our relationship with the land is rooted in justice, respect, and sustainability. This is the vision behind From Soil to Soul, a groundbreaking documentary series created by a diverse team of filmmakers, farmers, and environmental advocates who are determined to change the food system for good.
From Soil to Soul is more than a documentary series. It’s a call to action. Through the powerful stories of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers, regenerative practitioners, food activists, and thought leaders, our series charts the path toward food sovereignty—a future where communities reclaim their right to control their food systems. The series delves deep into the struggles and triumphs of these unsung heroes as they transform our relationship with food, land, and each other.
At its core, From Soil to Soul is a movement for systemic transformation. It's about restoring the love, respect, and healing that food brings to our communities by empowering youth globally. It’s about solutions—showing how local, sustainable, and culturally relevant food systems can uplift entire communities and shift the way we think about our planet’s future.
Why We Need Your Help
Our BIPOC-led team has poured heart and soul into this project. We’ve already started filming the stories of resilient farmers and food justice warriors across Los Angeles, but to bring the full impact of From Soil to Soul to life, we need your support. We have outlined 8 episodes and started filming out of pocket, but we cannot complete this journey without you. We aim to create 2 full length episodes with these funds which will be 30 mins each. The funds raised will go toward:
- Production Costs: Equipment, travel, and on-site production for capturing powerful interviews and stunning cinematography.
- Post-Production: Editing, sound design, and final touches to ensure the stories are told with the care and depth they deserve.
- Outreach & Screenings (Impact Campaigns): Hosting in-person and virtual screenings with community panels to engage viewers in conversations about food sovereignty and justice.
- Educational Resources: Creating high school and college classroom modules, workshops, and community resources that expand the reach of this movement.
- Expanding the Urban Farmers Almanac: This unique resource is already helping urban communities in Los Angeles reclaim their food sovereignty. With your help, we can scale it to other cities across the country.
The fight for food justice has never been more urgent. Climate change, inequality, and corporate control of food systems have created unprecedented challenges for communities worldwide. BIPOC folk are disproportionately affected, facing food deserts, lack of access to fresh and culturally relevant food, and systemic barriers to land ownership. Yet, they are also the ones leading the charge toward regenerative solutions.
From Soil to Soul seeks to amplify these voices, highlight innovative solutions, and build a movement of food sovereignty that empowers everyone—from policymakers to youth leaders, from school cafeteria staff to urban gardeners.
Meet Our Team
Our core team includes:
- Margaret To, a climate activist and filmmaker based in California, originally from Hong Kong, who directs this series with a vision of community-centered storytelling.
- Ankur Shah, an environmental scientist and educator based in Alabama who brings scientific insights and personal experience in food sustainability to the project.
- Jahnavi Mange, a regenerative design strategist & systems thinker based in California, originally from India, who brings in her expertise in strategy, systems thinking and connecting dots for collaborations, impact projects, and storytelling.
- Eldon Arena, a Filipino cinematographer and drone pilot whose visual storytelling expertise brings the heart of this series to life.
- Rachel Allen, a creative producer based in California whose technical expertise is enabling the professional production of our series.
Together, we are united by a shared belief that food is more than sustenance—it’s a connection to our roots, our communities, and our future.
Follow Our Journey
If you can’t donate, you can still help by sharing our GoFundMe page, following us on Instagram @FromSoilToSoul.film, and spreading the word about the movement for food sovereignty. Here is our YouTube channel as well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TU_zvG8KB0
Every share and story told helps us grow this movement.
Thank you for your support!
Stay updated on our journey at From Soil to Soul here and follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes content and updates.
Organizer and beneficiary
Ankur Shah
Organizer
Calabasas, CA
Margaret To
Beneficiary