back to the garden... flower power comes full circle

2011-11-13T15:59:00.001-08:00

Back to the Garden is in a real horse race.
Out of over 1200 films, we're in 2nd place to win top prize
in the Culture Unplugged global online film festival.

You can help us win that race...it's easy.
Just click on the link (above) and click "PLAY".
Feel free to share the link with others.

If we receive the MOST VIEWS by December 15th,

we will win $3,000 dollars!!!

The celebration plan: we'll be giving away

free DVD's...signed by the producers of

Back to the Garden.

we'll have more news soon! Thanks everyone for taking part.

San Francisco DocFest: First Stop Sunny Berkeley. Bringing back "Power to the People Right On!"

2011-10-17T01:37:00.000-07:00

We arrived in San Francisco greeted by 70's plus weather. What a change from the kalakala Gray and relative chill of Seattle. After peeling off our layers of polar fleece and rain jackets we hopped on the BART to Berkeley and our first screening: the historic Shattuck Theater...just steps away from the U of Cal, Berkeley campus.

Due to the sunshine and unseasonal opportunity to get out and squeeze a little more out of Summer we had a small but enthusiastic crowd at the screening who stayed on for a lively Q & A and purchase a few DVDs...We met a terrific adventuress and writer from Guam who wants to show our film at next years Guam Film Fest! Hey do they spring for airfare and hotel too? Our SF DocFest hosts are warm and experienced film lovers who made us feel right at home..and our Son Shane and his wife Song arrived with their 8 month old son Vincent! So good to have them!

While awaiting our screening, we walked down Shattuck Ave, which runs right adjacent to the U of CAL campus and found a very lively and friendly group of 300 + folks with home made signs demonstrating in front of the Bank of America offices....these folks came in all ages, economic shapes and creeds...but they had one thing in common: They're pissed off at the unrelenting greed, injustice and indifference shown by the Banks, Corporations and the government. Many had lost their homes, jobs and wanted to vent.

Speakers called for everyone to pull their money out of the Bank of America and to deposit it into local Credit Unions instead. An Idea whose time has come! As OnePine and others put it so well in BTTG,
we have the power to exert pressure by choosing where to spend our dollars. Boycott the corporations sends a clear message that WE are the people that these institutions serve...not the other way around.

San Francisco DocFest next up!

2011-10-12T23:51:00.000-07:00

Okay...here are our three Bay Area screening dates:

(includes Berkeley and San Francisco!)

Oct.15th (Sat) the Shattuck Theater in Berkeley @ 2:45pm

Oct. 18th (Tues) the Roxie Theater in S.F. (16th and Mission)@ 9:30pm

Oct. 23rd, (Sun) the Roxie Theater @ 7:15pm

We would love to have you share these dates with your Bay Area friends and family!

We've been invited to Screen at the awesome San Francisco Documentary Film Festival.

2011-09-05T15:37:00.000-07:00

San Francisco here we come! We're not sure what dates but we're going to be screening twice between October 14th through the 27th at the Venerable "Roxie Theater" in San Francisco.

More details coming soon!
Very excited to show our film in San Francisco...the home of flower power and my home town. We're thrilled and honored to be a part of this true Indie film festival.

Check out their site soon for a listing of films and special happenings slated for the film fest in October.

www.sfindie.com

Spokane Earth Day Screening: sold out show, 3rd added by popular demand.

2011-04-30T01:09:00.000-07:00

Our recent Earth Day series of screenings began in Bellingham at Western Washington University with a solid show of force by the students of Fairhaven and WWU turning out to support our film....OnePine's son, Bodie conceived organized and promoted the film as a part of Western's Earth Day

celebration...Great bunch of folks who were 2/3rds twenty-somethings and the rest baby boomers who remember it well...Music provided by Harvey Swanson and Deb Vester.

The very same night as the WWU showing, our film was broadcast on local PBS station, KCTS9 and drew the highest ratings yet for the entire series...

Then came Earth day in Spokane, Washington...the real capitol and service city to the communities of Back to the landers who are part of our film...They don't drive to Seattle to get supplies they can't get in Wennatchee, they drive to Spokane. Having an opportunity to bring our story of Eastern Washington's counterculture to the heart of Eastern WA. presented a rare opportunity. Luckily the gods of film screenings were smiling as we were joined by two of our main characters, Skeeter and Maeyowa for the post screening Q & A.

Humble and soft-spoken...a little humor thrown in, Skeeter and Maeyowa charmed our audiences with their well-informed answers about living and surviving without health insurance, the perceived contradiction of mega Corporations co-opting and offering organic food, about the spark that led them to choose the road less traveled....and much more...great questions that both our special guests had articulate and heartfelt answers for...the Spokane

audiences were spellbound. They loved the film but they loved our remarkable characters too.

Each of us really felt the genuine love and support expressed by Spokane's audiences. We had a magical time in Spokane! I can't wait to come back again. Thanks so much to the Magic Lantern Theater, the Inlander and Spokane Public Radio for helping us spread the word about our film! It just keeps on rollin'!

photos below: Our Earth Day road trip from the Methow Valley to Spokane took about 4 hours...we broke it up by stopping at the often missed viewpoint just above the Grand Coulee Dam...photos of Judy Kaplan (co-producer) with Maeyowa sharing lunch at this amazing picnic spot.

Earth Day Invasion... Spring 2011

2011-04-21T01:15:00.000-07:00

EARTH DAY is here and we are spreadin' the news to all of Washington State...and even B.C. the entire Earth Day weekend...

On April 21st, 'Garden' airs on KCTS9 television to a potential audience of 2.5 million viewers including British Columbia...the same day we're having a special Campus Screening at Western Washington University in Bellingham (Fairhaven Auditorium) at 6pm on April 21st...then two days later, drive over the mountains to Spokane queen of the Inland Empire, for a special, one-night only EARTH DAY screening at my favorite inland empire venue,

The Magic Lantern Theater. (Saturday, April 23rd @ 5 & 7pm)

They're going to love us in David Lynch's hometown....We're getting amazing press coverage in the Spokane Inlander and we are bringing very special guests to Spokane for this one-night only Special Earth Day showing...We look forward to meeting all you Warshing-tonians.

Sarajevo, San Francisco and Salt Spring Island B.C. film festivals: lovely people!

2011-03-13T17:12:00.000-07:00

The weekend of March 3-6 was our busiest in awhile...Three International film festivals, running simultaneously, showed our film to brand new audiences.

Judy and I were attending the first ever, San Francisco Green film fest at the swanky Landmark Embarcadero Cinemas while Deb Vester, one of our main characters from the film represented us at the wonderful Salt Spring Island Documentary festival up in the Canadian Gulf Islands. She had a wonderful time and says the audience was super engaged in the film...thanks to Diane Copeland and the fest organizers for the invitation and giving Deb the royal treatment.

The third screening was at the 17 International Environmental film festival in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzogovina. (see their wonderful green eyelash graphic) We're still waiting to hear how that went-we'll follow up later. We had over one hundred people at our Sarajevo screening according to the festival director!

San Franciso was wonderful...we met so lots of new people, saw other terrific films, networked the crowd with postcards and sold DVD's too. We had such a great venue, time slot (8:15pm on a Saturday night!) one of the largest turnouts of the festival and a special 'Centerpiece' Flower Power after party directly following the screening...Thanks so much to Rachel Caplan (festival Director) and her top notch staff including BTTG's own Shane Keller (he appears in the '88 healing gathering and says " the purpose that brings us all together is LOVE.") Shane came down from Humbolt County to volunteer at the festival and we had a terrific time getting reacquainted...he's a terrific human being.

We also met Dorio and Tree who came up from Watsonville to be at the screening and also participated in the Q & A following the film. They are both part of the original Okanogan community and joined us for the after party as well...thanks for coming to San Francisco you two!

Icelandic TV requests Back to the Garden

2011-02-24T19:13:00.000-08:00

Icelandic National Television has acquired the rights to broadcast "Back to the Garden, flower power comes full circle"! From the land of Free Willy, Bjork and Sigur Ros...there will be a national broadcast of our film this Spring...we'll announce the date soon.

A little background: RUV-the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service-is an independent (that's why they like us) public service broadcaster, owned by the state of Iceland. Begun in 1930, RUV's income can only be allocated for broadcasting purposes. They operate one TV and two radio stations covering the whole of Iceland. Their main charter: "...honor basic democratic rules, human rights and the freedom of speech and opinion". Yeah baby!

San Francisco Green Film Festival 2011. Brand spankin' new...and we'll be there. With fleurs in our hair!

2011-02-08T23:32:00.000-08:00

Tell your Bay Area friends to come join us at the Brand Spankin' New,

SF Green Film Festival...March 3-6th at the Landmark Cinemas at Embarcadero Center (in the heart of Frisco).

I love San Francisco! I was born there... and this is such a heartfelt thrill and an honor to come show our film in THE place which has such historic connection to our film...Flower Power was born here.

Friends...clik and "like" on our own SFGreen FF Webpage...the more BUZZ we create, the more folks will come see our film and spread the message. This is such a wonderful opportunity for our film...thanks everyone for helping 'share the love'... kevin

This Little Light of mine...I'm a gonna let it shine...

2011-01-26T23:59:00.000-08:00

The Animals Save the Planet ...Energy Efficient Penguin

REEL NW to broadcast Back to the Garden January 27th, 10pm on KCTS CH.9 (PBS).

2011-01-09T17:09:00.000-08:00

The exciting news for January: REEL NW, a brand new television series from Seattle's PBS affilitate, KCTS channel 9, is set to air "Back to the Garden" on January 27th (thursday) at 10pm. This will be our film's first time on Television...a world television premiere! We are very proud to be a part of KCTS' new series featuring 'the very best of independent film from the Northwest.' We'll keep you posted as the date gets nearer...

New BTTG Interview/Podcast available

2010-12-18T01:22:00.000-08:00

Following our wonderful experience up in Vancouver late this Summer at the Vancouver International Film Festival, we've received several requests to show the film in Canada.

The good folks up in British Columbia and as far east as Ontario are really in step with our films message that living the simple life can be a very fulfilling life. The empowerment one feels building your own home, having a sense of community and knowing that you're eating healthy, home-grown food...is being passed on to an new generation. A generation that honors the sixties activism and ideals but is looking to put their own mark on the future.

Recently I was contacted by a young man, originally from South Carolina,who now lives in B.C. He wanted to interview me about our film that he'd seen at VIFF. We're very happy to spread the word but it's especially fulfilling when someone who's fresh out of college is inspired by the example of our film's characters...Skeeter, OnePine, Maeyowa, Deb Vester, Jerry Bartels and Jeffrey Stonehill...and wants to know more.

He's put together a great blog of ideas and interviews with folks who talk about a wide variety of issues concerning the environment that he calls the ExtraEnvironmentalist.

Here's the podcast/interview conducted in late November 2010.

It's almost an hour long interview/podcast so feel free to download it onto your ipod or other digital device for an interesting hour of discussion. Comments always welcome.

thanks so much Justin and Seth.

Ojai film festival offers a taste of Hollywood mixed with beads and incense.

2010-11-09T23:14:00.000-08:00

If you drive about an hour northwest of Los Angeles, tucked away into the coastal hills, you 'll find Ojai. A native American word meaning 'Moon's Nest'. Ojai has about 8,000 residents, a mix of L.A. retirees, Hollywood veterans, farmers and many counter cultural folks who love its spiritual,small-town vibe..sits at the base of some impressive mounts called the topa topas...At sunset the hills glow warmly in what the natives refer to as 'the pink moment".

We enjoyed some warm moments ourselves as we showed our film at the 11th Ojai film festival Nov. 4-7th. Met lots of Southern Californians at Ojai who loved our film and thanked us for its sweetness, honesty and uplifting message. Great weather greeted our Southern Cal debut along with good sized audiences too...We loved both the Art Center and Ojai Playhouse venues.

We attended some terrific workshops with legendary cinematographer Michael Chapman (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Last Detail), listened to the wisdom of Independent Producer Larry Turman (the Graduate), rubbed shoulders with other filmmakers from L.A., latvia and AFI and saw films you just can't see anywhere else...Special thanks to Steve and Liz Grumette for sharing their home with us and talking us up with locals...who couldn't have been warmer...thanks Ojai!

Duke City Docfest wraps...nominates BTTG for award.

2010-11-05T23:25:00.000-07:00

The first annual Duke City Docfest took place October 10-15th...Back to the Garden had two screenings. Not a hollywood A-list scene to be sure but the organizers hope to make it a big draw in the years to come...I went because our film was shown in the KIMO theater.

The KIMO is the kind of place you want to be married in and buried in...It's a landmark movie palace that the city wisely treasures and has recently renovated to show off its T and A... Treasures and architecture! It's worth a lot more text but just take my word for it, it's like no other movie theater you've ever been to...an amazing movie palace that's one of a kind.

We were nominated for Best Cinematography. Cool!

My Albuquerque hostess with the mostess, Cousin Tama! Who was also 'born in the you es seh'. You Rock Girl! And in no small part thanks to her parrot 'Montel Herman' who only bit me once and likes me just fine now...

A shop on Central ave..I love the way the chain drape turns this scene into a kind of modern pointilist painting...I had huge fun shooting on old Route 66.

Downtown Albuquerque...Central Avenue, the heart of the City...the old Route 66 highway.
Yep, Duke City's turnout was modest...but we had a great Q & A...heck they agreed to pose for a group photo just to commemorate the occasion of Albuquerque's first year Documentary fest!
The facade of the venerable KIMO theater...a mix of art deco architecture combined with an incredible decor of southwest indian art...a true movie palace I'm honored to have shown our film at...thanks so much Jesse and the generous folks at the Duke City Docfest.

Tacoma Film Festival awards its top prize: "BEST DOCUMENTARY" to the 'Garden'

2010-10-11T09:55:00.000-07:00

Director, Kevin Tomlinson receives "BEST DOCUMENTARY" award from Emily Alm, Tacoma Film Festival's director of programming and communication at the Grand Cinema in Tacoma on sunday 10-10-10....

Vancouver International turns it up a huge notch with two sold out shows and great press.

2010-10-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

Vancouver was nearly a perfect audience for our film...home to many draft dodgers during Vietnam and haven to alternative lifestyles, B.C. is to Canada as California is to the States.

We screened on the first two days of the festival to capacity crowds who really 'got' our film. They laughed and sighed at every opportunity, hung on every word and gave thunderous applause following the film.

The organizers put us up in a beautiful downtown hotel, showered us with genuine Canadian affection, hosted Judy and I at gala event parties with Cirque mimes, delectable food and booze...We were pinching ourselves. Then we wake up to great newspaper reviews in the Vancouver Sun and the Georgia Straight, did interviews on Global TV and CBC radio's 'on the coast'. The consensus: Vancouver absolutely loved our film.

I can't say enough for the professionalism, genuine warmth and egalitarian atmosphere Vancouver's festival organizers exude...If this wasn't the best, it was damn near the best we've ever encountered along our festival journey...Met wonderful down to earth industry folk, hobnobbed and just generally had a very memorable experience in Vancity.

A huge hit of wind for our sails...

Ironweed Films makes "Garden" its September Film of the Month!

2010-09-20T14:00:00.000-07:00

We're so stoked that Ironweed Films of Oxnard, CA. has chosen our film as their Film of the Month for September! This is a passionate, progressive, socially-responsible group of film lovers who know that many folks will never see Independent docs outside the film festival circuit. To bridge this gap, they offer a provocative film festival on DVD every month.

Ironweed Films

Wild in Rice feast and outdoor screening

2010-09-09T02:43:00.000-07:00

Our special Guests: l-R: OnePine and Deborah Vestor who drove over from the Okanogan.

Where is Rice, Washington? I'm sworn to secrecy. It's too beautiful and off the beaten path and the locals asked me not to spread the word...so you'll have to do some mapquesting...

We were wined and dined on Iberian fishermans stew and sinful seafood appetizers put on by the upstart Seattle-based, culinary team called by the Seattle Stranger, "Ass-kicking" ....the Jones brothers Glassworks, led by ''Champeen'-chef and art glass maker, Ron Jones.

Thank you Ron, MJ, and the Jones bros. team...you put on an ass-tonishing feast!

A huge thank you to our new friends who run Wild (in) Rice, Maureen and Scott who invited us to screen our film outdoors under their stately maple tree... guests arrived from Colville, kettle falls, Spokane, Gifford, Fruitland and parts unknown...our first outdoor showing!

Maureen and Scott had recently hosted Skeeter and his Herbalist gathering on their farm...so it already feels like family there...a wonderful place to put on small workshops, events, cultural and culinary programs with a family farm setting and an emphasis on local food and arts.

So come visit Rice....just don't get any dang 'idears' about moving there.

Feature story in Washington State Magazine hails "Back to the Garden"

2010-08-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

Very good plug for "Back to the Garden" just came out in the new Fall edition of Washington State Magazine both online and in print...with a base of 140,000 readers!!!

That's good news indeed. (click the link to see article)

Thanks Murrow School of Communications, WSU magazine and Hannelore Sudermann.

We came by B.A.R.T.... to San Francisco.

2010-06-30T23:41:00.000-07:00

The symbol we all know...redone in the Haight at the Red Victorian Bed, Breakfast and Art. Painted by owner, Sami Sunchild, today in her Eighties... still dedicated to encouraging social and environmental responsibility. See more at peacearts.com

A moment of grace in the SF museum of Modern Art..."you should be showing your cowboy boots here!" a stranger said to Judy. Have a peek at frimframdesign.com

Downtown on Montgomery...signs of the past, present and future

A Love child In the Mission at the Noe Valley Ministry to show our film (it's the steeple on left). No kidding...I am a love child. I was born here. French Hospital, Geary Ave. Total 49ers and Giants fan growing up. I love this place.

A dedicated group came out to see our film, some who remember the flower power days personally and some who did not...thanks to our hosts, Ramon and Judy Sender, for the opportunity to screen at the venerable "Odd Mondays film series" . (We really did take the B.A.R.T. to S.F.)

Mountain High: Rainier Indie Film Festival awards 'Garden'... "Best Documentary"

2010-06-18T00:22:00.000-07:00

photos: top 3, courtesty of Phil Eichner...bottom pic: New 'Garden' fan, James Stevens with Jude on location.

"Back to the Garden" flower power comes full circle, received the "Best Documentary" award at last weekend's Rainier Independent Film Festival in Ashford, Washington. The festival, founded by film industry and mountain climbing vets, Win and Sarah Whittaker, also awarded best feature film to "The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle" directed by former Seattle Janitor, David Russo...now being distributed by Robert De Niro's Tribecca films.

We loved Rainier's attention to details: the high quality digital projection, great sound, venue variety (including a school gym and a cozy yurt) ...and a terrific workshop by Warren Etheredge of the "Warren Report" to top it all off. A relaxed opportunity to really get to know other filmmakers, quaff some great microbrews and fill your lungs with the freshest mountain air in the world.

Our Rainier hosts, Win and Sarah are filmmaking veterans having produced first class documentaries themselves ie. (Sherpa-The Proving Grounds) and make every effort to help filmmakers feel the love...which we truly did. The Whittakers run a tight, organized weekend of screenings that feels like the Telluride Mountain festival. You might have hooted with the owls the night before but be ready to show up for the 9am screening the next day...and people DO!

More Amsterdam pics from the Dutch Environmental film festival...and a special side trip out to the "hippie community" of Ruigoord

2010-06-17T22:19:00.001-07:00

The "hippie village" of Ruigoord 30 mins outside of Amsterdam... an entire village squatted in the 70's and still alive in the new millenium...We went there for a "Percussion Festival" and to give the community a copy of our film...Everyone told us..."you've got to take your film there!"

L-R: Thea with friend and daughter. Thea has been coming out to Ruigoord to juggle and meet friends for over 20 years...mostly on weekends and for special fests.

This group of Dutch Women loved being photographed. I got the impression coming to Ruigoord is like a counter culture Las Vegas in that you come there to get loose and have fun with friends but return to your normal routine when the Monday roles around...

You meet the nicest people in Holland....

Studio K: Closing night at the Dutch Environmental film fest in Amsterdam...good crowd.

Taking Questions from a much younger audience than most of our previous venues.

Screening which proceeded a big late night dance party...

Our crowd: dressed for the 'Green Carpet' closing night at Studio K, Amsterdam.

Dutch Environmental Film Festival nominates "Garden" for Golden Strawberry Award!

2010-06-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

Amsterdam's Studio K Cinemas hosted the Closing Night at the 2nd annual Dutch Environmental Film Festival.

"Back to the Garden" screened to a capacity audience on the final night of the four day festival which was held in both Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

The festival is unique in that it brought in a much younger audience than we've seen at most festivals...Young, 20 and 30-something men and women who are willing to work toward creating a sustainable world through getting out and rolling their sleeves up.

We had fantastic feedback from lots of inspired and motivated young Dutch Eco-activists who had nothing but compliments for the film's hopeful, inspirational message and thanked us for getting the story out to a global mass-audience.

A young African-English Doctor came up to us and explained how he was 'dragged kicking and screaming' to our film by the Festival's director. He said he was so taken with the film's characters' integrity and self-sufficiency...He found our subjects refreshingly genuine and honest in every way and was reminded of his fathers's rural upbringing and family values as a young immigrant coming to England from Nigeria. "I'm single and dating" he said. "I once had my date correct me on which hand to hold my knife with in a restuarant"...."Can you imagine", he said. " I'm way more interested in people like the young hippies in your film who seem to know what's really important and have their heads in the right place..."

So again it seems like our film isn't just about so-called 'Hippie values' but Human values...

The Golden Strawberry went to a great new film called "Dive" about L.A. Dumpster Divers

but we're so honored to be in the final running! and we met tons of wonderful new folks during the festival...thanks so much Ikenna and Mette from DEFF.

photo: Winners of the 'Best Dressed Hippie' contest: Bram and Wendy of Rotterdam. Our friends!

Twisp Rural Roots Film Festival screens 'Garden' May 28-30th

2010-06-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

Maeyowa (top) and Kirsten Ostlie at the Opening night of the Twisp Rural Roots Film Festival in the Merc Playhouse on Memorial Day weekend...Maeyowa is one of six "Back to the landers" whose stories are featured in the award-winning documentary, "Back to the Garden" (flower power comes full circle). photo: Sue Misao (Methow Valley News)

17th Barcelona Environmental Festival welcomes "Back to the Garden"

2010-06-03T01:50:00.000-07:00

We're screening today (Thursday) at 8pm at the Cines Alexandra in the heart of Barcelona right on the historic Ramblas! For more on the Festival click Barcelona. more to come...

Soap Lake works its magic!

2010-05-22T00:53:00.000-07:00

Dry Falls...20 mins north of Soap Lake on highway 17.... Not to be missed!

l-R: Judy, Skeeter (Michael Pilarski) and Kevin at Soap Lake's Masquers Theater on May 15th for Opening Night of the Soap Lake film Series, sponsored by Jacol filmworks.

Good crowd, great people...we met organic farmers, permaculture gurus, seasoned filmmakers and simply lots of like-minded folk who came out to support us. Soap lake has healing waters and we wasted no time checking it out...The lake has been a mecca to thousands in its heyday (early 1900's through WWII)...since then it's been largely overlooked.

But thanks to visionaries like Kathy Kiefer, local filmmaker and Soap Lake resident, it's on the comeback trail...We loved it and can't wait to go back and soak up more sunshine and it's amazing healing waters. Soap lake Washington.

It's also becoming a haven for artists and all sorts of alternative folk who love the natural beauty of the area and are creating real community.

May 15th... Masquers theater in Historic Soap Lake. 7:30pm Saturday night.

2010-05-11T02:06:00.000-07:00

photo: Historian and filmmaker Kathy Keifer at Soap Lake 2005 (above)

photo: circa 1922 postcard from Soap lake: "It will cure you"....

We've had May 15th 2010 on the books for almost a year...Screening at a state of the art Theater (the Masquers theater) at Soap Lake, WA. a tiny dot on the map but....thanks to one kindred spirit, filmmaker kathy Kiefer, it's gaining a reputation for screening inspired independent films...Kathy has produced three docs herself and knows her audiences.

"I'm committed to producing documentaries that enlighten and inspire deeper thought." kathy kiefer

So we're really thrilled to be invited to Soap Lake and experience the healing waters, the local arts-scene and the historic spa-atmosphere which it's famous for...check out Kathy's site for more. www.soaplakewa.com

Where's soap lake? Just North of I-90 near Quincy. Not far from the Gorge Amphitheater.

Come on over for the weekend and meet the locals at our 'Garden Party'...

We're finally Here! Byron Bay Australia!

2010-03-09T06:01:00.001-08:00

(photo: top- Byron Bay Festival Director J'aimee Skippon-Volke doubles as tour guide on day 1 bottom photo: The view looking South along the Australian east coast from the Byron Bay light house.)

We just arrived today, March 9th, 2010 after flying 14 hours from Los Angeles to Brisbane.

Took a two and a half hour shuttle van from the airport, where we met a couple of hippie kids were coming home from a snowboarding trip to Austria..."yeah, I lived in a tepee too" says Marty, now a cabinet maker doing contract work in the Byron Bay area...I'll tell my Mom about your film showing this weekend.

Our film posters are up, we got a personal tour of Byron Bay by BBIFF director, J'aimme Skippon-Volke, an evening walk in the tropical heat to work out the jet-lag stiffness and a great meal tonight at our deluxe accomodations...wow! As Judy likes to say, 'even I'm jealous of my own life!'

This festival is getting out the word and putting us in a great time slot (Closing day at 11:45am). They're displaying our film graphic prominently in the local newspaper ads, placed our poster right at the entry to their festival ticket office and it just feels great knowing that we're getting that kind of support here in Australia. It feels good...I think it's going to be a wonderful experience here. We're on the short list for the "Best Environmental film" award..

More to come! We screen on Saturday, March 13th.

Sebastopol adds second showing after sold out first show!

2010-03-09T05:21:00.000-08:00

We had such a wonderful Sonoma County reception in Sebastopol! And...met lots of new folks, Special thanks to Jason Perdue and Cynthia Stefanoni at the Sebastopol fest for adding on a second show by popular demand.

Too many good people to list here but it went very well with both shows with

warm receptive audiences including a Mom who was a part of The Farm commune from Tennessee...and her daughter Salina, who told us they identified completely with the hippie kids' interviews in our film...William who ran the 'Phinny Farm' who remembered Skeeter and is making his own doc about Grass growers in Humbolt county.

Emiko Omori, first asian-american camera woman at KQED in San Francisco back in the 60's... at SDFF giving a workshop in the 'Art of shooting Docs' with selected scenes from her influences (Pennabaker, the Maysles brothers, Errol Morris among them).

Also met one of the original 'Merry Pranksters' who knew kessey, Brand and many of the Beat Writers of North Beach...He's also an well-known experimental, Avant Garde musician, writer, artist and important memeber of the famed Morningstar commune, Ramon Sender. At 75 he's a dynamo networker who helped us attract several new fans to our Sebastopol screening and has invited us to show "Back to the Garden" in San Francisco in June as a part of his bi-weekly "Odd Mondays" film and Lecture Series.

We're super excited to show in San Francisco...Thanks so much Ramon! Google Ramon Sender...he's one of the last of the major flower power figures still living and working in the city...

photo: L-R: Ramon Sender, Judy Kaplan, Judy levit Sender in their San Francisco neighborhood...

SEBASTAPOL documentary film festival NEXT!

2010-02-27T01:48:00.000-08:00

California here we come...after the standing room only showing at Nevada City's Wild and Scenic Environmental film festival in January, "Back to the Garden" moves down the coast to SEBASTAPOL , just 90 mins. north of San Francicso...to screen at the third annual

Sebastapol Documentary film fest
showing on March 6th at 4:30pm at the
Sebastapol Cinemas.

Come out and join us...and as always, tell friends and family so they can come out and support us. We want to fill seats for the film to have the best audience impact.

Looking forward to getting California reactions to our film!

Wild and Scenic: Standing room only...

2010-01-19T01:35:00.000-08:00

Photo: Elise and Jesse interview OnePine and Kevin during the Wild and Scenic Environmental film festival in Nevada City, CA. The Live/Webcast interview can be seen on our Facebook fanpage...

Judy reluctantly stayed home to pack for our upcoming move. OnePine met me in Nevada City to represent our film...and I'm so glad she came to California. What a perfect place to show it. Lots of mature flower children now living in Nevada County who've moved there from the San Francisco Bay Area...(ca. 2 hours from Berkeley). "A hotbed of Progressives" Skeeter called it. Also Home to Kerouac Pal and Beat Poet/Icon, Gary Snyder. (Who through a mutual friend has a copy of our film.)

I was initially a little concerned that because of our very early scheduled screening at 9:30 on a Sunday morning, we might have trouble attracting a crowd...But it turned out to be an overflow crowd of over 200 with standing room only! Wow. That was a relief and to hear such genuine enthusiasm and laughter from the audience throughout the screening was a delight.

They really were moved and taken with our story and there was obvious excitement when the lights came up and the crowd saw OnePine. She had a great time at the festival...and was thrilled to have her oldest daughter, Yava and husband in attendance. They were proudly introduced to the crowd who hung on OnePine's every word...

"All the women in the Ladies Room were talking up your film" another filmmaker told me.
That's a good sign, I said. And it is. Women really relate to our film. Men love it too but there's
so much intimacy that's shared during the film that other women so identify with.

It was great to have OnePine to share the excitement and warmth of Wild and Scenic.
She's a terrific spokesperson for our film, enjoys coming out and meeting new audiences, is completely herself and comfortable with people..and they feel that and it comes right back.

Finally, I want to acknowledge our Wild and Scenic hosts for their warmth, generosity, tight organization and execution of the festivals dizzing details and demands...and for making us feel welcome, honored and important while we were there. You guys rock. Right down to the volunteers who drove us an hour each way to and from the Sacramento Airport.

To my wonderful home away from home, Sandra Rockman and her husband Tony for letting me stay with them during the fest...fed me home-made granola and yogurt, got me there on time, told me family stories...Really made me feel like family. It was a pleasure being with you!

Next up: The Sebastapol Documentary Film Festival in Sebastapol, CA. (March 5-7th)

Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Fest: Jan 15-17th

2010-01-05T13:09:00.000-08:00

We're very excited to be a part of America's largest Environmental film festival!
Three days of Eco-minded films in Northern California's Nevada City should make for a ton of Green-minded fun, films and networking.

135 films, 8 theaters, 500 volunteers, free workshops
and their mission:
"Using film to inspire activism"

Check out the Wild and Scenic film listings here.
Wild and Scenic

And...If you have friends or family in the Sacramento, Chico, Lake Tahoe, Nevada City area, drop them an email or send them to our website...As usual, we want to show to a full house!

Thanks everyone for an incredible 2009...here's to an even better 2010.
More to come....

Santa Fe Film Festival: Great Buzz, Great time, New Fans and lots of Salsa!!

2009-12-08T14:06:00.000-08:00

Santa Fe was cold outside (8 degress!) but warm inside the festival theaters which screened about 150 films over 4 days. Back to the Garden made good press coverage locally:

a mention on the local NPR station's morning show, a short write up on opening day of the festival in the Sante Fe New Mexican Newspaper and a nice plug in the Albuquerque Arts Magazine too! (check it out)

Our film had great visability during the festival and we gave away a bunch of DVD's to filmmakers and fans to share...planting seeds.

We had two packed showings at the De Vargas Cinemas with very warm audience response at both screenings.

Next Stop: The Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival (Nevada City, California) January 15-17th...

Thanks to all of you who generously responded to our email request to visit our Santa Fe film listing and helped give us some major "Buzz" during the festival weekend. It was a huge help with over 250 responses!

We love you!!

"Garden" receives a FIVE STAR review in Portland's Willamette Weekly

2009-12-04T21:13:00.000-08:00

photo: Phil Borges 2008

Portland's venerable Willamette Week Newspaper

rates "Back to the Garden" with Five Stars on eve of it's first theatrical run...anywhere.

The Clinton Street Theater , the oldest art house cinema in Portland is screening "Back to the Garden" for a special one-week run...

send your PTD friends over...If it does well, they're willing to extend the run. Cool!

click on the links above to read the entire review...

Santa Fe Film Festival: December 2-6, 2009

2009-11-30T11:44:00.000-08:00

Heaven Scent Films announces:

the Southwest Premiere of

the award-winning new documentary

Back to the Garden

Flower Power Comes Full Circle

www.backtothegardenfilm.com

screening at the

Santa Fe Film Festival

www.santafefilmfestival.com

Thursday, December 3, 2009 at DeVargas 2 Theater *

Friday, December 4, 2009 at DeVargas 3 Theater *

A new Feature documentary which asks the Question,

Where have all the 'Flowers' gone?

Take a trip back to the remote wilds of Washington State, meet a community of off-grid, back to the land hippies who dropped-out of the American mainstream in the 1970’s.

In 1988, The filmmaker met and interviewed this thriving tribal community and now, 20 years later, returns to find out what’s become of their lives, their families and their dreams of environmental utopia.

Official Selection in 10 International Film Festivals

World Premier: Seattle International Film Festival

WINNER : Best of Washington film Award 2009

Come join us, tell your friends,

burn some sage….

* Filmmakers Kevin Tomlinson and Judy Kaplan will attend

and will host a question & answer session following the film.

Giant Crowd greets Garden Guests in Olywood fest screening.

2009-11-11T10:25:00.000-08:00

Olympia Crew: (l-r) Kevin, Judy, Tomas, Harvey, Ginny and OnePine.

(photo: Deborah Vester)

Busking our DVD's...at the Capitol Theater following "Back to the Garden's" screening at the 26th Annual Olympia Film Festival November 8th.

(photo: Deborah Vester)

Olympia Film Festival (November 6-14th) celebrated its 26th Anniversary this year in the historic grand old Capitol Theater... our film was not only a great fit here but also created a lot of local buzz. Our 3:30 Screening was delayed due to the long line of people still waiting in the ticket line. An excited crowd of 400 waited patiently inside while Harvey Swanson and Tomas Caton performed on Guitar and Mandolin many of Harvey's songs from the BTTG soundtrack. We were padding time to get everyone to their seats before rolling the film.

We had the best time with all the old Okanogan friends who came over to gather and play music the night before at Ginny's...So good to have spent time getting to know Ginny, Tibor, Tikva, Avi and girlfriend, Tosi, Eden, Tomas and Brenda...and so many more! Thanks so much for coming out to support our film Olympia!

Many thanks to Shade Rupe, the OFF film programmer extrordinare and to Phil Rollins of Olympia's hipster haven, The Archibald Sisters, for putting up our poster in their display window and being the official sponsor of our film!

OLYMPIA FILM FESTIVAL screens "Back to the Garden" Nov. 8th, 3:30pm

2009-11-01T10:21:00.000-08:00

Capitol Theater...home of the Olympia Film Festival

Come out and join us at the 26th Annual Olympia Film Festival at the venerable, historic Capitol Theater (206-5th Ave. SE) smack dab in the middle of downtown Oly...We want to also thank our Olympia sponsor, the Archibald Sisters for making a special display in their store window and supporting independent film! Thank you!!

Bendfilm fest: huge buzz and capacity crowds deliver rave reviews for "Garden"

2009-10-13T00:51:00.000-07:00

Bend film Festival happy snaps: (l-R) OnePine, Judy, Deborah Vester & Kevin

Lean and Mean "Garden" crew: Kevin (director/producer), Tim Cash (editor) & Judy Kaplan (producer)

Radio Interview at KPOV in Bend: Brad (interviewer), Tim & Kevin...Plugging "Back to the Garden, Flower Power comes full circle" for this half hour local radio interview show...

There was no shortage of local 'buzz' surrounding our film at Bend with a tremendous outpouring of emotion at the Saturday morning show. The Festival committee had scheduled "Garden" for a single showing but following the huge turnout immediately booked a second show during the 'best of fest' screenings on Sunday.

"Back to the Garden" narrowly missed receiving the Bendfilm Audience Award falling just a few votes short to place second overall. Yikes!!

We had the awesome company of our friends and main subjects of our film: OnePine and Deborah Vester (who drove 6 hours plus down from Chesaw and Bellevue, WA.) along with local Bend filmmaker/editor Tim Cash and his wife Yuvia and 2 sons at the screening.

Big hugs and Kisses to the Bendfilm staff who made us feel like 'VIP' Filmmakers all weekend!

A HUGE thanks to our Bendfilm hosts Steve and Judy McCoy who taxied us all over, fed us and made the whole weekend such a pleasure.

Local News coverage:

"Back to the Garden" ...one of the Bend Film Fest Picks.

http://www.tsweekly.com/culture/features/still-reeling-we-give-you-the-run-down-on-a-few-films-to-check-out-at-this-years-bendfilm-festival.html

Ellensburg Film Fest loves our 'Garden'... bestows "Best of Washington" film prize

2009-10-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

Special Ellensburg FF Guests: (l-R) Deborah Vestor, Judy Kaplan, OnePine & Harvey Swanson (singer-songwriter whose music graces the "Garden" soundtrack.

(l-R) Cousin Tere Van Hulle, Judy & Kevin and new friends from Ellensburg.

(l-R) Kevin & Judy and new friend Mary Makins of Ellensburg.

all photos: Mary Makins

SEE Feature article in Yakima Herald Newspaper:

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/10/01/ellensburg-film-festival-it-s-a-big-weekend-for-film-lovers

Closer to home: Film Fest screenings in Washington/Oregon:

2009-09-27T16:26:00.000-07:00

photo: davis freeman

October/November "Back to the Garden..." schedule

Ellensburg Film Fest:
Screening October 4th, (Sunday) at 10am
Recital Hall on CWSC campus
http://www.ellensburgfilmfestival.com/index.html

Bend Film Fest:
screening October 10th, (Saturday) at 10am
Regal Cinema 5
http://www.bendfilm.org/2009-festival/default.aspx

Olympia Film Fest:

Screening November 8th, Sunday, 3:30 pm
At the Historic Capitol Theater
http://www.olympiafilmfestival.org/movies/back-to-the-garden/

Come out and join us and tell your friends to come!

You're supporting independent filmmaking and helping us get the story out to the public.

We really want to fill the house,
I can tell you, it makes a huge difference in the response.

See you there!

Tel Aviv wraps with sold out screening.

2009-09-27T15:51:00.000-07:00

(photo: L-R, Judy, Kevin, Harsita Eshel (Festival Director), Anameika Eshel (co-director) and Israeli filmmaker, Yael who presented a film about the Rainbow movement in Israel.)

photo: courtesy of Yohan Segev, Tel Aviv

We were humbled by the turnout and the overwhelming response to our second screening in Tel Aviv. Many commented about how inspired and moved they were by the film's characters and their life struggles.

There were questions about whether our film has distribution or not (We're currently self-distributing ) and whether it will show on Television (we're working on it after it shows at a few more fests). Many young 20-somethings came up to us and told us how they'd been thinking about the film all day, how hopeful the stories are and that they were considering moving up to the north of Israel to grow their own food and change life directions.

One of the members of our audience was NBC News' Middle East correspondent, Martin Fletcher and his wife (who both LOVED the film). Martin is one of NBC's icons (30 years in Israel) and is a huge plus in getting a possible Israeli documentary channel introduction.

More comments:

"I walked out with my heart smiling"..."If the music soundtrack were available on CD, I'd buy it !"

Tel Aviv Spiritual fest draws big crowd.

2009-09-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

Opening Night 'Spirit' was in the house at the Beautiful Cineamatheque.

Spreading the gospel of 'the Garden' in the holy land.

Official guests with festival founder/director and sage burning Spiritual shaman, Harsita Eshel.

Lobby entrance...can you spot our poster?

Tel Aviv news stand...Beauty and the Benny.

Tel Aviv Spiritual Film Festival to screen "Back to the Garden" on September 11th and 12th!

2009-09-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

We are the guests of the Tel Aviv Spiritual Film Fest. We are so excited to go to Israel...we've never been there.

This is a film fest that particularly honors the spiritual theme which runs throughout "Back to the Garden..." We're especially curious to witness an Israeli audience response to our story of the American dream set in the Back-to-the-land community of rural Washington State.

For more about what kind of International spiritual films we'll be rubbing shoulders with, check this out! Tel Aviv spiritual film fest 2009

We'll keep you posted on our screening direct from the middle east.

Happy snaps from Berlin

2009-08-27T02:28:00.000-07:00

A light moment with German director, Michael Verhoeven and Judy at the Globians world and culture documentary film festival in Berlin. August 12-17

Kino Toni: home cinema to the Globians world and culture documentary festival in Berlin. The Theater has been completely renovated, having been in operation during the cold war. It is now owned by the German film director, Michael Verhoeven : The Nasty Girl, The Unknown Soldier, O.K., Mother's Courage and The White Rose (academy award nominee for best foreign film).

Our generous Berlin friends put on a special BBQ for us! We're standing on the top of the Teufelsberg with the city in the background...

Filmmakers lunch during the festival...all 'Global' indie documentary filmmakers from Brazil, USA, Canada, Spain and Germany...Thanks to our festival host, Joachim Polzer we made new friends and talked shop throughout the fest.

On Alexanderplatz, Center of Berlin awaiting our premier at the Globians World and Culture Documentary film festival in the German capitol...

August 12-17th

30 years ago I lived in 'West' Berlin (before the wall was torn down). The hand-colored photograph I'm holding was taken in 1979 not far from this same spot (near The Brandenburg Gate).

What a dream to return to a reunited, thriving Berlin with a film. Flower power comes full circle indeed. Some kind of serendipity too...We showed our film on the 40th anniversary of Woodstock (almost to the day!) and this year (2009) marks the 20th anniversary of the Wall coming down. Was our return to Berlin meant to be?

Berlin's Globians documentary festival Premieres our film on the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock (ok whats a couple of days?)

2009-08-14T09:28:00.000-07:00

Joachim Polzer is a very generous and organized man. He also programs the films for the Globians documentary film festival, www.globians.com makes all announcements, picks up visiting filmmakers at the airport or train station, organizes daily filmmaker lunches where we can all talk shop and meet other filmmakers and picks up the tab...It's not your usual Corporate sponsored film festival. It's very personal and intimate.

We premiered "Back to the Garden..." last night to a very receptive audience of international filmmakers and local Berliners. Sonja, My lovely German girlfriend from when I lived here in the late 70's, early 80's (before the wall was knocked down) came with Onkel Klaus (a former audio engineer in East Berlin in the 60's and 70's) and daughter Ines too.

What an emotional screening it was for me. I was choked up even for Jeffrey's "sky gods" section...and it just became more emotional as the film unfolded. Returning to Berlin with a film is a dream come true.

We got so many compliments but I think the most wonderful thing said was this morning at the directors lunch...A filmmaker from Brazil said to me..."your film...it's not a documentary... it's poetry! You must send this to the Sao Paulo film fest next year!"

Seattle Screenings on Queen Anne and Wallingford

2009-07-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

We've been invited to Screen "Back to the Garden..."at two new venues : The Queen Anne movie Guild and "Meaningful Movies" in Wallingford...both great places which feature independently
produced documentaries from all over the world. Both groups feature on-going documentary screeenings year-round and have an impressive list of social justice documentaries always followed by community discussion. The focus of the movies will be what makes communities work, community sustainability and on environmental issues. We're honored to be invited. Check out their websites!

Here are the dates/times:

July 11th, Saturday at 7pm....Queen Anne Movie Guild
for more info: www.queenannemovieguild.org
1606 5th Ave. West.
(next door to the QA public library at 5th West and Garfield)

admission FREE, donations kindly accepted.
both Judy and myself will be there to take questions afterwards

July 24th, Friday at 7pm: Meaningful Movies
where: 5019 Keystone Pl. North
(Sponsored by the Wallingford neighbors for Peace & Justice)

Admission FREE: donations welcome!
Director Kevin Tomlinson will be there to discuss the film with the audience.
website: www.meaningfulmovies.org (has map and directions)

From the new Summer edition of New York magazine:

2009-06-22T23:53:00.000-07:00

Forty years after Woodstock, today's urbanites are being urged to embrace practices of hippiedom: composting, buying eco-friendly products, chosing the right food, thinking about the earth and how to live sustainably...ahead of their time or about time?

click here for full story.

SIFFtv interview on the making of "BTTG"

2009-06-17T03:33:00.000-07:00

To see the original interview on SIFFtv and

other interviews from the festival...go here.

"Back to the Garden..." chosen as opening night film at the Maui Film Festival!

2009-06-17T02:44:00.000-07:00

click here for Maui film festival program link.

Home town boy makes good... story in Bainbridge Review

2009-06-17T02:42:00.000-07:00

Review article link.

What's 'fringe' today is mainstream tomorrow...

2009-06-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

Listen to this recent KUOW.fm (NPR) story on how eating locally grown organic food has become chic in trend-setting Seattle restuarants...
Organic cuisine radio show.

OnePine's youngest graduates Valedictorian.

2009-06-12T01:25:00.000-07:00

Proud Mom with her son, Bodie Cabiyo... the Valedictorian of the Tonasket High School Senior Class of 2009

Gold medalist in learning: Bodie shows the folks his Valedictorian Medal

Bodie with his parents: L to R, OnePine, Bodie and Michael Valardi

'Hippie kids' with their youngest brother: L to R, Yava, Yuvia, Bodie and Estrella.

"One thing I've always said is good nutrition makes beautiful children" (OnePine)

Who would argue with her...all four children are thriving and beautiful in so many ways.

A housefull of loving friends and family gathered last weekend in Tonasket to be with OnePine in celebration of her son's accomplishments. As the top student of his class, Bodie was emotional at home prior to the ceremony and standing on a ice chest said to the gathered crowd... " I just want to to say...Mom and Dad, thank you for helping me become the person I am..I love you."

OnePine's youngest is done with high school after earning numerous awards and scholarships along the way...Bodie was homecoming king, Valedictorian, won a Gates' scholarship along with several other generous scholarships...He's like a rocket ship, engines ignited and blasting off.

Congratulations OnePine, Michael and Bodie! We were honored to be with you for this event as a part of your extended family....good food, great music and lots of friends to help celebrate Bodie's bold step forward into manhood and knowledge.

May blessings be.

'World Premiere' at Seattle Int. Film Festival

2009-06-11T22:34:00.000-07:00

Proud home town group at film fest: L to R: kevin tomlinson, Jovanna, Skeeter, judy kaplan, Nicole and Michaelanne...
Packed Pacific Place Cinemas: both screenings were sold out with a full house of around 300 SIFF film fanatics per showing...

Post Screening Question and Answers with SIFF programing Manager, Beth Barrett.

Two Sold out shows at the Seattle Film Fest!

2009-06-03T23:08:00.000-07:00

Opening night of the world premiere of "Back to the Garden, flower power comes full circle" at the Pacific Place Cinemas.

from left to right, Judy Kaplan: producer, Kevin Tomlinson: Director, and Beth Barrett, Director of SIFF Programming.

Evening Magazine features "Back to the Garden..."

2009-05-29T02:01:00.000-07:00

Seattle's Evening Magazine did this story leading up to our World Premier at

the Seattle International Film Festival.

click this link: Evening goes Hippie

Opening Night at SIFF

2009-05-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

Seattle International Film Fest Opens!

2009-05-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

Back to the Garden is part of the lead/cover story in this weeks Seattle Weekly.

Wow..interest is starting to grow!

check it out here. Seattle Weekly's story.

"Garden.." Premiers at the Seattle International Film Festival!

2009-05-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) has announced the World Premier of our documentary,

"Back to the Garden, flower power comes full circle" to play Seattle on June 1st and 2nd at the Pacific Place Cinemas. (6th and Pine in downtown Seattle(.

SIFF showtimes:

June 1st.....(7:15pm)

June 2nd...(5:00pm)

*buy tickets early...both shows will sell out!

SIFF box office opens May 8th

This is huge folks! SIFF is the largest film festival in America...A great launching pad for a film

to find an audience and the attention of festival programmers worldwide. So we are thrilled to be a part of that.

Come out and join us...we want to see you all there to enjoy this long awaited premier and to support independent filmmaking!

Lopez Islanders love "Back to the Garden" and Jeffrey Stonehill

2009-04-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

backtothegardenfilm.com

Co-producers, Kevin Tomlinson and Judy Kaplan at the Lopez Center...

(click on photo to enlarge)
Jeffrey Stonehill and Kevin prior to the special Lopez benefit screening

(click on photo to enlarge)

An enthusiastic crowd of Lopez Islanders turned out Friday night (4-17-09) to see what we'd done with local resident Jeffrey Stonehill. Jeffrey is an Island legend, known to all who've ever crossed his path. "People are calling me the Star but I play a small role," said Jeffrey.

We made new friends, raised about $400. for the Lopez Island Community Arts Center and drew a warm crowd of about 150 islanders. It was a great evening and we packed the place with an all ages group who came to see Jeffrey and to satisfy their curiosity about the counter culture's fate in Washington State.

It's great to have so many people thanking us for making the film. I think Jeffrey was very happy too. Right now he's busy getting his one man plays on both Einstein and Darwin ready for the theater. Give em hell Jeffrey...

Many thanks to Lopez Community Center's director, Richard Sorenson and all the Lopez folks who came out to support independent filmmaking...Big hug and warm thanks to our dear friend, Sylvia Smith who gave us lots of promotion around the Island all week leading up to the screening. Big thanks to Vortex owner Jean for coming out and supporting our film and her wonderful food which gave us the energy to face a new crowd of enthusiastic film-goers that evening.

*click on newspaper article to enlarge to readable size

For more information about the documentary "Back to the Garden,

flower power comes full circle" or if you want to leave comments, go to www.backtothegardenfilm.com

If you're interested in our production company Heaven Scent Films, check us out at www.heavenscentfilms.com

Big Weekend screenings in the Okanogan.

2009-03-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

*click on news articles to enlarge....

Thanks to everyone who came out last weekend in both Tonasket and Twisp

to support "Back to the Garden, flower power comes full circle".

We had big friendly audiences in both screenings with lots of laughter and some tears. You made us feel like family! We love you and look forward to coming back again soon...

Special thanks to Don at KTRT 97.5 fm in the beautiful Methow valley, Joyce Campbell and Sue Misao at the Methow Valley News, Aaron Studen at the Twisp River Pub for all their help in getting folks to come see what turned out to be a very special screening. It was packed!!!

Thanks also go to Emily Hanson at the Okanogan Gazette and Sheila Corson of the Omak Chronicle for writing fab stories that helped spark local interest in of our 2o year film project.

In Tonasket, thanks to River Jones, Peter James, Julie Greenwood, Alice and all the great folks at the Tonasket Community Cultural Center and the Tonasket Co-op, where it all began!

2009-03-11T18:11:00.000-07:00

Special Screening in honor of the Okanogan and Methow Valley Communities announced for Tonasket and Twisp, Washington on March 13th and 14th.

A special cast and community screening is scheduled for this Friday, March 13th at the Tonasket Community Cultural Center. Doors open at 6:30 pm with an Introduction from Skeeter, the film starts at 7pm with the filmmakers in attendance.

There will be a Q & A session immediately following the film with producer/director, Kevin Tomlinson and co-producer, Judy Kaplan from Heaven Scent Films (Seattle).

On the following day, March 14th, "Back to the Garden, flower power comes full circle" will have it's Methow Valley coming out party at a special community screening at the hoppin' and very popular Twisp River Pub beginning at 8pm...Skeeter will have opening remarks followed by the screening and a Q & A session with Kevin and Judy to follow...

We are especially charged up for these two showings in the birthplace of the film itself.

Come join us for the celebration...

For more information on those local showing be sure to check out this weeks Methow Valley News article about the film.

http://www.methowvalleynews.com/story.php?id=1026

or the Omak Chronicle:

and the Okanogan Gazette

Hope to see you there.

"After 25 yrs.of living off-the-grid, I was getting messages that it’s time to reintegrate into mainstream society and give back a little bit."

2009-01-26T22:35:00.000-08:00

1988

2008

In his fifties, Jerry Bartels decided he wanted to fulfill a dream...go back and finish college.

When he completed his Masters degree, he left behind 25 years of living an off-grid, 'hippie' lifestyle and took on a School counseling job in the town of Moses Lake, Washington. Prior to this, Jerry's longest job anywhere had lasted just two years. He loved working with elementary school kids but after 6 years he felt anxious for a change...and a more unplanned life.

" I see the school system as a conveyer belt for people. They go to school and they come off on a belt prepared to have a job in society. I just don't quite fit, and never have quite fit in with that scenario..."

To find out about Jerry's latest life changing decision, look for the opening of "Back to the Garden, flower power comes full circle".

due to be released in the Spring of 2009.

"I'm still a hippie. I haven't changed. I keep changing but my core values of love, being against the war,making peace with the earth, are the same.

2009-01-24T19:44:00.000-08:00

The rock bottom foundations of what hippies were...remain with us still.

I was never personally beat up, but we always hear the tales of long hairs where red necks would cut off their hair with chainsaws, people were beat up, houses were torched. Those were rare...mostly it was just a murmuring campaign and a lot of evil eyes and bad stares back then."

Skeeter just turned 60 recently.

But to look at him, you'd swear he's 10 years younger...in fact young organic farm interns have a hard time keeping up with him. A tireless ball of energy and enthusiasm, Skeeter is the original founder of the Okanogan Family Barter Faire, the Healing Gatherings and most recently the Fairy and Human Relations Congress* (* which takes place annually in the Methow Valley).

He is a much sought after lecturer on permaculture and wildcrafting, runs an herbal biz called Friends of the Trees (see Michael Pilarski) www.friendsofthetrees.net and has lived most of his adult life on less than $2,000./year, no car, no permanant home. He's lived communally. His is one of the stories told in the soon to be released feature documentary about a group of back to the landers who settled in the Methow and Okanogan Valleys in the 70's and 80's, "Back to the Garden, flower power comes full circle."

Maeyowa battles Okanogan County P.U.D. in grass roots political struggle.

2008-11-17T23:13:00.000-08:00

Maeyowa is leading a 12 year, grass roots political struggle with the Okanogan County Public Utility District. The issue is where to place a new series of power lines in the pristine Methow Valley. At a recent Public Meeting in October, she was denied the opportunity to speak which prompted a scathing editorial in the Methow Valley News which condemned the PUD president for his arbitrary and probably illegal gag rule.

All of this and more will be part of her story in the upcoming documentary,
"Back to the Garden, flower power comes full circle".

Jeffrey Stonehill: Troubador, Poet, Musician, Bard, playwright...

2008-08-04T23:50:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey has returned home to the Northwest after a nine month personal journey to Central America. His life and transformation over the last 20 years is the subject of a Heaven Scent Films' feature documentary about the re-emergence of the woodstock generation.

Jeffrey is currently writing plays about Einstein and Darwin...stay tuned for performance dates... "Back to the Garden, flower power comes full circle" is scheduled to be released in the Spring of 2009.

To sample Jeffrey in action, check out the Back to the Garden film website at:

www.backtothegardenfilm.com

911 premiere a hit

2008-08-04T22:53:00.000-07:00

Our first public showing of the short demo for the feature length

documentary, "Back to the Garden, flower power comes full circle,"

received full support from the 911 board and guests at last nights

Fundraiser...Lots of good questions from the audience after the

screening on 911's new High Definition Projector and great food

and refreshments from the folks of Skillet and 911 staff...

thanks for a great evening and coming out party everyone!

Special thanks to Carole Fuller and Deirdre Doyle.

A lot of time was spent talking about memories and perceptions

of the Sixties' counterculture then and now as well as communes, hippies, organic food, health care, the back to the land movement,

spirituality and much more...

To view a short demo of the film please go to the film's website:

www.backtothegardenfilm.com

911 Media Arts is official Fiscal Sponsor

2008-07-31T16:56:00.000-07:00

Misha Neininger, Director of Seattle's 911 Media Arts "is thrilled "
to be sponsoring our feature length documentary film,
"Back to the Garden", produced and directed by Kevin Tomlinson
of Heaven Scent Films. www.heavenscentfilms.com

911 media arts is hosting a fund-raiser for itself on August 3rd from 4-7pm at its
Seattle Studio and will be showcasing a sneek peek trailer screening of
Back to the Garden.

We are equally thrilled to have an association with 911 who has
always championed and supported local filmmakers including
the Academy Award Nominated, "Iraq in Fragments" and Toronto
film fest selection, "Heart of the Game".

If you're in Seattle and can make it, please join us in supporting
911 as Seattle's enduring and ambitious friend to Northwest filmmakers.

You can also get a sneak peak of our 'hippie dippie doc demo' by going to
www.backtothegardenfilm.com

we welcome your comments!

thanks everyone.
kevin

Back to the Garden documentary

2008-07-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

After years of working on other people’s films, I’m taking a huge personal step—and I need your support more than ever to do it. I’m passionately at work editing my first feature-length documentary, “Back to the Garden“. This is not something I’ve embarked on lightly. The story has been literally more than 20 years in the making...and I’ve never felt so strongly about a project in my life.

It began in 1988 when I took a road trip that led me on a strange and wonderful journey.
By chance, I noticed a handmade poster advertising a Hippie Healing gathering in a remote valley in rural Washington State... I decided to go.

What I experienced there felt like time travel, finding myself among ‘magic buses’ and tepees in a meadow filled with flower children communing with nature. I shot hours of dancing, drumming, singing and celebration—and recorded extensive interviews with some of the most sincere, iconoclastic characters I have ever met.

At the time, I had no plan for the material. So I shelved it…and it sat in my basement…for 18 years! But I couldn’t let it go. Then finally it hit me. Where have all the ‘flowers’ gone?
Had their dreams of environmental sustainability survived, had anyone changed course and gone mainstream? How did their children feel about their own ‘Hippie Kid’ childhoods?

Nearly 20 years later I set out on another journey—to find out what had become of their youthful dreams of self-reliance.

What I found speaks so directly and profoundly to the most pressing problems facing America—and our world today. This personal time-lapse creates an emotionally moving story… not only because of those who rejected mainstream society—but also because of the enduring personal sacrifices and consequences of those choices…and because this is also our story as well… as the 60’s affected everyone.

Today, the world has whole-heartedly embraced these ‘radical’ yet simple ideas, ideas once considered “fringe’ or “out of touch” and now being adopted by a ‘green movement’ looking to protect the Earth for future generations.

With your faith and tax-deductible financial help I’m entering the film in the International Documentary Festival (IDFA) in Amsterdam where new documentaries are discovered by distributors and networks for general release. It’s the best way for indeed filmmakers like me to get a real shot at reaching a larger audience. To date our production team has raised $40,000. Our goal is $150,000. to be raised by October 30th, 2008.

I'd love to discuss your participation in making this project a success. I’m sure once you see a sample of this film, you’ll share my excitement about bringing Back to the Garden to a wider audience.

I’ll be in touch...and please, leave a message here if you'd like to know more...Thanks so much for considering helping me make this lifelong dream a reality—and bringing a great story to life.

Kevin Tomlinson
ktvc2001@aol.com

Heaven Scent Films

http://www.heavenscentfilms.com