Hand Held is a video resource based on CBC Radio's "Working Man" series. It was inspired by the friendships in our agricultural community.
The title of the series - Hand Held - evolved around 3 ideas. With the exception of some concert footage, the camera work was shot entirely with inexpensive 'hand held' cameras . Most of it was taken so that our farm workers could take something home to show their families a little about their lives up here. Some was taken by the workers themselves while on a lunch break or after work.
Hand Held reminds us that every single vegetable or fruit that we enjoy has been nurtured and 'hand held' by somebody who has worked hard to produce that perfect piece.
Most importantly, Hand Held also holds significance with the imagery of journeying alongside, hand in hand, a symbol of community and caring for each other.
In June 2010 CBC Radio One aired Working Man, a four part series on Metro Morning and Fresh Air. Interviews and songs from the 2010 Workers Welcome concert were featured as well as an urgent message that Ontario farms require the support of Canadian consumers if they are to survive.
Consumers, farm workers, farmers - we are interdependent. Somewhere there are real people with real families who are paying the price to subsidize our lavish dependence on cheap food sources.
If we as consumers choose to support the present system that undervalues the food that is produced we must realize that someone is being short changed - the farm worker, the farmer or future generations who will no longer have a dependable source of food.
