A film premiere about Five Acre Farm in south Nanaimo raised more than $37,000 for the Nanaimo Foodshare Society. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

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Nanaimo documentary digs deep into Five Acre Farm

Jul 17, 2019 | 1:00 AM

NANAIMO — A thriving farm in south Nanaimo has received the Hollywood treatment.

The documentary Five Acres premiered on Tuesday, July 16 at the Port Theatre. It focused on Five Acre Farm on Park Ave., which is one of the last urban farms in Nanaimo.

Film co-director and editor Laurie MacMillan told NanaimoNewsNOW the farm is at the centre of a movement much larger than what’s contained within its fences.

“I think people will be very impressed and surprised with everything that’s going on with that little farming space in Harewood.”

The farm is primarily a resource for the Nanaimo Foodshare Society, but many programs for Nanaimo residents of all ages use the farm for learning and food production.

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The film Five Acres is predominantly focused on current activities, but MacMillan said it was an enthralling experience to dive deep into the history of the small farm.

“I feel like I have a much deeper understanding of the origins of this community and the history of the working people here,” she said.

The film premiere Tuesday night raised more than $37,000 for the Nanaimo Foodshare Society.

Efforts are currently ongoing to raise enough funds to buy the farming space, in an effort to hold off any future development on the land.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit