Nov 8
Friends of Gardena Cinema Gardena, California
TicketsPaul Hudak
Co-founder of Growing Together Education
The Martian— Red Planet, Green Thumb: Growing Food Against the Odds
Program Description
Red Planet, Green Thumb: Growing Food Against the Odds pairs the Sloan-supported film The Martian with a hands-on exploration of how scientists grow food in environments where traditional farming methods seem impossible. In the film, astronaut Mark Watney must create a functioning garden with severely limited water, soil, space, and supplies. Paul Hudak and Namanpreet Bains of Growing Together Education will connect Watney’s experiment to innovative growing projects operating across Southern California.
Join us for a pre-show activity where you get to harvest lettuce and cilantro, plant your own lettuce and edible flowers in pots to take home!
Film Synopsis
When astronauts mistakenly leave Mark Watney behind on Mars, the stranded visitor must use his wits, spirit, and scientific know-how to find a way to survive on the hostile planet.
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit, and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring "the Martian" home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible, rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney's safe return. Based on the best-selling novel by Andy Weir, and helmed by master director Ridley Scott, The Martian was nominated for three Golden Globes.
About the Speaker
Paul Hudak began farming in 10th grade, picking berries on an Upstate New York truck farm. He spent 10 years managing organic farms in Oregon, farmed across Europe and taught ecological preservation to youth in China. With 15 years of school garden and farm experience, Paul co-manages Growing Together Education, helping schools nationwide create rigorous garden programs, develop curricula, train teachers and instruct students. His work has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Forbes and NPR.