Out on the Land

A Documentary Film Series

Directed by Louise Abbott with aerial footage and production assistance by Niels Jensen

 After the novel coronavirus health crisis struck Quebec in 2020, I didn't want to simply wait it out at home. As a documentary filmmaker, I strive to bear witness to the world around me.  Serendipitously, I received a notice from the Stantead Historical Society archives, requesting members to "document events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic in the Stanstead area ... [and] educate future generatinos on how the population of our region weathered this exceptional ordeal."

 I took up the challenge but extended the geographical boundaries. I developed a project to investigate the pandemic's impact on Townshippers who toil out on the land to ensure our food supply. I filmed a series of family farmers  (beef, dairy, sheep, horse) and producers (maple syrup, organic vegetables, organic herbs), exploring the normality and abnormality of their lives during this unprecedented time. When I became aware that more and more Townshippers were raising food at home, I added a particularly committed and knowledgeable home gardener to the project.

 I was delighted that the Stanstead Historical Society chose to present the Out on the Land film series in an exhibition of the same name. I hope that viewers will gain insight into the lives, hearts, and minds of  Townships farmers and growers who are coping with more challenges than ever.

Louise Abbott

 As a sneak preview, you can watch The Ecological Gardener on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/500682270/254f8d69b2

When the pandemic forced cancellation of last summer's Ayer's Cliff Fair, the fair board hosted an innovative drive-in. It included the presentation of a documentary that Louise Abbott directed about this much-loved event. Now the board wants to share the film online. The Vimeo link is below. Louise, her crew members (Vito DeFilippo, Niels Jensen, and Tanya Rhodes), and translator Mélanie Grondin were all delighted to work on the project. We hope you enjoy the documentary!

https://vimeo.com/456791156

When Townships poet Elizabeth Paulette-Coughlin sent Louise Abbott a poem that she'd written in response to recent development activities on Owl's Head, a mountain overlooking Lake Memphremagog in southern Quebec, Louise asked if she might create a video poem with it. Here is the link for Why Should You Turn?

https://vimeo.com/546220734

Hatley Poet Angela Leuck and Louise Abbott of Rural Route Communications have collaborated on a new book--an anthology of work by contemporary women poets of the Eastern Townships of Quebec. The Townshippers' Research and Cultural Foundation as well as the municipality of Canton de Stanstead and the MRC de Memphrémagog  all contributed funding for this exciting project, which is the first of its kind. Louise created portraits of the poets for the book and also created video poems with several of the poets.  https://vimeo.com/showcase/7706238 

The anthology was published by Studio Georgeville in April 2021 and is available to buy at Studio Georgeville, 20 carré Copp, Georgeville, QC,  Brome Lake Books, 45 chemin Lakeside, Knowlton, QC, or Black Cat Books, 168E Queen St., Sherbrooke, QC. It retails for $25. Please check the relevant websites for business hours.

Bernice Sorge  (Photo: Louise Abbott)

 Crow is a video poem produced by Louise Abbott in collaboration with Bernice Sorge:

https://vimeo.com/443211288

Poet Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt   (Photo: Louise Abbott)

Baste the Raw Edges, Fasten the Yoke is a video poem produced by Louise Abbott in collaboration with Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt :

https://vimeo.com/438405347/a19335d4d9