Artist Tags

American Hemp Farmer + PBS = Fun!

@doug-fine
American Hemp Farmer + PBS = Fun!
 
Doug Fine’s American Hemp Farmer
Raises Awareness
for Creating a Healthy Planet
In Entertaining and Educational Film
 
Award Winning Documentary Film on PBS
With Broadcasts on PBS Stations Across the U.S.
Bringing Audience Reach to Nearly 75 Million
 
American Hemp Farmer Watch Party Challenge
Rallies Regenerative-Living Community
To Have Fun and Learn About Sustainability Around the World
   

Enjoy some clips from American Hemp Famer .

American Hemp Farmer  

brings Fine’s message

of regenerative living

and food security

to the screen at a time when climate-driven disasters

are becoming increasingly familiar

to American audiences.


(Fine) maintains that

regenerative living

isn’t only necessary,

it can be joyful,

accessible,

and surprisingly effective.”


Forbes

AHFstillEarthDayHempMitigatesClimate image

In this clip from American Hemp Farmer, join Doug Fine in a hemp field that is actively mitigating extreme climate events. Hemp plants sequester enough carbon to clear the smoke and reduce the ambient temperature. Here the field is literally in the midst of a wildfire but the temperature is nearly 20 degrees cooler among the hemp. The film asks, “how many acres of hemp and other regenerative crops would it take to have a worldwide impact?” Spoiler alert: hundreds of millions.

AHFClipTMIAlertHempUnderwear image

Doug sowing hemp seeds in his head-to-toe …and then some (TMI – purple underwear) hemp made clothing.


In addition to weaving hemp fibers into cloth, the hemp plant can be refined into many materials including paper, auto parts, rope, biodegradable plastic, and biofuel. Its seeds are also edible and considered superfoods (foods offering high levels of desirable nutrients, linked to health and wellness), as well as an excellent source of protein, contain all nine essential amino acids, and are high in omega-3 and omega-6 (essential fatty acids).

“… (Fine) touches on

the contentment and happiness that gardening

and farmingcan bring. 

American Hemp Farmer  

manages to educate on the technical aspects of hemp and hemp production,

and at times in

a light-hearted almost comedic fashion.

He even talks about the simple importance

in having fun.”


Cannabis Radio’s

Hempresent

with Vivian McPeak

Praise from Doug Fine’s book,

American Hemp Farmer,

which inspired the documentary film.

“Doug has written

the best book of the year and a blueprint for the future of America.”


Willie Nelson

“Fine is a writer

in the mold of 

Douglas Adams.”


Washington Post

AHFClipDougDavidLeeRothJump image

Doug Fine having fun

in the midst of planting hemp.


Fine feels that being outside in a farm or garden is the most fun you can have outside the bedroom.


In his American Hemp Farmer book , he notes: “humanity is in the bottom of the ninth with two outs but you’ve got to have fun along the way.” 

AHFSocPromoClipVtGroupJustPlantingHempAM image

In the film, Doug Fine travels throughout the United States, visiting hemp farms and lending a hand.


Hemp was widely grown as a crop until it was deemed federally illegal in 1937. In just the past 12 years, industrial hemp was again legalized through the 2014 and 2018 Farm Acts, which passed in Congress with bi-partisan support.

“( American Hemp Farmer ) documentary is brisk,

engaging, and a reflection

of Fine himself.


…an overwhelming sense of hope, faith, and determination.”


New York’s Suffolk County

TBR News Media


  “It’s not only the best doc

I’ve seen this year,

it’s the most fun, optimistic film. And it’s incredibly timely

with its extreme climate

mitigation theme.

No place is unaffected by

wildfires and floods,

and AMERICAN HEMP FARMER offers solutions in a fun package. This is must-watch,

positive film for our times.

It’s for families, for everyone.”


American Hemp Farmer

co-Executive Producer

Andrew DeAngelo

AHFSocCLipVtGroupFallIntoSnowAM image

On a Winter day in Vermont, Fine enjoys the snowpack by sharing several hemp products with local hemp farmers.


A regenerative lifestyle not only includes farming while keeping the land and soil naturally healthy, but also having awareness and making mindful choices. Collectively, small efforts can lead to big change. Start a garden, or work in community gardens. Shop locally and sustainably.

AHFMtVernonClipHempProhibACrime image

Fine discusses American hemp legalization

with Deborah Colburn, Interpretive Program Supervisor

at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate.


President Washington was knowledgeable and passionate about the benefits of growing hemp and made it a a perennial crop at his estate.


The patriotic nod to hemp was also well-documented in the US Department of Agriculture’s World Word II era pro-hemp film Hemp for Victory , which proclaimed that “American hemp must meet the needs of our Army and Navy, as well as of our industries” and “at the government’s request, patriotic farmers planted 36,000 acres of hemp—an increase of several thousand percent.

“I am very glad to hear that the Gardener has saved so much of the St. foin seed, and that of the India Hemp. Make the most you can

of both, by sowing them

again in drills …

Let the ground be well prepared, and the Seed

be sown in April.

The Hemp may be sown any where.”

President George Washington to William Pearce,

24 February 1794

“We’re getting these positive

and often emotional responses

at festival Q and As, And now

we finally have an answer

to the question folks keep asking: ‘where can we see 

American Hemp Farmer ?’

We’re grateful for this

nationwide public television lift-off for the optimistic messaging

in the film. It’s a really wild,

fun watch – Doug’s family

is on the run from wildfires

and for the farmers they meet, failure is not an option.”


American Hemp Farmer

co-Executive Producer

Barry Gordon

AHFPromoClipRecoveryHappensSMStill image

Once an East Coast suburbanite, Fine has a successful homestead with his family (and goats) on their Funky Butte Ranch in New Mexico.

 

Through his own experiences, he knows that anyone can live a regenerative lifestyle. He says, “I had to start at the beginning. Now I want to share these lessons with the world.”


In the film and at speaking engagements, Fine makes a well-researched and compelling case for hemp as a solution to the serious problem of climate change.


He notes, “we all wonder what we can do as busy Digital Age individuals to help combat extreme climate events. One key answer: plant a hemp garden! If I can do it, anyone can.”

AHF_play image

Official Trailer – American Hemp Farmer

“A fantastic piece

of Americana

that shows the way

to a sustainable future.”


David Bronner,

CEO, Dr. Bronner’s

Magic Soaps

AHFonPBS image
PBS_rgb image

American Hemp Farmer

available to stream

for free on PBS.org

pbs.org/show/american-hemp-farmer

DougDirector image

About American Hemp Farmer

 

Doug Fine’s new documentary  American Hemp Farmer —recently harvested for distribution by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) to public media stations including PBS—you’ll hear Fine use two terms. One is “regenerative living , ” which describes a mode of living, working, eating, and traveling that puts a least as much back into Earth’s resources as it extracts. The other, “food security,” means thriving, even in times of uncertainty, regardless of whether society experiences supply chain disruptions.

 

In his film, Fine shows how regenerative farming of hemp and using hemp products in the regenerative lifestyle can help the Earth. In one segment, he prints a petroleum free plastic goat made from hemp, showing how versatile the plant is. In another, he stands in the midst of a massive wildfire area, and demonstrates that hemp helps clean soil and air, creating a cooler environment.

 

“This is one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen,” said the film’s co-Executive Producer Andrew DeAngelo. “Because even though it’s isuper timely with its regenerative living and wildfire mitigation themes, it’s an incredibly fun watch. A must-see positive film for our times. No one who sees it will forget it.”

 

After years of filming in remote hemp fields and then riding the festival circuit,  American Hemp Farmer  has earned accolades and awards. These include Best New Mexico Documentary at the Santa Fe Film Festival (the doc’s world premiere) and Audience Choice at last October’s Silver City Film Festival. Also, the film was an official selection at the 2025 Las Cruces International Film Festival.

l

The doc is currently distributed by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) and syndicated to all 350 U.S. public media outlets, including PBS networks. American Hemp Farmer is available to stream on the PBS app and at  PBS.org (pbs.org/show/american-hemp-farmer) , plus on-demand at DougFine.com .

 

Since the film’s debut on PBS in March, broadcasts have aired throughout the U.S. with audience growth reaching nearly 75 million to date. Along with streaming and on-demand availability, American Hemp Farmer has been added to programming at local public media stations including KVCR in Los Angeles, KPJK in San Francisco, KBDI in Denver, Connecticut Public Television , Montana Public Television , KSMQ in Minnesota, KRWG and KENW in New Mexico , KVIE in Sacramento, WOSU in Columbus, Ohio , KTNW in Richmond, WA, WDCP in Flint, MI, WBRA  in Roanoke, VA, Vermont Public Television, and stations in Wisconsin:  WPNE  (Green Bay), WHAD  (Madison) and WHLA (La Crosse).


“None of us would be here today,” Fine says, “if not for the regenerative lifestyle, which helps sustain the Earth.” He hopes that we can reactivate that “instinctive regenerative awareness” and work together to ensure a habitable planet for future generations. “Humanity is in the 9th inning of the climate crisis with two outs. I want to show everyone how to take significant steps toward solving the problem while having fun along the way. And regenerative living is the most fun you can have outside the bedroom.”

DF_AHFWatchPartyChallenge image

As American Hemp Farmer reaches a wider and wider audience, Fine and his film’s production team have announced a “Watch Party Challenge,” a fun way to show support for the film and regenerative living. Fine explains, “we want you to have a good time while watching our film. Watch it friends, or at 2 a.m. with your cats and dogs (and goats). Take a photo or brief video of the party and send it to us. The Watch Party post that makes us laugh hardest will win a prize.

 

For more information on how to submit your photos and videos, go to Instagram.com/AmericanHempFarmerFilm .

DougGoatKidSweaterAuthorPhoto22 image

About Doug Fine


A Southwest-based author whose books Willie Nelson describes as, “a blueprint for the America of the future,” Doug Fine is the author of six books including  American Hemp Farmer  (2020, Chelsea Green Publishing) and the  Boston Globe  Bestseller,  Farewell, My Subaru (Penguin/Random House 2009) . His wild goat-wrangling stories and optimistic persona have led to media appearances (Conan,  The Tonight Show , BBC, CNN) as well as a TED Talk (TEDxABQ) and testimony before the United Nations on the right-to-farm.


In his speaking events, including appearances at SXSW, Town Hall Seattle, National Geographic Heroes of the Planet Series, and dozens of universities, Fine further spreads the word about the joys and pitfalls of sustainable living.


He has cultivated superfoods (including hemp since its 2018 legalization) for more than a decade and taught his methods of cultivation and seed building at Vermont’s Sterling College and online at  DougFine.com . His hemp seeds have been used to clean contaminated soil in a New Mexico University study. Fine’s life and work has been covered in  Smithsonian , and he has reported from five continents for  NPR , Th e Christian Science Monitor, the New York Times Magazine  and other platforms. The  Washington Post  says, “Fine is a storyteller in the mold of Douglas Adams.”


Fine, who is convinced that “being outside in a farm or garden is the most fun you can have outside the bedroom,” homeschools his children alongside his wife. With his labor-of-love  American Hemp Farmer  continuing to reach larger audiences, Fine is already jamming on developing his next projects, including his hosting a regenerative living travel show.


As  American Hemp Farmer  prepares for its public television premiere, Doug Fine is available for interviews and further speaking engagements in 2026. A website of Fine’s print and radio journalism, United Nations testimony, television appearances and TED Talk is at  dougfine.com . Follow him on Instagram at @organiccowboy.

 

About NETA


The National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) is a professional association representing more than 300 member stations in nearly every state, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit netaonline.org.

DougHugsTallPlantsFBR22d image
DougTallFBRPlantsAugs21A-1-scaled image

Doug Fine in his hemp fields on his Funky Butte Ranch in New Mexico.

Categories

Tags

Publisher