How does soil heal? The Muncher follows its name sake, a revolutionary microbial tool used to remediate degraded and toxic soils at scale. Exploring how farmers and communities attempts to restore land impacted by pesticides, fire, and contamination, utilizing this cutting edge biology that can support us returning to right relationship with the earth.
Join us for a post-screening talk with filmmaker Amy Smyth, microbiologist Mo Momen, and soil scientist Leighton Morrison.
Meet Your Facilitators
Amy Smyth; Film Maker
British filmmaker and photographer currently residing on a communal farm in Malibu, California. With over two decades of experience in photography, she transitioned into filmmaking to delve deeper into narratives that explore the interconnectedness of people, nature, and community.
Her work is characterized by an intimate, observational style that captures the nuances of everyday life and the resilience found within it. Working across a variety of media, she continues to tell stories that spotlight environmental leaders, inform people on the possibilities of regenerative living, and explore the healing power of storytelling.
Mohammed “Moe” Memon; Creator of “The Muncher”
Mo has been working and developing systems and processes to break down organic waste and turn it into useful products for over 25 years.. Born and raised in Southern California, my mother frequently took us on trips to the Central Valley where she was from and where my grandfather and other relatives still lived. Many of them were farmers. In 1987 my mother died of cancer that was largely attributed to exposure to chemicals in fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture. I wanted to create alternatives to these agents and enable farmers to move away from their use. Over a number of years I created the Muncher, a totally aerobic waste processing system that breaks down organic waste and transforms it into useful products that can promote soil health and improve plant growth.
Leighton Morrison - Soil Biologist and Engineer
I have been working as a consultant in the Regenerative ecological soil restoration space for over 20 years . I am a soil biologist and soil engineer with a deep understanding of Bio-Geo-Chemistry interactions and reactions. This is the gateway to rapid soil building and ecology revitalization. It is so rewarding when clients and strangers question me as to how I did it. The answer is always the same "I just followed natures guidance"