'Saving Walden's World' comes to Plymouth for a community screening at Pease Public Library

PLYMOUTH — Pease Public Library will host a special community screening of "Saving Walden's World" on Monday, Oct. 26, at 5 p.m. in Plymouth.

The screening comes on the heels of the film's official acceptance for national distribution on PBS via NETA, a milestone for this Maine-based independent documentary that has screened at 23 international film festivals and won 14 awards.

The film follows Jim Merkel, a former military engineer turned sustainability activist, as he raises his son, Walden, on an off-grid homestead in Maine and travels to Kerala (India), Cuba, and Slovenia to document women-led solutions that have successfully bypassed the growth trap of the West. By prioritizing literacy, healthcare, and reproductive freedom, these societies have built stability and equity without sacrificing quality of life.

Merkel's connection to New Hampshire runs deep. He served as Dartmouth College's Sustainability Coordinator and sat on the board of D-Acres, a permaculture farm and educational center in Dorchester now called Streeter Mountain Farm. This is not an outside voice arriving with a message. This is a conversation coming home.

"New Hampshire is where some of my most important work took root," said Merkel. "Plymouth is a community that already understands the connection between local land stewardship, education, and a sustainable future. I am looking forward to this conversation."

The Plymouth screening is organized with the support of Central NH Indivisible and the Plymouth Area Sanctuary Community. It is part of the "100 Rooms. 1 Story." campaign. "Saving Walden's World's" new screening tour brings the film to local communities across North America.

A Q&A session with Merkel will follow the screening. This event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to reserve their spot via Humanitix at events.humanitix.com/saving-waldens-world-plymouth-nh.

For more information, visit peasepubliclibrary.org.