BRUNSWICK — The fourth week of First Parish UCC Church’s “Windows On … Food” series focused on two movies about farming in Maine. Conversation after both films centered around whether, and how, we as a society value our food producers.

Filmmaker Bill Kunitz joined First Parish on Friday, Feb. 20, to watch and discuss his film, “Goranson Farm: An Uncertain Harvest.” The film takes us on a year-long journey of farming with Jan Goranson, Rob Johanson and their family.

The year caught on film is fraught with poor weather and potato blight. It seemed at times that the goal was just to make it through. The very next year, Goranson Farm produced the biggest crops they had ever seen.

From questioning whether farming still makes sense to experiencing a “joyful bounty,” the film shows the hard work, cost and uncertainty of family farms. Goranson Farm is located in Dresden. The family raises chickens and pigs, and grows potatoes and 30 other crops. For more information, visit goransonfarm.me and goransonfarmfilm.org.

On Feb. 22, First Parish showed “Growing Local,” a film with three vignettes about food production in Maine. Rocky Ridge Dairy Farm, Farmer’s Gate Market, and Sheepscot General Store each lifted up their own challenges and joys of farming.

Rocky Ridge Dairy Farm highlighted the human cost of cheap food and the impact of public policy decisions. Farmer’s Gate Market considers itself a “farm partner,” not just part of the supply chain. Believing that everyone can prosper with small food systems, they are working on building infrastructure so people can grow and eat food here. Sheepscot General Store was founded on the belief that healthy food nurtures healthy community and a dream that includes valuing the place where one lives. Along with the store that sells locally grown foods and a farm, Sheepscot also offers a place for the community to come together over pizza and live music.

Throughout the film, Maine Farmland Trust shared information about local farming and its future. Over a third of Maine farms will change hands in the next few years, mostly because of the age of farmers. To protect a farming future, farmers must do things differently, consumers must step up to realize the impact of their decisions, and local agriculture infrastructure must change.

Sustainable agriculture is good for Maine’s health, economy and carbon footprint. For more information, visit mainefarmlandtrust.org and growinglocalfilms. org.

There are two weeks left in the First Parish Church UCC “Windows On … Food” series. On Sunday, March 1, at 11:15 a.m. join in for a presentation titled, “What’s Eating Maine? What Does Maine Eat?” Dr. Mark Lapping will give an overview of Maine’s food production and consumption economy, what foods Mainers tend to eat, and why there is so much food insecurity in Maine.

Lapping is the director of Maine Food Strategy and Distinguished Professor of Economics at USM’s Muskie School of Public Service.

Also on March 1, everyone is invited to join church families to prepare a meal of soup and bread. Food identification and preparation begins at 3:30 p.m. All are welcome to come for supper at 5 p.m. whether or not they help with its preparation.

The following Sunday, March 8, the church welcomes state Rep. Craig Hickman of Winthrop, who will speak about “Food Matters” as related to his life as legislator, organic farmer, business owner, community volunteer, chef, award winning poet and author. Hickman serves as the House chairman of the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

All events are held at 9 Cleaveland St.