Book Review: A Review of Rachel’s Farm - L. Michaelis-Thorpe (Writer), & R. Ward (Director, Writer). (2023). Rachel’s Farm [Film]. Wildbear Entertainment

Many childhood holidays were spent exploring the Victorian countryside, where I became privy to both the virtues and impacts of farming. We often frequented the farming community in Cohuna, in Yorta Yorta Country, where my mother grew up. As a teenager, I took up whitewater kayaking; hence, many hours were spent traversing through Gippsland farmlands in Kurnai Country whilst undertaking whitewater adventures. These visits to and through farmland highlighted the immense dedication and hard work it takes to farm and the fragility of the landscape. Impacts of agricultural pollution were witnessed on these river trips, ranging from stream erosion to chemical containers floating downstream. One memorable occurrence was a bloated cow carcass that exploded all over me as the nose of my kayak pierced it as I entered an eddy, obviously rendering the water undrinkable downstream. Carrying this backstory with me, I came to watch Rachel's Farm. I found this a timely, thought-provoking, and inspiring documentary with pedagogical content that outdoor and environmental educators will find useful.