Award-winning American filmmakers Daniel Klein and Mirra Fine have released their latest video, Beyond the Break, for their online food documentary series The Perennial Plate, a web documentary series dedicated to “socially responsible and adventurous eating”.

Beyond the Break profiles Irish professional surfer-turned-organic farmer Fergal Smith, who turned to organic farming when he decided that climate change was too big of a force for him to ignore.

Attempting to reduce his carbon footprint, the surfer-turned-farmer is now focused on creating a sustainable, organic lifestyle in Co Clare.

I always knew I’d come back and grow food, because I always loved doing it

In the video, below, Smith describes how as a pro surfer he was being paid to travel to various locations around the globe.

“Flight after flight, trip after trip, I was just like, something doesn’t feel right here any more,” he says.

“The original essence of a surfer is someone who is very in touch with nature,” he continues. “It doesn’t make sense to be someone who cares about nature and someone who just keeps getting on flights.

“My parents started their organic vegetable farm about 30 years ago,” he adds. “I always knew I’d come back and grow food because I always loved doing it.

“I didn’t want to do it just for myself though. I wanted to teach my friends who are also surfers and they’re travelling less now, so we kind of run this farm together.”

The rugged landscape, the dramatic weather and the real life stories make an incredible combination for beautiful films

Speaking about their experience filming on the Wild Atlantic Way, Daniel Klein commented: “Filming on the Wild Atlantic Way provided a constant source of inspiration. The rugged landscape, the dramatic weather and the real life stories make an incredible combination for beautiful films.

“Doing a story about pro-surfers who decided to reject the jet-set lifestyle of traveling the world in order to stay home in Ireland and build a farm and a community in Co Clare was a no-brainer for a great story.”

The Perennial Plate will create a total of 10 videos on Ireland, which will include local vignettes highlighting stories of local producers and a visual montage of Ireland. These videos will be shared with their followers on Vimeo (8.6m views to date), YouTube (2.5m views to date) and Facebook (10M+).

Read more

From professional surfing to growing spuds