BETHEL — Filmmaker Mark Ireland toured the state and created a documentary film, “Community Conservation: Finding the Balance Between Nature and Culture,” about four specific land trusts that answered community needs in totally different ways.

Mahoosuc Land Trust is sponsoring a showing of the film at 4:40 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at The Gem Theater, 23 Cross St., in conjunction with The Local Food Connection and Great Maine Outdoor Weekend.

Those interested in attending are encouraged to come at 3:30 p.m. with appetizers to share.

A panel discussion of land trust activities following the movie will include Bob O’Brien, Mahoosuc Land Trust president; Mark Ireland, movie creator; and Warren Whitney, Maine Coast Heritage Trust development director.

Shot throughout the four seasons, the documentary profiles four active land trusts in different regions of Maine: coastal, inland, western mountains and Downeast.

Each land trust shown in the film provides examples of community conservation:

• Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust works with gardeners, both local and from away (Africa);

• Downeast Lakes Land Trust works with schoolchildren, local craftspeople, hunters and fishermen;

• Androscoggin Land Trust partners with various organizations to ease access and offer programs for the growing immigrant community; and

• The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust runs an Eco Camp that uses tourist dollars to help fund the cost for struggling local families to attend.

The beauty of Maine is richly captured in this documentary. Hikers, kayakers, immigrant farmers, kids, fishing guides, balsam tree-tippers, canoe-builders combine to tell the stories of local communities finding balance in nature.

Donations at the door will defray costs of showing the film.

Mahoosuc Land Trust is an accredited community land trust encouraging public interest in conservation in central Oxford County and eastern Coos County, New Hampshire, supporting a balance of growth and conservation and emphasizing sustainable and traditional land uses.

FMI: 207-824-3806, www.mahoosuc.org.

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