In 2004, the tsunami that hit Sri Lanka killed eight members of this small fishing family. And yet today, they still fish (either on stilts or in a boat) because they have to do it to survive. The family lives in a small, makeshift hut with a back “window” that opens onto the ocean — the same sea that gives life also takes it away.

In Sri Lanka, the coconut is a source of life. Not only is it the main ingredient in most Sri Lankan dishes, but the entire coconut tree — from the roots to the coconut itself to the tips of the leaves — plays a major role in non-culinary ways of life. Without the coconut, things in Sri Lanka would be very different. We spent the day with a family of eight on their coconut plantation outside of Negombo, where they showed us all the humble coconut has to offer.

There’s been enough written about genetically modified organisms and Monsanto that it’s easy to lose touch with how they actually impact people’s lives. On a recent trip to India, Perennial Plate got a wake-up call from environmental activist Vandana Shiva. Here’s our conversation with Shiva on a seed-saving revolution, farmer suicides, and how female farmers are the future of India’s agriculture.

In May 2011, we set out across the country to tell the stories of real food in America with our series, The Perennial Plate. Since then, we’ve recorded seven terabytes of footage, traveled 23,000 miles across 42 states, and made 50 short films (one a week for a year). This video comprises some of our favorite moments from the road.

Asian Carp are quickly becoming the invasive species to beat. They’re taking over rivers and lakes across the country and threatening native species by competing for the plankton that forms the base of the aquatic food chain. We went out with a fisherman on the Peoria River and took some footage of his latest catch.

Co-operative work is central to many movements in Latin America. Nelson Escobar brought those ideas from his home in El Salvador to Louisville, Ky., where he coordinates a large urban farm that brings together a diverse community to grow, eat, and sell good food.

Jean-Marie herds goats within the Louisville city limits. He sells them to the growing immigrant and refugee populations. Goat isn’t yet popular with all Southerners, but it reminds Jean-Marie of his home in Burundi.

Backyard chickens are everywhere. But in many North American cities, keeping a flock of hens is still illegal. We met up with some unlikely outlaws while traveling through Tennessee who are breaking the law by producing fresh farm eggs in their backyards.

What’s the best way to get rid of invasive critters? Eat them, of course!

Over the course of 30 years, the island of Boca Grande in Florida went from having zero iguanas to over 10,000. This invasive species was making it impossible for native plants and animals to survive, so the island’s residents finally decided to do something about it, and called in George Cera. In this video we go on a trip around the island with Cera that culminates in an impromptu iguana tasting.

We made this short film in Immokalee, Fla., where nearly all the nation’s winter tomatoes are grown. We spent a day with Lupe Gonzalo, a tomato picker and organizer for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), who opened up her tiny home and cooked us a meal. The Coalition is fighting to change the way our country’s tomato laborers are treated, as well as raise their wages by implementing a one-penny-per-pound increase for tomatoes harvested. Many companies (Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, SUBWAY, etc.) are working with CIW, but some companies are still holding out (Publix and Chipotle, to name a few).