BRADENTON – Tampa PBS affiliate WEDU will premiere a captivating half-hour documentary Sunday night, detailing the incredible story of the Anna Maria Island Green Village, a functional, eco-friendly showcase of how sustainable practices can be put to use in both residential and commercial communities to achieve net-zero energy use.

Lizzie and Mike Thrasher photo by Dennis Maley

The AMI Historic Green Village was brought to life by Mike and Lizzie Thrasher, who after selling their organic baby food company in Great Britain, moved to the island and bought four adjacent lots on Pine Avenue.

The couple undertook the ambitious goal of rehabbing and/or relocating hundred year old buildings and then retrofitting them with the newest innovations in green energy and conservation/sustainability designs.

The village houses a number of eco-conscious retailers including Relish Cafe, Relish Marketplace, AMI Outfitters, The General Store, Bob Brown Art, Hometown Desserts and Beach Bums Island Attitudes.

From the hundreds of solar panels collecting energy to the sophisticated water recollection systems, LED lighting and soy-based insulation, the village is a hopeful look at what a greener and more sustainable future can look like.

The documentary tells the story of the Thrasher's 9-year journey from a seemingly-impossible idea to its breathtaking fruition. It also includes several interview with local residents who played instrumental roles in helping to bring the vision to life. 

Historic Green Village: Generating the Future, Treasuring the Past debuts Sunday night at 9 p.m. and will replay several times in coming weeks. Click here to find WEDU on your cable provider or here to access its programming schedule.

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AMI's Green Village is a Model Worth Emulating