1. Compare the “natural system” on Joel Salatin’s Polyface Farm to the “industrial system” employed by much of the rest of corporate agriculture. Why does Pollan find one system more “efficient” than the other. Joel Salatin calls himself a grass farmer and nature follows. Joel believes that he supplies the grass and the animals do the rest. He farm does several rotational turns, first being gazed on my beef cows, then hundreds of hen, which lay thousands of eggs. Pollan questions why Salatin has chickens and he explains, “‘Because that’s how it work in nature’ (…) ‘Birds follow and clean up after herbivores’” (126). The animals help the grass as well, by spreading manure and getting rid of parasites. Joel shows how the grass helps the animals as the animals help the grass, making his natural system the best.
2. Chapter eight is titled “All Flesh Is Grass.” Discuss why he might have chosen that title. Explain what he means by it. Humans are grass because everything we eat comes from the grass. On page 127, Pollan states “we come here to eat the animals that ate the grass that we can’t eat ourselves.” Our pastoral culture led us to be hunters and gathers, and then began raising our animals on grain. E.O. Wilson states that we have an “inherited genetic attraction for the plants and
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These terms “appropriate environment” and “sufficient space” are very generalized and the label only “tells a little story about how a particular food was produced” (136). The organic food industry has grown to be a billion dollar industry in such a short amount of time. How organic food is grown is how it’s naturally grown and how it should always be grown, not in factories with corn and bad living conditions. Organic is show be how everything is grown and all animals should have greater amounts of space to live and grow up and fat on their own
In Emerson’s article, Nature, the passage shows great value of how man and nature can be similar. The article shows in many ways how man can represent nature, and how nature can represent everything. Emerson’s Nature can be related to Guy Montag’s journey into nature in Fahrenheit 451, and the author’s ways of showing similarity between man and vegetable can be presented as showing how nature is mixed in with literature and humans.
In the New York Times article “When a Crop Becomes a King”, author Michael Pollan argues there is an overproduction of corn that does more harm than it does good. He writes this in response to a farm bill signed by then President Bush to increase the budget for corn production which caused much controversy. Pollan uses an infuriated and frustrated tone in order to convince American consumers that corn has taken over their environment and economy. Michael Pollan uses rhetorical strategies to challenge conventional views of corn and to argue against additional corn production.
Even with these faults, this society appreciates the hard work of farming compared to the easy way of living today. One point of Berry’s argument is that he believes that the land is falling more and more into the hands of speculators and professional people from the cities, who, in spite of all the scientific agricultural miracles, still have more money than farmers. Big technology and large economies have caused more abandonment of land in the country than ever before. Many of the great farmers are clearly becoming different because they lack manpower and money to maintain properly. The number of part-time farmers and ex-farmers increases every year due to the problems with money and resources.
a basis of production, and the only way to operate large farms at the time,
After reading McKibben and Hurst’s articles in the book Food Matters, both authors present arguments on “industrial farming”, and although Hurst provides a realistic sense on farming, McKibben’s suggestions should be what we think about.
Most issues on a farm return to the issue of keeping up appearances. (Smiley p.199)
Why have we humans put ourselves at a higher level than the rest of species? If we stand next to a chimpanzee we will notice evident external differences between us, if we compare our behaviors we will see clear distinctions as well, and if we compare our DNA we will find out that we are more related than we would have thought. If our DNA shows such a close resemblance, then what is it that makes us marks ourselves as “humans” and them as “animals?” We call ourselves “humans beings,” implying hierarchy, and instead call chimps “animals,” defining a lower level. Why have we drawn that line? Is it necessary?
Firstly we need to define in detail what organic produce, natural produce, are and how they differ. In order for a product or produce to be classified organic it must abide by USDA requirements for organic food. To meet these requirements for the USDA, organic crops must be produced without conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, bioengineering, and ionizing radiation. (Organic Production and Organic Food Information) Organically raised farm animals must have access to the outdoors for grazing. If a food has a "USDA organic" label, it contains at least 95 percent organic ingredients, and a government-approved expert has inspected the farm where it was produced to make sure the farmer follows USDA requirements. (Organic Production and Organic Food Information)
Organic refers to the way agricultural products, food and fiber, are grown and processed. “It is an ecological system that at its core relies on a healthy rich soil to produce strong plants that resist pests and diseases. Organic farming prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemicals in favor of more “earth-friendly” practices that work in harmony with nature. In the case of livestock, antibiotics are prohibited, opting instead for preventative measures for keeping animals healthy and productive. Organic production also prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s).” (Ameriorganic) To find organic products one must only look for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seal. The seal certifies the product must be 95%
Steven Shapin is an expert when it comes to telling people the reality of the situation. In his, article “What Are You Buying When You Buy Organic?” Shapin exposes and explains the truth behind the word organic. He explains that our view on organic is not a reality. The small farms that we picture in our heads are really just big business in disguise and these big businesses are trying to do good by supposedly not using harmful pesticides. Which are supposed to not damage the environment but in reality they are probably not making any sort of difference. Some people care about the environment, while others are buying taste when it comes to organic food but using different pesticides are going to help the taste, only freshness tastes the best.
There is more than two-thirds of U.S. population who buy organic products at least occasionally, and twenty eight percent of consumers buy organic products weekly (Reganold et al., 2010). Organic produce is generally recognized as plant food produced without using growth hormones, antibiotics, or petroleum based, or sewage sludge based fertilizers (McWilliams, 2012). On the other hand conventionally grown produce uses synthetic fertilizers, hormones, and genetically modified Organism (GMO). Genetically Modified Organism referred to as plant or animal foods developed by genetic manipulation to alter nutrient levels or other characteristics such as increasing the antioxidant content in some vegetables or produce higher yield (McWilliams, 2012). The increasing popularity of consuming organic produce may be attributed to its perception of health related benefits, higher vitamins and nutrient levels, better quality, less pesticide residue, more environmental friendly, and concerns about the effects of conventional farming practices on the environment. (Uematsu, Mishra, 2012). The U.S. Department of Agriculture administeres the National Organic Prog...
Pollan has a few positions regarding the nature that the potato satisfies and its connection to politics, production, and his own personal life. His view regarding the desire that the potato satisfies is compared with the idea of the sublime. Pollan states that the sublime is “mostly a kind of vacation in both a literal and moral sense” (184) and that nature itself is a counter to that. Agriculture can be described as a method of control of nature (in this case, particularly with genetics). Thus the potato (and its representative, the NewLeaf) are introduced as the manifestation of our desire to control. Pollan states that his personal reasons for growing the potato are not so much because he wants something out of them as much as it is an experiment to decide whether or not the NewLeaf potato is actually worth growing. In industry, Pollan states, there is a “long, complex and…largely invisible food chain that links us to the land.” Genetic crops are an integral part of this chain according to Pollan, as a large amount of the fields that grow crops are genetically modified.
By this account, one may better understand the helpless feeling of the farmer. The pressures are there, both economic and social, to expand. When the farmer is conscience of this drifting away from a more direct contact with the soil, as Meyers' father was, the sadness may be greater, but even farmers who are not alert to what is happening will suffer. This is ...
What is the term of “Organic?” The term “organic” refers to the way farming foods are developed and prepared by farmers. Actually, organic foods are produced by farmers who use the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future organic foods. Thus, organic foods have become increasingly these days because it helps people’ health benefits and gives people higher quality of foods. Some people do not want to buy organic foods because they feel organic foods are too expensive or simply are not aware that organic foods exist. However, according to many research studies, organic food is defined as healthy food. First of all, organic produces contain fewer pesticide residues. Secondly, natural produces are fresher than
As we stroll the aisles of our local supermarkets we see all kinds of food products, but does it ever occur to you how fresh or natural these products maybe. Organic farming prohibits any use of artificial chemicals, growth hormones, or antibiotics in the production of its crops and livestock. Organic farming has existed for centuries, but after the industrial revolution factory farming was arising. Organic farming does not allow the use of any pesticides in its crops or livestock production, but also helps sustain a good economic flow in rural communities. Although there are many benefits of organic farming, there is a lack of credibility some farmers provide within the distribution of their products and some argue that there’s no difference