Food justice

After reading Wendell Berry’s “The Pleasures of Eating”, I have a new view on the agriculture market and support for changes in the market. After reading the list made by Wendell Berry, I have to agree with all of them. They are logical and I personally feel as if the steps could make a difference, but only if a portion of the American population committed to them. Although I agree with the steps, I do not practice many of them. I do buy local food because I take pleasure in supporting local markets. Unfortunately, I do not grow, prepare, or have taken an active pursuit of knowledge in the agricultural department. However, I am willing to adopt several of these practices because I agree with them. From now on I will try my best to cook my own food and find out where the food comes from. I will buy some seeds, soil, a pot, and gardening tools so I can produce a small plant. Lastly, I will learn what is put into plants and meat, and I will also pay attention to relevant articles about agriculture itself. I am willing to help make the food industry a better, safer, and ethical industry by taking an active role in that matter.

               Something Wendell Berry could take for granted is the fact that a portion of the population who could want to participate have no means of participating. This is highlighted by the fact that several low-income areas have no access to fresh food, or there is access to supermarkets, but the distance to the supermarket is much longer than a fast food restaurant. There arguments are similar in that they are both a form of food justice. Wendell Berry focuses on how people could help agriculture become a more traditional market instead of acting like a business. Gottlieb and Joshi focus on how low-income areas do not have access to fresh foods and more access to fast food restaurants. Their arguments are different in the fact that their subject matter is completely different. They are both forms of food justice, but they are lacking similar arguments. One is about how to change a corrupt market while the other is detailing the facts about supermarkets and low income areas. 

Image that represents food in Asheville

     When I think of the topic of food in Asheville, I think of organic, natural, and homegrown instead of artificial, processed, and chock full of preservatives. An experience that shaped my perspective of food in Asheville was when a group of students that I belonged to visited the Green Opportunities Kitchen. Food from a local garden was prepared for us, while we learned about the kitchen itself. The food was decadent and it tasted so real compared to something that came out of a box. I believe that Asheville is full of natural foods that are from local sources.
     The reason why I chose this picture was because it looks like natural produce. The picture is full of greens and other vegetables that are comparable to the meals served in the Green Opportunities Kitchen. Also, any other restaurant in Asheville that isn't fast food looks like it is fresh and prepared that morning. The picture represents the freshness of Asheville that cannot be found anywhere else. Asheville's restaurant scene is an organic, fresh, and natural area that is incomparable to many other cities.

http://www.ashevillenc.com/area_info/local_food

Service Learning reflection

     So far, for service-learning opportunities, I have only attended the orientation for service learning. The service learning orientation provided information on what the service-learning model is, how it relates to service learning class, and what can be done to help communities around the area. I actually just sat in a room while I listened to an explanation of service-learning classes,
     This experience has helped me become cognizant of the benefits of a service-learning class. A class such as this can help adjust my perspective on current social issues and also issues plaguing the local community. Also, the service-learning aspect provides something else to the class instead of just having an orthodox academic approach. I now have the opportunity to learn from a social and academic perspective about certain subjects.
     Service learning has helped me in so many ways already. It has taught me that I can be a factor in changing the community for the better and also realizing that I can work with others to solve several social problems. It has also helped learn about myself wanting to help others in need and to want to work with others to solve whatever problems are at hand.
     I have learned several things about Asheville that I would have never learned without the presentation that I attended. Every city or community has something in need of improvement and I can help improve something in that community. Also, Asheville has many wonderful opportunities to help others.
    My service learning goals for the future are to be more active in my hours and actually do something by now. I hope to help improve the community and also learn very important life skills in the future. I am also deciding if I would like to attend another service learning class to graduate with honors.