"The omnivore's Delusion" and "Real Food, Real Farming" response

      In regards to "The Omnivore's Delusion" by Blake Hurst, I understand his point. I notice that he thinks of organic farming as backwards and unrealistic when it comes to the world's population. I also noticed that he said that GMO's are helpful when it comes to creating a more plentiful yield of crops. I also notice that Blake Hurst does not provide some sort of counterargument in his article. He mainly just describes how organic food is unrealistic, but I personally believe that there is a way for organic methods to produce cheap and plentiful sources of food. I wonder why he decided to actually write this essay. The essay is very biased because he was raised in a farming family that uses modern methods of farming. I also wonder if his facts are completely correct, because the video of the debate said that some of his facts were incorrect. Regarding the full text, I think that Hurst's argument is informative and interesting. He obviously has some sort of personal bias in the matter. Although there is a large bias, his facts do speak for themselves.
     While reading the article, "Real Food, Real Farming" by Elliot Coleman, I noticed that it was mainly a critique of American Capitalism. The article writes about how the organic industry was originally shunned, and now American businesses have tried to make a profit out of organic food. I wonder how organic food will change based on this article. Will organic food become extremely expensive and industrialized? I believe the article wonders that as well. I personally think that the article is interesting because there is truth in it. I have personally seen the organic industry explode and also how businesses are trying to make a large profit off of organic food.
      The video of the debate was very interesting to say the least. I noticed that after reading the article by Blake Hurst, Mr. Pollan addressed the facts in the article. Mr. Pollan stated that some of Blake Hurst's facts were incorrect. I wonder what an actual debate would be like with both of them in it. I'm sure it would be extremely interesting. I think that both topics have research to be done. They are not concrete facts because studies are still being produced regarding the topics.

The Only Way to Eat a Cow

  

"The Only Way to Eat a Cow" by Bill McKibben is a very interesting writing piece. I noticed that there was a distinct brash tone in the author's writing. The author wrote about the benefits of becoming vegan and vegetarian, and various methods to prevent global warming via a carnivorous lifestyle. I also noticed the author's claim that becoming vegan is much better for the environment than eating factory farmed meat. I couldn't help but also notice the author himself was a vegetarian and an advocate for global warming prevention. I enjoyed the part about rotational pastures where cows would rotate from pasture to pasture so that the grass wouldn’t become too short in the field.
     This piece made me wonder several things. I wonder about the actual science of how a meatless lifestyle helps fight against global warming. I also wonder why Americans think of meat as an entree instead of a condiment or a side of an entree. I'm curious to see how much research supports the author's claim and I'm curious as to why the author chose to have a mainly meatless diet.
    I think that this entire piece gives me something to think about and also I feel like I learned something surprising today. I knew that eating less meat was environmentally friendly, but I did not know how much it would actually impact the environment. I do think that the writer is extremely brash and blaming if you don't take his side, but I do get his point. In fact, Mckibben makes some very excellent points and even offers a way to reduce global warming while providing a lifestyle with meat. I wish that McKibben offered more than one way to help the environment while eating meat. I would still like to eat meat but I do not want to harm the environment.

Service Learning reflection 2

     Hello All! Yesterday I went to the Lord's Acre farm with some of my peers to help harvest some vegetables. We started out peeling the skin off of garlic cloves and put the cloves in the buckets. We also harvested sweet potatoes, which were gigantic, and we put them in bins. I was very surprised about the knowledge required to run a farm. I learned that there were several thousand ways to grow and harvest plants. I also learned that it takes a lot of work just to run a farm. The knowledge of this helps me create an interest in farming and agricultural work. I also learned that I enjoy helping others whether it be manual labor or some other type of work. I thought the experience was enjoyable and I would like to do more farm work in the future. I also thought it was interesting that the food farmed from Lord's acre was donated to other organizations such as the Green Opportunities Kitchen. I also learned that the community comes and helps harvest for free, and that there are only two paid workers for Lord's Acre. My goals pertaining to the future of service learning is working more for the farm and also helping out in the gardens and such. I also want to find more opportunities for service learning because I enjoy service learning.

Downsizing Supersize and Why Shame Won't Stop Obesity

               In “Downsizing Supersize” by James Surowiecki, the author writes about the ideals of Michael Bloomberg. In particular, Michael Bloomberg proposes that the maximum amount of ounces that a soft drink can be is 16. The author emphasizes how Americans would be angry because freedom would be taken away. Another fact emphasized by the author is that a population purchases something if it is the standard size. For example, people will choose the middle option if there is a more expensive option with tons of features, a middle expense option with a medium amount of features, and a low price with low features. Another approach to help discourage the large consumption of sodas is to enact a tax on sodas. The tax would just be like the tax on alcohol or tobacco in which the consumer is deterred from buying less of it.

               In “Why Shame Won’t Stop Obesity” by Dhruv Khullar, the author writes about the irony of a hospital serving unhealthy foods. The author then relates the irony of the hospital to the reality of the availability of healthy foods. Healthy food is harder to come by location wise and financially. Also, over a billion dollars is spent on food advertisement every year to influence children. The author then also looks at Georgia’s effort to curb childhood obesity. Many children are suffering from obesity and Georgia created commercials to almost shame parents on letting their children become overweight or obese. Although this highlights parental negligence, it does not reflect true circumstances. Most parents probably want their children to have a healthier lifestyle, but do not have the funds to do so. Later the author reiterates the fact that almost 75% of America is either overweight or obese, and that if health problems continue, several billion dollars will be spent on operations related to nutritional diseases

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.