HM7b

Chapter 6:

In comparison, the early nineteenth century society that revolved around alcoholic corn beverages. Corn whiskey in the 1820s had brought an obesity epidemic in the Alcoholic Republic similar to that of America's Republic of Fat. Corn whiskey was used to consume the corn surplus much like that of high fructose corn syrup currently used now.

Gems:

"Much as today, the astounding productivity of American farmers proved to be their own worst enemy, as well as a threat to public health...Sooner or later, clever marketers will figure out a way to induce the human omnivore to consume the surfeit of cheap calories" (Pollan pg 101).

-"Add fat or sugar to anything and it's going to taste better on the tongue of an animal that natural selection has wired to seek out energy-dense foods." (Pollan)

Thoughts:

The comparison between 18th century and modern day society scares me. Will we never learn that taking shortcuts doesn't benefit anyone in the long run? Will we continue making these mistakes until there is a more obvious impact? When will enough be enough? David Wallerstein, the main contributor in putting those extra large buckets of popcorn in the cinema and that extra large drink, seems to have shaped a lasting mentality that the bigger the better. Again, why do we never see when enough is enough?

Chapter 7:

The idea of fast food is appealing. Quick, effortless and cheap. But the execution is far from ideal. The realisation of the fast food industry is a vast contradiction. In theory its a cheap, easy, convenient treat for kids and adults alike, but unfortunately what we see are meals plumped with corn and synthetic ingredients including sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate and many more components we can't pronounce.

Gems:

"When I asked Isaac if the new nuggets tasted more like chicken than the old ones, he seemed baffled by the question. 'No, they taste like what they are, which is nuggets...duh.'" (Pollan,pg 112).

"The marketers have a term for what a salad or a veggie burger does for a fast food chain: "denying the denier."" (Pollan pg 110)

Thoughts:

We live in a culture where convience is key, we want everything and we want it now. Convenience is key, we don't want to be seen as greedy but yet we do anything we can to get as much as we can as quickly and cheaply? It seems we will stop at nothing to use the surplus of corn to our advantage- or so it seems.

Chapter 8:

A lush pasture of pastoral beauty is sparsely found in America, even in organic farms. Nowadays, the term "organic" is very loosely defined, and thus farms can use the label of supposedly being 'organic' without making the necessary changes.

Gems:

"Because a healthy soil digests the dead to nourish the living, Salatin calls it the earth's stomach." (Pollan)

"That's all the Indians ever wanted - to keep their tepees, to give their kids herbs instead of patent medicines and leeches....the Western mind can't bear an opt-out option. We're going to have to refight the Battle of the Little Bighorn to preserve the right to opt out, or your grandchildren and mine will have no choice but to eat amalgamated, irradiated, genetically prostituted, barcoded, adulterated fecal spam from the centralized processing conglomerate" (Pollan pg 132).

Thoughts:

I think Joel Salatin, a farmer that tries to go beyond organic is a crucial part in this story. He chooses to live by his rules and does not accept anyone elses. In a way I think he is referring back to our hunter gatherer roots in that he sources his food himself, and is not persuaded to get certain foods by anyone else. Even though at time he can be a little over dramatic (i.e food is "fecal spam") I think we could all learn something from him. But to the contrary, because farmers like him refuse to use long distance shipping it means that food like his will be unattainable to the masses.

Chapter 9:

Originally, organic produce was introduced as a more cleansed produce when the decline of industrialised farming peaked. The supposedly 'organic lifestyle' unfortunately has undeniable parallels to the industrial food chain. Cruelty toward livestock is apparent in both industries, for the supposed need of the consumer.

Gems:

"The organic food industry finds itself in a most unexpected, uncomfortable, and, yes, unsustainable position: floating on a sinking sea of petroleum" (Pollan pg 184)

The organic movement, as it was once called, has come a remarkably long way in the last thirty years, to the point where it now looks considerably less like a movement than a big business" (Pollan pg 138).

Thoughts:

A question that keeps appearing for me is the concept of when will we be satisfied? When we will get what is healthy for our bodies and our minds, but at the same time benefits our bank balance? Is it possible? Will it ever happen? With the constant movement of science will will move backwards or forwards? Will our world knowledge help or hinder us? And who can answer these questions!!??

Chapter 10:

Joel Salatin, is a grass farmer. He uses his farm to do a variety of things from making hay to growing vegetables without using toxic substances. Going back to basics is key to extract as much as we can from our diet. The way to get the most nutrition from our food is to grow and pick it ourselves, without any interference of pesticides of chemicals.

Gems:

"How many other Christian conservatives were reading Mother Earth News. He lived out his beliefs" (Pollan pg 207)

"Dad rode his bicycle thirty-five miles back and fourth to work everyday because he refused to buy another drop of imported oil" (Pollan 207)

"Joel opened the gate between the two paddocks removed his straw hat and gestured it towards the salad bar." (Pollan 194)

Thoughts:

If I could live like this honestly, I'm not sure whether I would, which is worrying. The culture of easiness and convenience in this world has shaped by worldview in that that idea of growing my own food, albeit satisfying sounds like a lot of hard work.