Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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Tuesday, August 4. 2009

"The Omnivore's Delusion"

A family farmer in Missouri defends "industrial agriculture" against critiques by non-farmers like Michael Pollan. One quote:



...farmers have reasons for their actions, and society should listen to them as we embark upon this reappraisal of our agricultural system. I use chemicals and diesel fuel to accomplish the tasks my grandfather used to do with sweat, and I use a computer instead of a lined notebook and a pencil, but I'm still farming the same land he did 80 years ago, and the fund of knowledge that our family has accumulated about our small part of Missouri is valuable. And everything I know and I have learned tells me this: we have to farm "industrially" to feed the world, and by using those "industrial" tools sensibly, we can accomplish that task and leave my grandchildren a prosperous and productive farm, while protecting the land, water, and air around us.  



Much of the criticisms of modern agriculture are, in my view, sentimental rather than realistic. Furthermore, as far as we can tell, "organic" foods have no advantage whatsoever. Food is food, and we are blessed to have enough of it to get fat.


Related, at Reason: A food elitist strikes back

Posted by The News Junkie in Gardens, Plants, etc. at 13:41 | Comments (21) | Trackbacks (0)

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the guy in the illo may be a great farmer, but he sho do look like the Grim Reaper. jeez, fella, couldja smile a bit?
#1 buddy larsen on 2009-08-04 14:32 (Reply)
farmers never smile much
#1.1 Bird Dog on 2009-08-04 14:44 (Reply)
all the worries of a riverboat gambler, but without the glitter --yup --a deep world not given to frivolity.
#1.1.1 buddy larsen on 2009-08-04 16:06 (Reply)
Organic may well not be better for you but much of it certainly tastes better. I'm thinking particularly of meat such as chicken, beef and lamb (free-range and slow reared respectively). I rear a few lambs each year and used to raise the odd calf and they tasted a heck of a lot better than anything you can buy in the butcher or the supermarket (in the UK).
#2 Clovis Sangrail on 2009-08-04 17:02 (Reply)
That is the truth. Agri-biz meat is probably more sustainable and better for the environment in the long run due to the efficiency of it, and it's the only way to feed the masses, but free range grass fed cattle sure as hell tastes a lot better, and I suspect it's healthier for you, being lean and not jacked up full of pharmaceuticals. It falls into the category of 'nice if you can get it,' like a lot of other little luxuries that are not strictly necessary but beneficial and pleasant. It's a pipe dream to think we could all eat that way; it ignores the fact that pre-factory farming, most people ate food that was unhealthy as all get-out, totally not optimally grown and prepared.
#2.1 Jim on 2009-08-04 21:29 (Reply)
I've been staring at this picture for a few minutes now . I not completely sure that the person in question is a man.
I wouldn't be surprised if we removed the straw hat and shoulder length hair came down.
He/she looks like they could work from sun up till sun down. Hard to say what age.
Pretty nifty lawnmower.
#3 jappy on 2009-08-04 17:34 (Reply)
Jappy,

He's "Scythe Man" .. dated pre-dawn of history by the Leakey Foundation. He turned to stone during the Ice Age of 3B - BC. They dressed him up for the archeologists annual Halloween party and liked it so much, they stuck him near a wheat field in Kansas, the Land of Ahhhs.

I know some stuff.
`
#3.1 Meta on 2009-08-04 19:33 (Reply)
have you ever seen the seal of the Leaky Foundation?
#3.1.1 buddy larsen on 2009-08-04 20:23 (Reply)
Maybe. Isn't he the one that they have at Disney World that jumps out of the pool and dances and claps and bows to the audience? He's very neat.
`
#3.1.1.1 Meta on 2009-08-04 21:17 (Reply)
"He turned to stone during the Ice Age of 3B - BC."

Was that cup size? Or do I need a new prescription for reading glasses?
#3.1.1.1.1 Luther on 2009-08-04 22:12 (Reply)
Luther, the Maggie's Farm Boob Perv. I know why you come here now. You just make philosophical comments to disguise your inner pervert.

Pre-dawn womens used forked sticks to hold their breastesses up. Anyone knows that. Nothing worse than having to hold your breasts while you run away from saber tooth cats. You can't do that and fling your baby to the cat: Hence, the sticks saved the babies.
`
#3.1.1.1.1.1 Meta on 2009-08-04 22:48 (Reply)
" You just make philosophical comments to disguise your inner pervert."

Hell, isn't that what philosophy is all about anyway... to get all the cool chicks that have actual boobs. Instead of those ones who philosophize about having them.

Good thing on those anti-saber tooth sticks. Plus, later, you could use them for starting a fire. All good.
#3.1.1.1.1.1.1 Luther on 2009-08-05 00:01 (Reply)
Luther. Is that stuff about philosophizing about having boobs Hegelian? Kant? Kierkegaard? I'm asking because all womens have boobs even if they're just sweet little nibblettes. Like corn. When a female philosophizes about boobs, is she wanting to look like a corn-fed Aztec queen or the milk-fed runyons of Shakespeare's witches?

Anyways, I respect you. You are the arbiter of cool.

If I wanted some corn-fed have-boobs-will-travel, I'd go buy me some. But I won't because big tatas cause displacement of genital energies, and I want to be wanted for my mind.

hahahaha..... sorry... I know it's sick to laugh at your own stuff..... My mother told me that all the damn time.
`
#3.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Meta on 2009-08-05 10:46 (Reply)
See, you've managed to pull the comment thread back on topic. Sweet little nibblet corn, corn fed, milk fed, which all lead back to farming. And a farmer out standing in his field which is what that guy up there is doing while he philosophizes about women philosophizing about their boobs, whether they be corn or milk fed. A harvest is a harvest. And yes, it is your mind that you are wanted for... and maybe those sharp stiletto heels.
#3.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Luther on 2009-08-05 11:15 (Reply)
Oh my.

Luther. Would you let me tie you up?
`
#3.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Meta on 2009-08-05 11:24 (Reply)
Silk or leather?
#3.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Luther on 2009-08-05 11:31 (Reply)
Leather, of course, you silly. You'd gnaw through the silk.
`
#3.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Meta on 2009-08-05 11:36 (Reply)
Ah... at least my hands are in front of me. So does that mean I would have to work on your lawn-mower?
#3.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Luther on 2009-08-05 11:40 (Reply)
I don't think we're in Kansas any more Metatoto.

I know some stuff too, but not as much as you. You big Fredo Corleone, "I'm smart, I can do things" : )
#3.1.2 jappy on 2009-08-04 21:38 (Reply)
Metatoto? hahahahaha..... darn it. I love that. I want to change my name to it, but the mechanics of the blog won't let me. That is the most perfect name because my latest heels are red and glittery, and if I click them together, I end up in Peoria.

Nice place. I guess. :)
`
#3.1.2.1 Meta on 2009-08-04 22:55 (Reply)
As a farmer, I think your comment is spot on newsjunkie.
#4 feeblemind on 2009-08-05 10:06 (Reply)

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