Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Exploration 9: Michelle Heacock

The most important theme in this film is the idea of more organic farming and less industrialization. This way is not only healthier for the land and animals, but healthier for people too. It is healthy for the animals because it does not involve any type of chemicals or pesticides, which will lessen to chance of diseases such as mad cow disease, e coli, salmonella, etc. As Michael Pollan stated in the film, "cattle shouldn't be eating grain; they've evolved to eat grass." He discusses how it's not as much raising the animals as it is raising the grass, because if you take care of the grass, then the grass takes care of the animals and keeps them healthy. But this organic farming is also healthy for people. The film showed the difference between eggs that were raised by industrialized chickens, and eggs that were raised more naturally. They are both egg-shaped, and may look similar, but the eggs raised more naturally contain a much higher protein content, and are healthier for your body. Yes, organic foods do cost more, but they are worth that extra money if it means being healthy.

In the beginning of the film it was stated that "American's fear only one thing; inconvenience." I agree with this idea completely. All we care about it getting our food, and making sure it looks good and tastes good. We don't care about where it comes from, who made it, or if the people who made it are making any money on it. We just want and want and want. But Diana Endicott exclaims that "we should have a choice in where our food comes from." We shouldn't only have the choice of processed food at our supermarkets, because that may be the reason we have never cared before. It's been the only thing available to us, so why bother to worry about where it came from. I believe that Diana's idea for the Good Nature Family Farms was an amazing thing. By taking all the food from local farms allows for healthy choices for the people, and it creates money for the farmers. It's a win-win situation.

Like I said before, I don't believe many people in our economy ever stop to think about the food choices they are making. But I also know that there are not many healthy, organic choices for us to make in many of our local supermarkets, which makes it a little bit harder to even think about that. If every store would start to take more food from local farms, and at least have a section in the store for that food, though it may be a little more expensive, a lot of people would buy the products just because they are local and probably came from people they know. A lot of people feel more comfortable getting food from family and friends, so why not make it available in stores for everyone?


  1. I have to admit, I am guilty of the convenience thing. But I always find that food that isn't convenient is much more fun to make and to eat. It's hard to stop and think about, but when I do I much more prefer fresh fruits and veggies to a burger made in a minute.

  2. We're totally a culture that fears inconvenience. Think about how frustrated we get when we can't do something on time, or how we act if a water main breaks and we have to boil water for something. Of course most just go and buy bottles of water, but that's another topic for a different discussion! If we can't have something now, this very minute, then we become angry and annoyed and all melodramatic. *hand to forehead*

  3. I liked the idea of Good Nature Family Farms too. I wish there were more places like that around here because it's a place I think I'd like to shop at