Here to Save Our Eco System

I have learned so much about the food I eat from Michael Pollan’s book “Omnivore’s Dilemma.” Last few weeks have been an eye opener for me, making me understand what I should be eating and where food comes from, what is healthy, what is organic and what is good not just for our bodies but also for our eco-system. The last part of the book discusses hunting but the part I liked the most and promised to discuss in the last blog is the story of small private farmers. So do you wish to eat healthy? Do you wish to help the eco system? Do you wish to know the origins of your food? Than follow along in my journey through Pollan’s book about small self-sustained farming.

Pollan after his journey through industrial farming and industrial organic farming decided to visit a private small farmer, Joel Salatin, who is known for sustainable farming. Salatin is a hardcore believer in the non-industrial methods of farming and when Pollan asks him to ship some meat, he refuses saying if Pollan wants to experience sustainable farming, he will have to visit the farm, as the food produced at his farm is not meant to be traveled long distance, it is not industrial. This starts Pollan’s journey of discovering smaller farmers.

What we learn from his experience at Salatin’s farm is that these small local farms are highly self-sustained, and by self-sustained I mean they produce everything they need, unlike “industrial organic.” Salatin’s farm has all kinds of animals, from chickens to cows to pigs and rabbits. They all work in an eco-system where they help each other out. Grass is their main form of sustenance. The cows eat grass – not corn - creating manure, which is then worked upon by the chicken to remove insects, helping new grass grow. All kinds of animal waste are used to fertilize the lands, and no chemicals are used at all. This leads to healthier meadows where not only are the animals very happy but so is nature. The land is more fertile because it is not overcrowded or over used for its resources through the use of chemicals and high amounts of plants in a small area.

The cost of this might look high and the system might seems inefficient, especially considering that Salatin has a whole big section of his farm covered in forest area that can be used to grow crops. But that is only if we think in industrial terms that have been hurting our eco system terribly. In reality, the forest and the sustainable farming system, creates the benefits of little to no pollution, fertile land, and clean water resources. The benefits therefore outweigh the cost. However our system looks at these farms as inefficient and costly because we do not put a dollar amount on pollution but we do put a dollar amount on our food.

 

If we think sustainably and long term, we realize that farms like Salatin’s are highly important for our future and eco-system. They preserve nature instead of destroying it and maintain a balanced system which is overlooked in industrial farming - which is all about specializing in a single item and producing as much of it as possible. We have to realize that our costs of industrial farming are very high due to the pollution we create and the harm we bring to nature.  Just because this cost is not visible in the short term, does not mean it will not harm us. Today, we are realizing that climate change is an issue and that didn’t happen overnight, it took years and today we are realizing the results of our actions. However, we still continue to follow the old industrial methods that need to be changed if we ever hope to see a healthy climate again. Sow what we need to do is support these small local farmers, buy their produce and move away from industrially produced food and hope that we will create a positive change for ourselves and our environment.