Food, Inc.
Kenner, R. (Producer/Director). (2008). Food, Inc. [DVD]. Magnolia Home Entertainment
The film, Food, Inc., captures the politics, corruption, unsafe conditions, unsanitary conditions and downright inhumane practices that are taking place in the United States’ world of agricultural "business". Filmmaker/producer, Robert Kenner, takes us on a journey that allows us to see how little we know about the business of food, or how much the viewer is willing to ignore it. Apparently, there are about five large companies that are controlling the food in the United States. With the amount of people living in the United States, and the push for this hurried lifestyle we live, animals and plants are being manufactured into genetically engineered substances. Animals aren't eating the foods they are supposed to be eating anymore, in fact, they are all mostly eating the super crop known as corn. Severe changes like this are leading to the development and spreading of deadly bacterias, and what is most disturbing, is that the people who are supposed to be the "watch dogs" for the food industry are actually executives of these incredibly strong five companies that are engaging in these practices.
The film, Food, Inc., captures the politics, corruption, unsafe conditions, unsanitary conditions and downright inhumane practices that are taking place in the United States’ world of agricultural "business". Filmmaker/producer, Robert Kenner, takes us on a journey that allows us to see how little we know about the business of food, or how much the viewer is willing to ignore it. Apparently, there are about five large companies that are controlling the food in the United States. With the amount of people living in the United States, and the push for this hurried lifestyle we live, animals and plants are being manufactured into genetically engineered substances. Animals aren't eating the foods they are supposed to be eating anymore, in fact, they are all mostly eating the super crop known as corn. Severe changes like this are leading to the development and spreading of deadly bacterias, and what is most disturbing, is that the people who are supposed to be the "watch dogs" for the food industry are actually executives of these incredibly strong five companies that are engaging in these practices.
The Pleasures of Eating by Wendell Berry
Berry, W. (1990). The Pleasures of Eating. In WHAT ARE PEOPLE FOR? North Point Press. North Point Press
Wendell Berry discusses how a disconnect between the consumer and food exists today. Due to creative in-your- face advertising, people, especially "city" people, don't realize what is going on during the farming to our table transition takes place daily. Berry describes a pureness that can only be found by giving animals the freedom to move around and graze like they should be doing, like they used to do prior to this idea of food industrialization. Berry catches the reader's attention by painting the picture of cows standing in their own excriment and calf's living very short and unhappy lives. As a reader, I can't help thinking about the animals living this way, and about how these nasty, unsanitary conditions is affecting our food supply, which will in turn affect our bodies. Berry also brings up a good point about how people's apathy towards the food process of late. Just as everything else life, food has its own politics. He argues that if the consumer doesn't care or seek out information about the farming processes and the foods he or she eats, the consumer isn't taking part in a democratic society. In a sense, he saying the consumer isn't truly free.
Wendell Berry discusses how a disconnect between the consumer and food exists today. Due to creative in-your- face advertising, people, especially "city" people, don't realize what is going on during the farming to our table transition takes place daily. Berry describes a pureness that can only be found by giving animals the freedom to move around and graze like they should be doing, like they used to do prior to this idea of food industrialization. Berry catches the reader's attention by painting the picture of cows standing in their own excriment and calf's living very short and unhappy lives. As a reader, I can't help thinking about the animals living this way, and about how these nasty, unsanitary conditions is affecting our food supply, which will in turn affect our bodies. Berry also brings up a good point about how people's apathy towards the food process of late. Just as everything else life, food has its own politics. He argues that if the consumer doesn't care or seek out information about the farming processes and the foods he or she eats, the consumer isn't taking part in a democratic society. In a sense, he saying the consumer isn't truly free.
Organic.org
Greene, Alan, MD (Organic Trade Association), Scowcroft, Bob (Organic Farming Research Foundation), Tawse, Sylvia (Fresh Ideas Group). “Top 10 Reasons to Support Organic in the 21st Century.” Organic.org, (2010). Web. 30 Nov. 2010.
http://www.organic.org/articles/showarticle/article-206
Organic.org is a website chock full of information regarding organic food and the lifestyle that comes with it. Visitors will be able to find various articles on organic foods, along with product reviews, recipes, organic food locations, a just for kids section, etc. This website is a great starting point for people who are basically clueless when it comes to the term organic. It's very easy to navigate and find out why there is such a push to eat organic foods lately.
http://www.organic.org/articles/showarticle/article-206
Organic.org is a website chock full of information regarding organic food and the lifestyle that comes with it. Visitors will be able to find various articles on organic foods, along with product reviews, recipes, organic food locations, a just for kids section, etc. This website is a great starting point for people who are basically clueless when it comes to the term organic. It's very easy to navigate and find out why there is such a push to eat organic foods lately.
Local Harvest
real food, real farmers, real community
Payet, Guillermo. Local Harvest real food, real farmers, real community. (1999). Web. 30 Nov. 2010.
http://www.localharvest.org/
Local Harvest is a great way to find organic food grown from the local farmer in your community. All you have to do is simply enter your zip code or state, and Local Harvest will provide a list of farmers in your area that are either organically certified or followers of the natural farming philosophy. This is where I found 7th Heaven, a farm located in Tabernacle, NJ that follows the practices of natural farming. Local Harvest conveniently directed me right to 7th Heaven's website (http://www.njgrassfedfoods.com/) so I could purchase their products. Local Harvest also offers education on organic and natural farming philosophies along with blogs and forums as well.
http://www.localharvest.org/
Local Harvest is a great way to find organic food grown from the local farmer in your community. All you have to do is simply enter your zip code or state, and Local Harvest will provide a list of farmers in your area that are either organically certified or followers of the natural farming philosophy. This is where I found 7th Heaven, a farm located in Tabernacle, NJ that follows the practices of natural farming. Local Harvest conveniently directed me right to 7th Heaven's website (http://www.njgrassfedfoods.com/) so I could purchase their products. Local Harvest also offers education on organic and natural farming philosophies along with blogs and forums as well.
Growney, Carla c/o 7th Heaven Farm
"Growney, Carla. Interview with Sharon Edel. sedel34.weebly.com. 4 Dec. 2010"
Carla took me on a tour of 7th Heaven Farm so I could see first hand how the animals were treated, what farming practices were used, what the packaged products looked like, how much the products cost, what the animals ate, and a basic general glimpse of how an average day on a natural farm would look like. Carla shared with me her thoughts on the farming industry of today, and what she referred to as a movement that is taking place right now. Carla told me that it is important to remember that she is raising animals, not food. It was easy to see the affection Carla had for her animals, and the tender love and care she puts into her farm and everything that lives on it.
Carla took me on a tour of 7th Heaven Farm so I could see first hand how the animals were treated, what farming practices were used, what the packaged products looked like, how much the products cost, what the animals ate, and a basic general glimpse of how an average day on a natural farm would look like. Carla shared with me her thoughts on the farming industry of today, and what she referred to as a movement that is taking place right now. Carla told me that it is important to remember that she is raising animals, not food. It was easy to see the affection Carla had for her animals, and the tender love and care she puts into her farm and everything that lives on it.
PBS Be More
Public Broadcast Station. PBS Be More. (2010). Glossary. Web. 5 Dec. 2010.
http://www.pbs.org/strangedays/glossary/O.html
After googling "organic" for a definition, I was directed to PBS Be More's glossary page. PBS Be More was able to give me a clear and concise meaning to the word organic as it stands alone, not linked to words that usually follow the word organic, like food or farm. I chose this definition for our project, because it was easy to understand for those of us who are considered organic "novices", and it explained what being certified organic means.
http://www.pbs.org/strangedays/glossary/O.html
After googling "organic" for a definition, I was directed to PBS Be More's glossary page. PBS Be More was able to give me a clear and concise meaning to the word organic as it stands alone, not linked to words that usually follow the word organic, like food or farm. I chose this definition for our project, because it was easy to understand for those of us who are considered organic "novices", and it explained what being certified organic means.
Natural Farming Philosophy by Cho Han Kyu
Kyu, Cho Han. "Natural Farming Philosophy". Northern Sustainable Development Learning Center. NSDLC. (2010). Web. 5 Dec. 2010.
http://www.thainaturalfarming.com/index.php?lay=show&ac=article&Id=38076
Cho Han Kuy (the founder of Korean natural farming) explains the general philosophy behind natural farming. Not only does natural farming strive to protect the environment and to respect the laws of nature, natural farming is also about treating the animals that are being raised for processing humanely and crops that are being grown with respect as well. Not only does Cho Han Kyu claim that natural farming is sustainable, he also explains how natural farming can heal the scars of chemical and pesticide farming that has taken place in the past.
http://www.thainaturalfarming.com/index.php?lay=show&ac=article&Id=38076
Cho Han Kuy (the founder of Korean natural farming) explains the general philosophy behind natural farming. Not only does natural farming strive to protect the environment and to respect the laws of nature, natural farming is also about treating the animals that are being raised for processing humanely and crops that are being grown with respect as well. Not only does Cho Han Kyu claim that natural farming is sustainable, he also explains how natural farming can heal the scars of chemical and pesticide farming that has taken place in the past.
Dictionary.com
Dictionarary.com, LLC. Web. 30 Nov. 2010.
http://dictionary.reference.com/
Dictionary.com is a website that provides simple dictionary definitions to words found in the dictionary.
http://dictionary.reference.com/
Dictionary.com is a website that provides simple dictionary definitions to words found in the dictionary.
http://www.njgrassfedfoods.com/
This website provides information about 7th Heaven Farm and its products. Here, you will find a pricing list for their products and instructions on how you can purchase them. Each type of meat has its own pricing list and information on the animals were fed and treated.
This website provides information about 7th Heaven Farm and its products. Here, you will find a pricing list for their products and instructions on how you can purchase them. Each type of meat has its own pricing list and information on the animals were fed and treated.
