Sometimes it feels like the universe is trying to tell you something. Deciding that my next course of food study should be raw and then reading this bSometimes it feels like the universe is trying to tell you something. Deciding that my next course of food study should be raw and then reading this book was one of those moments. I'm still a skeptic and have yet to start said curriculum (or to find any scientific research for or against the new trend of the raw diet). But Allen makes some good points about the bad feelings overeating induces and uses his trademark CBT techniques to change our psychological associations and "brainwashing" with regard to food. Particularly to change our desire for processed food. Immediately after reading I was very excited at the prospect and new mindset, and hey - I didn't want sugar or processed food all day! But I think I will need to read it a few more times for it to really make a difference (the shine has worn off quickly after just one afternoon). Plus, it's hard to adopt immediately unless you have said fresh food on hand....more
By organic farming it means small-scale, in tune with nature, pastural, local farming - not the commercial scale organAn Organic Farming for Dummies!
By organic farming it means small-scale, in tune with nature, pastural, local farming - not the commercial scale organic - despite being based and focused on the USDA certification rules. Just goes to show how rules are always open to interpretation.
This book gives a great overview of everything to think of when setting up and running a small-scale organic farm - from choosing land to soil health to going to market. I found the soil section quite helpful, probably because I don’t know a lot about that, but some sections/chapters were just a top level view, such as the planting/crop sections. But it does provide a lot of resources to find more detail and information too, so a great 101 book. ...more
An interesting pulp format - a profile a day of an organization or action you can take for the common good. Some interesting organizations and ideas, An interesting pulp format - a profile a day of an organization or action you can take for the common good. Some interesting organizations and ideas, but just a light touch on what to do to be an "activist." More some ideas for further research - still a nice overview of a lot of different options. But many of them were also quite extensive in terms of actions. Not quite a step by step "everyday" but rather an idea for each day of the year to follow up on - at your own request. ...more
An up to date account of our food industry (in the West, particularly North America and the US) and options. Pollan takes a relatively objective journAn up to date account of our food industry (in the West, particularly North America and the US) and options. Pollan takes a relatively objective journalistic journey to uncover our food choices (summarized as big industry food, big industry organic, beyomd organic and self sufficient hunter gatherer styles) and their implications for society, the environment and ourselves. Hard hitting because he approaches each scenario objectively and still shows (or finds) how unsustainable and just plain harmful big industry is, and also how big organic is only marginally better. Essentially, the choices are limits and tough, and the investigation shows that local pastoral "beyond organic" is best - getting back to our food roots and understanding that food is a local and cultural system that allows our species, and us as individuals, to survive. Food is not a commodity. This point was what I took especially to heart - that we truly have lost our way with regards to our relationship with food. A relationship that should be tied to place, people, community, history, culture, sustenance and gratitude. Not just to the lowest cost. One of my favourite lines in the book questions the value we would find in the supermarket aisles if food meant more than just calories per dollar. A fabulous exposé and thought provoked for anyone and everyone who wants to answer the question of "what to have for dinner?"...more
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