In chapters eight and nine, Michael Pollan begins to explore the "organic" food industry. He focuses on a few specific farms and learns how they work. He begins on the Polyface Farm of Joel Salatin in Virginia. This farm, which raises chicken and beef along with other meat and vegetables is very focused on remaining "organic." Salatin calls himself a "grass farmer," explaining that the production on his farm is all based on grass. All of the animals are grass fed and all of Salatin's meat is produced from the grasses he has grown. The grass, in turn, is fertilized by the animal's manuer in a system that keeps the farm sustainable and organic. However, Salatin does now think of his farm as "organic." He believes that it is "beyond organic," and should be distinguished from industrialized "organic" farms. In chapter nine Pollan travels to Cascadian Farm, owned by Gene Kahn and later to Earthbound Farm, owned by Drew and Myra Goodman. After observing Earthbounds "organic farm," he sees big differences betweeen it and Salatin's farm. A large portion of Earthbound Farm is devoted to rasing different varieties of lettuce to make organic "spring mix." In contrast to Salatin's farm the Goodmans grow their lettuce on tabletops and use lasers and machines to regulate cutting. Pollan explains that farms like the Goodmans are what are now considered organic and that we shoiuld rethink our ideas about organic food.
Discussion Questions
1) How should we define the term "organic"? What should we expect from "organic" foods?
2) What should be considered a "free-range" animal? Are free-range animals today given enough freedom to merit that title?
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