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On the Coffee Table

Sunday, March 11, 2007

1491 by Charles Mann

For most of us, the existence of native cultures in the America's prior to Columbus is mildly interesting, even quaint. For some of us who brood on environmental concerns, the hagiography of those times are an essential element in our world view of modern Western man as despoiler of the New World.

We producers all really need to read this book. Not only do we not know much about what was happening here in the pre-USA, most of what I knew anyway turns out to be wrong. F'rinstance:

This may be the Old World - when the Egyptians were still fumbling around with humps in the sand, Native Americans were building colossal structures and welding together huge empires of millions.
There are good reasons why the wheel and milk animals were not big hits over here in the beginning.
Indians were probably less shocked than Columbus at that first meeting.
You probably don't know as much about the history of corn as you think.
It is impossible to overestimate the effect of smallpox on the Western hemisphere. Without doubt, smallpox defined the farms in the Midwest.
Anybody who thinks Indians "left a light footprint" has never seen a prairie fire, or noticed now many nut trees there are in "pristine forests".
Indians were libertarian ecological exploiters, bless their little hearts.

Mann dryly but accurately lays out the considerable archaeological evidence accumulated since most of us sat through a history class - and boy, is it worth reading! This book will put you to sleep, but I'm not sure that's such a bad thing anymore.

Best of all, a more accurate picture of America's past really helps clear the mind for what the future could and should look like.

Great book - very important for professional farmers.

More reviews: here, here, and here.

Labels: culture, environment, history

¶ 3:08 PM 0 comments

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

I have always enjoyed Pollan's writing. My first experience was "Botany of Desire", which introduced me to the strange thought that corn domesticated us.

He plows much of the same ground in this exploration of plants and then onto animals in the food chain. Rather than belabor the topics of the book let me suggest reviews here, here and here.

What may be of more use is why I think this is an important book for farmers - especially young farmers - to read. The nascent food-fashion trends among well-heeled consumers may possibly drift into more general acceptance both as a statement of social-consciousness and as an outward sign of upwardly mobile aspirations.

Articles about food choices are all over popular media, and while affecting only a small portion of food consumers, could blossom into eating preferences in more than the affluent sector.

Pollan is among the most lucid and entertaining expositors of this trend. And while he falls for the old "agrarian economic paradox", he does explain with reasonable precision where our food comes from - thus theoretically addressing one of producers' oldest whines. (Why we ever thought this was a good idea, I'll never know.)

The truth - if we'd only step back and see it is our food system is often repugnant. From semen collection to beak trimming to anhydrous ammonia - let's face it, this is not a warm fuzzy business. Pollan, like most consumers, is surprised because we farmers sure as heck have been hiding behind that image.

Meanwhile the one thing we do accomplish goes virtually unmentioned in this and similar works: produce vast amount of the foods people want at prices they will pay. If people start to want other stuff, we'll produce that as well.

As more and more food critics decide we need to be eating local or organic or whatever, I can't wait to watch them scale up their production for more than the elite sliver who can afford such discrimination now. If we did all shop at farmers markets, where would we park, for one thing?

The market needs neither Pollan nor me to guide consumer choice. But any serious debate about changing America's food system better have some legitimate math and start with a number like 300,000,000 before I'll take it seriously.

Labels: food

¶ 9:42 PM 0 comments

On the Coffee Table Sunday, March 11, 2007 1491 by Charles Mann For most of us, the existence of native cultures in the America's prior to Columbus is mildly interesting, even quaint. For some of us who brood on environmental concerns, the hagiography of those times are an essential element in our world view of modern Western man as despoiler of the New World. We producers all really need to read this book. Not only do we not know much about what was happening here in the pre-USA, most of what I knew anyway turns out to be wrong. F'rinstance: This may be the Old World - when the Egyptians were still fumbling around with humps in the sand, Native Americans were building colossal structures and welding together huge empires of millions. There are good reasons why the wheel and milk animals were not big hits over here in the beginning. Indians were probably less shocked than Columbus at that first meeting. You probably don't know as much about the history of corn as you think. It is impossible to overestimate the effect of smallpox on the Western hemisphere. Without doubt, smallpox defined the farms in the Midwest. Anybody who thinks Indians "left a light footprint" has never seen a prairie fire, or noticed now many nut trees there are in "pristine forests". Indians were libertarian ecological exploiters, bless their little hearts. Mann dryly but accurately lays out the considerable archaeological evidence accumulated since most of us sat through a history class - and boy, is it worth reading! This book will put you to sleep, but I'm not sure that's such a bad thing anymore. Best of all, a more accurate picture of America's past really helps clear the mind for what the future could and should look like. Great book - very important for professional farmers. More reviews: here, here, and here. Labels: culture, environment, history ¶ 3:08 PM 0 comments Thursday, March 08, 2007 Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan I have always enjoyed Pollan's writing. My first experience was "Botany of Desire", which introduced me to the strange thought that corn domesticated us. He plows much of the same ground in this exploration of plants and then onto animals in the food chain. Rather than belabor the topics of the book let me suggest reviews here, here and here. What may be of more use is why I think this is an important book for farmers - especially young farmers - to read. The nascent food-fashion trends among well-heeled consumers may possibly drift into more general acceptance both as a statement of social-consciousness and as an outward sign of upwardly mobile aspirations. Articles about food choices are all over popular media, and while affecting only a small portion of food consumers, could blossom into eating preferences in more than the affluent sector. Pollan is among the most lucid and entertaining expositors of this trend. And while he falls for the old "agrarian economic paradox", he does explain with reasonable precision where our food comes from - thus theoretically addressing one of producers' oldest whines. (Why we ever thought this was a good idea, I'll never know.) The truth - if we'd only step back and see it is our food system is often repugnant. From semen collection to beak trimming to anhydrous ammonia - let's face it, this is not a warm fuzzy business. Pollan, like most consumers, is surprised because we farmers sure as heck have been hiding behind that image. Meanwhile the one thing we do accomplish goes virtually unmentioned in this and similar works: produce vast amount of the foods people want at prices they will pay. If people start to want other stuff, we'll produce that as well. As more and more food critics decide we need to be eating local or organic or whatever, I can't wait to watch them scale up their production for more than the elite sliver who can afford such discrimination now. If we did all shop at farmers markets, where would we park, for one thing? The market needs neither Pollan nor me to guide consumer choice. But any serious debate about changing America's food system better have some legitimate math and start with a number like 300,000,000 before I'll take it seriously. Labels: food ¶ 9:42 PM 0 comments About Me Name: John Phipps Location: Chrisman, Illinois, US Jan and I farm 1700 acres near Chrisman, IL. I have also written humor and commentary for Farm Journal and Top Producer for 13 years. Please visit my website (www.johnwphipps.com) to learn about my speaking services for your group's next meeting. View my complete profile ARCHIVES 06/01/2006 - 07/01/2006 / 07/01/2006 - 08/01/2006 / 08/01/2006 - 09/01/2006 / 02/01/2007 - 03/01/2007 / 03/01/2007 - 04/01/2007 / advertisement MORE FROM JOHN What's for Dinner
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