Another hard cover book for book club - this year's "One Book" for UC Davis. Since it is the UC Davis Alumni book club, they feel obligated to read the "One book" each year. If only the UC Davis folks would pick something cheaper. Yes, I know, I really need to start getting these books from the library.
I really enjoyed the beginning of the book; learning about the evil of corn. Cheap corn has become the cornerstone of the
From there it progressed to how the definition of organic was decided and how that definition now allows for organic farms that deplete the soil almost as much as the big business farms. From there it moves to a sustainable farm. Unfortunately, there are no solutions, just more questions. The sustainable farm was enlightening, but even Pollan states it isn't feasible to feed the entire country this way. Who would want to go from being a corn farmer, working only a portion of the year with the aid of tractors, and convert to one where you work day and night - moving chickens and cows while planting a variety of crops to rotate?
The book was great when it was discussing factory farming, the rise of big business "organic", the ideal of a sustainable farm, but falls when it reaches the hunting and gathering section. Pollan seems to have a lost his message when he learns to hunt and works on identifying edible mushrooms - there were still interesting facts, but it was hard to get through the psycho-babble.
It has changed my eating habits, I am trying to do a better job buying organic - thinking about what I am eating and where it came from.
I've already passed the book on to a friend, and I think several friends are sick of me talking about the evil of corn.
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