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1) The Farm as Natural Habitat, 2002. Jackson and Jackson, editors. Chapters 1 and 2 (handout).
2) The Botany of Desire: A plant's-eye view of the world, 2001. Michael Pollan. Introduction and Chapter 1 (handout).
Response due September 17: in one or two pages, double spaced, comment on the following: Both of these readings address the interactions of humans, nature and agriculture. How do the approaches used by the authors or conclusions they reach compare? At the end of your response please pose two (2) questions you would like to ask the farmers this week based on the readings.
1) NYT Article on Conservation Reserve Progam handed out in class on 9-17
2) In Defense of Food, 2008. Michael Pollan. Introduction and Chapter 1 - 5 (to page 50).
Response due September 24: in one or two pages, double spaced, comment on the following: Pollan argues that 'human's used to know how to eat' but that dietary information is now jumbled by the food industry, marketers, scientists, etc. Based on your reading to date, do you accept this arguement? Why or why not. (2) questions you would like to ask the farmers this week based on the readings.
1) In Defense of Food, 2008. Michael Pollan. Introduction and Chapter 6 - 10.
No written response due this week. We will discuss the reading with our discussion leaders Sara H. and Will W.
1) In Defense of Food, 2008. Michael Pollan. Section 2.
No written response due this week. We will discuss the reading with our discussion leaders Emmett B. and Cari F. We'll discuss the plans for our projects.
1) In Defense of Food, 2008. Michael Pollan. Section 3, pages 139 - 170.
2) Letourneau and Bothwell. Comparison of organic and conventioal farms: challenging ecologists to make biodiversity functional. (sent by email)
3) Bring a copy of your 'personal food pyramid'
Discussion leaders Shaina and Mike.
Response to reading from In Defense of Food- In one or two pages, double spaced, comment on the following:(note this was a question posed in an interview with M. Pollan by J. Marsh (not our J. Marsh!) in Greater Good Magazine): You are in the supermarket, paralyzed with indecision about what to eat. How can you decide between the organic eggs laid by cage-free hens and the eggs laid by free-range hens fed on Omega-3 fatty acids? Should you really buy that tomato, even though it’s well out of season? Is it worth paying an extra five dollars for the sustainably farmed, antibiotic-free chicken? How does one go about buying food?
Tour of Pierce Dining Hall!
1) Great Possessions, 2001. David Kline. Introduction, Sections 1 & 2.
1) Great Possessions, 2001. David Kline. Finish the book!
Response: In one or two pages, double spaced, comment on the following: Kline writes movingly about what we lose as we lose the natural places around us. Do you agree with his view? What is it specifically that we have lost in your view?
1) Handout on the Farm Bill.
2) Click here to see the full Farm Bill, recently passed. Scroll to the end. Impressive.
Response: In one or two pages, double spaced, comment on the following: According to one article in your reading packet, there is a common perception in america that we have no national land-use policy (i.e., government directives on what will happen on private land). After reading these articles do you agree with this view? Why or why not. In your response think about the balance between private (individual) gain versus public loss.
1) Essay by Howard Sacks
2) see this article on farm subsidies in Ohio (will open as a web page)