February 15, 2010

In this last reading of The Omnivore's Dilemma the main topic was grass. It was discussed how grass is the foundation of all farming, this is because it feeds animals which in turn feed us humans. It states that the grasses grown at Salatin's farm become this vast amount of food ranging from beef to rabbits to eggs. This fact is extremely interesting to me to think that grass, which seems like such a simple basic output, is essentially the basis of our existence. Without the careful production and maintaining of grass, many of the foods we enjoy would be unavailable.

Michael Pollan also touches on the fact that while out working on the farm he loses his focus to gaze upon the grasslands, a reaction that he observes to be an innate human characteristic. This fact struck home with me because being from the pacific northwest I have always been surrounded by lush green vegetation, but in travels and even here at Washington State I find myself often longing for the verdure I am so familiar with. It is nice to know that I can blame this desire on the human civilization, which has allowed us to see the beauty in something that might normally have been overlooked.