Andrea Gutierrez
Professor Seelie
English 104
15 November 2015 Deep Economy Chapter 2 Reflection In “Year of Eating Locally,” chapter two of Deep Economy by Bill McKibben , focused on the food system and localism. McKibben does an experiment of him just eating locally for a year to give him some insight as to what a local economy might be like. McKibben states, “Because if the larger society is running up against the realization that More is not necessarily Better, then one of the alternatives is to think on a different scale.” (47) I agree with McKibben on seeking different ways to help our society realize that Better is greater than More. The food system is a huge contribute to our economy and is about “50% of the world’s assets” which …show more content…
For example, in December because he is only eating locally in Vermont he doesn’t get to buy oats since they are not being grown there. As he states, “And their absence helps illustrate what’s happening to American culture, and what would be required to change it a little bit” (51) I completely agree with him because we depend so much on begin able to ship food from one place to another we aren’t thinking about how we could just grow the food that we get shipped, locally. Farming should be something that we see that is essential but because our modern society has found ways to grow food without needing the basics of farming, our views have changed. Also because of these new efficiencies we had to cut off a lot of inefficiencies. Farmers were the victims in this situation. The farmers who survived the change live miserable lives. They are no longer in control of their own farms. Companies lure …show more content…
At one point Cuba stopped imports and started to grow the food they were receiving from other countries. McKibben states, “Cuba learned to stop exporting sugar and instead started raising its own food again, growing it on small private farms and in thousands of pocket-sized urban market gardens—and, since the country lacked chemicals and fertilizers, much of that food became de facto organic.” (73) We don’t necessarily need to become Cuba, unless the worst peak oil scenarios are correct, but we can essentially go in that direction. When moving in this direction, there are policies and many things we can do as a country and community to encourage this movement. Starting with schools and communities, as well as institutions can begin to buy their food locally. Not only will this benefit our economy but our health too. The new local economy will help us with the problems we have with obesity as well as diabetes. This is why I believe we should have the Federal government shift some fraction of its subsidies away form the industrial farmers and shift it towards local farmers. McKibben states, “Local food economies seem to pick up momentum almost automatically as, instead of being competitors, other farmers become allies who help spread the word.” (83) If the local food economy will benefit us more than what we have now, I suggest we follow in the steps of becoming a local
Professor Seelie
English 104
15 November 2015 Deep Economy Chapter 2 Reflection In “Year of Eating Locally,” chapter two of Deep Economy by Bill McKibben , focused on the food system and localism. McKibben does an experiment of him just eating locally for a year to give him some insight as to what a local economy might be like. McKibben states, “Because if the larger society is running up against the realization that More is not necessarily Better, then one of the alternatives is to think on a different scale.” (47) I agree with McKibben on seeking different ways to help our society realize that Better is greater than More. The food system is a huge contribute to our economy and is about “50% of the world’s assets” which …show more content…
For example, in December because he is only eating locally in Vermont he doesn’t get to buy oats since they are not being grown there. As he states, “And their absence helps illustrate what’s happening to American culture, and what would be required to change it a little bit” (51) I completely agree with him because we depend so much on begin able to ship food from one place to another we aren’t thinking about how we could just grow the food that we get shipped, locally. Farming should be something that we see that is essential but because our modern society has found ways to grow food without needing the basics of farming, our views have changed. Also because of these new efficiencies we had to cut off a lot of inefficiencies. Farmers were the victims in this situation. The farmers who survived the change live miserable lives. They are no longer in control of their own farms. Companies lure …show more content…
At one point Cuba stopped imports and started to grow the food they were receiving from other countries. McKibben states, “Cuba learned to stop exporting sugar and instead started raising its own food again, growing it on small private farms and in thousands of pocket-sized urban market gardens—and, since the country lacked chemicals and fertilizers, much of that food became de facto organic.” (73) We don’t necessarily need to become Cuba, unless the worst peak oil scenarios are correct, but we can essentially go in that direction. When moving in this direction, there are policies and many things we can do as a country and community to encourage this movement. Starting with schools and communities, as well as institutions can begin to buy their food locally. Not only will this benefit our economy but our health too. The new local economy will help us with the problems we have with obesity as well as diabetes. This is why I believe we should have the Federal government shift some fraction of its subsidies away form the industrial farmers and shift it towards local farmers. McKibben states, “Local food economies seem to pick up momentum almost automatically as, instead of being competitors, other farmers become allies who help spread the word.” (83) If the local food economy will benefit us more than what we have now, I suggest we follow in the steps of becoming a local