Omnivore’s Dilemma assignment Ch. 2-4
To facilitate class discussion of the readings, bring a response (preferably typed) to class. These
questions are here as a guide for your response and discussion points for class.
Your response should be no more than 1 page.
How do farms now compare with farms of the early 20th C. What was main purpose of
the earlier farms? Points you might consider include yields/acre, species diversity,
population density.
1.
2.
What is nitrogen fixation? What is the Haber-Bosch process? What’s its purpose? How
does it replace the need for growing legumes?
3.
Enormous quantities of nitrogen is put on crops. What problems arise from this?
Example of a problem?
4. Prior to the 1970's, how did U.S. farm policy deal with excess corn on the market, and
how/why did this tactic keep corn prices reasonably high?
5. What is so different about paying farmers for their corn versus loaning them money until
prices recover enough to sell corn for a profit? What are some results of this policy shift?
6. Where does most corn grown in the U.S. end up? Name some economic reasons why this
happens?
7. What is the menu for of today’s steers? What are the sources for those where those
components came from? What are some negative effects of that diet, for both steers and
humans?
Chapter 5: Processing plant
1.
What parallels do you see between our digestion process and the wet milling of corn?
2.
What’s the advantage of processed food to the manufacturer and to a consumer? Where
is the “added value” of processing?
Chapter 6: Consumer – a republic of fat
1.
What are some of the reasons it’s easy to eat more food than we need and consequently
have “a republic of fat?” What products in your home contain HFCS? What is it about our
biology that encourages overeating?
2.
What are food growers and manufacturers of processed food doing to encourage
overeating? What would you eat if processed food ceased to exist?
Chapter 7: Meal
1.
How do you relate to the Pollans’ excursion to get lunch at McD’s and eat in the car?
2.
Does corn serve humans? Do humans perform a service for corn?
Ch. 8 and 9
1.
How would you explain the title “All Flesh is Grass?” Show why it is true.
2.
Joel Salatin is working at being sustainable. Compare what he is doing to the large
industrial organic farms. Are they sustainable? Support your answer with examples.
3.
What does “organic” mean to you? What does “organic” mean to USDA? Have you
compared the wording on organic food labels with conventional food labels? Is “industrial
organic” a contradiction in terms? (Pollan page 161)
4.
Are NPK all that plants need to be healthy?
5.
How different is a USDA certified organically raised chicken from a conventionally
raised chicken?
Ch. 10-11
To help guide class discussion of the readings, please bring a hardcopy response (preferably
typed) to class. You may use some of the questions here as a guide for your response and/or
present your own points that you would like to discuss.
1. Draw the growth curve for grasses, and describe how that influences Joel Salatin's
scheduling for the cows’ grazing.
2. Discuss how well-managed grazing contributes to the production of more biomass, more
decaying organic matter, increased aeration of the soil, increased nutrient flow, and even
increased habitat for worms.
3. In what sense, and why, is it profitable to feed cattle with corn rather than with grass?
The biological "cost" (by virtually any metric) of feeding corn to cattle is much higher
than the cost of feeding grass; in what way is that cost offset, at least in the short-term?
4. Discuss some of the functions that chicken have on Polyface farm. If chickens weren’t
there what would Joel have to import for the farm?
5. Discuss some ways that Polyface farm keeps animals, soil, and pasture grass healthy.
6. Discuss some ways that the forest surrounding Polyface farm's pastures contributes to the
health of the entire farm.
Chapter 12 – 14
1.
What are some issues Joel has with the USDA, regulations, and big processing
companies?
2.
In Ch. 13, Pollan writes about Wal Mart and Whole Foods as equals. Why? Do you
agree with that?
3.
Pollan quotes the words of Wendell Berry: “Eating is an agricultural act… a political act
as well” (p. 259). Why is this message so important to Pollan’s writing?
4.
Many people make their decisions about food buying based on price. How do you make
food choices? Why does Pollan question the premise that “beef is beef” and “salmon is
salmon”?
5. Pollan writes that the pleasures of eating are “deepened by knowing.” Do you agree, or are
there some things you’d rather not know about your food? What would you like to know about
food before purchasing it?
6. If Michael Pollan were coming to your place for dinner, what would you serve him and why?