Comments on: Gardeners and Farmers Less Fearful of Death? http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2009/06/04/gardeners-and-farmers-less-fearful-of-death/ Organic Grocery Market, Shop Local, Small Farms, Family Farms Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:01:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kerri http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2009/06/04/gardeners-and-farmers-less-fearful-of-death/#comment-5356 Kerri Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:53:34 +0000 http://organictobe.org/?p=3003#comment-5356 And speaking of Catherine Friend... If you want an excellent introduction to farming life with a healthy dose of humor and pathos, read her _Hit by a Farm: How I stopped worrying and learned to love the barn_. It's sort of a memoir/autobiography of how she decided to follow her partner's dream of being a farmer - even when her own dream was that of being a published author. I haven't read _the Compassionate Carnivore_ (I'll look for it now) but I did learn way more about sheep in _Hit by a Farm_ than I ever knew before. Despite the honest and gritty portrayal, I almost have a friend with land talked into getting Icelandic sheep! Kerri in AK And speaking of Catherine Friend…

If you want an excellent introduction to farming life with a healthy dose of humor and pathos, read her _Hit by a Farm: How I stopped worrying and learned to love the barn_. It’s sort of a memoir/autobiography of how she decided to follow her partner’s dream of being a farmer – even when her own dream was that of being a published author. I haven’t read _the Compassionate Carnivore_ (I’ll look for it now) but I did learn way more about sheep in _Hit by a Farm_ than I ever knew before. Despite the honest and gritty portrayal, I almost have a friend with land talked into getting Icelandic sheep!

Kerri in AK

]]> By: Ryan http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2009/06/04/gardeners-and-farmers-less-fearful-of-death/#comment-5347 Ryan Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:47:23 +0000 http://organictobe.org/?p=3003#comment-5347 I too raise sheep and do not dock the tails ever and are not given any less of a price at the stockyards. We are in Ontario, so things may be different in the US. We raise Katadin's which are hair sheep and they do not have the same issues with manure on the tail as do wool sheep. In fact, to register a Katadin, you must not dock the tail I too raise sheep and do not dock the tails ever and are not given any less of a price at the stockyards. We are in Ontario, so things may be different in the US. We raise Katadin’s which are hair sheep and they do not have the same issues with manure on the tail as do wool sheep. In fact, to register a Katadin, you must not dock the tail

]]> By: DennisP http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2009/06/04/gardeners-and-farmers-less-fearful-of-death/#comment-5346 DennisP Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:44:50 +0000 http://organictobe.org/?p=3003#comment-5346 Gene - You're right in what you say. It occurs to me almost every day now as I run beetle patrols on my potatoes. I find 'em and I crush 'em. But a couple of times I have seen one rise up on its hind legs and face the fingers decending on it. I'm always thinking that I wish I didn't have to kill these other creatures. But I also know that in fact we can't have life without death as well. The greatest number of creatures occurs in spring and early summer, with all the new young ones being born/hatched. But the young ones for any species are also the food for other creatures trying to feed their young ones. So I quell my sympathies for the beetles because I want the potatoes as food for my family and myself. Really, there is no other way. Is there any other species that would feel a twinge of sorrow for having to kill in order to survive? Gene -

You’re right in what you say. It occurs to me almost every day now as I run beetle patrols on my potatoes. I find ‘em and I crush ‘em. But a couple of times I have seen one rise up on its hind legs and face the fingers decending on it. I’m always thinking that I wish I didn’t have to kill these other creatures.

But I also know that in fact we can’t have life without death as well. The greatest number of creatures occurs in spring and early summer, with all the new young ones being born/hatched. But the young ones for any species are also the food for other creatures trying to feed their young ones. So I quell my sympathies for the beetles because I want the potatoes as food for my family and myself. Really, there is no other way. Is there any other species that would feel a twinge of sorrow for having to kill in order to survive?

]]> By: Gene Logsdon http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2009/06/04/gardeners-and-farmers-less-fearful-of-death/#comment-5344 Gene Logsdon Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:14:01 +0000 http://organictobe.org/?p=3003#comment-5344 Aarti, I guess there can be no agreement in the debate over animal vs. vegetable. But if you love nature, as you obviously do, you have to take nature as a whole and nature cannot be nature without killing. This is, at least for me, why life is ultimately so sad. To say that it is horrible to kill and eat animals and not horrible to kill and eat vegetables just flies in the face of reality. Perhaps that is why melancholy is my usual mood. Gene Aarti, I guess there can be no agreement in the debate over animal vs. vegetable. But if you love nature, as you obviously do, you have to take nature as a whole and nature cannot be nature without killing. This is, at least for me, why life is ultimately so sad. To say that it is horrible to kill and eat animals and not horrible to kill and eat vegetables just flies in the face of reality. Perhaps that is why melancholy is my usual mood. Gene

]]> By: Aarti http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2009/06/04/gardeners-and-farmers-less-fearful-of-death/#comment-5341 Aarti Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:46:28 +0000 http://organictobe.org/?p=3003#comment-5341 Gene, I really liked the first half of the article but the second half appeared a bit disconnected. I do wonder whether the CO2 type arguments are more just arguments. Sort of like the people who say the rain forests should be saved because of the life saving medicines that can be harnessed from within them. I think the people who really love nature and the rain forests honestly don't give a hoot about their pharmaceutical potential. These are arguments to try and convince others who don't share their love. As a city person who recently became vegetarian, I can say I did so upon realizing how I did not connect enough with death and slaughter involved. Like Jan Steinman, I cannot kill an animal so I felt it hypocritical to eat meat. The meat industry and slaughterhouses are horrific and cruel to me - I cannot imagine anyone who would disagree even if they do have a philosophical or religious "out". CO2 was the last thing on my mind as a reason. It is a simply personal choice. Gene,
I really liked the first half of the article but the second half appeared a bit disconnected. I do wonder whether the CO2 type arguments are more just arguments. Sort of like the people who say the rain forests should be saved because of the life saving medicines that can be harnessed from within them. I think the people who really love nature and the rain forests honestly don’t give a hoot about their pharmaceutical potential. These are arguments to try and convince others who don’t share their love. As a city person who recently became vegetarian, I can say I did so upon realizing how I did not connect enough with death and slaughter involved. Like Jan Steinman, I cannot kill an animal so I felt it hypocritical to eat meat. The meat industry and slaughterhouses are horrific and cruel to me – I cannot imagine anyone who would disagree even if they do have a philosophical or religious “out”. CO2 was the last thing on my mind as a reason. It is a simply personal choice.

]]> By: DennisP http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2009/06/04/gardeners-and-farmers-less-fearful-of-death/#comment-5339 DennisP Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:51:59 +0000 http://organictobe.org/?p=3003#comment-5339 I remember the discussion in Catherine's book about trying to catch the lambs. Had me laughing out loud. I don't have sheep, but from what I've read, sounds like docking lambs' tails is good for their health and doesn't really hurt them much, especially at that very young age. I remember the discussion in Catherine’s book about trying to catch the lambs. Had me laughing out loud. I don’t have sheep, but from what I’ve read, sounds like docking lambs’ tails is good for their health and doesn’t really hurt them much, especially at that very young age.

]]> By: Paul U http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2009/06/04/gardeners-and-farmers-less-fearful-of-death/#comment-5338 Paul U Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:31:23 +0000 http://organictobe.org/?p=3003#comment-5338 I started a flock of sheep with ewe lambs that came from the flock of sheep on Catherine and melissa's farm. Very aggressive, attentive ewes. I lamb on grass and catching lambs after they are up is just like trying to catch a calf. The ewe takes off and the lambs follow, good luck. I do dock tails with bands and it seems pretty harmless to the lambs. I started a flock of sheep with ewe lambs that came from the flock of sheep on Catherine and melissa’s farm. Very aggressive, attentive ewes. I lamb on grass and catching lambs after they are up is just like trying to catch a calf. The ewe takes off and the lambs follow, good luck. I do dock tails with bands and it seems pretty harmless to the lambs.

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