Field Trip Reflections

I really enjoyed the field trip to the organic farm. I am really getting into the whole organic thing because of the writings of Michael Pollan and research that I have done on my own. Getting to see what happens on an organic farm was a big treat for me because I am especially interested in organic food. When the farmer told us that strawberries are the most abundant crop, I thought that was a good thing. When he explained that it was also the most costly crop to grow, I reconsidered this investment. Its hard for me to cut strawberries out of my diet because it is one of my favorite fruits and it is coming into season so it fits into my project parameters. I am considering reducing my strawberry consumption because of its water intensive nature and how it has next to none nutritional value. I was also surprised at how diverse the farm was. In Omnivore's Dilemma, it seems as if the family farm is all but gone. The different crops at the McGrath Farm makes it seem like a "real" farm. Being on the farm also made me realize how much work it takes to produce a good crop, let alone the money it takes. Because of the nonuse of pesticides, the crops are not guaranteed to grow in a timely manner. Seeing the raspberries and that it takes 2 years to grow to full size made me see what an investment farming truly is. It is unlike other businesses because it depends entirely on nature and an organic farm is even more challenging. I felt that some sort of break is necessary for an organic farmer because they are at such a disadvantage to the chemical farmers. Besides, organic is healthier and more expensive to grow, thus making it more expensive to buy for consumers. If the government subsidized the organic farmers, perhaps then organic food would be more affordable and then more people could afford to shop at Whole Foods. The experience of being on an organic farm was interesting and informative. It makes me want to try even harder to buy organic and help out local farmers.