This was amazing to read Bob, thanks so much for sharing it. It has
definitely given me much to think about.
Kimberly
----------
> From: Bob Burns <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: STUDIES IN WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Back to meat
> Date: Monday, March 22, 1999 2:07 PM
>
> While at university I became mostly vegetarian and explored a
> vegan diet also; due to the economic, ecological, and social justice
> issues mentioned in previous posts on this issue.
> Then I spent three years in Bangladesh, where I was exposed to
> the common Third World attitude toward meat- a rare, special treat; to
> be shared and feasted on when oppoertunity provides. I recall
> distinctly being served the head of a chicken once in India with my
> rice!
> Then I moved on to, in two different places now, explore
> creating a sustainable life on the land- mostly through organic
> gardening and fruit. In this situation the value of domestic and wild
> animals quickly became apparent. If one seeks a system not dependent
> on mechanized tillage and powered food processing- the common ways in
> this country of growing and processing grains and grain legumes; small
> numbers of animals and poultry in the system are so very beneficial.
> They can eat wastes and produce manure which is equivalent to the
> highest quality compost, otherwise taking weeks or months and much
> work to produce without the help of animals. As a food source, on
> sparsely populated/managed lands, they find a niche too. It is
> difficult for me to imagine the hand labor involved in growing and
> processing by hand any significant amount of a grain legume, such as
> soybeans; whereas keeping a few free-range goats and poultry is a
> matter of a few chores twice daily. And here's another fact; animals
> can turn stuff we can't eat into something we can. I found it little
> short of a miracle how my goats could browse all day on poison ivy,
> pine needles, cactus, privet, heoneysuckle, chinaberry; and many other
> things actively poisonous or useless to me, if I were to attempt to
> eat them directly; and convert them into milk, meat, useful manure,
> weed control, hides, etc. etc.
> In other words I think vegetarianism makes a whole lot of sense IF
> one must access most of one's food from the mainstream economy. But
> for those in a position to design their own food system from the
> ground up, on the land, livestock again find their place.
> Another aside: Tons and tons of meat and other animal foods(in
> addition to many other things edible and not)are thrown out in this
> country every day. Just take a peek into any grocery store dumpster.
> If you like what you see, check it out. Dumpster diving is an
> underground art of subsistence which supports a significant portion of
> the American, and world, underclass. Combined with some basic food
> preservation skills; I would never need to grow or raise a thing; if I
> did not have concerns about the toxics and nutrition, and if I did not
> believe that one day the dumpsters won't be full, because the grocery
> stores won't be full, because the planet's resources are being so
> swiftly depleted as one very thorough list of statistics published on
> here makes clear. So, we call the dumpster our 'transitional subsidy'
> till we get infrastructure up (including livestock fencing and
> housing!), and some garden soil decently improved (mostly through
> quantities of that wonderful animal by-product!).
> I think anyone who has lived on the land respectfully and has
> taken the life of an animal for food can relate to the
> sacred/spiritual aspect alluded to in several posts. I certainly do.
> Usually I say a short prayer- something like-"You had a good life, now
> you will have a quick and useful end- may my life and my death be as
> good." I read that in Tibet, the people call their yaks their
> parents; because the animals provide them with so many of their needs.
> From the Georgia wilderness-
> respectfully,
> Bob the treeplanter-
> >
> _________________________________________________________
> DO YOU YAHOO!?
> Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
