Question #1: Consider your food system... What do you like about it? What do you dislike?
This section of the course has been super interesting for me. For many years now I have eaten organic, and in the past year now have been trying to eat local foods as much as possible. I did not think of my food in the concept of a food system before this point, and it has been a great way to further my awareness of what I am eating.
There are so many things that I not only like, but love about my food and where it comes from. I think that it has a real earthy taste, which makes me feel more connected to the land. I enjoy that I am supporting local farmers and markets instead of supporting large corporations. I also feel good about taking the environment into consideration when I purchase food that is local and organic. For me it is fun to be connected to my food and create great tasting dishes from it.
There are a few dislikes I have regarding my food system. I often get discouraged by people who see eating organic and local as a fad, or a trend. For me eating this food is something I am proud of and when people pose a stigma on the product it makes me angry. Another dislike would be the cost. I do find that it costs a little bit more then conventional food, but this is something that I am willing to deal with, since I believe the products are worth the price. One thing that I had not considered prior to the class was the impacts of organic food brought in from other parts of the world. This is a concern for me because I do not want to create a large impact; it is one of the many reasons that I eat organic food. Now I will be more conscious about where my organic food is coming from, and try to stay as local as possible.
Overall, I am really invested and happy to be a part of the food system that I am in. Like anything, there is always room for improvement, and I am willing to make changes accordingly. Organic and local products are a great way to indulge and create wonderful food options.
Other Comments
I was amused by the "Meatrix" video we watched in class. I felt as though this was a good way to highlight the issues in the farming industry by adding humour. It was also great to learn about the "Cool Local Food Initiatives" that I can become involved in. I am already familiar with Fresh Options Organic Delivery (F.O.O.D.) and learning about some other organizations was awesome. Another positive thing I took from class was the Fort Whyte Farms. I was not aware that there were farms there, and it is cool to see it at such a local scale. Finally, learning about the concept of country food was super interesting. I enjoyed hearing about my classmates' personal experiences. The concept of country food seems to stretch so far, and connect with a lot of people.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Ted Talk: How Food Shapes Our Cities / Carolyn Steel - Activities Blog #3
Summary
This Ted Talk focuses on the evolution of food in cities and how societies are currently facing a disadvantage. It highlights the fact that people take their food for granted, not realizing the processes that make up their food systems. Speaker Carolyn Steel uses humour and photos to capture the attention of the audience. She emphasizes serious issues that have developed as a result of the current food systems. Cities, urbanism, and the consumption of meat, are all identified as issues that already exist and will continue to increase if the Western diet sustains. Steel compares the impacts of old world food systems with food systems today. In the past, food was based on a local level, and did not have to travel far to make it to market. People would visit markets daily to get food, but also to interact and socialize with others in the community. Another aspect of the market was the real connection to the food; for example, animals would be bought alive and then prepared at home. Today people have a limited connection to their food. It is often bought frozen at the grocery store, and then heated up in the microwave. Steel exposes that the Western diet in unsustainable, and will not be practical for much longer. Her solution for the damaged food systems of today is to rethink the way food shapes society, and this can allow food to shape the world.
My Impressions
I really enjoyed watching this video. I think that Carolyn Steel did a great job of presenting the issues of current food systems and providing realistic solutions. I liked her use of humour throughout the talk, and I feel as though it adds a sense of connection to the speaker. I found it interesting to learn more about the details of old world food systems. I was already aware of the use and purpose of markets in the past, but Steel was able to reveal fascinating facts about street names and locations based on the type of markets present in the area. The views proposed by Steel were very true, and I agree that people need to have a connection with their food and where it comes from. I think that it is important to be involved in our food systems and to value what we have. Overall, I thoroughly appreciated the messages and wisdom of this video.
This Ted Talk focuses on the evolution of food in cities and how societies are currently facing a disadvantage. It highlights the fact that people take their food for granted, not realizing the processes that make up their food systems. Speaker Carolyn Steel uses humour and photos to capture the attention of the audience. She emphasizes serious issues that have developed as a result of the current food systems. Cities, urbanism, and the consumption of meat, are all identified as issues that already exist and will continue to increase if the Western diet sustains. Steel compares the impacts of old world food systems with food systems today. In the past, food was based on a local level, and did not have to travel far to make it to market. People would visit markets daily to get food, but also to interact and socialize with others in the community. Another aspect of the market was the real connection to the food; for example, animals would be bought alive and then prepared at home. Today people have a limited connection to their food. It is often bought frozen at the grocery store, and then heated up in the microwave. Steel exposes that the Western diet in unsustainable, and will not be practical for much longer. Her solution for the damaged food systems of today is to rethink the way food shapes society, and this can allow food to shape the world.
My Impressions
I really enjoyed watching this video. I think that Carolyn Steel did a great job of presenting the issues of current food systems and providing realistic solutions. I liked her use of humour throughout the talk, and I feel as though it adds a sense of connection to the speaker. I found it interesting to learn more about the details of old world food systems. I was already aware of the use and purpose of markets in the past, but Steel was able to reveal fascinating facts about street names and locations based on the type of markets present in the area. The views proposed by Steel were very true, and I agree that people need to have a connection with their food and where it comes from. I think that it is important to be involved in our food systems and to value what we have. Overall, I thoroughly appreciated the messages and wisdom of this video.
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