Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Kate Spinner <kespinner@gmail.com>]

Buffalo are endemic to the Midwest. When vegetarians use the four to 16 pounds of grain to one pound of meat argument it is in the context of conventional agriculture, comparing the conventional bean to the conventional cow. In that context, I wouldn't call the vegetarian argument a "myth." I've never heard a vegetarian use that argument against eating deer or elk, for instance. I see more and more farmers using sustainable practices to raise beef, chicken and pork, but the bulk of meat production in this country is still a drain on food resources and the environment, not a benefit. 

On Oct 18, 2009, at 9:51 PM, Ken Hargesheimer wrote:

I just thought of something that came to me while reading your posting. Millions of buffalo roaming the midwest did not destroy it; it improved it.

 

The plow damaged it and in some cases destroyed it.

 

Ken

--- On Sun, 10/18/09, Tradingpost <tradingpost@lobo.net> wrote:

From: Tradingpost <tradingpost@lobo.net>
Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] Herder Vs. Farmer
To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
Date: Sunday, October 18, 2009, 8:10 PM

Ken, some of Lion Kuntz' work is brilliant, some not so much IMHO. But you're on point there; that land suitable only for pasture can be maintained or improved ecologically by the hooves of grazing animals, according to some researchers and cattlemen. And overgrazing which damages the land beyond repair is the fault of confining too many grazers in too limited areas. On open range they would just move on to greener pastures while the vegetation regenerates. IMHO we don't need the millions of cattle in CAFOs so we can have beef every day tho. European tradition uses small amounts of meat to add to dishes, not serving whole steaks round the table. The question would be how much beef or other meat is needed for health. Animal treatment aside, the whole land and our rivers and streams (and fishing and drinking) would be better off without the runoff from CAFOs.

paul tradingpost@lobo.net

“We need to launch an Organic Green Revolution that fundamentally changes the way we grow our food to maximize yield while mitigating climate change, restoring clean water, building soils, and protecting agricultural production during times of drought.”
~ Tim LaSalle, Rodale Institute CEO
Ripe for Revolution event, New York City


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