Reddit reviews Meat: A Benign Extravagance

Oh my gosh I just wrote a huge response and lost it.... D'oh!

the gist of it was this:

From what perspective are you referring to a farm as "more efficient"?

If you're only looking for sheer volume of calories per acre, than high-input midwestern corn in continuous cultivation is almost always going to win.

For me, that's looking at an unbalanced equation. That system is highly reliant on N inputs (primarily NH4NO3 from the energy intensive haber-bosch process) which often wash away along with thousands of years worth of topsoil which can not readily be replaced. That fertilizer runoff + top soil is causing enormous dead zones in the gulf of mexico.

The rolling acres of corn monoculture provide almost no ecosystem services relative to the same land mass in diversified agriculture. Because that corn is nearly inedible, it is made into highly processed foods (with their suite of health issues for our nation) or animal feeds (which is an entirely different branch of this argument with it's own suite of issues - I highly recommend this book, Meat: A benign Extravagance).

The economics get tricky. How do we account for global conventional agriculture systems that use neo-nicatanoids which are killing off pollinator populations? There is a huge economical effect that can be almost directly attributed to the use of a class of conventional pesticides.

Are their large scale monoculture styled organic farms out there? You betcha. Are there small scale, locally oriented diversified conventional farms around? Again, you betcha. We're sort of getting into two different branches of the discussion.

1. If we're talking big scale, like grain crops, I still choose organic because they're more likely to be diversified (pretty much a necessity to maintain soil fertility) and just as a bonus don't really receive any sprays (at least I'd be surprised to find an organic wheat grower that bothers to spray).
   
   
2. If we're talking smaller scale diversified operation that's more on the side of veggies and berries, you bet your butt I want organic.

this article has very few facts, no real data, etc. the best thing about it is the link at the end to Lierre Keith's book.

something like Simon Fairlie's Meat: A Benign Extravagance would make a similar case in a much better way (and would be a far more interesting read....)

lots of bloggers wanting to cash in on some easy traffic w/ the newfound popularity of the word "paleo"......

That does seem pretty unbelievable. It looks like the book is pushing some pretty unconventional ideas about raising food. http://www.amazon.com/Meat-Benign-Extravagance-Simon-Fairlie/dp/1603583246

http://www.amazon.com/Meat-Benign-Extravagance-Simon-Fairlie/dp/1603583246

Oh, I'm angry about a lot more things than that. is worth perusing though, as is https://www.amazon.com/Meat-Benign-Extravagance-Simon-Fairlie/dp/1603583246 (disclaimer: I am not SImon Fairlie, although I happen to think he is one of the good guys).


I'm curious though as to why you aren't angry?

Here's one: http://www.savoryinstitute.com/science/case-studies/ . Also: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1603583246?tag=femeliyomeit-20 [edited for premature enter]

Is this it?

sigh Well, it's been put on the list. Check back in a few months and it might have made its way to my desk.

i sugest you take a look at this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Meat-Benign-Extravagance-Simon-Fairlie/dp/1603583246

And if it's just to listen to an alternative point of view just to be informed about it. not even to change your own views.

>What do you do when you encounter a vegan who goes after your dietary choices?

I say, well yes, I used to think that, too. I was a vegan for years.

I have zero interest in debating vegans, as it seems like a waste of effort to me. I'd rather find common ground, like the fact that my vegan friend and I both think that the standard North American diet is crap, and we're both against farming practices that shove too many animals into a tiny space.

Convincing people to switch diets or religions is a pain in the ass, and why would you bother?

If my vegan friends browse through my bookshelf and want to borrow anything like Meat: A Benign Extravagance, they are welcome to do that and to consider the content within.

But as for me, I'm going to put my energy into making yummy paleo things to eat, and providing help for those who ask about how to switch to a paleo diet.