tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post7847410969252951441..comments2023-09-29T18:37:14.377+10:00Comments on Eight Acres: Food Inc - movie reviewUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-26584642831836499002015-08-03T18:03:20.060+10:002015-08-03T18:03:20.060+10:00The factory farming wasn't as much of a surpri...The factory farming wasn't as much of a surprise to me now, but I was totally appalled my Monsanto. I knew they were bad before, but the movie actually SCARED me!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08474551845661031816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-36908053855276804532013-04-01T12:53:08.918+10:002013-04-01T12:53:08.918+10:00Thanks for that recommendation Kali. I'll writ...Thanks for that recommendation Kali. I'll write it down and have a look for it. :)Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-16213475006359192412013-03-29T13:21:25.317+10:002013-03-29T13:21:25.317+10:00Thanks for all the comments, it was certainly a th...Thanks for all the comments, it was certainly a thought-provoking film and just made we want to take more control of what I eat.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12874273438983052621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-62355242101377125552013-03-26T21:27:11.451+10:002013-03-26T21:27:11.451+10:00Chris, I recently watched Transition 2.0 through m...Chris, I recently watched Transition 2.0 through my local Transition Town but I believe you can buy it on the website. It deals with precisely what you have mentioned - the growth of sustainable communities world-wide who are premised on a 'village mentality'.Kalinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-57503846315532678002013-03-26T11:32:30.417+10:002013-03-26T11:32:30.417+10:00I think the main point I took from the ethnic fami...I think the main point I took from the ethnic family who kept purchasing fast food, is that the parents were both working ludicrous hours to afford the cost of living - not that they couldn't make better food choices. They lacked the time to prepare food (even to shop for it) when the family had to leave really early in the morning to get the kids to school and ride the highway to get to work on time. The parents literally didn't have the time for food preparation, as they were working for the cost of living.<br /><br />As someone who does have five acres to grow food on, but a husband who works long hours to pay for the mortgage, I can relate somewhat to the bind of wanting to do better - but having only maybe 4 hours in the day to do anything with. It's a choice between ruining your health with stress to eat the right foods, or ruining your health with processed foods, so you can spend those few hours with your family and catching your breath again.<br /><br />I saw the problem as bigger than just the food manufacturing industry, though the film was correct to focus on it for educational purposes. That's what I really loved about Joel Salatin's contribution to the film (as small as it was) as he was talking about the pigs being pigs, just as humans should be human in their family herds - perhaps doing more of what they want to do and enjoying their existence more. But it's very hard to do in a world that is dominated by the flow of money.<br /><br />We keep plugging away on our property, because we hope to one day have more freedom. I'd rather plug away at 5 acres than in suburbia, but that's our personality type - we like the space and interacting with the animals which live here as a way a life. We'd rather be exposed to the natural elements than the man-made ones. But it all costs money wherever you live, and one has to strike a balance with what's good. While I appreciate the film for not shirking from the reality, I think as viewers we have to be cautious not to judge others' situations as if they had the same choices. I think one of the points of the film, is that the working poor (whether illegal immigrant workers, legal immigrant workers or the average farmer) were forced into making horrible choices to keep their heads above water.<br /><br />As much as we were fortunate to seize an opportunity on 5 acres of bushland (not quite the same potential as farming land for food production) I understand not everyone can be in that financial situation. Some people have to keep plugging away in suburbia because that's where the work opportunities for them (or members of their family) are. I would actually love more land (and farming land at that) but it's out of our price range. I also have to be a realist. My husband is a Chef, not a farmer - while he loves to work on our property, he's more handy with a knife than fixing machinery. ;)<br /><br />I know he can learn, and is learning more stuff all the time (I actually have the mechanical mindset) but am responsible for raising the family and preparing the food too - I can't possibly do it all either! I loved watching Food Inc for what it was, just the truth about what's going on behind the scenes of the food system, but it certainly didn't address the bigger questions of community and how we "can" take responsibility for our food system back. <br /><br />There are quite a few wonderful documentaries available to watch, which are really educational about the food system. I loved watching Super Size Me, too, as an expose on how quickly health can degenerate on a Fast Food diet, based on eating bigger portions. But the answer to these horrible situations comes back to community, the village mentality that needs to support one another. Is anyone aware of a good documentary which explores this potential for a solution?Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-48324607280883186322013-03-25T04:19:38.438+10:002013-03-25T04:19:38.438+10:00We saw this film in the theater. We had to drive ...We saw this film in the theater. We had to drive more than an hour to see it since it was not showing in the town we lived in at the time, which is primarily in existence to support one of those huge meat producers.<br /><br />We had seen those chicken houses, but didn't know what they were until after we had seen the movie.<br /><br />I have experienced the food deserts here in the US... often when I'm traveling for my day job. It's quite surprising that in more than a few places here in the US, the best, most reasonable access to food is either the convenience store or a fast food restaurant. So many people, literally do not have access to whole or natural foods. It's heartbreaking.<br /><br />There are some organizations working to bring in community gardens or mobile groceries, but often times the laws make these things difficult. Quite surprising when it really wasn't that long ago that keeping your own "Victory Garden" with chickens and produce was considered your patriotic duty. Now doing those things is often a crime.Kathryn Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990925295124938262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-66169374733750627302013-03-22T15:24:36.647+10:002013-03-22T15:24:36.647+10:00I too agree with the mainstream adoption of whole ...I too agree with the mainstream adoption of whole foods.I have been watching the woolworths 'macro whole foods ' range with interest.... many 'organic ingredients ' are listed but they often come from unsustainable practises through the use of palm oil etc. <br />We watched this movie with our teenage children...if there is one way to turn your kids off take away, it is this movie. Now they know why we live the way we do.Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09958193502828236814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-25344926319721631202013-03-22T10:13:24.869+10:002013-03-22T10:13:24.869+10:00I agree with Megan, David vs Monsanto made me furi...I agree with Megan, David vs Monsanto made me furious.Jeni at Northern Rivers Dreaminghttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Northern-Rivers-Dreaming/321272667962109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-1023108771482636922013-03-22T10:10:51.993+10:002013-03-22T10:10:51.993+10:00I'm not convinced that the poor family in Food...I'm not convinced that the poor family in Food Inc couldn't feed themselves more healthily within their limited budget. Whilst I don’t deny that the price of fast food in the United States is temptingly low. The cost of fruit and vegetables—wholefoods in general—are not prohibitive. I think the problem is much deeper than made out in Food Inc. (Forgive me if they broach this point; it’s been a while since I last saw it.)<br />After some recent changes to Centrelink payments there was a plethora of stories of Australian's doing it tough. These folk were struggling to put food on the table and would describe the bare basics they had to buy and how their health was suffering. The majority, for one reason or another, were also overweight.<br />In starting a business a few years ago I learnt to bootstrap. This was completely voluntary--heck, I didn't need to leave my well-paying job to start a business--but in the context was a requirement. I got my grocery bill down to a fraction of what it was and in the territory of what these Centrelink recipients were spending. The difference: I was--and still am--eating nutritious vegan home cooking. The key things I have learnt from feeding myself--and my partner--cheaply and healthily:<br />- Buying seasonal isn't some elitist hype, it makes sense. In season means abundant and that means cheap. It's basic economics. Tomatoes are cheaper in summer.<br />- Buy when the prices are at their lowest. I shop at the Adelaide Central Markets. Come 2pm on a Saturday stallholders want to clear what is left. This is the time when you can get 3 bags of beans, potatoes, tomatoes; whatever, for $2. It’s pretty neat. This stuff is great for immediately turning into soups, pasta sauces, curries and stews. A few dollars of slightly sad—rarely is it bad at all--fruit and veg can go a long way.<br />- Cook big. I like to cook big batches and freeze them. That way there is always something healthy to grab, defrost and reheat.<br />- Growing your own. One doesn't need acres to grow their own produce. We started with a small, south-facing balcony and would grow all manners of herbs, tomatoes, capsicum and eggplant in summer; and cauliflower, broccoli and greens in winter. We now grow a bit more in a local community garden but still know what is possible in a small space. (We harvested our best crop of tomatoes from the balcony this season.)<br />I think there are many barriers stopping people from doing the same. Most of the poor live away from where all the choice is—in areas dominated by the malls and big supermarkets. They're not educated in budgeting, menu planning and cooking. They're not empowered to look after themselves--they've given up and take pleasure in junk food, which is what junk food companies set out to do; make it all about the pleasure. They get little help in this area and it shows. I’d like to see Centrelink and the health department provide more assistance in these areas. When a person is put on a payment, give them a small gardening kit. Show them some useful skills. Empower them. <br />Public-issued houses, in Adelaide at least, are usually on sizable blocks. Perhaps something more could be done with that land.<br />Hail To The Nihilisthttp://hailtothenihilist.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-87147973493144232262013-03-22T09:36:47.169+10:002013-03-22T09:36:47.169+10:00I have watched it twice. If the part about the see...I have watched it twice. If the part about the seed cleaner made you mad, watch David vs Monsanto. That should have steam coming from your ears. Megan @ Purple Dancing Dahliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09589793024632933098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-7825182024797337822013-03-22T08:05:36.754+10:002013-03-22T08:05:36.754+10:00I shared your thoughts about the 'main stream&...I shared your thoughts about the 'main stream' adoption of organic Liz. I'd even go so far as to say those in the board room can't control things. I big publicly listed company is a slave to its share price, those in the board room will only play with organics when it keeps shareholders profits on the rise and would turn their back on it in a second if needed. There is also the issue of food miles, not much point in organic food if you are going to connect it with a national or international distribution system. Fixing the environment with one hand while trashing it with the other. Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00237535505835764126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9027191706980748713.post-72760230800097156922013-03-22T07:42:00.742+10:002013-03-22T07:42:00.742+10:00I have watched the preview of FOOD inc (and read a...I have watched the preview of FOOD inc (and read all of Michael Pollans books - I am a HUGE fan!) I didn't know it was on SBS - I hope they show it again. I just wish I had more land, but will do what I can with our tiny garden.africanaussiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16660727599623626163noreply@blogger.com