<p>I like Barbara Kingsolver’s novels, but I didn’t like Animal, Veg, etc. While I didn’t disagree with her views on food and what she was trying to do, I thought her presentation was too didactic. I don’t think it’s easy for the average American urban dweller to do what she and her family did. I try hard to focus on local foods, but I live in the northeast and while I’m in heaven right now, in a few months, I’ll be limited in what I can eat, unless I had canned and preserved food. I work only part-time and even then I don’t have time to do that and I know very few people who do. But that’s another topic. IMO the sections of the book that her daughter wrote were more persuasive.</p>
<p>I don’t think Barbara Kingsolver was suggesting that others try to emulate her. I took it as one family sharing their experiences as they did their best to live their beliefs. (We have “urban chickens” in my town, but urban turkeys would never get a nod from the council. ;))</p>
<p>I like the idea of organic milk. Hormones are to be avoided…but so are pesticides. Why put toxins in my body if I have an alternative? To me spending money on good food is a wise investment. Yeah, perhaps it’s not affordable for all. But maybe it would be if less money was spent on soda, and “franken foods” like pringles. </p>
<p>[Why</a> Buy Organic Milk?: Is Organic Milk Really Healthier?](<a href=“http://www.suite101.com/content/why-buy-organic-milk-a179503]Why”>http://www.suite101.com/content/why-buy-organic-milk-a179503)</p>
<p>TR–no argument here–but if the price is prohibitive to someone, I’d counsel getting the hormone-free in any way possible, especially if there are kids in the family. Again, my issue with buying organic milk is that it’s hard to find in smaller quantities, and i’m doing no one good by throwing it away. That’s personal for me, but overall, of course it’s better.</p>
<p>Bromfield–I saw AVM as a learning experiment, not as an insistent diatribe. More to explore what’s possible, not to exhort what’s required. Books like that and Pollan’s make me more conscious of my choices, which is a good thing.</p>
<p>My book group viewed AVM the way you all do–there were only two of us who felt otherwise. Speaking of urban farms–has anyone read Farm City by Novella Carpenter. Great book by a woman who grew vegetables, raised chickens, and even a pig in Oakland, CA! Novella inspired me. I figured if she could do this in Oakland, then I could certainly make more of an effort. I went beyond my container gardening this season and cleared out a bed for more veggies, which I’m preserving and canning. Kingsolver didn’t do that for me. I just found myself getting annoyed with her.</p>
<p>Who has proof of pesticides in conventionally produced milk? All the data I have seen disprove any pesticides in it.
Organic does not mean pesticide free. And lots of organic producers use organic pesticides, many of which are actually quite acutely toxic (obviously not more than the OP’s), and often due to their cavalier approach thinking organic is safe, do not wear PPE, do not train their farmworkers in pesticide safety, think the pesticide laws do not apply to them.</p>
<p>a few of weeks ago, we inherited 6 hens (chickens, juveniles, capable of flying). Discovered that they can get into everything and try anything. They found the holes in the fencing & overhead netting. </p>
<p>They got out, I’m staying at my mother’s, wife called, screaming me that the chickens are out and eating*** her*** figs {organic, in as much the insides of a fig crunches like ants that find the riper fruit}; “It’s either the chickens go or I go !”</p>
<p>I’m perplexed.
I’m with this woman for 30+ years and she gives me a choice between her or the chickens ?</p>
<p>Bananas. I eat 1 or 2 every day (smoothies, snacks) and I think organic bananas taste better (more “banana-ey”).</p>
<p>For the sake of the “organic figs”, the hens found a new home.
A home with a rooster, two of them too. </p>
<p>too many females around me anyway.</p>
<p>Regarding organic milk and dairy, I agree that it’s not possible to have blind faith in the producers. Many of these farms have been taken over by big food companies. Here’s a rating system some of you might be interested in. I buy Organic Valley at Wegmans and it was rated excellent. Whole Foods is also good. Trader Joes…NOT…they won’t reveal their source and there’s some suspicion that they’re using factory farms.
[The</a> Cornucopia Institute](<a href=“http://www.cornucopia.org/dairysurvey/index.html]The”>http://www.cornucopia.org/dairysurvey/index.html)</p>
<p>On pesticides. Factory farms give their cows corn with pesticides. And antibiotics to keep them from getting sick…essential in the horrific crowded conditions on factory farms. I prefer to stay away and will spend the extra $ to do so. Not a big deal since I don’t drink much milk. But I would try to find the money somehow even if I had eight milk drinking kids!</p>