I think it's really important for everyone to know where their food comes from. Early in my teaching career I assumed that most Iowans already knew where their food was coming from since Iowa produces a fair amount of it. However, this is not the case. Iowa Girl Eats has been trying to bridge the gap for a few years while I've been doing it in the classroom, now I have the chance with my own children.
Having a garden is an easy way to show that plants give food for us, but explaining how we get meat is a little more delicate. I explained that meat comes from animals, and that we take care of animals so they can grow up and give us their meat. I explained that we want to treat the animals well, so they will want to give us their meat. It's a crazy way to explain it, but it teaches the boys to take extra special care of the animals. I also like explaining this at an early age because then it will become second nature to them.
When I was in high school I had chores to do everyday. I had invested in feeder cattle that had to be taken care of morning and night. My senior year I had 12 steers. On Christmas Eve I was getting ready for our family Christmas party when my dad asked me if I had done the nightly chores. I looked at him like he was crazy because I thought he was going to do them. He was showered and dressed for the Christmas party just like I was, and he told me that I don't eat until they eat. That has stuck with me because I think that sums up meat production. If they don't eat then you don't eat. I named all my animals even though I knew we would be eating them. It was a respect relationship. I would treat them well and care for them as a way of thanking them for the meat that they would eventually give. It's a pretty personal thing, even in mass production; however, the majority of people try to be as far removed from it as possible. My own children will not be far removed from it even if we do live in town. |
| Turkeys |
Good theory, Good Teacher.
ReplyDelete