Consider one of the main goals of this course (that Professor Trumpey mentioned in the first two lectures) which is to have you start thinking about yourself and your stuff in relationship to “Global Systems.”
Relate this concept to Leopold’s assertion that “there are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace” (Leopold 6).
Do you think this statement is still relevant (given that he wrote it in 1949)? Is he talking about the importance of literally owning a farm and leading an agricultural life? Are there other ways of interpreting this for the 21st century? What does he mean by “spiritual”? How/Do you relate to this statement?
Please be sure to carefully read and respond to each component of this prompt and to cite your sources correctly!
(Please post a comment to this post as opposed to clicking on the upper right hand "New Post" button as I think the blog will seem a little more organized. There are still a few of you that I have not received one or both of the other assignments and am wondering if they just got lost in the 'pile'...)
Response #3
ReplyDeleteKristen Zelenka
I believe that Leopold’s assertion that “there are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace” is very relevant to our times however I do not think that he expects people to go out and buy a farm. (Leopold 6). I think that he is trying to convey the same message that Joe Trumpey is in this course which is that in our current culture we are separated from nature in such a way that detaches us from fully understanding the natural environment in which we live and our impact on it.
The danger in believing that food always comes neatly packed on shelves at the grocery store is that we only see the final package and not the process or the origin of our food. It allures us to believe that everything just appears as we want it and allows us to have ignorance of the real means of how animals find themselves in freezers. This is the first spiritual danger, losing one understanding and intimacy with how and what we consume. If you do not comprehend this, then you are oblivious to the impact you are having on the environment, animals, world trade, and waste. This is what Trumpey is trying to open our eyes up to so that as we develop into creative problem solvers we might be able to find solutions.
The danger in believing that heat comes from appliances installed in our homes is that we do not think of where that energy came from or how it was created. Having heat in our homes is a luxury of the wealthy and we, in our contemporary culture, take it for granted. We don’t think about how turning up the thermostat in our living room a few degrees has an impact on things on the other side of the globe. Buttons do not provide a clear visual of what resources we are using like making your own fire out of wood logs would. We just press and accept. This is the “Global Systems” this class is trying to make us aware of. We need to understand how our lifestyle and consumption here affects those in far off countries.
The spiritual dangers are not having full awareness of what you as an individual and as a member of s culture have an impact on. You lose touch and become content with how live is which is a very dangerous cycle to fall into.
My “stuff,” while not essential is extremely important to the way I live my life. The three objects I depend on the most in my life are my car, my phone and my computer. These objects make my life that much easier. However, I do not know what powers my car and my computer or what allows for me to receive calls through my cell phone. I rather just buy a certain object then have to learn how to make it. Most people I am surrounded by are exactly the same way. We are lazy. Everything is handed to us on a platter but is this necessarily a bad thing? Why can’t we make our lives easier?
ReplyDeleteLeopold said, “There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace” He was suggesting that owning a farm allows for one to gain enough knowledge to comprehend how everything works in this world. We have become so accustomed to being given everything we need. Because of this, we don’t know how to live our life the way Leopold suggests we do. We have an overwhelming reliance on technology. Our laziness is hurting our environment because we are not making changes. If we tried, we could run a farm but we choose not to because life is just not as difficult when we don’t. The spiritual implication of living the life as we do now is that we lose a sense of independence because we depending on others more than we should.
Another idea that Leopold was trying to convey is that we as a society do not know enough about our environment in order to contribute to the world. We don’t know how our food is grown and where exactly our heat comes from. Running a farm is a metaphor for how we can put ourselves in the position to learn about our environment and use this knowledge to make a difference. The spiritual implication in this case is a lack of understanding about the world, therefore an inability of one to make important contributions.
Even though Leopold talked about this idea of owning a farm in 1949, it is still relevant to the 21st century except our reliance on technology has grown exponentially. We don’t have to actually own a farm to gain knowledge but we do need to take an initiative to learn. I think there is nothing wrong with wanting to live an easier life and using technology to do so but I do believe that it is important when it comes to helping and learning about our environment.
Rebecca Tulis
Post #3
ReplyDeleteAlyssa Olson
As in regard to this class I believe that Professor Trumpey wants us to start understanding how we fit into the systems, especially those that involve nature. In our society we tend to extract ourselves from outside forces and only think of ourselves as individuals, instead of many individuals that make up one large system.
This concept relates to Leopold’s assertion because of the idea of everyone as an individual. I don’t believe that Leopold meant that everyone must own a farm that is quite unrealistic now and also when the book was written in the 1950’s. I believe that Leopold meant that we as a society need to realize our impact on the global systems. That food does not just come from a grocery store. That your produce was probably grown thousands of miles away and then shipped to your local grocery. Or that majority of your food was made in multiple places, and then shipped to a factory, where the final food product was made and then shipped to the store shelves. All of these processes are using different aspects of our natural system. The gas made to ship all of the products, the electricity used to make their packaging, the pesticides used on the produce to increase production; all of these have an adverse effect on our environment. I believe that this was truly what Leopold meant, that we must understand everything that goes into each product, not only for health sake but for the sake of our environment, but most of all to truly understand our place in this system we must understand all of this first.
As for other ways to interpret this in the 21st century one could believe that Leopold was suggesting our society to try and go back to a more agricultural society. Our nation began as a nation of farmers and shifted after the industrial revolution, which slowly depleted the nations farm system. Leopold may be suggesting that our society cut back on the industrial aspects and try to build up our farming system further.
When Leopold uses the phrase “spiritual dangers” he is speaking of our own spiritual self. I believe what he means by this is that if we as individuals cannot grasp our own place within the global or environmental system then we cannot as individuals truly understand who we are ourselves. If one does not understand their place in society or their place in a system then they are most likely abusing the system, which slowly brings the corruption of the system and the ultimate demise.
I personally after reading this chapter feel that I am more aware of my place in the global system. I never used to think about where exactly my food comes from or what processes it takes for food to be on my table. Although after reading this book I feel more knowledgeable to make better choices not only for myself but also for the system I live in too.
Meghan Schwend
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to think of ourselves as a species of animal, as part of the world’s ecosystem. We tend categorize ourselves on a higher level than other animals and our surroundings. As an egocentric society, we are inclined to be unaware of where our food, energy and all other modern amenities come from, and their impact on the environment.
Leopold’s statement embodies the idea that despite what we tend to believe, we are part of a global system. Food does not simply come from the grocery store; it is grown and harvested or bred and slaughtered. When Leopold tells of the “dangers” of not owning a farm, he is talking about man’s connection to the rest of the natural world being completely severed. Spiritually, we die a little when we do not branch out and see how our ancestors lived before modern amenities and industrialization. By not growing our own food, or even knowing and appreciating where it comes from, we risk becoming disconnected from our surroundings. For example, this summer I decided to plant tomatoes in my backyard for my mother’s birthday. After a summer of laborious weeding and watering, and protecting it from critters, my plants had only produced five decent tomatoes. I got a small glimpse into the energy required of large-scale agriculture production. This short experience definitely made me think twice before wasting food.
It is important that we see ourselves as part of the global system, rather than a separate subcategory, one above all others. It is so easy to retreat into our own synthetic world, where food never needs to be harvested or hunted, but bought from the store with little effort.
Paul DiStefano
ReplyDeleteMost people, young people especially, don’t think about the systems that make up this world. We think about what is happening in front of us, and tend to just ignore what goes on elsewhere. This is what Leopold is talking about no matter what century is reading it. Its not that we really all should be farmers, but that we need to look at the world as a global system, and not just think about ourselves as a system. He says this because farmers wouldn’t need to learn about these systems later in life, or even to take this class. They grow up knowing where our breakfast’s come from and how our heat really is created. They also have a head start on doing the right things to help the earth.
This statement can be related to my life because I used to not care much about contributing to the global system. I thought that the world was too big for me personally, to make a difference. It’s not that I didn’t know where my breakfast really came from, or where my heat really came from, it’s just that I didn’t care. It wasn’t relevant to my life, because all I have to do is go to the grocery store or turn on the furnace. I am glad that this class is opening our eyes so we can all be an active part of our global system.
Leopold states that he believes that there is danger in not owning a farm because, in not owning a farm, one assumes that “breakfasts comes from the grocery, and … that heat comes from the furnace.” I think this statement is definitely still relevant, seeing as how most people don’t know where their food or other products come from before they are stocked on the shelves at stores. In not knowing that, one does not know exactly what is in the products they consume. Also, one does not know the sort of impact they are having on the environment by the energy that they use. Some may think ignorance is bliss, but in this case, ignorance can have a deeply negative effect on the environment and our own well-being.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think that Leopold means to suggest that we must all own a farm, but I believe he is alluding to the fact that we are neither knowledgeable about the products we consume nor the energy we consume. This causes “spiritual dangers” and we must not necessarily own a farm but educate ourselves in order to gain the understanding we didn’t have before. In doing this, we are able to become aware of our impact on the world and with that knowledge; we can learn to change our ways for the better.
I have not given much thought to my relationship with the environment and to “global systems” before, but now I am starting to become more aware of how little I knew. In lecture, it has become obvious how our society is ignorant of our own consumption and the natural world around us. From doing the assignment where we had to observe a plant for an hour, along with reading The Steer’s Life, etc., I am starting to become more knowledgeable and distancing myself from the “spiritual dangers” that Leopold writes about.
Leopold concludes, “ There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes form the funace” (Leopold 6). Is the statement still relevant … not exactly, in the larger context of humanity on planet earth many if not a majority of people that live outside the modernized “Western World”, do in fact still struggle with putting food on the table. The people in these impoverished communities, which Professor Trumpey showed us living on very little food for example Africa refuge camps in Chad. One has to believe that everyday the thought “where is my next meal going to come from? Is there going to be a next meal for my family “ will cross their mind.
ReplyDeleteWhen thinking on global systems and Leopold’s writings the context of when he wrote them, plays a pivotal role. In 1950’s the United States was seeing a boom in consumer goods that flooded the market place and homes with prepared and packaged food. It was the beginning of American consumer culture, I believe that Leopold saw this and was horrified, he saw we were losing are grip on what at the time he feels is our strongest tie to the natural world. At this time in U.S. history the populace was geared toward the future, having just come out of Korea and WW II before that, the past was full of painfully memories. This push into the future was not limited to consumption but also our production capacity in manufacturing and agriculture jumped by leaps and bounds.
Leopold’s description of “spiritual dangers” comes across as both a warning and a criticism of society. It is especially interesting to consider the fact that Leopold wrote this over 50 years ago. Leopold’s statement is still relevant today. I question whether it is even more relevant today than it was back in 1949. The dangers Leopold speaks of are a result of ignorance. There are several ways to analyze this, for example, do people consciously choose to disregard and ignore the foundation of global systems or is it something that happens unconsciously. That being said, Leopold is not talking about the importance of literally owning a farm and leading an agricultural life. He is talking about the need for individuals to be actively aware of their environments. For example, in describing the “dangers in not owning a farm,” Leopold’s first point, is that people will adopt the assumption that breakfast comes from the grocery. In doing this, we lack any acknowledgment of where the grocery is getting the food. His second example that heat comes from the furnace implies that there is no human understanding of how a furnace actually works.
ReplyDeleteIn applying these examples to the 21st century, several examples come to mind. At a basic level, you could say that there is a “spiritual danger” of not speaking in person. This may be “dangerous” because people often assume a person is feeling okay because they don’t express their feelings verbally. In this case, you cannot see the person’s facial expressions or infer information based on the persons tone of voice. Another example, also related to technology, is to consider the dramatic distancing effect of the computer. When people purchase things online, for example, groceries, this removes the individual significantly further from the reality of where the food items are coming from (the farm). Leopold’s use of the word “spiritual” is meant to imply that an understanding of the real root of something is sacred. Losing touch with the reality of where things come from endanger our ability to stay grounded. It is Leopold’s use of such a powerful word that makes his point come across so well.
I can relate to this statement from a personal perspective. Leopold argues that we should not disregard the root of our food, just like I am conscious about not wanting to become ignorant to my own personal roots. While in Michigan, I am very far from my home and my family roots in Miami. Applying Leopold’s argument, it reminds me not to forget where I came from, and who influenced me to become who I am as a person today.
The spiritual danger that Leopold speaks about in his book has been greatly increased in the 21st century. With so many things from food up to technology and clothing being available with no question to their origins, the meaning of the danger stems from how easy it is to take that for granted. While the actions of one person in the world is seemingly insignificant, when a culture develops a mentality that causes it to routinely consumes with no thought to the process it takes to make products available, the thoughtlessness that comes therefrom will lead to its downfall.
ReplyDeleteIn lecture it is often discussed the amount of calories it takes to create and ship produce and the discrepancies between efforts. The idea of going into "debt" so to speak to continue this cycle cannot be continued without having the losses cause it to collapse in on itself. This poses more of a real threat than a spiritual one, but the spiritual side comes from the uninformed consumers loss of ability to actually care about this as long and they are getting what they want.
While it is not realistically possible for everyone to grow their own food, the spiritual danger of not doing so can be combated by understanding where it does come from. Investing in sustainability in Michigan, like with the "100 Mile Diet" can lead to an appreciation for the environment and can arouse questions about why the differences in prices exist between imported and locally grown produce and more importantly to question the real price for cheap food.
Global Systems and Me
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in rural Calhoun and Barry County, MI, I was quite aware that food did not just come from the grocery store. In fact, one of our nearest neighbors is farmer. Just down the street from my house this neighbor grew corn, and as an adventurous boy of course I went exploring; I would often try and persuade my parents and brothers to go get a few ears of corn with me, why not, they were free! Finally one of my brothers and I brought back a shopping bag full of corn. Soon after trying to eat this, we realized it was not the corn we’d buy from the market, this was a feed corn. This altered my entire perception of the origins of the food I consume, but this strengthened my understanding that not everything that is grown is for us to eat; more importantly, not everything is as it may appear.
Leopold’s assertion that there is a spiritual danger supposing breakfast comes straight from the grocery store is more true than ever today. But this may be in quite a different sense than he meant it in 1949. People aren’t only clueless of where food is grown or raised, the majority of us are even more oblivious as to in which laboratory these flavors, fillers, and additives were created; let alone what the ingredients really consist of. Food does not just come from the local farm anymore, it can come from across the globe or, in most cases today, from multiple sources (Leopold 6).
His intent for making this point is not to increase the farm count; I believe it literally is to make us think about where our food is coming from, equally I believe he strives to create awareness of all things interlinked within “where our food comes from.” He presents the same concept for energy usage. He does this as a tool to help us get back to our Homo erectus roots, the human spirit. This device of tracing back to “nature” allows us to see the bare essentials that we need to survive as humans.
By understanding where our food and energy comes from we go back to a primitive state of thinking, a hunter gatherer mind set which is strictly intertwined with the rest of nature. If we become more aware of the world around us and the causes and effects of all that we do, we may, in a way, become more human. We can only then view our true place in this “global system” in which we live.
Leopold's statements still very much apply to this day and age because, while many people aren't really aware of the world around them, not everyone lives in this digital age. In fact most people don't, so it is true that there are spiritual dangers that lie in the disconnect created by modern living.
ReplyDeleteThese spiritual dangers are that we lose sight of our position in the world and therefore proceed to believe we can abuse nature as we see fit. It makes an egocentric view of the world, standard. We become convinced that anything human-made is good for everything.
In all honesty most of my work is unrelated to 'Global Systems'. However one may hope that it would indirectly promote awareness of these global systems.
What I create is referenced from nature, people and places beyond my control. My inspiration originates from things that I might never see in person. In that sense maybe I understand quite well that just because you don't see what the results of what you do are, that doesn't mean there aren't any consequences.
I came from a heavily agrarian society, we live off of the land in Zimbabwe. Most people even though they may go to a grocer, still grow some of their own fruits and vegetables in their backyard. I had my own Mango tree, some cattle and goats. Even recently I became the co-owner of a Farm and a number of livestock in Zimbabwe. Because even though I'm here it is a firm cultural belief that when I am home, I maintain a firm connection with Nature because it is part of me.
Nature is not a tool to be manipulated, it is mutual partner. We give and receive it must remain a two way relationship. If I raise cattle I must maintain the land upon which they live, keep the rivers flowing, and the grass growing. If I cut a tree down for wood, I must take its seeds and plant another.
That is the way I have been raised.
Pete Hall Response 3
ReplyDeleteI believe that what Leopold was trying to convey when he said, “there are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace” (Leopold 6) is that the danger is loosing touch with our environment. I think that this idea still rings true over 50 years later. While perhaps in 1949 he was lamenting the influx of people to cities and the connecting of the small towns with modern roads, today it is similar to what Professor Trumpey conveys in lecture, the connection to your environment, the loss of that connection and the ramifications of such.
Repackaged for the 21st century, not owning a farm and assuming that your meals start from the grocery is actually very relevant, and similar, to today. Leopold is worried about the ramifications of the influx of post WWII consumer goods, which still proliferates today. We can buy entire meals out of boxes here in the U.S. and this causes disconnect with where our food comes from and the journey our grains and meats take to become said sustenance. Without this comprehension we become oblivious to the impact our habits and choices have on the rest of the world.
The second danger is basically the same as the first, simply applied to our comforts instead of our foods. Leopold had the experience of providing heat for himself because he chopped his own timber for firewood and thus understood the wood and its life and history. Such as when he related the history of a particular tree and what happened during our history that the tree saw. He warns of the danger of losing touch with your environment again here. If you simply turn up the dial to stay warm, instead of starting a fire with the wood you labored over cutting, you do not understand the ramifications of the heat you are receiving.
This is all part of the ‘Global System’ that Professor Trumpey is teaching on, realizing your place in the system and how your actions affect other parts of the system. Knowing how your food got to your table or how you stay warm in the winter and what impact your food growing or your housing being heated is causing now and in the future is awareness of the ‘Global System’.
As for what Leopold meant by “spiritual dangers”, I do not know for sure but I believe it is related to Trumpeys ‘Global System. It is an awareness of yourself and the impact you have on other people in the system.