Dominion over the earth

[fallingblood]

We visited an organic farm and ranch yesterday. Natural farming makes so much sense, but it's also hard work. I hope to be able to help support this family, by buying their products (which ARE more expensive however), and possibly donating some time on their farm.

Natural farming is definitely hard work. Growing up, I worked on my uncles farm during the summers, and primarily did the grunt work. But the pay off was great. The meat was simply wonderful. I also worked on an emu farm for awhile, and I have to say, that is some of the best meat that I have had.

My wife have been reading more into this sort of stuff, and because of that, we have been switching our eating habits. We aren't giving up meat, but we are eating better treated animals. The eggs we buy are from cage free chickens. We buy most of our meat from a local meat shop that has quite ethical practices. That, and I do hunt (primarily deer). I think hunting is necessary for our environment, as long as it is done responsibly. Personally, I have spent a considerable amount of time on becoming an excellent marksman. I believe in one shot, one kill.

We have also been buying local produce as well. It just tastes so much better, and it doesn't rely on exploited labor sources.

 

[Kathryn]

Natural farming is definitely hard work. Growing up, I worked on my uncles farm during the summers, and primarily did the grunt work. But the pay off was great. The meat was simply wonderful. I also worked on an emu farm for awhile, and I have to say, that is some of the best meat that I have had.

My wife have been reading more into this sort of stuff, and because of that, we have been switching our eating habits. We aren't giving up meat, but we are eating better treated animals. The eggs we buy are from cage free chickens. We buy most of our meat from a local meat shop that has quite ethical practices. That, and I do hunt (primarily deer). I think hunting is necessary for our environment, as long as it is done responsibly. Personally, I have spent a considerable amount of time on becoming an excellent marksman. I believe in one shot, one kill.

We have also been buying local produce as well. It just tastes so much better, and it doesn't rely on exploited labor sources.

Right ON, brother! I am definitely pickin' up what you're puttin' down.

This is what we're able to do so far. As we "evolve" we may be able to make more drastic changes to our habits - we'll see.

I would like to hunt more - I totally agree with your position on hunting. My husband and I just rejoined our local shooting range and plan to get more into hunting for food in the fall.

 

[Jainarayan]

I may be wrong about the hormones - I've read a lot of articles, both for and against this hypothesis, from a wide variety of sources, some credible and some not so.

You are right about the credible and not credible sources. Notmilk.com is one of those that perpetuate false information.

ADDITIVES to the processing of animals and meat cannot be good for us if they make it into our systems, and I believe that usually these additives (injections of vitamins, hormones, antibiotics, etc) are NOT given to the animals to make them healthier, but simply to make them more productive in a shorter amount of time - the most boom for the buck in other words. Cruel to the animals which is the main point of my rant on this thread. It's cruel to pump an animal full of "nutrients" and medicine and hormones simply to get them as productive or big as possible in the shortest amount of time, meanwhile denying them the simple natural pleasures of animal life.

No doubt, and I don't disagree with you. I am wary of those on both sides... the food producers and those against their practices. Both can go to extremes.

Any sources that could explain why our kids are entering puberty sooner? I'm curious about this phenomenon.

Probably for the same reasons we are living longer and growing taller... more, if not better nutrition. While a paleo human had the same genetic lifespan as we do, their actual and average lifespans were shorter due to infant mortality, uncontrolled infections and diseases and accidents.

I'm not an anthropologist, but my guess is that due to the relative scarcity of food, menses started later. Consider the elite female athletes and severe dieters who very often experience cessation of their periods from lack of nutrients and the stress on their bodies.

edit:

Btw, I do try to avoid eating anything with 4 legs and hair or fur as much as possible. I will not eat beef, though I hypocritically wear leather, as do many Hindus. I eat mainly poultry, eggs and fish. Not that birds and fish are any less worthy of life. Eventually my goal is to become completely vegetarian, though it is a slippery slope with the leather thing.

While technically it's strongly advised that Vaishnava Hindus adhere to vegetarianism, not all do. Vegetarianism in Hinduism can be beaten to death, with people who cite scriptures as unequivocally and categorically against meat-eating, and other sources who say there's nothing in scripture for or against. Sometimes the best we can do is minimize himsa, violence.

 

[atropine]

When I was in 5th grade, most of the girls in my class had hit puberty in one way or another. My ex-friend was a D cup by the time she was in 6th grade, and constantly got sexually harassed over it. I have no doubt that this sort of thing is due to the amount of hormones in the meat and dairy.

While I don't mind if people eat meat, or other animal products, I wish they would reduce their consumption and choose their products from humane farms. I wish people would think about what they are eating, and have more respect for the lives given. And that goes for vegetarians, too, actually! Plants are lives, and animals (like mice and rabbits) do sometimes die in the planting/harvesting of grains and such. As long as people strive for the least harm possible, I think that is wonderful.

I think people should take care of the earth. Dominion, to me, isn't about "oh I'm a human and we can do whatever we want because god said we could eat everything in sight". It's about caring for all lives, and being humble when taking a life in order to sustain other lives.

 

[Kathryn]

When I was in 5th grade, most of the girls in my class had hit puberty in one way or another. My ex-friend was a D cup by the time she was in 6th grade, and constantly got sexually harassed over it. I have no doubt that this sort of thing is due to the amount of hormones in the meat and dairy.

While I don't mind if people eat meat, or other animal products, I wish they would reduce their consumption and choose their products from humane farms. I wish people would think about what they are eating, and have more respect for the lives given. And that goes for vegetarians, too, actually! Plants are lives, and animals (like mice and rabbits) do sometimes die in the planting/harvesting of grains and such. As long as people strive for the least harm possible, I think that is wonderful.

I think people should take care of the earth. Dominion, to me, isn't about "oh I'm a human and we can do whatever we want because god said we could eat everything in sight". It's about caring for all lives, and being humble when taking a life in order to sustain other lives.

Right on!!! I agree with everything you've written. With great power comes great responsibility.

 

[Mathematician]

I totally believe we eat too much meat. In fact, I am a fan of the Paleo Diet (aka the Dinosaur diet).

I believe that if we look at nature, and look at how much effort it would actually take us to grow, catch, grind, prepare, store, slaughter, clean, etc our foods, we can find a pretty good balance of what it is we're actually supposed to be eating.

I believe there's actually a "Paleo" diet that supposedly does wonders. Basically you eliminate any food our ancestors weren't accustomed to consuming 10,000+ years ago.

 

[SaintAugustine]

from a Paleo website:

With readily available modern foods, The Paleo Diet mimics the types of foods every single person on the planet ate prior to the Agricultural Revolution (a mere 500 generations ago). These foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and seafood) are high in the beneficial nutrients (soluble fiber, antioxidant vitamins, phytochemicals, omega-3 and monounsaturated fats, and low-glycemic carbohydrates) that promote good health and are low in the foods and nutrients (refined sugars and grains, saturated and trans fats, salt, high-glycemic carbohydrates, and processed foods) that frequently may cause weight gain, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and numerous other health problems. The Paleo Diet encourages dieters to replace dairy and grain products with fresh fruits and vegetables -- foods that are more nutritious than whole grains or dairy products.

 

[Katzpur]

Regardless of the effect on our own health, the suffering of the animals really tears at my heart.

Basically, my concern is about 5% with the effect on our own health and 95% with the suffering of the animals. I really try to be careful in how I shop for meat (we actually eat fish about 80% of the time at my house). I keep toying with the idea of becoming a vegetarian, but I am having the hardest time thinking I could remain committed to the idea in the long term.

P.S. I just noticed your new (?) title: "Most Spoiled Woman Ever." I hate to be the bearer of bad news, honey, but no, you're not! I am.

 

[Kathryn]

Basically, my concern is about 5% with the effect on our own health and 95% with the suffering of the animals. I really try to be careful in how I shop for meat (we actually eat fish about 80% of the time at my house). I keep toying with the idea of becoming a vegetarian, but I am having the hardest time thinking I could remain committed to the idea in the long term.

P.S. I just noticed your new (?) title: "Most Spoiled Woman Ever." I hate to be the bearer of bad news, honey, but no, you're not! I am.

Let's duke it out!!!

 

[bribrius]

i think it is important to figure out why it is so.

mass production of meat to feed alot of people
corporate profit taking
keep pricing low so meat is affordable.

Im not sure we could provide so many people with meat, at a affordable price in any other way.

Does it make it right? Totally not.
But as population increases, people or corporations want profits, we ended up here.

I think there are some countries where much of the populations just cant afford to buy alot of meat. It is too expensive as they are not on the production system we have. That is what we have now. A food production system.

So the alternative may be, less people can afford meat. Which of course wont happend because we live under capitalism. If there is a way to deliver meat to someone dinnerplate at a profit it will be found.

 

[Kathryn]

Meat is overrated. It is not necessary or even healthy to eat it at two or more meals a day, and/or in large amounts.

 

[Sultan Of Swing]

Meat is overrated. It is not necessary or even healthy to eat it at two or more meals a day, and/or in large amounts.

But it sure is tasty yum yum yum I'm a meat lover and I need the stuff to survive. xD

I find the inhumane treatment of animals in today's food industry quite horrible indeed, and yet I sadly find myself ignoring it when wanting to appease my appetite.

 

[Kathryn]

But it sure is tasty yum yum yum I'm a meat lover and I need the stuff to survive. xD

I find the inhumane treatment of animals in today's food industry quite horrible indeed, and yet I sadly find myself ignoring it when wanting to appease my appetite.

I hate to admit it but I read "Dominion" about 7 or 8 years ago and though it stuck in my head, I didn't get really serious about making changes in my eating habits till the past year. I've gradually moved away from red meat (maybe once a week at the most) and cut all meat back significantly.

My husband is a CARNIVORE but even he has been successful at cutting way back.

Just think about it.

 

[bribrius]

well if you are going to think that way, most commercially produced foods use numerous chemicals in the process. Many probably not good for the plants or the soil, or the earth.
Even some organic labeled things are questionable on how organic they really are.
wouldnt you have to cut down to eating just once a week period?

I would suggest someone grow their own food, raise there own beef etc. Only way to really know what you are eating.

 

[Kathryn]

well if you are going to think that way, most commercially produced foods use numerous chemicals in the process. Many probably not good for the plants or the soil, or the earth.
Even some organic labeled things are questionable on how organic they really are.
wouldnt you have to cut down to eating just once a week period?

I would suggest someone grow their own food, raise there own beef etc. Only way to really know what you are eating.

That's why I don't eat much beef at all, and that comes from a farm that I know about and have visited. Their cows are pasture raised -as are their hogs and chickens.

Same with veggies - I buy local whenever I can, and nearly always organic.

Will be starting a large garden with heirloom seeds probably this year.

Every baby step in the right direction is good.

 

[LeftishBritInPA]

I believe that "dominion" basically means that we are to be "G-d's good stewards" of what he's endowed us with. I won't go so far as to say we shouldn't eat meat but I do think it's wrong say when some of us eat 7 course meals while there are starving people in the world. Or when people don't use humane ways of slaughter, or eat "delicacies" that involve cruelty to animals (shark fin soup and foie gras come to mind)

 

[Kathryn]

I believe that "dominion" basically means that we are to be "G-d's good stewards" of what he's endowed us with. I won't go so far as to say we shouldn't eat meat but I do think it's wrong say when some of us eat 7 course meals while there are starving people in the world. Or when people don't use humane ways of slaughter, or eat "delicacies" that involve cruelty to animals (shark fin soup and foie gras come to mind)

Right on - that's the premise of the book, too, by the way.

 

[Road Warrior]

Agreed. A good parent helps their children. If they give their child a car, the expectation would be that they use it wisely and take care of it. I can think of no better parent than God. Being given dominion over the Earth would also be given the expectation that we'd take care of it, not treat it like a sewer, abuse the flora and the fauna and rape the land. This doesn't mean we can't use the resources of our planet, only that we should take good care of it.