As I’ve read through Deeply Rooted, I’ve learned more about different farm types than I ever expected to learn, especially from an English course. Yet, with each story and each different farm, my eyes have been opened. Each farm is unique and different, having different crops, animals, and purposes, as well as different people and landscapes. However, I still can’t help but see similarities between them all. Even the larger scale farmers and ranchers have a connection to the small-scale ones. While they all are technically connected through the capitalistic requirements of their line of work, I felt a more important connection was their love of their work, the land, and their animals. Sure, some people in this area love their yards and landscaping, but it never really goes beyond mere appearances. I can’t even begin to imagine how wonderful it would be to see people in our area truly love and respect the land they lived on. After all, all we really do around here is plant a couple flowers, mow the lawn, and call it a day. Yet these ranchers and farmers have a whole different level of appreciation for their land.
This isn’t the first-time love of the land has come up. While I know this blog is geared towards food-related topics, the concept of loving the planet and land has come up countless times since the very first day. Be it native connection, such as described by Robin Wall Kimmerer and in the Silko essay, or due to reliance on the land for people such as the ranchers and farmers in Deeply Rooted, this theme has been reoccurring. I wish that all people would be pushed to read these novels, but also to understand that you don’t need to work the land or be a Native American to love and appreciate it. We should all try to remember that, as residents of this planet, we need to respect her. Just as the ranchers and farmers all seem to have that connection in Deeply Rooted, we all as people need to try to foster a connection. I believe that is what will help us on the road to healing our planet.
I agree as residents of this planet we need to respect it. To many people take advantage of it and they might change there ways from reading some of these books. I certainly did. It has opened my eyes to topics I was unaware of, and broadened my knowledge on topics I had touched upon in High school. I agree that when I took this course it wasn't what I was expecting, but I am grateful of the outcome.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if everyone respected the land and had the same love for it as the farmers we are reading about. However, I don't see this every happening. To these farmers their laind is their life. Most people's "land" is a house and a yard. Sometimes people care for their yard better than others. It is all for appearance. These farmers love their land and tend to it so caringly because it is literally their lfie and when they put time into bettering their land it is in turn bettering their own life.
ReplyDeleteI have found, like you, that Deeply Rooted really does show a connection between the appreciation for farming and for the land. Luckily, I live across a farm and the owners of the farm have always shared with me their love of the land and the animals they work with. I think farmers, like my neighbors, sharing their stories will really help people appreciate the Earth like the books we have read in class help us appreciate the Earth.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I believe more people would read these books because we as a society need to learn how to take care of the land we live on and appreciate what the earth gives us.
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