It is an interesting fact that everything that surrounds people has been created by nature for humans and animals to use at own disposal. Plants and other living creatures are food for carnivores and people are no different. Everything that people survived on were plants that could be eaten and animals that had meat to be cooked. Michael Pollan takes a closer look at things that are taken for granted and describes how much people depend and at the same time, disvalue and don’t appreciate what nature provides for humanity.
His book titled “Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals” discusses several aspects of nature and focuses specifically on grass and what it is for animals and different people. Without grass life would have many problems, as both animals and humans very much need on it to live full lives.
Expectations that society has is centered on food and that it is provided in abundance for stores and markets but how it gets there, no one wonders. The author starts out by making a very specific and acute observation that most people see grass as a unit, one entity that is a part and mostly, an insignificant piece of the environment comparing to the rest of nature’s objects.
Walking on it every day, an individual never really stops and thinks what grass consists of and how its life processes are carried out. Michael Pollan mentions that the majority of people do not see grass the same way a cow sees it. As cows eat it every day, they have become specialists in the kinds of grass there are and what specific ones should not be eaten. A farmer also sees grass as a part of his life because he needs it for his cows to survive and his farm to prosper.
The author goes on to talk about his visit to the farm and how he was explained about the different types and strands of grass. People who are closely involved with farming are also knowledgeable about grass and how to properly grow it (Pollan, 2007). The expectations that people have towards grass and what farmers think, are very different. People want to see grass on their lawn to look pretty and to cover the mud. Farmers expect grass to be well grown and full of vitamins for their live stock.
Grass is a very needed and essential part of the farm and the chain of production because so many species of animals depend on it. Grass’ growth and the cows’ eating habits have many “rules and laws” that surround this food type. “The law of the second bite” is an important one to keep in mind, as the cows should not be permitted to completely eat the grass down to the root (Pollan, 2007). In case this does happen, and it mostly does, the grass becomes weakened and stops growing.
After the cows have taken the first bite, grass should be left alone, as it will have a chance to replenish itself and continue healthy growth. The opposite it true because if the grass is left to grow out more than it is supposed to, the area becomes too “bushy” and cannot be used for cows. A farmer, who is taking care of his animals and their food, will rotate to make sure the animals are moved to a new patch of grass and this makes for best results for grass, animals and people (Pollan, 2007).
It is very much surprising but grass and its quality plays a key role for animals and people. The better the grass, the more nutritious the meat and milk will be for people to consume. It is important to take care of such an important resource until it is depleted.
Reference
Pollan, M. (2007). Omnivore’s dilemma: A natural history of four meals. New York, United States: Penguin.