Bringing it to the Table by Wendell Berry - Book Report/Review Example

Bringing it to the Table: Review and Response

Wendell Berry is an American Novelist who criticizes modernization in America. His critique is based on agriculture, place, and industrialism; a symbol of how people have abandoned their culture. In his book, ‘’Bringing it to the Table,’’ Berry addresses the issues regarding farms, farming and food (Berry, 2013). The author has also discussed the negative impact of the industrial revolution in agriculture, pointing out some of the major changes that came as a result of the agricultural revolution. About the farms, the author insists on the use of traditional tools of cultivation which conserved the soil (Berry, 2013). In his argument, the author notes that before the development of the advanced farming machinery, people could conserve the soil, preventing its sustainability. However, upon the industrial revolution, the advanced methods of farming resulted in degradation of soil thus affecting the overall productivity of farms. Regarding farming, as an activity, the author discusses the effects of using modern methods such as fertilizers, pests control and marketing of the farm produce, which came as a result of the industrial revolution and modernization. On the issue of food, the author discusses how it should be preserved, prepared and shared among individuals within the society. The book addresses some issues that I believe still affects the lives of people currently.

According to various studies, the industrial revolution, characterized by the use of machinery, farm chemicals, and drugs, brought about improvement in the field of agriculture (Altieri, Nicholls & Montalba, 2017). On the contrary, according to Berry, even if it solved the problem of large-scale farming, it had some negative impact on the quality of the land, which includes lowering the fertility of the soil when used for a long time. Upon the introduction of the new techniques of farming, the cost of farming raised thus leaving the farmers with no other option than to dig deeper into their pockets or to secure loans, which placed them into even serious problems of debts. Based on the argument by the author, as a result of debts incurred by the farmers, they were forced to quit withholding the knowledge that they were supposed to pass to the next generations. Therefore, the new generation does not know the traditional forms of farming, and the only thing they concentrate on is to introduce more chemicals that keep on degrading the soil (Berry, 2013). The new types of farming were also considered threats to human health due to the chemicals and drugs used something that forced people to be scared from engaging in farming practices something thus resulted in a reduction in the number of landowners.

Similar to what the author talks about in the book, within the modern society, people are facing serious issues in relation to the new and scientific forms of farming, such as the use of genetically modified techniques. In the modern world for, instance, there is rampant industrial or technological revolution which has increased productivity through the use of machinery and pest management as well as fertilizers in the farms. However, on the other hand, human labor has become irrelevant in the production process which has led to the social issue of unemployment. Similar to how the use of chemicals during the industrial revolution degraded the land, in the modern days the continued use of fertilizers and farm chemicals in pest and weed control has led to a further depreciation in the quality of the soil (McMichael, 2016). This has resulted to air and waterborne diseases, which affect both human beings and animals.

Industrialization has depreciated work. Human labor has been replaced by the use of machines in the farms. As a result of this, the rate of unemployment is alarming. According to Berry, people no longer work out of passion but to earn a living hence they no longer take responsibility or accountability for their actions (Berry, 2013). In our society today, the kind of life you live is determined by the kind of work you do. There are a lot of expectations by the society from the working members in that they have to settle the bills in various aspects of life. Parents have to pay school fees, medical bills, transport and cater for other basic needs for their children. The working population is also expected to provide for the aged who can no longer cater for their needs.

Record keeping regarding climatic conditions and weather changes are major issues that a farmer should be well-versed with. Berry discusses the true identity of a farmer; a farmer should be a student of nature. He should know the kind of soil he is working on hence will know the kind of crops that are well suited for such soils (Berry, 2013). According to Berry, soil preservation is very essential in farming simply because it increases the level of crop productivity. On learning the climatic changes, aids in timing the planting and harvesting seasons. Through this, the farmer will be independent, and hence the aspect of the farmers being indebted will cease to exist. In our country today, agricultural produce highly depends on the type of soils. Tea and coffee do well in red, volcano soils while wheat does well in loam soil. Through the use of calendars the farmers have mastered when they should plant their crops and when to harvest. Good timing yields high agricultural produce and vice versa (McMichael, 2016). The farmers who have mastered the art of soil preservation through methods such as contour farming, crop rotation, planting cover crops such as sweet potatoes vines, terracing, building gabions and mulching to prevent the top fertile soil from being carried away by wind or running water. Soils can also be enriched by adding organic manure for high-quality products and as a result, they can afford the cost of farming and hence will never be indebted.

Climatic changes, inadequate resources, debts and health problems are caused by poor feeding habits and taking in food that is not fit for human consumption. According to Berry we should consume products from the farm and avoid packed foods which are processed in the industries (Berry, 2013). Eating food from the farm prepared and cooked in our kitchen give the inhabitants the sense of belonging hence bring about the unity of working together on the farms to produce more food for the family. Women highly contribute to the farm activities by preserving food and preparing family meals from the farm products. In the society today, the senior members of the society have higher chances of survival since they were brought up consuming traditional food; food that was produced using less chemical and prepared using more traditional methods as compared to modern children who are exposed to processed food from the industries at a tender age. Junk food results to diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Cardiac arrest is as a result of foods rich in cholesterol which are processed in the industries from animal products (Popkin & Kenan, 2016). Some of these traditional foods are medicinal and highly recommended for consumption.

In conclusion, based on the arguments addressed in the above themes, traditional methods of farming and tools are highly upheld in the society since they are safer for the soil, climate and human health. Traditional foods are also highly recommended in the society for human consumption. This prevents some of the diseases that claim human lives. Through traditional ways of doing things, the culture is appreciated; the economy and the population of the country is upheld due to fewer losses of lives that may result from health complications. Traditional foods which are meant for sharing among individuals acts as a unifying factor and gives people a sense of belonging.