tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369726295282299526.post4316827489223303635..comments2023-10-20T07:54:44.637-04:00Comments on Homeschooled twins: The Food Miles MistakeShezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14165727341717139605noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369726295282299526.post-66230147992190535722009-01-22T21:49:00.000-05:002009-01-22T21:49:00.000-05:00That article had some good points, but some were s...That article had some good points, but some were silly IMO. I think the idea of eating locally means you don't eat bananas if you live in Costa Rica. I am also concerned about such a centralized food system that occurs when you don't get local foods. It's very vulnerable to threats--bioterrorism and any disease/pest that can wipe everything out, because it's too centralized. Less centralized may be less efficient but safer long term. <BR/><BR/>The thing is, people working for local foods don't get much benefit (local farmers who do well don't do so well, it just means they don't need second jobs!), so their hearts are in the right place. A company like Dole has a lot of stake in the current food system.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369726295282299526.post-3560684981720029552008-11-13T08:55:00.000-05:002008-11-13T08:55:00.000-05:00I think the point of buying local is to do so when...I think the point of buying local is to do so when it makes sense--like buy Virginia apples now, NC peaches in July, etc. Of course there are people who take every idea too far but the impulse behind eating locally is to eat locally *and* sensibly.<BR/>Also, much of the greenhouse gas produced by food production is left in the farm field. I have no statistics, nor do I have any faith in statistics, but I can tell you from looking out my window that the hours of tractor time, airplanes zooming and dropping chemicals, etc. must far exceed any time I spend going to the grocery store. I mean, hour for hour, their time on one field far exceeds my annual drive time to the grocery store. So focusing the greenhouse emission/Mileage study on freight and leaving out on-farm emissions is a huge hole in the math.<BR/>As to teaching your kids how to think critically--you're doing it. There isn't a program for everything and some things must grow organically (hehe) from real life ;-) How can they *not* question when they're growing up in your household? You ARE the program you seek.Cerwydwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03008725997423562909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369726295282299526.post-46455923413816696722008-11-13T07:30:00.000-05:002008-11-13T07:30:00.000-05:00Amen.When the word 'green' is mentioned it seems a...Amen.<BR/><BR/>When the word 'green' is mentioned it seems all rational thought goes out the window.<BR/><BR/>I fear that good things about 'green living' will fall by the wayside when this is revealed to be a 'fad' or 'trend'. <BR/><BR/>I have been doing some 'green living' things since the early 1990s when it was "uncool" and "weird". Yet now me, who does a bunch of things, not just talks about it, gets criticized each time I step out from the 'accepted thing'. For example a number of people don't like that we buy spring water in bottles to drink in the car and when 'out in the world'. The fact of the matter is if we bought those stainless steel water bottles we'd always be empty as we drink a LOT of water.<BR/><BR/>I have been reading "Facts Not Fear" however it is now out of print and has been critizied by the left and by environmental people as not being accurate. I highly recommend starting with that book.<BR/><BR/>I also feel that every time the kids take an outside class they are exposed. I have a story about the wolf conservation place that maybe I will blog. (A HS field trip we went on.)<BR/><BR/>"The truth doesn't matter if it pushes the agenda" is what my husband always says--but we both disagree with it---but that is what we feel others think.<BR/><BR/>Also some HS kids we know say wrong facts when the kids are just playing or visiting my home. So some are being taught wrong info and propaganda by well-intentioned parents. Also once more stuff came out of the mouths of babes when my DH was teaching a HS stock market class.<BR/><BR/>The best we can do is keep talking about our analysis and how to think.<BR/><BR/>I bought "Fallacy Detective" but it is for grades 7 and up and have not read it yet to see if I want to use it. Not sure why but many Christians use it, not sure if it is religious in nature or what. Also "The Thinking Toolbox" is the sequel.<BR/><BR/>Can't find much for the younger set, to teach them with.<BR/><BR/>I have a story from yesterday of my 11 year old exhibiting thinking skills that I might blog. I snapped a photo of him in action and hope to put that in the blog post. <BR/><BR/>Hope you have been well!!ChristineMMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17388497877158577422noreply@blogger.com