Thinking about our Class Discussion from 2-5

Cows grazing freely at a family farm right behind my home in Vermont

I don't think vegetarianism is the solve-all-problems answer we think it is. While vegetarianism does directly hit the factory farms, it also hits the family farms that raise their animals in a more humane way than factory farms. We're not just hurting the bad guys, but the good guys too.

I consider family farmers to be the good guys because they generally raise animals that can entertain their natural instincts, they don't destroy the land and the food is then produced locally. I think that in a sense, family farms are like little self contained ecosystems. Cows create fertilizer for crops, chickens provide eggs, cows provide milk, the farmers provide food, water and shelter for the animals, and when crops are rotated, the soil is replenished. It's a pretty darn amazing system in my mind. The land is not being destroyed but revitalized, which sustains life, our lives and the animals.

And one author from a reading noted than even vegans are still (indirectly) killing animals. When farmers gather the crops with their large machines, they are accidentally killing field mice and other small mammals. It's just something to think about... No solution is ever perfect. But ultimately vegetarianism is an awesome choice for those not wanting to support factory farms. Just make sure to realize the other options too!