Final Thoughts on Growing a Farmer by Kurt Timmermeister

I was really excited to first begin reading Growing a Farmer. Professor Hansen had done an exceptional job of creating an initial interest in the book. Having now finished the book - or well most of it - my initial excitement did not last until the end. The first few chapters were very entertaining, I really enjoyed reading about how the farm got its start as well as the chapter on Bees. It was when Kurt first began describing his raising of animals that I began to lose the excitement. I was and still am a bit annoyed with how Kurt described these experiences with his animals. 

When first describing the interaction with his animals he would talk about how cute and innocent they were and then immediately follow that with a description detailing their purpose on the farm. Most, if not all, would one day become his meal when they were no longer interesting or serving a purpose. In Kurt's final chapter he tells the reader he would rather know that a life was associated with the meal he was eating as it gave the meal more meaning. I argue that knowing the meal I'm eating was once a - my - beloved animal would be utterly heartbreaking, I'd rather never know the animal that would one day end up on my plate. 

I mentioned in the first paragraph that I read most of the book but not all of it. I made the mistake last night of reading the chapter on pigs while I was eating my dinner. My meal did not have any meat in it but it was Mexican food. The reason I point this out is that Mexican food is most commonly prepared using lard. This specific restaurant I had purchased from does not use lard but because it is a common practice in Mexican food, it was somehow related in my mind. Another reason for being bothered is that I am allergic to pork so the traumatizing childhood memories I have of my allergies paired with the knowledge of the common practice of using lard made me uncomfortable. I am very stubborn and since I had already started the chapter, I was determined to finish it right then and there. I just separated my eating time from reading time. After getting through the chapter, I looked ahead to see the titles of the remaining chapters and noticed that the two immediately following were titled "the slaughter" and "butchering." I knew right then and there that I was not going to read those chapters. I was already extremely bothered by his previous chapters involving animals and I knew that these would be a whole different level of discomfort. I then proceeded to put the book down and I walked away.

I read the last two chapters this morning. I had even contemplated reading them at all but decided that I wanted to at least read his closing remarks, I needed some kind of closure. I didn't read these chapters as diligently as I had read the rest of the book. I really tried to, but when he mentioned the poor lamb who had her eyes removed by a crow my heart and mind sunk into a pit of despair and the rest of the words lost their meaning. I still admire his journey and braveness for leaving the modern world behind but I can say with full confidence that I will not be doing the same. What first started as an enjoyable read became something I'd rather not talk too much about beyond this.