Feeding more fowl

Submitted by Bertrand Bhikarry on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 08:59

Each morning as I fling the handfuls of corn to my birds, it crosses my mind. We aren't much different to those birds here in good ole T&T. Who was it said, "Who have more corn feed more fowl?" I forget, but my point is this.

People make decisions for our well-being (or theirs) and we accept blithely because we see 'the corn'. People in NGO's and some community group (this website is becoming one) don't have a long term hope in hell. The fact is, I mean, my take on it. Things may not change - ever, no matter how much we blog, shout, advocate.

I say this because in addition to feeding farm animals, I sometime get the opportunity to assist in various small power issues - like choosing a kindergarten school-board president, deciding with others who can run a dog shelter, and other earth shakers.

Sometimes I get even deeper into social strata. I come away slightly tainted each time as I look on, as I contribute actively to manipulate the outcomes - based on our groups ability to distribute corn effectively if I may add. It's really disheartening to observe the ease at which results can be derived by a bit of planning, a bit of selective news distribution, and the odd pat on the back.

My real cold hurt in the stomach is I see it happening on an escalating scale to present population, and it comes from our last three generations of Trinis and 'Bagonians urge to get in more than enough corn.

Maybe we should consider adopting new generational values. We really cannot continue to do the same thing to get different results. Me, I'm not eating meat.
I think I'll continue with this after I decide if it's worth airing (..gonna feed meh fowl)

Blog: 
feeding fowl
farming
elections
community

Comments

Submitted by Taran Rampersad on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 10:00.

There is a need to either return to better values or find even better values now.

That said, I'll say that I don't agree with your views on meat. But in the grand scheme of things, I think that's not a big difference in opinion. :-)

Submitted by Ian Ramjohn on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 02:00.

It's been 12 years and almost 10 months since I stopped eating meat.*  In general, given the way most meat is raised, meat has a large environmental footprint / carbon footprint.  So eating less meat is one fairly easy way to reduce your carbon footprint.  Of course, raising chickens in yoru backyard on scraps, insects, and grubs from your compost heap would probably have a bigger positive impact.  So "less meat" is better (for the environment, for your health) than "more meat"; whether it's better than "no meat" is something that defies broad generalisation.

*Kinda stopped.  Still eat a little fish, and once in a long while, some boiled cow bones, also known as Jello.

Submitted by Taran Rampersad on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 10:35.

is what you're using - and that's fine with me. I have no compulsion to 'convert' you to my way of thinking when it comes to using my canines and incisors on a piece of meat. There is a lot that could and should be done when it comes to meat that would decrease the environmental impact as well as be better for health. The same could be said of growing vegetables. Deforestation, poor farming practices (in both senses of the word 'poor', as they are linked), etc.

I will tell you one of the problems I do have with vegetarianism as it is often done in at least Trinidad (uncertain of Tobago): the lack of balanced diet is also problematic with diabetes and obesity. Note that I'm not saying that vegetarianism causes it - but Trinidadians seem very interested in starches.

For myself, I'm a unapologetic carnivore. I don't expect or want everyone to be one. I grew up under enforced vegetarianism but my frame requires large amounts of protein and that can only be reasonably done with meat. You might wish to argue otherwise, but I know my body. Sure, it comes with tradeoffs. I've accepted that.
That said, I'm trying to get started in aquaculture but the Ministry of Agriculture is not a big help when it comes to this. ;-)

Submitted by From Foreign (not verified) on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 10:48.

email me for stuff on aquaculture - got lots.

Submitted by Taran Rampersad on Mon, 11/09/2009 - 06:48.

A lack of ability to get licensed, it seems. ;-)