Exploration 6 Courtney Shaffer

This documentary is helpful for people who have an interest and understanding in food and the effects of farming and agriculture. If you do not though, this documentary will be confusing for you, likely to loose your attention. An example that would support this from the film would be how throughout the film they talk a lot about different bacteria and pesticides. If you are interested in this lifestyle and know about this stuff then you would understand the film, if you don't then you wouldn't even understand what they're saying. This film could easily have two perspectives.

Yes, the film is filled with an abundance of information. It has things from facts about what is best for people and the environment, to what to stay away from doing if you are farming. The film works on helping and informing you on what to do if you wanted to farm, and even learn about a better lifestyle. It's focus is to help you become better with your choice of eating and helping the environment.

One theme that I found really relevant throughout was the effects of chemicals and how they can cause many bacteria, diseases, etc. In the film, I found that diseases and bacteria's were talked about continuously. Rus Kremer, a farmer who owns a 120 acre farm, told his own story about his own experience. Rus was stabbed in the knee by a Boar hog. His infection got so bad he didn't think that he would survive. Antibiotic resistance was the problem. Rus stated, after this happened, "My conscious kicked in, I couldn't do it anymore" (Kremer). Rus stopped using antibiotics for fourteen years. By doing this, he saved $14,000 the first year. By Rus going organic, he stopped having diseases that other farmers came across so frequently. Madcow disease, ecoli, avian flu, etc. These are some common diseases that you may have heard of before. These can kill people. According to Rus, most farmers believe in the moto, "Faster, cheaper" (Kremer). This means that farms are promoting things like feeding dead cows to cow. A herbivore doesn't eat dead cows. This process causes diseases, it's nature speaking to us. Rus Kremer, the farmer stated above says, "If you take care of the grass...the grass will take care of the animal" (Kremer). Diseases and bacteria can cause so many terrible things to happen and spread around. The more you process food, the less nutritious it is. Basically, the more antibiotics you put into farming, the less nutritious.

Will Allen, a former athlete, now teaches people how to eat healthy and support the system. His wife's family had land the wasn't being used so he took advantage of this and started planting. He uses no chemicals on any animal because of beneficial bacteria. He works to help teach people how he does this, so that they can do it own their own at their own homes. Will states, "You must do everything a certain way to be apart of the system" (Allen). Will Allen is working to better the lives of people in a healthier way.

Are you interested in what I'm talking about? Yes? Then you would enjoy this film. No? You don't even understand some of the things that I'm talking about, nor do you have an interest in it. You will then not enjoy this film. Fresh is absolutely an informing film, if it is able to keep your attention.