Miss the first #AgBookClub chat this week? No worries, we’ve compiled a summary of the chat to prepare you for next week!
Week 1 of Bread, Wine and Chocolate covered pages 1 – 82, including the intro, a quick chapter on biodiversity, and the first section – wine. Below are several responses that we thought summed up the chat well, covered themes, or contained thought-provoking questions or comments (limited to 140 characters, of course).
Feel free to chime in with your thoughts in the comments section of this post or on Twitter (clicking the date at the bottom of each tweet will take you directly to that tweet on Twitter’s website). You can see the full conversation by searching “#AgBookClub” on Twitter.
Q1: What’s one thing that jumped out at you in this selection? Any key takeaways you’d like to share?
For real though, who’s dying to try the Trousseau Gris? #AgBookClub pic.twitter.com/bIUUhHjpCr
— AgBookClub (@AgBookClub) September 7, 2017
A1: SO into Ann’s attitude about wine.
“…there is no right or wrong way to drink.” #AgBookClub— Laura Wolf (@farmoutloud) September 7, 2017
A1: “America nearly destroyed — but ultimately saved — the world’s wine.” I would not want to live in the alternate reality. #agbookclub
— Kelsey Ruthman (@kelseyruthman) September 7, 2017
Q2: What have you liked so far about this reading selection? The book in general?
A2: It sounds generic, but all the information! I took a wine course in college, and still I learned so much. #agbookclub
— Kelsey Ruthman (@kelseyruthman) September 7, 2017
#AgBookClub Q2: I liked feeling like I don’t have to be ashamed for enjoying cheap wine! It’s not about the price, but enjoyment!
— Gracelynn Dale (@gracelynndale) September 7, 2017
A2: Reading this part made me think about wine beyond the bottle. #AgBookClub
— The Yellow Turmeric (@YellowTurmeric) September 7, 2017
Q3: What have you disliked so far about this reading selection? The book in general?
A3: I’m an ostrich. I “dislike” learning more about how fragile ag can be. Don’t want to think about losing foods I love. #agbookclub
— Kelsey Ruthman (@kelseyruthman) September 7, 2017
A3: At first it was hard to get into, then it was hard to read without a glass of wine in-hand! #AgBookClub https://t.co/2hBXSMycxu
— Alyssa ✨ (@AlyssaRockers) September 7, 2017
A3: Starts in on better=rare pretty quickly. Explores farmer choice, consumer outcome – but it goes both ways. #AgBookClub
— Laura Wolf (@farmoutloud) September 7, 2017
Q4: The author says this book is about biodiversity. Is this an issue in ag? If so, what’s the solution? Who is responsible?
A4: Previous to reading, I would have said no. But losing types of crops is big. Whole pop w “need it now” attitude responsible #AgBookClub https://t.co/98xhuER4c9
— Alyssa ✨ (@AlyssaRockers) September 7, 2017
A4: Yes – lots of factors. Conscious consumption can help, but that + seed banks can only go so far. Hunger is a bigger issue. #AgBookClub
— Laura Wolf (@farmoutloud) September 7, 2017
#AgBookClub Q4: A solutionhas to come from both producer and consumer- both are at fault if neither is demanding diversity.
— Gracelynn Dale (@gracelynndale) September 7, 2017
Q5: If most crops can be grown anywhere, why are many crops centralized in certain regions?
A5: There’s a difference between crops “growing” and “thriving.” Crops are grown where they grow best. #AgBookClub https://t.co/vYjvZk058m
— Alyssa ✨ (@AlyssaRockers) September 7, 2017
A5: Variety of reasons – land productivity, location, transportation network (& ease of getting it there), available labor, etc. #AgBookClub
— Gracie Weinzierl (@FarmKidBlog) September 7, 2017
A5: I’m a mom now, so I’ll give a very “mom-style” answer: Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. #agbookclub
— Kelsey Ruthman (@kelseyruthman) September 7, 2017
Q6: Like lots of things, winemaking has changed a lot. What do you think we gain/lose in those changes? What brought the change?
A6: Sometimes you gain safety/security or efficiency; you can lose tradition/heritage. People & standards of living have evolved #AgBookClub https://t.co/mQdyhrNq6Y
— Alyssa ✨ (@AlyssaRockers) September 7, 2017
A6: Reach! Changes could give more people access to affordable, delicious wine. #agbookclub
— Kelsey Ruthman (@kelseyruthman) September 7, 2017
A6:
Gain: uniformity, options, better price points
Lose: options? soul? character?#AgBookClub— Laura Wolf (@farmoutloud) September 7, 2017
Week 2’s assignment is to read pages 83 – 134 of Bread, Wine & Chocolate (view the full schedule here). The #AgBookClub Twitter chat takes place Wednesdays at 8pm CT.
AgBookClub 