I am an unabashed meat eater. Now don't get me wrong, that does not mean I'm an unethical meat eater. Just like I believe it's possible to be an ethical slut, I also feel it's possible to be a conscious carnivore. It is important for me to know where the meat I buy comes from, as well as directly support the hard-working individuals who are dedicated to providing my meat in a responsible manner.
A woman named Novella Carpenter from Oakland, California, has taken the idea of ethical meat eating to an inspiring new level. She raises, kills, and prepares her own meat. What is surprising about her situation isn't so much that she can (and does) do all that, but that she does it in an urban setting versus living on a farm or ranch. Maybe you've even heard of her book, Farm City.
Anyway, let's get back to that idea of a farm in Oakland since it is not exactly a place where one envisions an empty lot full of chickens, goats, and pigs. This environmental juxtaposition is exactly why the following interview is so interesting. Michael Pollan, whom Carpenter use to study under at the University of Berkeley, interviews her about her lifestyle and the unique relationship she has with the food she eats.
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