--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was struck by the fact that for Joel…" description: "\"“I was struck by the fact that for Joel abjuring agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals is not so much a goal of his farming, as it so often is in organic a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/michael-pollan-408_farmer_i-was-struck-by-the-fact-that-for-joel-a_2978120.jpg" --- # I was struck by the fact that for Joel abjuring… ![“I was struck by the fact that for Joel abjuring agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals is not so much a goal of his farming, as it so often is in organic agriculture, as it is an indication that his farm is functioning well. “In nature health is the default,” he pointed out. “Most of the time pests and…” quote by Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/michael-pollan-408_farmer_i-was-struck-by-the-fact-that-for-joel-a_2978120.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/michael-pollan-408_farmer_i-was-struck-by-the-fact-that-for-joel-a_2978120.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/michael-pollan-408_farmer_i-was-struck-by-the-fact-that-for-joel-a_2978120.jpg) > ““I was struck by the fact that for Joel abjuring agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals is not so much a goal of his farming, as it so often is in organic agriculture, as it is an indication that his farm is functioning well. “In nature health is the default,” he pointed out. “Most of the time pests and disease are just nature’s way of telling the farmer he’s doing something wrong.”” [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Healthy farms show few pests; problems signal poor management. **In simple terms:** Pest problems indicate farm health. Key Takeaway Monitor natural indicators for farm health. Themes agriculture ecosystem health organic farming Mood analytical thoughtful Type scientific educational When to use this quote - farm assessments - sustainable practices Key Concepts soil health integrated pest management Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess farm health? - What signals indicate imbalance? A Different Perspective Overreliance on absence of pests may miss hidden issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farmer/) [Farming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farming/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Organic agriculture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organic-agriculture/) [Organic farming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organic-farming/) [Pesticides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pesticides/) [Sustainability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sustainability/) ## Related quotes > [Most of the time pests and disease are just nature's way of telling the farmer he's doing something wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/most-of-the-time-pests-and-disease-are-just-nature-s-way-of-telling/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [It is now 14 years since I first suggested that organic farming might have some benefits and ought to be taken seriously. I shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-charles/it-is-now-14-years-since-i-first-suggested-that-organic-farming-might/) [Prince Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-charles/) > [“A charge often levied against organic agriculture is that it is more philosophy than science. There's some truth to this indictment, if that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/a-charge-often-levied-against-organic-agriculture-is-that-it-is-more/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Every major food company now has an organic division. There's more capital going into organic agriculture than ever before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/every-major-food-company-now-has-an-organic-division-there-s-more/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Nature is doing her best each moment to make us well. Why, nature is but another name for health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/nature-is-doing-her-best-each-moment-to-make-us-well-why-nature-is/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Family, nature and health all go together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/family-nature-and-health-all-go-together/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [When a livestock farmer is willing to "practice complexity"-to choreograph the symbiosis of several different animals, each of which has been allowed to behave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/when-a-livestock-farmer-is-willing-to-practice-complexity-to/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Real climate solutions are ones that steer these interventions to systematically disperse and devolve power and control to the community level, whether through community-controlled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/real-climate-solutions-are-ones-that-steer-these-interventions-to/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [Organic agriculture is more about fairness and respect than it is about parts-per-billion of pesticide residues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hightower/organic-agriculture-is-more-about-fairness-and-respect-than-it-is/) [Jim Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hightower/) > [“As concerned beekeepers, we need to educate ourselves about the dangers that threaten our communities, and advocate against them. We once could trust in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-crowder/as-concerned-beekeepers-we-need-to-educate-ourselves-about-the/) Les Crowder > [Food movement organic food stores supplies health food products and facilitate with instrumental support in organic agriculture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/food-movement-organic-food-stores-supplies-health-food-products-and/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [Basically, the person in the White House should be principled, should have a philosophy about food that relates directly to organic agriculture. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/basically-the-person-in-the-white-house-should-be-principled-should/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [If we moved from industrialized agriculture to re-localized organic agriculture, we could sequester about one quarter of the carbon moving into the air and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-laduke/if-we-moved-from-industrialized-agriculture-to-re-localized-organic/) [Winona LaDuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-laduke/) > [Many organic practices simply make sense, regardless of what overall agricultural system is used. Far from being a quaint throwback to an earlier time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/many-organic-practices-simply-make-sense-regardless-of-what-overall/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Our point of view is, lets not be so elitist that we can't honor good, hard, dignified, ennobling work: people working with their hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/our-point-of-view-is-lets-not-be-so-elitist-that-we-can-t-honor-good/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) ## More by Michael Pollan > [“In the same way that the picturesque designers were always careful to include some reminder of our mortality in their gardens -- a ruin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/in-the-same-way-that-the-picturesque-designers-were-always-careful-to/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [My hope is that if people have the knowledge, and if they actually see where their food comes from and have access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/my-hope-is-that-if-people-have-the-knowledge-and-if-they-actually-see/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [The problem is that we let special-occasion food become everyday food. That goes for soda and french fries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/the-problem-is-that-we-let-special-occasion-food-become-everyday-food/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Every peasant cuisine has incredible ingenious tricks for getting a lot of nutrition out of a small amount of ingredients. There are people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/every-peasant-cuisine-has-incredible-ingenious-tricks-for-getting-a/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [“In ancient Greece, the word for “cook,” “butcher,” and “priest” was the same—mageiros—and the word shares an etymological root with “magic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/in-ancient-greece-the-word-for-cook-butcher-and-priest-was-the-same/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [In the end I'm still a writer. I'm still a journalist, and my first responsibility is to my readers. That's where I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/in-the-end-i-m-still-a-writer-i-m-still-a-journalist-and-my-first/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Seeds have the power to preserve species, to enhance cultural as well as genetic diversity, to counter economic monopoly and to check the advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/seeds-have-the-power-to-preserve-species-to-enhance-cultural-as-well/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [“The bubble logic driving tulipomania has since acquired a name: “the greater fool theory.” Although by any conventional measure it is folly to pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/the-bubble-logic-driving-tulipomania-has-since-acquired-a-name-the/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [“Of the seven deadly sins, surely it is pride that most afflicts the gardener.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/of-the-seven-deadly-sins-surely-it-is-pride-that-most-afflicts-the/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Growing corn, which from a biological perspective had always been a process of capturing sunlight to turn into food, has in no small measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/growing-corn-which-from-a-biological-perspective-had-always-been-a/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Eat with consciousness. When you eat with consciousness, and you know what you're eating, and you eat it in full appreciation of what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/eat-with-consciousness-when-you-eat-with-consciousness-and-you-know/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [This is part of human nature, the desire to change consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/this-is-part-of-human-nature-the-desire-to-change-consciousness/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [“...whenever I hear people say clean food is expensive, I tell them it's actually the cheapest food you can buy. That always gets their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/whenever-i-hear-people-say-clean-food-is-expensive-i-tell-them-it-s/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [“Imagine if we had a food system that actually produced wholesome food. Imagine if it produced that food in a way that restored the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/imagine-if-we-had-a-food-system-that-actually-produced-wholesome-food/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [“CONSULT YOUR GUT.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/consult-your-gut/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) [Explore all 584 Michael Pollan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) ## More Farmer quotes > [A buyer can buy anything from wherever he gets it cheap. Where will the Indian trader or farmer go in this case? Are we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-sitharaman/a-buyer-can-buy-anything-from-wherever-he-gets-it-cheap-where-will/) [Nirmala Sitharaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-sitharaman/) > [Im a farmer. I always will be a farmer. When I die, Ill be a farmer. Its something that Ive wanted to do since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/im-a-farmer-i-always-will-be-a-farmer-when-i-die-ill-be-a-farmer-its/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [“The Prince had fallen in love. She was only a farmer's daughter, but she was was beautiful, and also smart, as the daughters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/the-prince-had-fallen-in-love-she-was-only-a-farmer-s-daughter-but/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [I am not a pig farmer. The pigs had a great time, but I didn't make any money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/i-am-not-a-pig-farmer-the-pigs-had-a-great-time-but-i-didn-t-make-any/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [The most peaceful thing in the world is plowing a field. Chances are you’ll do your best thinking that way. And that’s why I’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-peaceful-thing-in-the-world-is-plowing-a-field-chances-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The pious farmer, who ne'er misses pray'rs, With patience suffers unexpected rain; He blesses Heav'n for what its bounty spares, And sees, resign'd, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/the-pious-farmer-who-ne-er-misses-pray-rs-with-patience-suffers/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [How will you know a good farmer when you meet him? He will not ask you for any favors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/how-will-you-know-a-good-farmer-when-you-meet-him-he-will-not-ask-you/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [The duty of the individual farmer, at this time, is to increase his production, particularly of food crops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-f-houston/the-duty-of-the-individual-farmer-at-this-time-is-to-increase-his/) [David F. Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-f-houston/) > [My mom had Julia Child and 'The Fannie Farmer Cookbook' on top of the refrigerator, and she had a small repertoire of French dishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/my-mom-had-julia-child-and-the-fannie-farmer-cookbook-on-top-of-the/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [I buy my produce at the local farmer's market, which is actually cheaper than shopping at the grocery store.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-getty/i-buy-my-produce-at-the-local-farmer-s-market-which-is-actually/) [Anna Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-getty/) > [A real farmer. He spent his childhood in the wheat, and his marriage in the hay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/a-real-farmer-he-spent-his-childhood-in-the-wheat-and-his-marriage-in/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [“Farmer Landis, and raisin or "Rosina" pie,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-thomas/farmer-landis-and-raisin-or-rosina-pie/) [Edith Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-thomas/) > [Be a gentleman farmer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/be-a-gentleman-farmer/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Agrarian reform should not merely subdivide misery, it must raise living standards. Ownership raises the farmer from his, but productivity will keep him on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/agrarian-reform-should-not-merely-subdivide-misery-it-must-raise/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Land is an emotional subject with a farmer in India because it is his only means of income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kushal-pal-singh/land-is-an-emotional-subject-with-a-farmer-in-india-because-it-is-his/) [Kushal Pal Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kushal-pal-singh/) [Browse all 399 Farmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farmer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I was struck by the fact that for Joel abjuring agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals is not so much a goal of his farming, as it so often is in organic agriculture, as it is an indication that his farm is functioning well. “In nature health is the default,” he pointed out. “Most of the time pests and disease are just nature’s way of telling the farmer he’s doing something wrong.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Pollan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/i-was-struck-by-the-fact-that-for-joel-abjuring-agrochemicals-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Farmer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/i-was-struck-by-the-fact-that-for-joel-abjuring-agrochemicals-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/michael-pollan-408_farmer_i-was-struck-by-the-fact-that-for-joel-a_2978120.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/michael-pollan-408_farmer_i-was-struck-by-the-fact-that-for-joel-a_2978120.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/michael-pollan-408_farmer_i-was-struck-by-the-fact-that-for-joel-a_2978120.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was struck by the fact that for Joel abjuring agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals is not so much a goal of…” — Michael Pollan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael Pollan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I was struck by the fact...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/i-was-struck-by-the-fact-that-for-joel-abjuring-agrochemicals-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/i-was-struck-by-the-fact-that-for-joel-abjuring-agrochemicals-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```