As I dive deeper into the farmer's journey, I am fascinated to see how invested Kurt becomes in farming. Originally, he only seeks a reasonably priced piece of land; however, because he has such an open mind, Kurt is quickly developing a deep love for farming. With every step involved from simply obtaining raw milk, to turning apples into apple juice, he is displaying his love and appreciate for the process. Watching Kurt grow not only as a farmer, but an individual has been almost uplifting for me. He is learning to delve into a much more holistic lifestyle that seems almost absent in this day and age.

I specifically like the section where he describes the process of making vinegar and apple redux, because I am a huge fan of apple juice myself. If I could, I would drink apple juice everyday of the week. Maybe occasionally add some hard cider into the equation as well. I like this piece because it relates to the documentary we are watching in class: The Botany of Desire. The documentary talks about the origin of apples and how they are manipulating the human population with their sweet taste and appealing nature. The apples have somehow managed to move from Asia to Europe, all the way to North America, without having any limbs of their own. In this section of the book, Kurt explains the specific process of how the perfect apple is boiled down to a juice and bottled up to be preserved in the winter times when one wants a little freshening dessert. "The kettle is then shut off, the apple juice gently poured into half gallon jars and stored away for the winter months when we are hungry for sweetness and the depth of flavor that the redux contains." I never realized how many uses an apple had. I figured you either eat the apple, or drink it in liquid form. It never really crossed my mind that it could be turned into a syrup for pancakes or a vinegar for Asian food. Now, not only had Kurt developed a new appreciation for apples, but so have I. I can only imagine al of the possibilities hiding behind the skins of so many other fruits and vegetables all around me.