The Orchard

I read this in one sitting, without quite meaning to. At first, I wanted it to be a stronger indictment against farming with chemicals. But I came to appreciate the quiet subtlety of her protest and how she shows restraint and compassion toward even the most unsympathetic people in her life. I also appreciated the moment when she realizes how good people go so wrong–it humanized the issue for me. I like to think of organic vs. chemicals as a completely black and white issue, and sometimes forget the real people struggling with the weight of these decisions, on top of tradition and family legacies.