Everything I Want to Do is Illegal
So says the book by independent farmer extraordinaire Joel Salatin of Augusta County.
This past Saturday, I visited Mr. Salatin's "Polyface Farm" outside Staunton to see why everyone is talking about his revolutionary methods of farming.
Why is a Senator and attorney from the Northern Virginia suburbs interested in farming?
First of all, my wife made me go. She's been interested in Polyface Farm since reading the "Omnivore's Dilemma" with her book club several months ago.
Second, my family (like most American families) has a long history with farming. Three of my four grandparents grew up on farms or ranches. My mother and I are part owners of a family farm located in Middlesex County. Somehow, somewhere there's a farming instinct in me.
Third, as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I have a front-row seat of the various battles between agribusinesses that sell to national grocery chains and small farmers selling directly to consumers. Around these battles are all the hot issues: consumer choice, product safety, competitive pricing and environmental impact. Besides, my constituents are eating all these products.
I figured there would be a few dozen people there to walk the farm and hear from the boss. Wrong. There were about a thousand. And that was just for the morning program.
The parking lot held license plates from all over the U.S. There were "Ron Paul Revolution" stickers next to "Jan 20 09" stickers. There were Amish families from Pennsylvania. Pig farmers from Arkansas. Food buyers from NYC restaurants. Moms with kids. Dads taking notes. It was "A to Z" of the American food chain.
Mr. Salatin's points were pretty simple: Let the animals work naturally with the land. Give them free range. Let the chickens run. Let the cattle graze. Do not keep them penned up in stalls. Don't give them steroids. Let them grow naturally.
The result is not just healthier food, it's also a healthier landscape. Why? Because the acres saved from constant hay production become land that is utilized for natural feeding without soil exhaustion.
And here's the shocking part ... you can make more money!
According to Salatin, his yield per acre as an organic farmer far oustrips his neighbors using conventional hay-driven farming. Let's face it. That's what brings in the visitors.
I don't know enough about farming to appreciate all of Salatin's arguments, much less critique them. But I learned more there in a morning than I learned in all the Ag Committee hearings combined.
This guy may really be on to something.
The
Organic farming is growing. The new Farm BILL even has a provision on that. Plus if they follow the rules, they can be certified and they get higher prices for those products. I have to go see them somedays.
Good article, chap.
Sue
There were 1650 people registered and I don't think that included his family, all the vendors or Acres staff or the interns, that treat it like a reunion. Did you stay for lunch? He fed everyone with extraordinary efficiency. I took my husband along as well (mainly I think I was hoping for a Vulcan mind meld ...sigh ...guess Joel's powers don't extend to Startrek) oh well.
Read all of his books, buy them for the people that are involved in the day to day operations of your farm. You are in a special position to affect the health of the American people! Why do we spend so much taxpayer money on subsidies for products that aren't even on the food pyramid and so extremely little for ones (fruits and vegetables) that are? The corn and soybeans that are subsidized become high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated soybean oil, both of which are harmful to health. Not to mention they are produced year after year with no consideration to the effect they are having on the land, just toss on more petrol-chemicals to poison the earth more. PLEASE do something about this insanity!
Maggie:
Thanks for your comments. You are asking all the right questions. I'm reading up on this as fast as I can! Anyway, it was an eye-opening experience and I intend to see what we can do at the state (i.e. regulatory) level, as well as at the consumer level to get these products on a level playing field. So consumers can make their own choices.
Hey, Chap, it's your Republican lurker... (wink)...
...there is a lot of scary stuff added to food. I find myself reading labels to find what has been certified organic, what hasn't been grown with pesticides, and what hasn't got a lot of allegedly "natural" ingredients I don't want too much off (corn syrup, soy) and also checking for milk from cows that haven't been fed growth hormones and such. I agree with the comments that looking for certified organic is the way a lot of us want to go as consumers, for both environmental and health reasons. (I am a tree hugger and am unapologetic about it. I don't want to eat a bunch of chemicals with my fruit and veggies.)
Another issue is that food travels way too far to market in America. Some of it is highly illogical nowadays. With the price of gasoline so high, one side effect has been rekindled interest in growing and buying locally. If you don't ship it 2,000 miles, the food is fresher and tastes better and you don't waste as much energy.
See you at the 10K!
p.s. I meant to say "of" not "off!"