66 Comments
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Sam Ursu's avatar

He's not a lunatic. He's also far more intelligent than you give him credit for, despite the praise. That portable chicken shed is extremely cleverly designed, not some ramshackle affair. He also does pork pasturing, something deemed nearly impossible before. If anyone is interested in raising animals, he has many masterclass videos online for free, of course.

The Liberty Lookout's avatar

The lunatic label is something he happily uses himself. He has a book “The Sheer Ecstasy of Being a Lunatic Farmer”, so I’m by no means using that to disparage him.

Mystic William's avatar

I thought the ‘lunatic’ label was a sarcastic crack against his detractors. He is being portrayed as very intelligent.

Mike G's avatar

Awesome story. His regulatory recurring nightmare is like that depicted in “Clarkson’s Farm” on Amazon Prime. It’s tax time, so I can really relate to the sentiment of “just leave me alone.”

mrfb's avatar

Clarkson closed his farm, didn't he?

The Liberty Lookout's avatar

Did he? When? Last I watched the show things seemed to be going pretty well.

mrfb's avatar

I don't know. This is why I asked.

The Liberty Lookout's avatar

Looks like it was a temporary closure for some renovations, farm is still open. Clarkson uses glyphosate though and - although he sometimes tries - is largely farming in a conventional, toxic way.

mrfb's avatar

Why? Shouldn't the natural methods be better? Maybe the yield is smaller?

The Liberty Lookout's avatar

I think for the kind of mono crop agriculture he practices and the enormous tractors he likes to use, that's how it's gotta be. 50% of the show is him gawking at or sitting in tractors. I don't think he'd want to farm if he didn't get to use one lol.

KQR's avatar

This is what the American Dream is supposed to look like.

Author John G. Dyer's avatar

What a guy! And what a family, I imagine.

The Liberty Lookout's avatar

Yeah, he’s a huge inspiration for me. He has some talks on parenting too that are very interesting.

AnAmericanReader's avatar

Great story. His story is new to me. I support what he is doing. I suspect RFK Jr. might be on board with his farming philosophy and methods.

Crystal Campbell's avatar

We changed how we raised our beef based on his strategy. Brilliant and hardworking family.

Shefi1280's avatar

I'd heard of this guy once, but knew nothing about him, other than he was awesome. This brief bio fills me in. I get it.

Tom from WNY's avatar

We need more of this type of agroterrorism. It could be the pattern for survival.

Sue's avatar

Much like Amish or Mennonite farms. Good for him.

D. Ffrith Griffith's avatar

As a local farmer in VA and friend of Joel’s for over a decade I think it pertinent to mention that he owns a USDA processing plant, the third largest in the state. Everything he wants to do is illegal but most of what he does do is by the book.

SuzyF's avatar

Food inc changed my life (I completely changed how we eat) when I watched it 17 years ago…. And Joel Salatin became my hero!!

Michael Bower's avatar

Used to read the "Stockman Grass Farmer" with plenty of Joe stuff in there. Now I'm a solo organic grower enjoying conversations with birds and lizards and living' out doors. Mr Salatin is quite likely responsible!

Daniel Meegan's avatar

Imagine that regulated out of existence 😖

Robert Greenwood's avatar

Wonderful. Thanks for sharing

Dale's avatar

My Hero

Dee Rambeau's avatar

Great story. I’m sure it’s made him a target for so many. 🙄