American farmer Joel Salatin on “building forgiveness into the system.”
Salatin owns Polyface Farms, a large organic farm in the Shenendoah valley of Virginia. His farm operates by what some would call biodynamic principles, where the farm is essentially self-sustaining and requires few outside inputs to be productive. Salatin was featured in Michael Pollan’s manifesto the Omnivore’s Dilemma, his harmonious farm functioning in stark contrast to that of the industrial feedlot.
As a result of self-reliant principles, the farm has become very resistant to outside forces that normally plague agriculture. Since the farm isn’t reliant on outside factors, it can easily weather economic storms that larger operations, dependent on multiple products and inputs can’t. He doesn’t even send his food to a slaughterhouse, avoiding even the market fluctuations of the abattoir.
Not only that, but Salatin doesn’t just send his his food out into a nebulous thing called the “market” where prices are beyond one’s control. His food goes straight to the consumer. Since he has a stable market thanks to the locality and loyalty of his customers and he doesn’t have to rely on outside inputs, his operation is pretty safe, sustainable and resilient. His system is very forgiving, indeed.
Yet another reason why our food system needs some massive decentralization–just to ensure we are always able to feed ourselves. Or at least so we can afford it.
(H/T Chelsea Green)
