20Sep 09
Polyface Farm Tour, September 2009
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Joel Salatin, the owner and farmer of Polyface farms, located near Staunton VA, truly thrives in the business God has called him to. Last week, we as a family enjoyed a thrilling tour of his farm. All of us were spellbound by his creative innovations, sound philosophy of life, and practical sharing. So often farming is considered an impossible primary vocation. Joel Salatin has thought otherwise. The result of his contrary thinking is a s
uccessful agricultural enterprise, enveloped in God’s diversified creation, educating the next generation, ministering to it’s community, and helping spearhead agricultural entrepreneurship.
From my observations of Polyface Farm, I came away with a few very important principles for developing entrepreneurship in a person’s life.
The first principle is found in a fascinating aspect of Salatin’s life. It is his unfettered creativity abounding and rebounding all over his farm. Salatin has studied how God created nature to work and therefore regulates his farm according to his observations. Yet, in the midst of this regulatory process he always is on the lookout for increasing the practicality and effectiveness of his work. One night while laying in bed, the innovative idea for a new chicken shelter erupted into his thoughts. The result was a shelter multiplying the area for chicken protection and still keeping it small enough to move around easily. This was Creativity freely working.
Another entrepreneurship principle I observed was the turning of his liabilities into assets. For example, animals, though holding the inc
redible asset of income, decrease the quantity of their future income by their numerous liabilities. Medical, food, behavior etc. are just a few of them. Salatin is discovering ways to minimize these liabilities. Some of these ways are shared in the post reporting last year’s trip to Polyface.
Though there were many other principles observed ranging from the necessity for independent initiative to the creating of multiple avenues of income, I’ll just share one more. It was the principle of discipleship. At least for myself, when pondering business I can easily become wrapped up in the details and the income and completely forget the people involved. Polyface Farm has not failed in this way. Rather, Joel Salatin, has created multiple avenues in which to disciple his culture. He has both an apprenticeship and internship, compiled numerous books on his work, speaks all over the country, and then also gives free tours to those, like us, who want to travel to his farm “in the middle of nowhere”. This is definitely the most important principle – one which should not be stalled or forgotten.
While going through the tour, Salatin shared how farming teaches so much about life, whether it’s running a government, business, or family. How true this is! Without mu
ch thought analogies can flow, principles can form, and links can be made. We, as a family found this to be the case through our visit. Filled with motivation, we witnessed an enterprise established on biblical principles discipling it’s culture and a business and ministry blended together in such a harmonious way that to dissolve one would destroy the other.
Sounds like a prime example of a worth-while outing! I’m sure you all got some great and helpful ideas. I deeply appreciate Joel’s desire for things to be done right. After all, “if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right” – and that means taking into consideration the way the Creator intended it to be.
I have read several of Mr. Salatin’s books and love the way he operates his farm. It is amazing how well things work when you cooperate with the Designer!! I would like to get down to his farm some day myself and take that tour.
Sounds like you had a very enjoyable and educational trip! I like the picture of Mark with the bunnies!
Sounds like a neat trip. I had the opportunity to go hear Mr. Salatin at the HEAV Convention back in June. I hope to be able to visit his farm one of these days.
[...] or even when observing a chicken butchering station. I’m quite serious about this last point. You could be observing the butchering station, noticing chicken feathers everywhere and wondering if you’d want to see the place in action [...]