What we learned from Polyface.

Have you ever had an Aha! moment that challenged your way of thinking? We had this happen to us two years ago at a small family farm in Swoope, Virginia called Polyface Farms. From his vast understanding of animal life cycles and the eco-system of his home in Virginia, Joel Salatin and his family have created a marvel of a farm.

Three days after his cows graze on an acre of land, Mr. Salatin pulls up with his portable hen house called an egg mobile and a multitude of chickens descend on the land pecking away happily at the cow pats that are by now bursting with insect larvae – a chicken’s equivalent to filet mignon. 

Not only do the chickens receive a hearty meal, thanks to the ample fertilizer provided by both cows and chickens, when the grass grows back, it is healthier and heartier than before – eliminating the need for modern, chemical fertilizers.

As you can imagine, the trip to Polyface left us spell bound and transformed the way we view farm production. Not only is Mr. Salatin’s approach to farming a viable business model, the farm itself enhances, not compromises, the bio-diversity and sustainability of the land.

Click here to see a great video of author Michael Pollan talk about his week at Polyface Farms.

Keeping all of this in mind, last night during our family meeting, we made the decision to purchase a respectable herd of 97 cows from a local farmer. While our intention is to establish a smaller cattle operation, this will be a great learning experience until we can introduce more animal and plant variety to our farm. Like the Salatin’s farm in Virginia, we are striving to find that unique balance between plants, animals, and the earth.