"You Can Farm," by Joel Salatin--A Review

I finally finished this, and I say that because it is the type of book you can read right through if you want. I took my time and pondered sections instead.  Maureen finished the book much sooner that I and we discussed many parts and ideas that Salatin presented. Our own "farming" enterprise has changed and evolved in the last year. You Can Farm was a impetus for some of those changes.

There are so many concepts presented in the book that it is difficult to point to a few key ideas. The whole book is one big idea about how to rethink farming and how food is produced. At times it appears that Salatin is promoting a way of life, which he is. He continually talks about working and farming in a way that helps the family and earns a decent income. His numbers crunching was good for me to help me rethink how I do a task. Coming from education I am oriented towards finishing a task; write a paper, finish a unit, coach a team. Salatin reacquainted me with the idea that time and quality of work are also factors that shouldn't be forgotten. Sometimes an imperfect looking project works as well as a beautiful project, but costs less and takes less time to complete allowing you to complete a second job.

I was also struck by the thought strung throughout the book of not needing as much money to start farming as we think. Salatin reminds us that a new truck, white pasture fences and a new tractor aren't required to make a farm work.  He points out that the opposite is probably true. He gives examples of making do until one can afford a used implement. His concept of value adding really struck a chord with me. Try to make something more valuable by utilizing it in more than one way.  Use eggs to bake cookies to sell. Place rabbit cages above the chicken pen so chickens can till through the rabbit pellets and make compost for the garden. Harvest trees from your property to build sheds instead of buying at the lumberyard. There were many ideas that Salatin presents throughout the book.

The biggest help for me was the thorough manner that Salatin wrote about the subject. Everything was laid out one place or another to help a new farmer be successful. This book shows how Salatin has thought through all aspects of farming and has moved away from the status quo to make his own way. I appreciated that.