What is a Lunatic Farmer

August 17, 2011

From the master himself:

... the industrial food system is not looking at the local integrity food movement wishing they could be like us. The industrial food system feels threatened by everything we stand for. They truly believe, deep down, that they must save the world from people like us: people who believe we should use compost, biologicals, and pasture based livestock production models.

Industrial foodists believe farmers like me are barbarians, and Luddites. They really believe that my ideas threaten civilization's health and progress. What I consider liberating, they see as abusive. Indeed, to them I'm a lunatic.

But in my lunacy, I enjoy increasing carbon sequestration where they deal with tighter soils and decreasing organic matter. I'm less dependent on petroleum while they become more dependent by the day. I have fewer pathogens while they wrestle with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, E. coli, salmonella, campylobacter, and listeria. And while my customers enjoy vibrant health, theirs develop Type II diabetes and obesity. While they put their faith in pharmaceuticals, I dance with functioning immune systems. While they frown, I laugh.

Indeed, I'm having the time of my life. Earthworms dance in my fields. Pigs fully express their pigness. Eggmobiles sanitize the fields. Enthusiastic young people work and learn. Cows practice their mob stocking herbivorous solar conversion lignified carbon sequestration fertilization. It's ballet in the pasture. Aesthetically and aromatically sensually romantic. It's sheer ectasy.

by Joel Salatin ~ The Sheer Ecstacy of Being a Lunatic Farmer