Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 841 The Salad Bar. The foundation for everything at Polyface Farm is the “salad bar”: the pasture’s biodiverse mix of grasses and perennial broadleaves. A rich mix of species utilizes more of the soil’s nutrients than a mono- culture can, allowing herbivores to always fill their stomachs with quality food. It also boosts produc- tivity and soil health. 2 Pastured Beef. Just as wild herds graze an area intensively and then move to greener pastures, Polyface’s eight hundred head of beef cattle are moved onto a new grass paddock every day, using movable electric fencing. This model heals the land, thickens the forage, reduces weeds, stimulates earthworms, reduces patho- gens, and increases nutritional qualities in the meat. 4 Hens and Turkeys. Following the cows come the laying hens and turkeys, which eat the larvae in the cow dung. Housed in an “Eggmobile” (portable henhouse), the hens are free to range across the pasture, eating bugs and parasites and sanitizing the pasture while provid- ing thousands of eggs. The turkeys, based out of their “Gobbledygo” portable hoop house, grow fat for Thanksgiving. 5 Pigaerator Pork. The pigs at Polyface Farm have two vital tasks: build- ing compost and creating new pastures. They burrow through the cows’ winter bedding – a tasty mix of hay, woodchips, dung, and fermented grain kernels – aerating it and turning it into compost. During summer the pigs, kept in herds of around forty, help create new pastureland by rotationally grazing recently cleared forest. 6People-Centric Farming. At Polyface, four generations live and work together. “People- centric” means avoiding chemical poisons and dangerous machinery so the farm is safe for kids, and also ensur- ing meaningful work for everyone. Since there are no noxious odors or pollution, visitors, students and interns can be welcomed. All produce is sold locally in order to build strong community ties. Polyface Logic Joel Salatin’s Polyface Farm includes one thousand acres of pasture as well as woodland in Swoope, Virginia. 3 Topsoil Care. In the United States, topsoil has been badly depleted by two centuries of tillage. The soil is a vibrant ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, and invertebrates that needs nurture. Cow dung recycles nutri- ents back into the ground, adding organic matter and boosting micro- bial life. Similarly, all other fertility sources from the farm, even entrails from slaughtering, are recycled back into the topsoil. For more information, visit the farm’s website at www.polyfacefarms.com. All photographs courtesy of the author.