Joel Salatin calls himself a Christian libertarian environmentalist capitalist lunatic farmer. Others who like him call him the most famous farmer in the world, the high priest of the pasture, and the most eclectic thinker from Virginia since Thomas Jefferson. Those who don’t like him call him a bio-terrorist, Typhoid Mary, charlatan, and starvation advocate.
To Farm Where You Live, Joel put us on the map. He attended our first event as a keynote speaker. I remember the email that Josh and I received and how thrilled we were that we would be hosting him. Our first dinner with Joel, he wanted to grill us for our motivation for starting, our plans moving forward and tried to figure out why some rookie, suburban, homesteaders would be involved with an event like this. Then we proceeded to work him like a dog all day and forgot to feed the man. He ate cold pizza at a camp picnic table at the end of (probably) one of the most unorganized speaking days of his career. Oh my. What a disaster.
Since then, Joel has become an advocate for us, an advisor for us, and a friend to us. We have met many speakers and instructors and there is not a more salt-of-`the-earth, genuine, true man of God in this space. He is the real deal.
So when we saw that Angel Studios was promoting a movie featuring our favorite Lunatic Farmer, we were quick to purchase that subscription and watch it.
OUR THOUGHTS
If you ever get the opportunity to visit Polyface farm, please please do it. The video tried to show how peaceful, healing and beautiful the property is, but you can’t feel the full effect until you are on the property yourself. You must go have a Lunatic Tour. [Here’s what happened when we went >>]
CAN WE JUST BE FARMERS ALREADY?!
If you needed a renewed motivation to shop with your local farmer, this is it. Watching the pigs flicking mud on each other or chickens rake their talons through the grass contrasted alongside the overrun feed lots producing as much pork as possible in as little space as possible, makes me long for an exit from our neighborhood and relocation to raw land on the prairie with Ma Ingalls.
Can’t we all have our own Polyface Farm?
FAITH IS THE FOUNDATION
Joel’s faith is his first priority and is evident quickly after meeting him. Never in the nauseating way like some creators who brand themselves with their faith as a marketing tool. No, it permeates through their home, the farm, his writings, his speeches and his character. Careful- it will rub off on you!
“That’s the thing about God’s grace; It doesn’t quit- It doesn’t give up.” – Joel Salatin
YOU NEED TO SEE THIS MOVIE
We are so thankful for our friendship with Joel, the Lunatic Farmer from Virginia. He’s a gem in the homesteading community and an inspiration. This movie taught me so much more about his journey and his family and if you have the chance, you need to watch this. I am so glad we did.
