Changing the World…One Neighbor at a Time

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Land & Livestock Interntional, Inc.

Polyface Farms sign.

Polyface Farms sign.

With the weather slowly warming up, we were able to put cows back out to pasture on Monday.  This is one of the times that Polyface really shines, because our pastures start growing way before anyone else barely has green showing.  Last year I just stood in awe of the difference and wondered, if our pastures show, time and time again how spreading compost, rotational grazing, and running poultry benefits the land, why don’t all the farmers around do these things?  Of course now I understand completely, but this year I actually get to help the Polyface team make a neighbor’s farme come alive!  You see, one of Polyface’s neighbors saw the difference and wasn’t afraid to admit it.  In fact, he came to Joel and wanted him to make his farm look like Polyface!  Talk about a courageous and humble man.  What he did took guts and I deeply admire him for asking.  His farm is one of 5 tracts that were all originally one farm back in the 1800′s.  5 siblings split the farm into the 5 tracts.  Polyface is 2 of those tracts.  Joel has said that the neighbors piece of land looks exactly like Polyface did 50 years ago.  It is like going back in time…but it won’t take 50 years to turn it into a vibrant healthy farm.  The Salatins know just what to do to begin to build up and feed the soil.  It is going to be breath taking to watch as the soil comes back to life this summer.  We are going to see huge changes.  Today we started with spreading compost.  This stuff is going to grow some grass!

Compost on the pasture!

Compost on the pasture!

A view from the neighbors farm. Notice the green of Polyface? Oh, and also the broiler pens? Chicks go out today!

A view from the neighbors farm. Notice the green of Polyface?!

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About Land & Livestock Interntional, Inc.

Land and Livestock International, Inc. is a leading agribusiness management firm providing a complete line of services to the range livestock industry. We believe that private property is the foundation of America. Private property and free markets go hand in hand—without property there is no freedom. We also believe that free markets, not government intervention, hold the key to natural resource conservation and environmental preservation. No government bureaucrat can (or will) understand and treat the land with as much respect as its owner. The bureaucrat simply does not have the same motives as does the owner of a capital interest in the property. Our specialty is the working livestock ranch simply because there are so many very good reasons for owning such a property. We provide educational, management and consulting services with a focus on ecologically and financially sustainable land management that will enhance natural processes (water and mineral cycles, energy flow and community dynamics) while enhancing profits and steadily building wealth.
This entry was posted in Herd Effect, Managed Grazing, Managing the Ranch as a Business, Mob Grazing, Ranch Economics, Savory Grazing Method and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to Changing the World…One Neighbor at a Time

  1. pioneeringthesimplelife says:
    April 4, 2013 at 9:02 AM

    Thanks so much for linking to our article on the sustainable chicken-rearing practice of a composting chicken yard. We look forward to watching Polyface’s neighbor’s property green up!
    — Liesl at Trash Backwards

    Like

    Reply

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