Polyface Farms: Difference between revisions

From Open Source Ecology
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Breadcrumb|Food and Agriculture|Animal Husbandry}}
{{Breadcrumb|Food and Agriculture|Animal Husbandry}}


[http://www.polyfacefarms.com Polyface Farms], run by Joel Salatin, is a permaculture farm that leads the way in sustainable production of meat. They endorse transparency and the sharing of knowledge of good farming practices, so that others can replicate their success.
[http://www.polyfacefarms.com Polyface Farms], led by Joel Salatin, is a permaculture farm that leads the way in sustainable production of meat. They endorse transparency and the sharing of knowledge of good farming practices, so that others can replicate their success.


The system is centred around growing grass. The more grass you grow, the more meat you can grow. Five different animals are kept in movable pens: cows, chickens, pigs, turkeys and rabbits. These are rotated through different pastures.
Pastured broiler chickens serve as the farm's centerpiece enterprise, but other animals are also raised, including laying chickens, cows, pigs, turkeys and rabbits.


==Methods==
*Synergistic poly-cultures with seasonal production and rhythms (as opposed to single focused farms or CAFOs).
*Growing pastures with a healthy, lively soil continuously built up with organic matter (as opposed to tillage-centric farming, which wears down soil with time).
*Capitalizing on animals' unique traits and activities (for example, chickens rotate behind cows, sanitizing bugs and helping spread cow manure).
*Rotating animals using low-tech portable pens, or high tech electric fencing.
*Focus on value adding enterprises and assets with high return per time and capital investment (as opposed to high-capital, low-return machinery like fancy new trucks and buildings)
*Focus on function over form.
==More Information==
*Salatin has written many books, such as "You Can Farm", that go into more detail on his farming methods. 
*The farm has an apprenticeship system for sharing practices with paid interns.
*The farm is generally open to any visitors.
*http://www.polyfacefarms.com
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQPN1O03z8I#t=10m47s Discussion of Polyface Farms in a TED talk]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQPN1O03z8I#t=10m47s Discussion of Polyface Farms in a TED talk]

Revision as of 05:22, 2 March 2014

Main > Food and Agriculture > Animal Husbandry


Polyface Farms, led by Joel Salatin, is a permaculture farm that leads the way in sustainable production of meat. They endorse transparency and the sharing of knowledge of good farming practices, so that others can replicate their success.

Pastured broiler chickens serve as the farm's centerpiece enterprise, but other animals are also raised, including laying chickens, cows, pigs, turkeys and rabbits.

Methods

  • Synergistic poly-cultures with seasonal production and rhythms (as opposed to single focused farms or CAFOs).
  • Growing pastures with a healthy, lively soil continuously built up with organic matter (as opposed to tillage-centric farming, which wears down soil with time).
  • Capitalizing on animals' unique traits and activities (for example, chickens rotate behind cows, sanitizing bugs and helping spread cow manure).
  • Rotating animals using low-tech portable pens, or high tech electric fencing.
  • Focus on value adding enterprises and assets with high return per time and capital investment (as opposed to high-capital, low-return machinery like fancy new trucks and buildings)
  • Focus on function over form.

More Information