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Celebrated Virginia natural farmer Joel Salatin talks about “Healing the Land, the Food, the Economy, and the Culture” at Berea College April 16

3/27/09
“My eggs just jump up and slap you in the face.”  This is what Joel Salatin proudly says about the eggs produced by the happy chickens he owns.  Known for describing himself as a “Christian-libertarian-environmentalist-lunatic” farmer, Joel Salatin will speak at Berea College on April 16 at 3 p.m. at the Phelps Stokes Auditorium.

The program is free and open to the public and opens the Berea College Food Summit, “Taste, Health, and Place:  The Future of Food at Berea College.”  Public events on Friday, April 17 include presentations and panel discussions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Woods-Penniman Building Commons.  For a complete Food Summit schedule, visit www.berea.edu/anr or contact Sean Clark, chair, Berea College Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, at

Joel Salatin describes himself as a rebel farmer in the healing business.  As a third generation farmer, he currently owns and runs Polyface Inc., a local “farm of many faces,” and dedicates himself to “healing the land, healing the food, healing the economy, and healing the culture.”

An animal’s happiness is important to Joel Salatin.  Polyface Inc., located in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley is a 550 acre farm committed to providing space for cows, chickens, pigs, rabbits, and earthworms to carry on as they naturally do.  Salatin says that simulating space for natural patterns in their farm produces healthier soil, happier animals, and better tasting products.

Serving families, restaurants, and retail stores in Virginia, Mr. Salatin takes his local approach very seriously—refusing to provide food to anyone beyond a four-hour drive from his farm.  With his farming techniques, he supports using more man power, and establishing the use of solar, wind, and organic resources.  Besides making for cleaner and fresher meat, this approach also maintains the soil free of fertilizers and pesticides.

The respect for all of nature in Joel Salatin’s Eastern approach to farming is best summed up in the farm’s motto:  “To develop emotionally, economically, environmentally enhancing agricultural enterprises and facilitate their duplication throughout the world.”

Please Note:  The corrected release below corrects the times for Food Summit Events on April 17.  Public events are scheduled from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.    Thank you,  JS