Family Friendly Farming: A Multi-Generational Home-Based Business Testament

I am a firm believer in all of Joel Salatin's views and concepts regarding farming, and have personally put into action many of his concepts. This book, unlike his other books, talks more about the proper philosophy of farming rather than actual methods of farming. Even so, this book is by far worth the money and I highly recommend it.

I have read all but one of Joel Salatins books and every page is like feasting on chocolate. I have not been able to put them down. His wonderful books underline what is so important to me and they easily explain how to make family friendly farming work for you. No bells, no whistles, just pure simple advice. His Faith in God shows in all his words, as well as his love for his family and his lifesyle. We have been trying to find a way out of this rat race that we find ourselves in and want to give our children and ourselves a way to enjoy the land and Gods simple pleasures. Our dreams have changed, and we are going to do everything we can to make that dream happen for us and our children. We homeschool already and are ready to take that next step. Joel Salatins books are the best investment we have ever made in our lives to date.

After reading this book, we have definitively decided to move so that we can begin hobby farming with the goal of creating a life sustaining farm! Joel Salatin's philosophies (from this book, You Can Farm, Pastured Poultry Profits, and Salad Bar Beef) will be the foundation in which we build our family friendly farm. A must read if you are a parent (on the farm or not!), you are thinking about farming, dream of farming, or are already on the farm and want to make your lifestyle more family friendly. Thanks Joel!

Family Friendly Farming is about the recentering of your family on the important parts like your children. Every agrarian should read this book, kids or no kids. Do you want your hard work today to be carried on , or subdivided into housing? This book was inspiring to my husband and I. After reading Pastured Poultry, we purchased all of them, as well as other small farm books and have completely changed our lives. We moved to a state with less restricitve, and more farmer friendly laws, and are working towards getting a small farm for ourselves and our kids. Joel offers alternatives to passing on the farm in Trusts, etc. Let yourself be inspired to dream!

Joel Salatin has achieved a great deal of prominence in developing his model of sustainable agriculture. His creativity in recognizing and integrating the holistic aspects of how nature prefers to work in raising poultry and cattle comes through in this work that applies the same principles to farm families. His analysis of the dehumanizing aspects of modern agribusiness and how it exploits both the farmer and his family manages to avoid the bitterness that so often accompanies helplessness. That's because rather than remain helpless, he advocates that the farmer change the nature of his business and the relationship he has with his clientele. Through the re-establishment of local agrarian cultures Salatin hopes we find models that renew the life that farming has often promised, but struggled to deliver.For the Wendell Berry devotees, this is a practical way to live the agrarian life. It is well written, only occasionally preachy, and well worth the money. This is not a "how to" book. Try his books "Salad Bar Beef", "Pastured Poultry Profits" and "You Can Farm" for the nuts and bolts of what he has accomplished. The guy is exceptional.