By JOLENE OGLE
He’s been described as the world’s best farmer and now Joel Salatin is on his way to Noosa for a one-off masterclass at The J.
The masterclass is aimed at anyone who wants to start organic or regenerative farming, with practical information and the “nuts and bolts” on establishing an on-farm enterprise that is both regenerative and profitable.
Speaking with Noosa Today, Joel, who runs Polyface Farm, said the more a community embraces a local food system, the more numerous positives follow.
“First, the food is more nutritious and fresher, yielding immediate health benefits,” he said.
“Second, people begin appreciating landscape needs like hydration and soil fertility.
“That in turn starts creating land care accountability in the community and stimulates discussion about how to properly grow food and care for land.
“Finally, eating seasonally engenders a deep dependency on the ecology, encouraging humility toward earth rather than hubris.”
Joel, who has written nine books on farming said, together farmers and the community can work to see the end of large-scale supermarkets.
“Farmers need to diversify, extend their seasons through storage and be willing to collaborate,” he said.
“Consumers need to embrace seasonality, use their kitchens to prepare, preserve and package, and actually participate in the food system.”
But before Noosa locals can begin to sell their produce around town, Joel said changes need to be made in the regulation of the industry.
“The single biggest hurdle to building a vibrant local food system is government regulation,” he said.
According to Joel, the industry is prone to “price and market access prejudice”, meaning small-time operators aren’t always able to afford compliance costs, stunting their growth as a company.
“That stifles innovation and denies consumers easy access to the antidotes to deficient industrial food,” he said.
“Neighbour-to-neighbour, unregulated food commerce should be viewed as a fundamental human right.”
Joel said he dreams of farms that are economically, ecologically and emotionally enhancing, and can help heal landscapes, customers and communities.
“Rather than being part of the problem, they would be the solution to sickness, desertification, climate change, soil erosion, animal abuse, toxicity and pathogenicity and meaningless labour,” he said.
“Good farms and good farming can do all these things.
“They can even be places where our best and brightest young people want to live and work… wouldn’t that be cool?
“They could excite as much passion and interest as dysfunctional celebrities and casinos… awesome.”
Joel’s masterclass, ‘You Can Farm: The entrepreneur’s guide to start and succeed in a farming enterprise’ will be held at The J on Saturday 28 February, from 9am. Tickets start at $187 and are available from www.regenag.com.
