Polyface is a family farm established by William and Lucille Salatin. Located southwest of Staunton, Virginia, in the scenic Shenandoah Valley, the farm is currently operated by Lucille Salatin, son
Joel and his wife Teresa, their daughter Rachel, and their son Daniel and his wife Sheri. William’s father, Frederick Salatin, was a charter subscriber to Organic Gardening and Farming magazine,
and was a master gardener and craftsman from Indiana.
     When William and Lucille Salatin moved to the Virginia farm in 1961 they brought the Salatin tradition of organic farming with them. Joel and his family are the third generation to continue the principles based on the belief that God created the Earth and humanity as its steward, to nurture, protect and embellish. This philosophy precludes the
use of toxic chemicals, debasing substances, and erosive practices, and instills instead an insatiable thirst for agricultural truth.
     The truth manifests itself in natural principles of plant and animal life. The farm should capitalize on these laws rather than fight against them. Roughly 550 acres, the farm is about 100 acres
of open land and the balance is wooded. Polyface Farm produces beyond organic, grass-fattened beef, home-grown broilers, pastured turkeys, firewood, eggs, rabbits and vegetables. The Salatins are full-time farmers who are not independently
wealthy; they rely on the farm for their sustenance, and have developed production, processing and marketing systems that make an end-run around agriculture’s roadblocks.
     The Salatins are enthusiastic and optimistic about farming. Joel has written six books, Pastured Poultry Profits, Salad Bar Beef, You Can Farm, Family Friendly Farming, Holy Cows and Hog
Heaven and Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal, describing how his family manages their farm and how anyone willing to work hard can farm successfully
and healthfully.