The first, for all you Patriot fans, is an article about the Smithsonian's part in helping to make the movie as authentic as possible.

The second is an article on holistic farmer Joel Salatin in Virginia. A very good look at his multispecies farm and organic growing methods. He does his own marketing and the article says the operation brings in $200,000.

Just thought you might be interested.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), August 03, 2000

Answers

I have met Joel at several conferences. He is one of those people who could sell sand to the Arabs. He is the author of at least three books: Salad Bar Beef, Pastured Poultry Profits: Net $25,000 in 6 months on 20 acres and You Can Farm: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Start and Succeed in a Farming Enterprise. It wouldn't surprise me if Polyface Farm does produce a gross income in the range of $200,000 as he direct markets everything. This is Joel, his wife, son, daughter and one or two interns. The books can be ordered direct at 540-885-3590. Area code may have changed. It is Swoope, VA.

-- Ken S. (scharabo@aol.com), August 03, 2000.

I have read his book, although I have never met him. I wish I could ! I am a farmer forced to politics. I truly hope those of you with votes transfer the power of my guns to your wishes !!!

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), August 04, 2000.

I, too, have met Joel Salatin. He was at the biodynamics conference in West Virginia two years ago when I went and he truly is awesome. He has his head on so straight it is phenomenal. I have also read several articles by him in AcresUSA. He recently wrote a very thought provoking article in that newspaper about why the kids leave the farm. And to summarize, it was mostly hitting on the fact that the farm is so mechanized nowadays that we have to keep the kids away so they don't get hurt and by the time they are old enough that they can work on the dangerous equipment, they are no longer interested.

He says farmers should make their farms less mechanized and therefore safer and help the kids to start their own little business when they are young whether it is raising chickens and selling eggs or raising rabbits or whatever so they learn to love the farm.

He also recommends diversifying in what you raise and how you generate income not only for the safety of avoiding a financial loss but also it is kinder to the land. He has a lot of great ideas.

He truly is a gifted man with a vision of what the small farm should be and is very sharing in his ideas. Very down to earth and absolutely not impressed with himself. I hope he gets more publicity because I think this country needs to hear what he says.

I'm planning a trip to his farm this fall to stock up on his organically grown meat. He lives in Swope, Virginia but you won't find it on the map because it is too small but it is in the Shenandoah mountains near Staunton.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), August 06, 2000.