This magical, marvelous food on our plate, this sustenance we absorb, has a story to tell. It has a journey. It leaves a footprint. It leaves a legacy. To eat with reckless abandon, without conscience, without knowledge; folks, this ain't normal.
You know what the best kind of organic certification would be? Make an unannounced visit to a farm and take a good long look at the farmer’s bookshelf. Because what you’re feeding your emotions and thoughts is what this is really all about. The way I produce a chicken is an extension of my worldview. You can learn more about that by seeing what’s sitting on my bookshelf than having me fill out a whole bunch of forms.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that the values and beliefs of a person shape their practices more than formal certifications.
Joel Salatin highlights the importance of understanding the underlying beliefs and philosophies that drive a farmer's practices. He suggests that the true essence of organic farming goes beyond certifications and regulatory forms; it's rooted in the farmer's worldview, which can be discerned by examining their bookshelf. This perspective emphasizes the connection between knowledge, personal values, and the methods employed in food production.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared at a sustainable farming conference to provoke thought on the deeper values of agriculture.
More from Joel Salatin
All quotes →Too often, parents whose children express an interest in farming squelch it because they envision dirt, dust, poverty, and hermit living. But great stories come out of great farming.
Amazingly, we’ve become a culture that considers Twinkies, Cocoa Puffs, and Mountain Dew safe, but raw milk and compost-grown tomatoes unsafe.
Despite all the hype about local or green food, the single biggest impediment to wider adoption is not research, programs, organizations, or networking. It is the demonizing and criminalizing of virtually all indigenous and heritage-based food practices.
Don't you find it odd that people will put more work into choosing their mechanic or house contractor than they will into choosing the person who grows their food?
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