Family Friendly Farming by Joel Salating

The back of Family Friendly Farming says:

“Family Friendly Farming offers hope for stressed families, dissatisfied employees, and hurried-harried lifestyles.  Based on his love affair with good farming, author Joel Salatin’s principles apply to all entrepreneurial, family businesses.”

Mr. Salatin runs Polyface (farm of many faces) Farm in Virginia with his wife, son and daughter.  This book is a multigenerational home base business testament of his successful farm.   It covers many things, being brought up on the same farm he runs today and being taught by his very patient father who allowed young Joel to try out his ideas.  His stories about his father’s encouragement are touching and happy.

He gives many ideas on businesses children can run within the farm, and how to encourage them and help them succeed.  He has a wonderful work ethic, and tells how to implement it.  He tells how to create investment opportunities for the child.

He tells how to run a farm that is safe for children.  He talks about his experience in homeschooling his own children, and how that relates to family friendly farming.  He even has a section on something that homeschoolers hear over and over: socialization.  He gives some suggestions on good literature for the children.

This book covers nutrition and lifestyle, developing a sense of ministry and business charities.  It covers retirement and inheritance.

As the foreword of this book says, “even if you don’t choose to move to the country to raise a family, you’ll find lessons here you can learn.”

I really enjoyed this book, and pull it out often.  It is entertaining as well as inspiring, and always motivates me to do better!