Joel Salatin, a farmer and author known for his work at Polyface Farms, shares his insights on homeschooling and family values. He recounts the bold decision he and his wife made in the 1980s to homeschool their children, despite societal stigma. Through everyday tasks like gardening and cooking, he highlights how these experiences build competence and self-worth. Salatin's inspiring stories remind us that education doesn't have to follow a conventional path. Instead, fostering independence and practical skills can lead to thriving, confident individuals.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Choosing Homeschooling out of Necessity
Joel and his wife chose homeschooling because they feared the public system and couldn't afford private school.
They heard about homeschooling on the radio, felt it was their only option, and decided to try it despite uncertainties.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Son's Rapid Reading Breakthrough
Joel's son wasn't reading at age 10 despite efforts, but after joining 4-H he self-taught to read quickly.
He learned to read from zero to twelfth-grade level in six weeks out of necessity to fulfill responsibilities.
insights INSIGHT
Visceral Learning Builds Reality
A visceral, tactile connection to life and nature builds common sense and reality understanding.
Modern culture's virtual focus disconnects people from the real sources of food, energy, and life essentials.
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In 'The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs', Joel Salatin argues for a return to honoring the natural roles of animals in farming, using the example of pigs to illustrate how modern industrial farming often disregards the inherent nature of creatures. He advocates for a more spiritual approach to agriculture, drawing on biblical principles to promote sustainable and respectful farming methods.
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Joel Salatin's "Everything I Want to Do Is Illegal" is a seminal work in the alternative agriculture movement. It details his experiences and philosophy of farming at Polyface Farm, emphasizing holistic management and rejecting conventional industrial practices. The book challenges the reader to reconsider the relationship between food production, environmental sustainability, and economic viability. Salatin's approach focuses on integrating various animal and plant systems to create a resilient and productive ecosystem. His work has inspired many farmers and advocates for sustainable agriculture worldwide.
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John Holt's "Learning All the Time" explores how children naturally learn and develop their skills without formal instruction. Holt emphasizes the importance of play, exploration, and self-directed learning. He argues that children are inherently curious and motivated to learn, and that formal schooling often stifles this natural inclination. The book advocates for a child-centered approach to education, where learning is driven by the child's interests and needs. Holt's work has been influential in the unschooling and alternative education movements. He challenges traditional educational methods and promotes a more holistic and individualized approach to learning.
Joel Salatin—farmer, author, and foreword writer for Ginny Yurich’s new book—joins us for his fifth episode, and it’s a powerhouse. This conversation is a front-row seat to what happens when you raise kids in real life instead of a classroom. Joel walks us through the radical decision he and his wife made in the 1980s to homeschool, back when it was still illegal in parts of the country and deeply misunderstood. With no research, no co-ops, and no roadmap, they said yes anyway—because they couldn’t say yes to the public system, and they couldn’t afford private school. The outcome? Two thriving, confident, competent adult children and a family legacy that changed generations.
We talk about why the simple things—folding laundry, planting a garden, making muffins—build real competence and self-worth in a world that’s often more virtual than visceral. Joel’s stories are riveting: from a son who couldn’t read at ten to one who now runs the family business with confidence and purpose. If you’ve ever questioned your decision to homeschool (or are considering it), this conversation will remind you: you don’t need to know how it all turns out to know that you're doing something that matters.
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