Joel Salatin Workshop

Join 'the world's most innovative farmer' (TIME Magazine) Joel Salatin for a unique one-day workshop looking at how to make your small farm more ethical, profitable, and deeply integrated with your local community. Joel Salatin is a third generation 'beyond organic' farmer and author whose family owns and operates Polyface Farm in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. He is known and respected world-wide for his family's innovative and effective farming techniques that allow them to produce 'beyond organic' produce effectively, in a way which regenerates their farmland while making them a profitable right-livelihood.
Joel's passion for regenerative agriculture is apparent in every aspect of PolyFace Farms systems. In the time his family has stewarded their farmland, they have actively regenerated its pastures, creeks and forests using forethought and intelligent design, with a heavy focus on animal systems' ability to build topsoil and boost nutrients and diversity when used correctly.
The farm produces salad bar beef, pigaerator pork, pastured poultry, forage-based rabbits and direct markets everything to 4,000 families, 40 restaurants, and 10 retail outlets. Processing many of these products on-farm in their open-air production unit, they sell from their on-farm shop and through their innovative 'buying club' system. Following on from his wildly successful 2010 RegenAG tour, this workshop is an opportunity for anyone thinking about farming, or already on the land, to learn how to create themselves a livelihood through a profitable, regenerative farming enterprise which benefits their family, their soils and their community.
This one day workshop will cover PolyFace Farms animal systems, including pastured poultry, salad bar beef, forested pigerator pork and the main-frame design of the farm. Also covered will be PolyFace's 'relationship marketing' techniques where the farm interfaces directly with consumers, cutting out the middle men and keeping things clean, honest and real. Joel will also cover how his farm approaches their internship program, providing young people with a chance to learn PolyFace's techniques, while providing the Salatin family with an enthusiastic labor force which further benefits the farm.

• PolyFace Farms in FRESH (video)
• Joel Salatin interview on ABC Canberra with Genevieve Jacobs – mp3
• Joel Salatin public talk on ABC Big Ideas – video

About this workshop:

This workshop will be held in Townsville, the thriving capital of Far North Queensland. Situated half way between the tip of Cape York & Brisbane and remains one of the fastest growing areas of the state. Townsville is easily accessible from Australian eastern state capital cities as well as regional areas of Queensland and only 2 hours flight from Brisbane.

Registration for this workshop includes lunch, morning and afternoon tea, all made with whatever local produce we can source. Townsville has numerous accommodation options available from self-contained apartments to 4.5 star luxury hotels for those coming from afar. See below in the venue details for more information on accommodation options in Townsville during the workshop.

This workshop will be a jam-packed day of essential knowledge, and a chance to meet other like-minded folks from across QLD who are passionate about local, clean food and creating on-farm livelihoods.

About the Teacher:

Joel Salatin of PolyFace Farms is a world-leading example of how a small family farm can become an extremely diverse and profitable Local Food producer, and how the benefits of Local Food Systems can create resilience, stability and abundance for both local farmers and the wider community. Featured in Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and in the films FRESH and FOOD, Inc., Joel and his family at Polyface Farms exemplify successful small-scale farming and the growing relocalization movement. Joel's website.

A note to attending producers:

This workshop is coordinated and run by RegenAG's QLD provider, FreeRange Permaculture. If you have any questions about this workshop feel free to contact FreeRange Permaculture by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on 07 4086 8019 for more information.

Co-operative Support:

As QLD conveners of RegenAG®, FreeRange Permaculture works closely with regional Natural Resource Management groups and Regional Councils in providing; opportunities for farmers to access world-class experts in regenerative agriculture and ongoing support in putting knowledge into practice, post course. We are proud of our association with NQ Dry Tropics and Townsville City Councl in bringing you this one -day Local Farms & Communty workshop with Joel.

NQ Dry Tropics is one of 14 natural resource management groups in Queensland. They are community based and work with individuals, groups and businesses to improve the regions natural assets. Their region takes in 12 local government areas and 140,000 square kilometres. Visit their website here for more information about how they can help you.

This workshop is coordinated and run by RegenAG's QLD provider, FreeRange Permaculture. If you have any questions about this workshop feel free to contact FreeRange Permaculture by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on 07 4086 8019 for more information.

Book into this workshop:

Full Price $150

1 $150.00 2 $300.00 3 $450.00 4 $600.00

Once you've booked in:

Once you've booked into this course, we will contact you via email regarding any further info you might need in the lead up to this course.