Joel Stalin

Thats how my egg sells started. My wife just wanted a few chickens for eggs then talking to a friend at work who wanted to buy a dozen because her daughter wouldn't eat cage eggs and it's taken off from there.

DQ said . "I'm sure he is a great guy and great salesman and has great intentions and I know he has some awesome ideas. and as long as people keep in mind that they are just ideas and ideals to ponder and use when appropriate and not some blueprint for perfection and certainly not something to be taken without the same kind of skepticism as anything else then its fine.

Does that idea apply to the major companies, Monsanto, Cargill, ADM, and the other usual suspects also or just a maverick like Salatin?
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Boneless, skinless, fatless chicken breasts are available for significantly less than $13.

Obviously, there are people who will pay the price. I wish there were more of them. But to pretend that this is an unlimited market that anyone can tap into is silly. Salatin is a niche producer. I doubt he would deny it. But many of his more enthusiastic fans would have us believe that Salatin's approach is a cure-all, and univerally applicable, when it is neither.

Interns? Do these interns work for free, or do they pay to work? Since you almost went, would you mind divulging how much the internship would've cost?

You know, back when we had slavery in this country, there were quite a few prosperous farmers. Imagine what a plantation owner would think about slaves paying him for the privilege of working?

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Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming

I'm sorry, no. Local library doesn't carry them. And, since I got inoculated very very young against P.T. Barnum'ism, I cannot buy one of the books. I've read articles on the net, and in magazines, and on this forum, about his operations. I was raised in the dirt, a long line of farmers and ranchers. There is no market within three hours, for the type of ag that he espouses.

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Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming

Mom, I'm proud for you, I really am. Farming and ranching are the noblest of occupations.

Do you actually make money with your operation? Taking into consideration your travel time, fuel, and all other infrastructure (continuing costs). My GF thought she was going to make money with a certain product. After I pointed out the cost of the special barn, the cost of feed, (home raised and store bought), time involved, vet and med costs, fuel delivering the product, electricity, plumbing, etc. ....she asked me to not remind her how much the losses per unit were...

The GF had a neighbor outside Philly, that sold everything he could tote to the 'farmer's market' somewhere in Philly. He made a killing. From what she told me, I couldn't afford any of his products.

If everyone were forced to pay the true cost of food (whatever that nebulous concept might be) there'd be a lot of skinny and or starving people.

edited to add:
When I get rich, I'll pay a weeks worth of groceries for a single chicken breast. I can't really remember the last time I ate chicken. Last I ate, I raised and butchered. My meat purchases are very limited... >98% is obtained locally, as in my back pasture or neighboring leased woodland.

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Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming

Actually, they pay the interns. Not much, but they are compensated. I would avoid going to any place that made me pay, but thanks for trying to make me look like an oaf or a slave.

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I was born [upon the prairie] where there were no enclosures, and where everything drew free breath. I want to die there and not within walls.
--Ten Bears

I think a lot of slaves actually got a better deal.

Wow, I didn't see the $100 a month! The place I applied to is that much a week plus food. It does seem like a screw over.

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I was born [upon the prairie] where there were no enclosures, and where everything drew free breath. I want to die there and not within walls.
--Ten Bears

So you all would expect to go to school not only for free but be paid too?
If you don't like the terms, don't apply.

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Trisha in WA
Visit my blog @
Diamond Belle Ranch

What else does a man have to do in his short time here on earth than build soil and feed people~Forerunner

That's not the point. The point is that Salatin has a lot of advantages (like free labor) not available to everyone. And that that is why, "your mileage may vary."

I think that many of the posts on this thread illustrate exactly why the OP framed her question the way she did.

I do make money. I wouldn't grow and harvest vegetables in the winter in Maine if I didn't make money. I'd stay in by the fire where it's warm and read before I'd work for nothing. In a few months I could raise most of our food and take the rest of the year off. I fully understand the true cost of operation right down to the cost of electricity it takes me to start seeds on heat mats.

Someone asked me last winter if I'd start her friend's seeds "for a good price." I asked her to figure out the friend's share of the heat mats and electricity, 1020s and medium to start them, six packs and growing medium, bench space, upkeep for the seedling house and add in my labor. She opted to tell her friend no.

I wonder how many would make better choices if they were forced to pay the true cost of food.

Not many people are able to eat for a week for $13.

Simply said but I misunderstood by many.

"Free" labor isn't free. Teaching interns takes time. They're human and make mistakes that cost money.

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Robin

Thanks
Yes, I know some people are "put on pedestals" and I was wondering what the downside of this media blitz of Satalin was truly about. Not every idea or every person smells like a rose even if it is presented that way

One of my friends farm does get free labor and make money. They set up a mushroom class. Pay $35 per person, come to the farm for the day and included free small lunch, get to take home 1 log......and they drill over 500 logs for innoculation per class.

Talk about a racket! And her class is filled every time! People are in line to sign up and hand over their money to handle this labor!

"the same kind of skepticism as anything else"

I believe I covered that. and salatin is hardly a maverick imo that is just part of his speil. he is appealing to people who want to buck what they perceive as "the system." he is simply a businessman.

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A mystery is not an explanation..... on the contrary....no sooner is a myth forged than, in order to stand it needs another myth to support it.

And Toyota's cost less than BMW's. So what. It is a free market. Some people are willing to pay more for better products. Apparently some consumers think pasture raised or organic is better than CAFO.

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SugarMtnFarm.com -- Pastured Pigs, Poultry, Sheep, Dogs and Kids

Right. And you'll have better luck selling BMWs in Boston than in the Northeast Kingdom. That's my whole point.

I only asked because it seems his biggest detractors hadn't actually *read* the books. I think you have the wrong idea about what he actually says in the books. Try intra-loan, most library's are a part of the intra-loan system from my understanding and can get books from other larger libraries.

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Idleness is leisure gone to seed

I'd be interested in learning the apprentice payment question. I assume room and board and Joel is known as quite generous with employees.

Post #70 indicates that his generosity amounts to $100 per month.