Do Joel Salatin's Methods Really work?

You guys getting up? Guys, we're giving away 4 chickens today. Why? That's one thing we got to do. And another thing we got to do is I learned like 15 things at Polyface Farm, most of them about pigs because that's what we were going about. And I'm going to implement some of those right now on the vlog. And for those of you that want the rest of those because it's a lot. I'm gonna put it in my member area, so members pay attention and look at that. And those of you who aren't members, we're doing free trials right now, so check that out in the description. Did you get out of chores for a couple of days, Mr. Brown? Is that why we're so slow, so slow to start? I love him to death, but he sure doesn't speed anything up. Mr. Brown's snack. Oh look, Ben's up. Ben's— Ben's then doing the chores. That's a blessing. Hey, Mr. Brown, your snack's out. You just lay there. You just— you just lay there with Mama until you're ready to come out, okay? What shoes would you like to wear? I'll get them ready.

Waterproof boots.

Waterproof boots.

One of them is on the dock.

One of them is on the dock. Okay, here's an early bird. You've always been a Riser, haven't you? Hmm, you want to go with me? Hey, Laurel, how you doing? Rebecca's already taken her out. She's only got 2 more days in that crate. Thank God. I think any longer than that, we'd all go insane. Here's one boot, a Croc, a tennis shoe. Oh, found it! Good morning, Ben.

Good morning.

How are you?

I'm good. Gotta do the, uh, the chicks over here, the meat birds. And then I didn't have scraps for the pigs.

Okay, so I'll take care of the pigs. Okay, if you want to keep doing the other stuff, that'd be great. Thank you, thank you for helping me. I didn't know if you were going to do that or not, so I appreciate it.

I figured you wanted to sleep in after all that on the road.

It was very nice, it was very nice. So thank you. Jonah was afraid that— hey, got fed. This is one thing I'm gonna do this morning for the pigs. See that bin? You know, that got— we had talked about that, it got moldy because it was sitting up against the water, and that's when our drain was leaking and we got all this water on the wood. But this is good. I learned at Joel Salatin's that in the deep bedding system, to encourage it to get warm, to combat the— all the wood chips, every fourth time they put spent hay in there. No kidding. So that's perfect. The pigs eat some of that, and this, this breaks down better than wood chips, and so it, it'll inoculate— it'll get this pile going a little bit better. Yeah, so I'm gonna get a wheelbarrow and I'm gonna layer it with that this morning. I'd say this is probably enough to cover it. Food scraps. You know, we're going to cull our old lady hens towards the end of this— end of the fall. And, um, actually Somehow this happened or another, we got a vegan who wants some old chickens. You guys are in here, you're done being broody, I'm sure. And moving them and getting them a new situation will also break you of your brood. I love it that, um, we can get along and help out somebody with very different views on, on eating habits. We're all in this together, aren't we? We're all on this food growing journey together. Good morning, gentlemen. How are you guys? Look at you, just getting petted and rubbed and not afraid at all. Guys, you've been— what? Oh, Jason, so the land was able to fix the leaking roof. Look though, and our, our muddy Eric extra bonus area, totally caked up. I mean, it dried out, caked up. But I learned at Joel's, it's another thing, I don't want to keep— you don't want to keep a pig in the same area more than 12 days. Let me feed these guys. Okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll feed you. You guys are fine. You guys are fine. Here, here you go. What I was saying is, there— I can't keep— not supposed to keep a pig in an area longer than 12 days without doing deep bedding. So I would have to fill this area up with a foot of mulch. It's not impossible, and I may still do that, um, if I'm going to keep them in there, or give this 80 days rest. 80 days rest, that's a lot of little paddocks to set up around this area, and I'm trying to achieve a 240-square-foot farm for you guys with not much space. Joel thought this 10 by 12 area is just plenty enough for these guys as long as I keep this deep bedding fresh.

We make this for no reason at this point, I think so.

But look, look, it's all— I told Rebecca it's all experiment. I built this part knowing we might just take it back down. We made it so we just zip tied up. Nothing's permanent.

Yeah, look, maybe this is—

yeah, that's screwed in, but you can unscrew it. And if we want to put it back, we can. All right, we're going to put this out, cover it up until this afternoon, putting the moldy hay in here. Uh, one, it'll give them something different to do, so keep them— we're feeding them twice a day. One reason is just to keep them something to do. Joel suggested a ball or a limb. We got some limbs or something we can put in here for them to push around. Oh, you know what might be good? Hey, listen, I know it would be good. I'm gonna get it next. Some of those— if there's any branches in the burn pile They would get charcoal off of that. I kind of missed just being able to walk right up and do this. Should I give you guys another one? Should I give you another thing I learned? These wood chips, they need to— Joel said you could cover them up with a tarp, but it is labor-intensive, and it does keep moisture in at the top, and I've noticed that. So it's better to keep wood chips under a shelter. So I'm thinking we're getting rid of this and we're gonna actually store wood chips under this shed. Let's give them this. Let's see what we're at.

I had an idea. I just had an idea.

What's your idea?

Frozen meat.

Frozen what? Meat.

Just put a ball of frozen meat in there. It's gone bad or something.

That's not a bad idea. Instead of thawing out those guts and stuff.

Yeah, just throw it in there and then they have something to do.

Yeah, that's true.

It lasts longer and they have something to do.

Okay, so basically our compost pile isn't a compost pile at all. It's only at like 70. So we're gonna try to inoculate this a little bit.

What's that mean?

Add more green material like this, this hay. Um, maybe not put in as much wood chips for a little bit and put in some fresh cow manure. This is a bonus, Ben staying on. This is a nice surprise, exceeding expectation. Check out Ben at Holler Homestead. You just got your— you just did a tour of your new homestead.

Yeah, we got our place. We are leaving here and going out there. Yeah, it's time to start clearing and cleaning and moving in.

That's exciting because they've been spending a year traveling all of America and to find a homestead. Yep. And you found it and you've revealed it, and now you're about to bust your tail. Yeah. Putting it up.

No kidding.

So you can see that on the Holler Homestead YouTube channel. Follow their journey. Jonah, let's go. Look, I want to show you something Joel taught me. The only thing they do if their pigs get sick is charcoal. So we're gonna start making— we're gonna start making charcoal. And they do It sounded like they do more of a maintenance charcoal when the pigs are on the deep bedding system. The ones out in the pasture, you know, they're getting more sun, they're getting moved. In there, maybe need a little more health boost. So let's give them some— let's give them some charcoal.

Hey, you got no charcoal? You want some charcoal?

I think he said he thought you could also do ashes, which is just straight up minerals, guys. Minerals. That's all that's left from burning of the tree is the minerals. What? So let's try to find some charcoal. I think we have some up at the burn pile till we can actually make some ideal one. Well, let's go up there then.

Good.

I made—

nice. This is a crane. Wow, how neat, Jonah! What have you lifted with it already?

That kitty crate.

Okay, wanting to show me his workshop. Apparently he spent a lot more time on it. So I think he's having more fun setting up his workshop than working in it. Oh wow, wow, how organized! I like it. Oh, I like it. Look at all your drills. Nice.

I found your old one while you were gone.

Ah, good, good job. And you got power coming into here. Yeah, I like it. Ladies, we're coming for you in just a bit. Lily, good morning! What you doing? You got some greens from the garden for your birds? Oh, good for you! She just picked them some lettuce. Gardening chickens always go good together. It's always a good idea to have them near each other. Jonah found us plenty of branches to take down to them to be occupied. What I'm wondering though is if we can't have a little double bonus. These— this is— these branches have been charred. There's some charcoal in there, buddy. There's a piece.

Oh, there's charcoal over here. Yeah, see it all?

Yeah, there's a bunch down in there. I should have brought gloves.

Hey, you want me to run and get some?

What kind you got?

Uh, changing gloves?

No, because they just have good gas. There's some charcoal, Jonah. I think that's enough right now for an experiment. All right, so let's get them a branch. How about grabbing that one branch that's burnt there? I think this will keep them. Put kelp in there. We're gonna put the charcoal in there. We're gonna see what they eat. And we got salt out there. We're back, and you guys are fat. I like it when they, they get so full they can't even sit up to eat. Let's check that burnt board in there. They've gotten— they get minerals, the fresh deep bedding, a variety of foods. So there's your salt, kelp, and charcoal. Look, look, he's already messing around with it. Thank you, Joe Salton, for the tips. Oh look, okay, so Ben, we are at 70, so we're gonna actually try to heat this compost pile up over time. No, look, we're going up to 80 maybe there.

Have you checked this spot where they like to poop?

Oh yeah, let's check that.

It's hotter.

It's composting, bro. Yep. So that's why this is amazing and safe, because look, look where they're pooping. It's going to be 100 degrees, dude. And so that's eating the pathogens and breaking that manure down.

And yes, warm to the touch out here.

It's working. And that's a good point. That's totally cool if like that, that's composting and this is a little cooler for them.

If they're cold, they got a spot to lay down.

Yeah, yeah, maybe in the cool of the night they could come over here and lay down warmer, and then if it's a real hot day, they'd be over here where it's a little cooler. But you know, I've noticed even that compost pile, 140 degrees or whatever it is, isn't hot to the, like, the very surface. Yeah, it's not hot. It's, it's maybe a little warm, but yeah, that's encouraging. 100. But we want to get that even a little hotter, so we'll probably start putting a little less wood chips in there for a little bit. Ben had an idea just to Let's get some greens in here. Let's just— these banks. Hey, do— hey guys, do it right by the garden because we need to get those up anyway. We were just going to mow that, but I mean, we could totally put grass clippings in here. They're just going to harvest some weeds. The pigs will like it. It'll give them something to do too, Ben. They're gnawing on the branch. I'm telling you, Joel is just a genius. Throw a branch in there, they'll nudge it around. They're nudging it around. They're gonna get some of that charcoal. Look, they're eating that hay. You happy? You're so happy. This is a ridiculously fun system. I never knew how much fun I thought I would have with the system. I thought it would just be an extra chore, but this is fun. We get to interact with the pigs every day. We get to throw you our garden, our garden waste. Good girl, good girl. They're going to be the happy campers, honey. Look at you guys with scythes too. It goes quick. Okay, Ben swears this scythe supply company— this is the same one Jim, uh, Kowalewski had in Maine.

This thing's amazing.

And you swear it's better than a string trimmer?

It's faster, it's quieter, and it's easier on the shoulders.

All right, let's see it. Let's see. It's not going to cut these big things, is it? Oh yeah. Okay, you got the brush blade on.

Stand a little bit. You're right in the way of my swing.

Oh, I'm getting in his way, y'all. Look at that. Are you serious? Are you serious?

It's really no big deal as long as you, you know, pay attention and get your aim right.

What?

It'll cut.

It looks like you're not putting any effort in there.

No, I'm really not. This thicker stuff's a little bit harder. I need the brush blade.

Oh, you don't have the brush blade on even?

I think this one's called the ditch blade. Oh, it works better on like grass and stuff like that.

Yeah, because I believe you have the brush blade on.

Brush plate on.

Let's see. And they're totally custom. You give them your dimensions so they can make— they made one for Jonah. Okay, show them how you do it, buddy. And now you're left-handed, aren't you?

Yeah, go like this.

So you're having to swing it. Yeah, it's— I don't know if they make left-handed— left-hander scythes, but looks like you're getting the hang of it. Good job. Here you guys go.

Are they getting all they want?

I'm pretty sure, honey. Look at this, in no time, dude. Are you serious? I just filmed a bit there for like 10 minutes and you're done mowed half the bank. Huge stuff. I don't know, did you get a crate over here? I need a crate for these 4 old lady hens. I told him. Hey, wait, you gonna leave this here? Let's take good care of it. Those are precious tools. Let's catch a couple of these birds for our vegan friends. Hey, did you guys introduce that main birdie back into this flock here and she hadn't gone after the goose? No. Here you go, Rebecca. I got you 2 buckets. Would you rather— would you rather have me in here or down milking?

Just go milk because I'm not gonna start. Okay, so you bring up Flossie's milk.

Okay. Hey, is this a fresh manure right here, Ben?

Uh, yes.

That's like this morning?

No, that was yesterday.

I wonder if that's fresh enough for Pigs. Pigs will eat poop if it's fresh. Ew. I bet that's what everybody else is saying in the comments. No, uh, it's like 30% undigested. It's got amino acids in it that they create with their amazing digestive system that pigs don't, and it's good for them. Now, will they eat all of it? No, they're gonna just kind of nudge through it.

Well, I'm sure this morning there will be at least one we can collect.

Okay, good. So while you're washing that, I'll come help you milk. While you're washing that, let's try the 24-hour manure. So this was yesterday morning? That was yesterday morning. Okay, good old Phyllis. That's light for Phyllis. And it would be that the person arrived for the chickens right when I'm hauling fresh cow manure. And another good thing about this manure is what they don't eat, they'll just go to inoculate this, this pile. Special treat there for you. Oh, let's see what happens. See if it's nudged by tomorrow. Hey Emily, how are you? Who?

Lucas.

We love that name, buddy. Hello. Hey. Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

Lucas is my helper with all the animals. Okay, good.

You guys don't mind being on the vlog?

No, it's fine.

Okay, good. So you guys are taking these chickens to a friend of yours?

Yep.

Totally vegan?

He's totally vegan.

I love it. He's—

he wants chickens to work his garden. Yeah, he wanted retired chickens, so he— because he doesn't need the eggs. Oh, they're gonna work the garden for him and help.

That's awesome. Yeah. So what is he going to do with the eggs?

Um, well, I think he's going to be helping prepare the ground for vegetable growing, and, um, I think he's just going to give away the eggs, any that are laid, to neighbors.

How cool! What a cool— yeah, what a cool dude. What a cool dude. I love supporting that. We've got the 4 chickens.

Oh, awesome.

Uh, we, you was— we could transfer them over to the box. We tried to give them a variety.

Oh, amazing.

Yep, that'll work.

But how nice of you to do this for to your friends. So we gave them a variety. We gave them a golden one, striped one, and two black ones.

So can they already lay eggs now?

Oh yeah, they're laying eggs, buddy. They're gonna be stressed out after today, so give them a few days.

But they've got a great setup there, so yeah, that's gonna be good.

Good. Yeah, they're good gardeners, buddy. That's all they've done their whole life.

Yeah, they know what to do. Yeah, like the job is going to be perfect for them.

It is.

Yep, if you need any more, we have more. Okay, so they're like, oh, you know, we need like 4 more.

Yeah, just, just come and get them, especially in the fall.

Like, maybe not right now, but in the fall, in the fall, we're either gonna put them in our freezer or give them away.

One other person had wanted to get some from me. Okay. Yeah, so we were gonna give some to them. Yeah, but I think we still have some that, you know—

yeah, see you, Emily. That's so nice of you. I just love what they're doing, and I love that they can collaborate with us. We're like epic meat eaters and they're vegans, vegans, and we're getting along. We're all doing— we're all after the same thing. I've been enjoying my office for the last couple of days.

I have. As far as—

as far as what you expected, it's a lot less managing cows, a lot less work than I thought. Really?

Yep.

There's your first round, babe. How's it going in here? You already got it going. She stepped in it right at the end, so I gotta wash it. Fresh poop, Ben. Oh yay, fresh poop!

Get the pigs over here, come on!

Thank you, Flossie, for our experiment. It's not going to get any fresher than this. 24-hour poop versus a 2-minute poop. Right here, right. He was right. They'll eat fresh ones. Oh shoot, he was right. Don't eat it fresh. Holy smokes, holy smokes. Are you like a kid in a candy store? Oh my gosh, are you serious? As for the other stuff, looks like maybe they've— did you eat it too? You won't eat all of it. Whoa, you ate your charcoal! Holy smokes! And you ate all your salt. Wow. I didn't— I'm not scripting this, guys. This is just an hour and a half-ish later. Look, they ate that too. 24-hour-old, you ate what you're gonna get, I think. Look, they're eating it now. So that's the 24-hour-old poop. That's the 2-minute-old poop. All right, you don't know how unbelievably I am encouraged by this. We've just 10x'd our situation in there, adding the green material, giving them cow manure, uh, giving them charcoal that they've already eaten. Man, so encouraged by that, guys. If you want to— I ended up coming with like 17 things. I learned from Joel Salatin. It is in my Do It Yourself Abundance member area. Right now you can get in there and try the member area for 30 days. I'll give you instructions on how to find that video, and then you can access the entire video library, like almost 200 videos, for free for 30 days. Check it out. Oh, bossy's out. Oh, she's down near the asparagus. Come on, Miss Thing, before you eat my asparagus. She's winding down. What'd she give us, half a bucket, maybe a gallon? Maybe a gallon. She's winding down. She's about to dry off. We're gonna dry her off in a month. She's due in August. We have another calf. Yes! Need to put Nelly up for sale. Like a week ago. Hopefully I get on that this week. Rebecca, I see your, your cover crops are coming up in between. Good job.

I know, I'm excited.

No more weeding in there.

I know, I love it.

Your squash is just jamming.

It is, it's jamming.

So we're done milking. You got one last meal together. I love that shirt. Everything I want to do is illegal. Joe Salads in.

So true.

Okay, how are the eggs?

So good.

Now you guys helped yourself to some eggs and veggies and meat while we were gone, right?

Like this all week.

Okay, good. That's a perk for working here, food like this. Look at that culture.

And you should take some before you go.

Yep.

Get and get some like lettuce and Swiss chard and kale, and we can do that.

And if you didn't get your chicken and beef and whatever else, get that too. Melon for everybody. You guys like it? You guys eat anything, won't you? You guys are good eaters. You're good eaters. I'm already done. Good. You're pigs. Would you eat cow manure? No, because they eat it like candy.