Stand Up for the Food You Eat

While a humorous writer, the information provided leads the reader to make a decision about where they stand regarding the for they eat.

Salatin really draws you in with his personal stories and educated perspective on farming. He is extremely passionate about the need for each of us to become local food consumers and makes an educated case for why would should all care as much as he does.

The writing style here is a bit choppy. It seems more stream of consciousness then an edited document. Each chapter ends with a few bullets on things you can do. I was hoping for more direction. I would say this book would have been better if I was just starting on my food awareness journey. He also gets a bit preachy and seems like he is trying at points to offend everyone equally. Which is not to say he doesn't have some brilliant points. Like why do we trust an elected official who everyone inherently feels is untrustworthy to make good food decisions for us, but we don't trust the local farmer who grows that food?

Very interesting viewpoint. I really admire what Joel Salatin is doing on Polyface, but if he had a good editor, this book could hit the mainstream and make a real difference in the way our society buys its farmed produce. Joel is somewhat of his own worst enemy. In his very admirable aim to avoid becoming a corporate slave, he sacrificed his own book's potential to reach more people and better the world with his farming practices even further. His writing, which is a near-ceaseless rant (understandable, but tiresome to read) makes him sound like a crackpot. No doubt Joel is a smart, creative, hardworking, and sensible man but he underestimated the potential and input of a good reputable publishing editor. The book could have used one without sacrificing Joel's ideas or principles. I can fully understand and admire the core values of why he does not market and ship the food he grows to a wider group of consumers, but he should not have applied that same principle to writing. Lucky for me this was available at my local library. Maybe someday he can take all of his books to a reputable publishing house. edit, revamp and recycle the ideas for wider distribution. More people should be exposed to his valuable ideas, MINUS THE RANTS.

Feisty farmer tells how to become part of the family farm food system.

I was a supporter of Joel Salatin’s ideas until he exposed himself as a racist by saying “Neither does a farm friendly producer bury his community in foreigners who overload the school system, overload the social services, and overload the courts.” I support his ideas in farming but I cannot support a racist.

Not as good as "Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal." Contains tips for how to shop for farm friendly foods. I pretty much either knew or already do most of the suggestions in the book.

I cannot emphasize this enough: everybody needs to read this book.

I hated it.

informative but be aware of his political opinions. Don't judge the book or his ideas on his politics.

While I didn't agree with everything he said, I certainly felt strongly about what we agreed about. I want to meet this man; he is my hero.

Some fascinating facts about how food is grown/raised, and why you want to eat locally, including some helpful checklists. However, the author lost me when he explained that we should be opposed to genetic engineering because the Bible tells us so. Really? There are enough rational reasons to oppose genetic engineering that I couldn't believe his reason #1 was based on a collection of myths and parables.