The Crisis Beneath Our Feet

Here’s something you might not hear on the news—but it’s huge:

We’re losing topsoil. Fast. And that’s a big, big problem.

Throughout history, some of the world’s greatest civilizations didn’t collapse from war or politics—they crumbled from the ground up.

Literally. 

The Greeks, the Mesopotamians, the Romans, the early Chinese, the Egyptians… all of them farmed the land until it couldn’t support them anymore. The soil wore out, the crops failed, and the rest is, well, history. 

And now, we’re watching it happen again.

Without healthy soil, we cannot have healthy people. THAT'S why this is a big deal.

Modern industrial farming is making the same mistakes, only this time it’s on a massive scale and moving even faster. In some parts of the U.S., over half the topsoil has already disappeared in just 150 years. 

Tilling, plowing, chemical application, and impaction are destroying our country. These practices discourage wildlife. They discourage animals from roaming and herding together as they have in the past. They ignore the need for rest.

But here’s the hopeful part: It doesn’t have to be this way. There’s a better path—and we’re walking it.

At Polyface, we’re doing things differently. For starters, we don’t till. Ever. Instead, we rotate animals across perennial pastures, which not only feeds them—it feeds the soil. We're utilizing what we call a "mobstocking herbivorous lignified carbon sequestration fertilization" method.

Each year, these deep-rooted grasses add life back into the ground. They build organic matter, hold moisture, and pull carbon from the air into the soil, where it belongs. 

Each year, our cows, chickens, turkeys, and pigs add thousands of pounds of natural nutrients back into the earth. We use deep bedding and compost to further feed our living, thriving soil. 

When Joel talks about the first explorers who came through this part of Virginia, he always mentions how they described grasses so tall they could tie them in knots above their saddles. That’s the abundance we’re aiming for—not just because it sounds nice, but because it’s possible.

We’ve dug ponds, restored native grasses, and brought biological life roaring back to our land. When Polyface began, the ground was eroded and washed out; it was worn out and rock hard.

Now? Our soil is alive with earthworms, microbes, fungi, and more—all working together to rebuild fertility from the ground up.

One of my favorite things Joel ever said is: “Earthworms will dance.” 

That’s what we’re seeing—dancing earthworms, thriving pastures, and a farm that’s getting better every year instead of worse.

Here’s the thing: You don’t have to be a farmer to be part of this saving change.

Supporting sustainable farms like ours is one of the most powerful things you can do to help heal the planet.

Every time you choose food grown in harmony with nature, you’re helping rebuild topsoil, restore biodiversity, and create a future where abundance is the norm—not the exception.

We’re farming like the future depends on it. Because honestly? It does. And we love having you with us on this journey. 

“This magical, marvelous food on our plate, this sustenance we absorb, has a story to tell. It has a journey. It leaves a footprint. It leaves a legacy. To eat with reckless abandon, without conscience, without knowledge; folks, this ain't normal.”
― Joel Salatin, Folks, This ain't normal.

Thank you for partnering with us in this fight!

Hannah