Book SummaryEverything I Want To Do Is Illegal, by Joel Salatin

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal

Regulations Hindering Local Agriculture and Sales

Salatin argues that the current regulatory environment in the United States heavily favors large-scale industrial agriculture and stifles the growth and viability of local and small-scale food networks. The author highlights numerous regulations that make it difficult or impossible for small farmers to handle and sell food directly to consumers, while simultaneously favoring large corporate interests. This establishes a structure that restricts consumers' selection, and the most sustainable, ethical, and high-quality options are often inaccessible.

Regulations Hinder Direct Sales for Small-Scale Farmers

Salatin contends that numerous regulations create significant barriers for small producers trying to sell straight to consumers. Such regulations often impose nonscalable costs and infrastructure requirements that make it economically unfeasible for small-scale farms to comply, effectively limiting their market access and denying consumers the opportunity to choose locally produced food.

Zoning Prohibits Processing, Sales, and Value-Added Activities on Farms

Salatin emphasizes how zoning regulations frequently prohibit on-farm processing, sales, and value-added activities, hindering the development of community-based food systems. The author argues that the prevailing view of farms as solely sites for creating raw goods excludes activities essential to a thriving regional economy and consumer choice.

For instance, Salatin explains how zoning ordinances in his area prevent the establishment of slaughterhouses on farmland, forcing him to transport his animals to distant facilities, incurring unnecessary costs and stress on the animals. Even selling his meat at a farm store is deemed unlawful because it becomes a "manufactured product" by leaving and re-entering the farm, subjecting his operation to regulations intended for large-scale businesses.

Similarly, Salatin describes how zoning restricts on-site seminars and educational activities, prohibiting charging fees for tours or workshops because it would classify the land as a "theme park" or "Farmadisney." This restricts the farmer from educating consumers about sustainable practices and connecting them directly to the origins of their food. Collaborative marketing, where farmers sell products from neighboring farms, is also prohibited, requiring unnecessary licensing, infrastructure upgrades, and financial pressures from taxes for small producers.

Practical Tips

• Utilize online platforms to sell meat products through direct shipping. Research and comply with shipping regulations for meat products, then set up an online store or join an existing marketplace that allows you to sell your meat directly to consumers outside your immediate geographic area. This approach can expand your customer base beyond the limitations imposed by local zoning laws and can be managed from the comfort of your home. For instance, you could offer special cuts or bundles of meat for holidays and special occasions, tapping into a market of consumers looking for unique, high-quality products.
• Explore and share mobile apps that offer virtual farm tours and educational content. As on-site restrictions may limit physical access, apps that provide immersive virtual experiences can be a way to learn about farming practices and support farmers' educational goals. Sharing these resources within your network can increase their visibility and use.
• Offer your expertise through consultation services instead of tours or workshops. If zoning laws restrict you from charging for group events, consider providing one-on-one or small group consultations for a fee. This could be done in a setting that complies with zoning regulations, such as a client's home or a rented office space. For example, if you're knowledgeable about sustainable gardening practices, you could offer personalized garden consultations to local homeowners.

Building Codes Make Compliance Difficult for Farmers With Limited Resources

Salatin details how even seemingly innocuous building codes can create major roadblocks for small-scale food makers. The author recounts his son's experience constructing a modest home on their property, highlighting how minimum square footage requirements, septic system regulations, and lumber grading stipulations turned a simple project into a costly and time-consuming ordeal.

For instance, despite needing a house under 900 square feet, Daniel was forced to build a multi-level 2,160-square-foot house to comply with building code mandates. Salatin demonstrates that such regulations, which aim to ensure safety, ultimately stifle creativity, affordability, and the capacity to tailor designs to individual needs. He illustrates this with his dream house concept, an earth-sheltered structure with a greenhouse roof and methane digester - an innovative design that would be immediately dismissed by building inspectors.

Salatin further showcases the capricious nature of building codes by describing his friend's experience converting a structurally sound poultry facility into a meat processing facility. Despite the building being robust enough for its previous use, the "commercial" classification of the meat-processing facility imposed a higher roof load requirement, forcing the farmer to engage in legal loopholes to continue his project. These examples illustrate how well-intentioned building codes, when applied indiscriminately, become barriers to innovation and economic viability for small food makers.

Context

• Lumber grading ensures that wood used in construction meets specific strength and quality standards. While this is crucial for safety, it can increase costs and limit the use of locally sourced or unconventional materials that might be structurally sound but do not meet standardized grading criteria.
• Building codes can vary significantly by region, reflecting local...

Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal Summary Critiques of Governmental Actions on Food Safety, Animal Health, and Disconnection From Locally Focused Food Efforts

Salatin critiques the government for how it addresses food safety and animal health crises, arguing that their approach is often hasty, ineffective, and unfairly targets small producers while ignoring the flaws in industrial agriculture. The author also highlights the disconnect between government policies and the priorities of the local food movement, arguing that the USDA views small producers as a threat rather than a solution to today's food crisis. This disconnect fuels a cycle of mistrust and stifles the development of truly sustainable and equitable systems of food.

Government Reactions to Food-Related Safety Crises Are Hasty, Ineffective, and Unfair to Small Producers

Salatin contends that the government's reactions to food safety crises tend to be knee-jerk, prioritizing public relations and protecting large-scale industrial interests over developing effective solutions and upholding the rights of small-scale producers. He criticizes the lack of critical analysis and the tendency to scapegoat small-scale and traditional practices while ignoring the root causes of these crises, which often stem from the industrialization and centralization of the food supply.

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Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal Summary Joel Salatin's Views on Government, Free Market, and Environmentalism

Salatin articulates a unique perspective on governance, economics, and environmentalism, challenging the prevailing assumption that government intervention is inherently necessary for achieving social and environmental well-being. He advocates for reducing government overreach, eliminating financial assistance to corporations, and empowering individuals and localities to make responsible choices within a truly free market framework.

Salatin believes that frameworks built on decentralization and localization are inherently more efficient, adaptable, and responsive to human needs than large, bureaucratic structures. He argues that fostering an atmosphere of freedom, competition, and personal accountability would lead to more sustainable outcomes for both society and the environment.

Salatin Values Freedom, Competition, and Decentralization Over Government Involvement

Salatin consistently emphasizes his belief in freedom, competition, and decentralized systems as the most effective means of achieving social and environmental well-being. He argues that excessive government intervention stifles innovation, distorts markets, and creates dependencies that ultimately undermine...

Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal Summary Reclaiming Freedom and Choosing Our Food: Promoting Local, Decentralized Food Systems Over Corporate Control

Salatin not only criticizes the current system but also offers a path forward, advocating for a fundamental shift in mindset and a reimagining of how we produce and consume food, based on freedom, individual responsibility, and localized control. He believes that reclaiming our food choices is an essential step towards creating a more sustainable, equitable, and fulfilling society.

Salatin Advocates Defying Unjust Regulations Through Entrepreneurship

Salatin encourages farmers and food entrepreneurs to defy unjust regulations by finding creative ways to sell directly to consumers and bypass the bureaucratic hurdles imposed by governmental and large-scale industry. He argues that exercising entrepreneurial ingenuity and leveraging existing legal loopholes can create viable pathways for establishing regional food networks and providing consumers with access to high-quality, ethically sourced foods.

Farmers Bypass Regulations to Directly Provide to Consumers

Salatin details various techniques farmers use to circumvent restrictive regulations and make direct sales to consumers. He highlights the "pet food loophole," where farmers label their products as pet food,...