A book by Joel Salatin is guaranteed to inspire brainstorming, and Salad Bar Beef is no exception.

Salatin repeatedly points out the fact that humans tend to overcomplicate things, and the current state of the beef industry is proof—ruminants designed to eat grass are fed costly grains in a confinement system. So what does he propose instead? A more natural concept that he calls salad bar beef.

Salatin’s love of simplicity carries through his whole system of cattle raising, which makes it perfect for beginners. Instead of planting specialized forages, he uses the grass already growing in the ditch out front. Instead of building complicated infrastructure, he uses a corral, some portable fencing, and a hay shed. How easy is that?

Although Salatin prefers to take a more philosophical approach to his books rather than dictate all of the how-tos, Salad Bar Beef still offers plenty of practical advice on most aspects of cattle care, as well as some information on direct marketing and cooking grassfed beef. For those of you who struggle with cow-days (a versatile estimate of the amount of feed a pasture will provide) and other principles of rotational grazing, charts and explanations are included.

Upbeat, humorous, and thought-provoking, Salad Bar Beef challenges conventional operating procedures from beginning to end. Prepare to be inspired!