The Vegan Daily

According to the Fish

2010-09-02T09:00:00.002-04:00

This is the poem I recently submitted for inclusion in a local literary 'zine. It was written a few years ago when I was a member of a writing group. The first line was given to us as a writing prompt exercise...

A Piscine Lament

A fish falling from the sky
Stopped mid-air as it passed by

“Why do you eat us? Tell me true.
It doesn’t seem fair, we don’t eat you.

Your taste for flesh, it causes us pain,
And global warming has changed the rain.

Our oceans, lakes, rivers and seas,
Have gotten toxic and added degrees.

We’re caught in nets and ripped with knives.
Harsh disregard, it ends our lives.

For what, we ask, could be the reason,
We hear you talk of salmon season?

And sushi, shrimp, scallops and roe,
They think vegan is the way to go.

It harms no Being to eat fruit from trees,
They’re full of nutrients, just ask the bees!

And grains, veggies, nuts and seeds,
Eating all those is sure to please.

So leave us alone, we want to swim fast.
Please say no to seafood when dinner is passed.

Our numbers are dwindling, we’re scared to die.”
Said the fish I saw falling from the sky

On My Mind

2010-08-23T20:43:00.002-04:00

photo source

I am overwhelmed by the scope of this most recent egg recall. And I hope beyond measure that this will bring on *the*end* of factory farmed egg production.

Just this morning, I discovered a carton of eggs in my mom's fridge under one of the recalled brands. She had already fried one and was ready to put her fork into it, when I made her stop until I could verify whether or not the number on the carton was under recall. (Thankfully, they weren't from one of the plant numbers listed.)

As if the way the hens are kept in such horrible conditions isn't enough ~ I cannot fathom that all male chicks born on these eggs farms are instantly discarded ~ either ground up alive, gassed, suffocated, or just dumped into a pile and left to die.

It is unimaginable, really.

And for what?

Why do we create all of this needless suffering?

How did all of this get so hugely out of control and wicked, when....

we do not need them to survive???

Have we not evolved in intelligence far beyond the point necessary to do better that this????

Please, if you're still eating eggs....check out the following sites. Educate yourself. Learn more.
While the reality of waking up to the fact that this kind of suffering takes place in our country and around the world day in and day out is extremely painful, the knowledge and ability to choose differently is worth the investigation.

Yet Another Egg Recall

97% of Eggs Are From Battery Cages

Ohio's Megafarms Multiplying

Dr. Jonathan Balcomb on The Intelligence of Chickens (video)

Facts & Quotes on Chicken Intelligence

Easy Vegan Egg Substitutes

When It All Comes Together

2010-08-20T18:43:00.000-04:00

I have been a student of the spiritual teachers, Sri Ram Kaa and Kira Raa for almost three years. I read their books and online teachings, and listen (and re-listen) to their podcasts.

Imagine my delight when, in this week's message, they promote the importance and benefits of vegan nourishment!

And, in the 2nd half of the show, they feature a guest speaker, Laura Fox of Raw Inspiration and Give It to Me Raw. It's well worth tuning in, I promise!

You can listen online for free here.

Namaste'

Miracle in a Blender

2010-08-16T12:00:00.004-04:00

Photo and recipe courtesy of Jill at Seeking Shangri Raw

This is the best (THE BEST) raw vegan treat I've had in a long time!!!

And SO easy!!

You MUST try some!

Crazy Good Vanilla Pudding

1 Large ripe avocado, chilled

1 Tbs vanilla

2 Tbs raw agave nectar

1/2 tsp Himalayan salt (I found this to be too much and would likely omit it altogether)

2/3 cup cold, purified water

4 large strawberries, sliced or 1 mango, chopped

Boot up your computer, you're gonna need it

Put that big, bad, scary avocado into a high speed blender

Add everything but the fruit

Process until creamy good, then top with fruit

This recipe and more hails from Carol Alt's excellent book: The Raw 50.

http://www.carolalt.com/

4,000

2010-08-09T08:43:00.000-04:00

Photo source

On our recent trip to Chicago, a semi truck full of pigs on their way to slaughter passed us on the highway. I could see ears and snouts peeking out through some holes in the truck ~ and hind ends crushed up against the other openings in the metal.

I was so shocked and saddened by this sight that I immediately gasped and started to weep. My husband, in the passenger side, was moved as well and reached over the comfort me. We sat in silence as I continued to drive.

After we left Chicago, we continued on to Lakeside, Ohio for my annual family reunion. My mom served ham at each meal that weekend. And my brother-law-law brought home a slab of pork ribs and a whole roasted chicken.

During the course to my time near Lake Erie, I saw a few other animal-transporting semis. Thankfully, all of them were empty. Yet I couldn't help but wonder if there is a slaughterhouse nearby ~ and mourn for the sentient beings that had just been ~ or would soon be ~ forced fearfully onto those trucks and transported to their (needless) deaths.

Fast forward to yesterday, when I was in Sandusky visiting my mom's husband at a rehab center where he is recovering from a stroke. In order to get some fresh air, we moved his wheelchair outside and were conversing with one of the other patients.

As it turns out, this man used to drive just those kind of vehicles. He said he drove all up and down I-75, from Ohio to Florida. He was well-acquainted with the slaughterhouses that exist in this area (he didn't call them that, exactly, but I cannot remember the description he used....hog processing plant, meat-packing facility....). There used to be four (3 for pigs and 1 for cows), now there are two.

He proudly explained that...

The cow facility kills 300 cows each day ~ and the hog plant slaughters 4,000 pigs each day.

4,000

300

sentient beings

every day.

and that's just one

of 5700

"animal production facilities"

in the US.

(For a video of what happens once the pigs arrive at the facility, go here.)

* * *

"As soon as I realized that I didn't need meat to survive or to be in good health, I began to see how forlorn it all is. If only we had a different mentality about the drama of the cowboy and the range and all the rest of it. It's a very romantic notion, an entrenched part of American culture, but I've seen, for example, pigs waiting to be slaughtered, and their hysteria and panic was something I shall never forget."

~Cloris Leachman

* * *

Becoming Vegan ~ First Fruits

2010-08-01T18:43:00.007-04:00

Today we celebrate Lammas (or Lughnasadh) on the pagan wheel of the year. My date book has this to say about it:

"Sacred to the Celtic Sun god Lugh, the man of many skills, this is a day to enjoy the first fruits of one's labors that began at Imbolc. Reflect on the story of Lugh's arrival at the gates of Tara. Tara accepted those with special skills. Every skill Lugh listed was already held by someone within the gates: but no one else embodied it all ~ that's how he entered.

This first harvest is a time for celebration, for traditional games, and friendly competition. Spend time with family and friends, playing and celebrating in joy of the outdoors and the still warmth of the summer Sun.

What skill have you acquired during this growth cycle? What do you need to celebrate? Is there anything you've done recently that needs to be cut away? Harvest is not only a time of gathering, but a time of cutting back. What do you need to cut back on or sacrifice in order to move forward?..."

~by Cerridwen Iris Shea

* * *

Some of you might remember that I've had a rockin' vegetable garden for the past two years. It has been great fun and one of the coolests adventures I've undertaken.

However, this year is completely different. My good intentions of starting seedlings indoors this past winter came and went, as did the opportunity to prepare the soil and nurture new plants. I managed to get radish seeds in the ground and had a decent harvest of those back in May/June. My sage, lavender, and lemon balm have returned with abundance, no effort on my part required. And I even had potatoes come up that were planted last year!

As you can see by the top photo, taken this week, any subsequent harvest I plan to get will be quite small (literally) and sparse. I'm okay with that. (Thank goodness for the abundant produce of more successful local vendors!)

When I look out onto my backyard garden and see the mess that it is, I am reminded that I have spent valuable time tending my inner landscape instead.

(My husband is famous for saying, "You can't do it all.", as he graciously lets my need/desire to be an overachiever off the hook! And exactly that was his response to my disheveled garden this year.)

This is mostly overgrown grass and weeds
(otherwise known as "spontaneous vegetation".)
With the intense heat and dryness we've had this summer,
the garden patch looks much worse than this now.

Indeed, much external obligation and sense of productivity has had to be released in order to mine the depths of my emotional, physical, and spiritual selves this past year. The amount of energy and presence it has taken to excavate my soul and heal long-ago inflicted wounds has been beyond anything I could have ever imagined. (Although, having traversed this wilderness, I now have a more familiar kinship and affection with authors, artists, and musicians who have poured out their offerings from this soul-place for thousands of years.)

And my efforts, though not as tangible as pulling edible food from the ground, are providing a rich, rewarding harvest.

~wisdom
~peace
~forgiveness
~healing
~health
~happiness
~joy
~grace
~understanding
~compassion
~empathy
~radiance
~gratitude
~release
~magic
~appreciation
~kindred spirits
~focus
~new vision
~new direction
~non-attachment
~ease

In addition to plodding through a mid-life crisis and dark night of the soul, the voyage of becoming vegan has required much examination and persistence. This is definitely not something one undertakes lightly or with any kind of final certainty. Much like Life, it is a process ~ a journey, not a destination.

Other than the physical benefits of choosing a plant-based lifestyle (and they are myriad), I now filter almost every decision through a different lens. It is the lens of compassion, connectedness, and a recognition of Oneness with all Beings.

Sure, I *could* indulge my occasional (and now fleeting, thank goodness!) craving for animal-derived products ~ yet any thought of actually doing so is met with the voice of broader consequences.

At what cost and to whom will I satisfy my desires?

With what I now know ~ and the values I hold dear ~ it is simply and profoundly not worth it. Period.

Each one of us comes to veganism for our own reasons, in our own timing. And each one of us gains insights and rewards in much the same way. Our journeys are uniquely our own, no two identical.

And while, as Lammas suggests, I have much personal harvest to celebrate, there is also much I need to prune. A life of dynamic harmlessness (ahimsa) continues to present daily challenges and lessons for fodder on this path of awakening.

Perhaps symbolically, we finally got around to trimming our hedges today. As I admired the viability of the bushes to sprout such new growth in spite of the heat and lack of moisture, I honored their tenacity and innate determination to reach toward the Sun.

And as we trimmed, raked, and bagged the excess, I reflected on those scattered shoots of my own life that need to be cut back and sacrificed in order to move forward. Thus is the harvest work we are called to undertake between now and Mabon (the Autumnal Equinox), when final harvest of this year will be reaped and further reflection will reveal additional fruits of our journeys.

And for once, with humility and gratitude, I am a willing participant in the turning of the wheel ~ the ebb and flow of the Natural world ~ connecting us all in the great web of existence.

* * *

A human being is a part of the whole,
called by us the “Universe,”
a part limited in time and space.
He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings,
as something separate from the rest –
a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.
This delusion is a kind of prison for us,
restricting us to our personal desires
and to affection for a few persons nearest to us.
Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison
by widening our circle of compassion
to embrace all living creatures
and the whole of nature in its beauty.
Nobody is able to achieve this completely,
but the striving for such achievement is in itself
a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.
~Albert Einstein

My Choice ~ A Manifesto

2010-07-17T10:43:00.003-04:00

I choose to be a person
who nourishes myself
in ways
that embrace
loving myself,
loving the planet,
and loving the amazing beings of this world.

By the Numbers

2010-07-15T19:43:00.004-04:00

I am in the process of de-cluttering many piles of paperwork that have gathered in our house.

I just came across the following numbers written on a piece of paper:

Lisa's Cholesterol

May 2002 = 176
March 2006 = 192
August 2007 = 185
March 2010 = 146 (9 months after going vegan)
January 2011 = 140

Doug's Cholesterol

December 2003 = 265
November 2006 = 201
July 2005 = 236
December 2008 = 202
December 2009 = 182 (after gradually adopting an exercise routine & vegetarian lifestyle)
December 2010 = 175 (a full year of vegetarian eating)

His triglycerides have gone from 293 to 162 to 78!!!

(Also, HDL is higher and LDL is lower!)

All of this without medication!

These numbers are proof of just one of the many benefits of following a plant-based life.

We give thanks every day for our health, well-being, and compassionate food choices.

*December 2010 updates

GSA ~ Days 6 & 7 ~ Finding Balance

2010-07-12T11:43:00.000-04:00

His and hers spinach smoothies :-) These win the prize for best color!

Well, the past couple of days have been a great learning experience. My body is definitely talking to me!

I've been navigating headaches, fatigue, occasional overwhelm, and NAUSEA!!!
(Wheatgrass shots are NOT my friend!) :-0

By paying attention, I am discerning what works for me and what doesn't. That's the thing about any dietary adjustment....you MUST make it uniquely your own, for no two of us have the same system.

I'm honing in on balance. What seems to work best for me right now is to keep the routine of three meals per day ~ and use the green smoothies as my snacks. I am someone who needs to consume nourishment every 3-4 hours, so the smoothies are a good solution for that. My meals are lighter and less in quantity now. Every now and then, though, I seem to still need a good, hot meal to balance things out. (This was very much the case on Saturday.)

Overall, I still feel better ~ have less cravings (especially for sweets) ~ and have more even energy through the day. I'm considering reducing my caffeine habit, as it now affects me more acutely than it used to.

Over the past couple of days, I've been wrestling with the "should" gremlins, too. We must be careful to notice them and choose from a place of wellness and intention rather than a place of obligation or outside authority.

Green smoothie and World Cup Soccer :-)

* * *
Saturday ~ 7/10/10

730am ~ coffee
9am ~ rolled oats, almond milk, coconut, flax, dried berries
a long walk
1120am ~ smoothie = spinach, banana, mango, kiwi, water
1200pm ~ baked corn chips
145pm ~ two shots of wheatgrass juice
200pm ~ attempted a smoothie but could not drink it! (nauseous!!!)
230pm ~ white rice, black beans, corn chips
soccer watching and a nap
615pm ~ (feeling better) smoothie ~ spinach, apple, pineapple, water
745pm ~ veggie sandwich = hummus, tomato, avocado, cucumber, alfalfa sprouts, lettuce...with a few potato chips :-)

Sunday 7/11/10

7am ~ coffee
8am ~ dried mulberries
9am ~ oats, etc.
1045am ~ smoothie = lettuce, banana, mango, mixed berries, water
1215pm ~ a few lentil chips
130pm ~ salad = lettuce, avocado, tomato, green pepper, cucumber, balsamic dressing
330pm - dessert(!) = nectarine, a dollop of Coconut Bliss vanilla ice cream; espresso
5pm = smoothie (left over from the morning)
a gentle walk
630pm = spaghetti (brown rice pasta) with marinara sauce

* * *

Today's web recommendation is Green Smoothie Girl. Chock full of good stuff!
(You can even follow her on FB.)

Oh, and I'm considering a green smoothie party as a vegan meetup ~ or workshop session :-)

GSA ~ Day 5 ~ Regrouping

2010-07-10T17:43:00.003-04:00

Well, yesterday was not what I expected. It was a complete shift to a different routine.

I started my day with the usual (coffee, mulberries, oats). When it came time to drink my morning smoothie ~ I just *could*not*do*it. Blech.

Granted, I made it with kale and some other different things ~ and it was the color of a light black bean soup. Really! I tried to drink it, but it was so repulsive that I ended up pouring it down the drain!

My hubby and I went out to lunch ~ where I had a salad and a bowl of red beans. They were delicious! I felt better.

Seems my body was calling for a break. It's time to regroup.

The rest of the day I ate fairly healthy ~ yet still had no desire for a green smoothie.

In the afternoon, I opted for a St*rbucks V*vanno-type drink (water, almond milk, vegan protein powder, frozen banana, and cocoa powder). It was amazing!!!

* * *

Here's the day:

6am ~ coffee

7am ~ mulberries

930am ~ rolled oats, almond milk, walnuts, ground flax, agave

11am ~ smoothie attempt....yuck!

1215pm ~ salad with romaine, tomatoes, greek dressing; large bowl of red beans

33opm ~ smoothie = chocolate banana, etc.

4pm ~ raw almonds

615pm ~ two raw veggie spring rolls, 1/2 avocado

730pm ~ two cookies

* * *

I went to the grocery store in the evening ~ to stock up on some more smoothie ingredients, including spinach and lettuce, which blend better than kale.

Here's a 'during' photo. I've released a bit of weight, feel lighter and clearer overall, and my skin is tighter and smoother.

Today's link love goes to Zen Habits by Leo Babauta.
I started listening to his CD book "The Power of Less" and am loving it!

He also writes a blog called The Minimalist.

(Here's his essay on why he's vegan.)

All definitely worth checking out!

GSA ~ Day 4 ~ Questions

2010-07-09T07:43:00.001-04:00

Sorry this is a bit out of focus. A food photographer I am not!
The flecks you see are coconut and hemp seed ~ perhaps a bit too small for my 16 year old blender to liquefy.

Thursday's routine was a bit different. I didn't start my day with oats, as I have been. I had mulberries and then a smoothie.

The rest of the day I was more hungry and a bit fatigued. I suspect it has to do with the increased fruit and sugar. (Folks like me with adrenal fatigue are cautioned against fruit (and caffeine!), especially in the morning.)

Also, it could be just like any other nutritional adjustment program (NAP!), in which our bodies, after three days or so, wake up to the new regimen and talk to us. "What's going on? Where's my cooked food? Where's my usual stuff? Hey, something different is happening! Is it safe to let go and trust? Or do I need to go into survival mode?"...

Overall, I still feel better ~ lighter and healthier. My body is grateful for the changes in the midst of this heat, too. My headache from earlier in the week is gone. My breathing remains deep and I am calm and happy.

* * *

Thursday 7/8/10

7am ~ coffee

8am ~ dried mulberries

930am ~ smoothie - kale, mango, pineapple, banana, coconut, hemp seed, water

1215pm ~ lunch = veggie boat with hummus (lettuce, tomato, bell pepper, cucumber, sprouts, avocado)

23opm ~ smoothie

430pm ~ almonds, 1 apple

515pm ~ iced coffee

6pm ~ baked lentil chips

7pm ~ smoothie

* * *

Today's web link goes to Green Smoothie Queen. I discovered this site while surfing green smoothie info this week. It looks fun and promising!

GSA ~ Day 3 ~ Energy

2010-07-08T08:43:00.001-04:00

Check out THIS awesome color!!!

I am lovin' this green smoothie shift! It's a great way to experiment with different food combinations and really tune in to what my body needs right now.

Yesterday I noticed my eyes were brighter. They are green with orange 'sunbursts' in the center. The orange part seemed to be more vibrant.

Also, I have sustained energy throughout the day, with no real highs and lows. I get hungry, yet am easily satisfied with what I'm consuming, without feeling too full.

Overall, I feel rested and peaceful. My breathing is deeper and less constricted, too.

I am happy, enthused, and optimistic :-)

* * *
Here's how Wednesday went:

7am ~ coffee

8am ~ mulberries (my new favorite snack! they are chock-full-o-nutrients!)

"Organic Sun Dried Golden Wild Mulberries are a sweet treat, highly nutritious (high in vitamin C, iron, calcium and protein). Look at that, 4 grams of protein in a 1/3 cup serving and it is a fruit. Wild foods are very powerful foods. Nutritional Facts: Serving Size 1/3 cup (40g), Calories 130, Fat 1g, Carbs 31g, Fiber 5g, Sugars 18g, Protein 4g, Vitamin A 2%DV, Vitamin C 190%DV, Calcium 10%DV, Iron 30%DV.
Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet"

10am ~ oats, almond milk, flax, coconut, walnuts, agave nectar

1130am ~ smoothie = spinach, mango, banana, kiwi, water (Delicious! Hubby even tried some!)

130pm ~ lunch = raw carrots, guacamole, baked blue corn chips, mulberries

4pm ~ iced coffee, almond clusters

6pm ~ remainder of morning smoothie and watermelon slices

930pm ~ an apple

* * *

Today's shout out goes to Happy Vegan Face. An awesome blog with *the*most*extensive*and*incredible*blog*roll*ev-ah*. Check it out!

GSA ~ Day 2 ~ Learning

2010-07-06T20:20:00.004-04:00

Radishes ripe for the picking in this year's garden :-)

Today has been unique. I'm starting to realize how much I like to eat (I've known that for a long time!)~ and the importance of slowing down to savor my smoothie instead of just sipping it while I do other things. (Perhaps it's no coincidence that I'm leading a class on "Women, Food, and Spirituality" tomorrow night ~ and mindful eating is one of the tips!)

I've had a headache most of the day. I'm not sure it's from this recent dietary modification. It could also be 1) the heat, 2) the barometric pressure, and/or 3) my braces.

This is *the*perfect*time*of*year to embark on a green smoothie adventure. (Don't even TALK to me about a raw food diet in the middle of winter. Ugh!) I tend towards lighter, more raw food in the summer anyway. And my appetite is diminished by the heat.

I'm reading more and experimenting with different combinations. I'm a bit concerned about the sugar load with consuming so much more fruit each day. I'll have to monitor this.

Here's today's run down:

630am ~ coffee (still my preferred way to start the day, although it seems more out of habit than desire right now)

810am ~ rolled oats, almond milk, ground flax, blueberries, coconut, walnuts, agave nectar

[I was all proud of myself for fixing my lunch smoothie and taking it to work with me! I got to the office only to discover the refrigerator was gone!!! They unplugged and moved it for defrosting. Yikes! I found a hot/cold grocery bag and stored my smoothie in that. It stayed reasonably cold for a couple of hours. Yay!]

1030am ~ raw almonds

1130am ~ smoothie = spinach, watermelon, mixed berries, 1/2 banana, orange juice, water

210pm ~ smoothie = spring mix lettuce, pink lady apple, strawberries, water

415pm ~ (HUNGRY!!!) pumpkin seed clusters, baked organic blue corn chips

500pm ~ black tea

8pm ~ smoothie = 210pm remainder with mango mixed in;
and a handful of dried mulberries (a splurge from the health food store)

* * *

Today's link love goes out to Lisa Viger. Check out her blogs about eating raw or vegan on $10 a day or less. The photos alone will convince you!

* * *

GSA ~ Day 1 ~ Amazing

2010-07-05T17:43:00.003-04:00

It tastes much better than it looks!

Today is officially'Day 1 of the Green Smoothie Adventure (GSA). I eased into it over the past two days by experimenting with increased raw foods and adding greens to my usual smoothies (Saturday = lettuce, Sunday = kale).

So far, this is an amazing experience!

I feel great. I have good, sustained energy. My body feels lighter and leaner. My digestion is calm.

During yoga this morning, I felt stronger and noticed an easier flow between asanas.

In addition to the smoothies (which I can drink liberally throughout the day), I am aiming for mostly raw foods. Even though I haven't intended to give up coffee, I am finding that it doesn't taste as good as it usually does. Yesterday I tried green tea instead and it made me nauseous (that's happened before). I might end up with yerba mate'. We'll see...

Here's my day so far:

* * *
650 am coffee

8 am ~ rolled oats, almond milk, walnuts, coconut, agave nectar

1245pm ~ lunch smoothie (~24 ounces) = spinach, mixed frozen berries, banana, orange juice, water

3pm ~ coffee

4pm ~ Raw Bar from 2 Moms in the Raw

515pm ~ veggie sushi, guacamole, a few organic baked blue corn chips

I plan to have the rest of my smoothie later this evening.

* * *

This was taken on Saturday evening ~ the "before" photo :-)

The book Green Smoothie Revolution is my constant companion. I read the entire book yesterday! In the coming days I'll mention other valuable resources as well.

Care to join us in our adventure? It's not too late to start. ;-)

Green Smoothie Adventure

2010-07-03T16:43:00.001-04:00

A local vegan friend has invited me to join her (and her FB friend in L.A.) in a green smoothie adventure. We start Monday. We're aiming for 7 days (although I think it could easily extend beyond that).

I've already started adding more leafy greens into my routine. Even had a shot of wheatgrass juice while at the store today :-D Yum!

I'll keep a journal and do some before/during/after photos. I also plan to add in some other detox-type aspects, such as skin brushing, lemon water, green tea, mostly raw foods, etc.

Other plans for the coming month include: no TV watching (hooray!), more yoga, increased creativity time, daily energy clearing (personal and house), and overall good self care.

What a great way to celebrate our Independence!!!

* * *

Please feel free to share any green smoothie recipes, ideas, or other feedback. Thanks!

Fowl Play

2010-06-07T07:43:00.004-04:00

Why are these a tragedy...

Photos from cbsnews.com

...and these dinner?

Photo from all-creatures.org

Think about it.

* * *

The state in which I live, Ohio, is second only to Iowa in egg production. According to a recent article in the Columbus Dispatch, there are 27 million egg-laying hens in our state alone. These hens "produce" 7 billion eggs each year.

In addition, Mercy for Animals tells us, "largely hidden from view, every year over 9 billion chickens and 250 million turkeys are raised on factory farms and killed in our nation's slaughterhouses."

This documentary was filmed in factory farms around the state of Ohio. If you are willing to watch the entire film, I will gladly lend you my copy. (Just leave a comment and I'll be in touch.)

Go here to learn more.

Every time you consume eggs or poultry, you are telling the people who brought them to your plate to do it again. You vote with your food dollars. The people in these videos are paid by you.

(And if you claim to consume only cage-free or humanely-raised beings, go here to see what that really means.)

If you are outraged by the destruction of wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico, you need look no further than your fork to be outraged by much, much more.

Isn't it time to shut your wallet and open your heart?

Got Milk?

2010-06-06T10:43:00.003-04:00

Please go over here and read Vegan Feminist Agitator's editorial on the recent expose' at Conklin Dairy Farms here in Ohio.

It is an absolute masterpiece.

* * *

Every Day Is Earth Day

2010-04-22T07:43:00.002-04:00

I have a rant inside me that wants to come out. However, today I am leaving it up to you to fill in this blog post.

There are SO MANY voices (based on research!) that are telling us that raising animals for human consumption is KILLING THE PLANET.

Find one of those sources and then report back to me in the comments what you learned and what you're going to do about it.

Go!

What Will You Eat this Easter?

2010-04-02T09:00:00.001-04:00

Photo source = AnimalBlawg

My family of origin traditionally has a honey-baked, spiral-sliced ham for its Easter meal. In addition, scrambled eggs and sausage casserole are served and consumed. (Needless to say, I'm not looking forward to being a part of the 'feast' this year!)

The likely origin of most Easter hams can be seen here.

If you haven't seen Food, Inc., I highly encourage you to watch it. This factory farm, the largest slaughterhouse in the U.S. (processing 35,000 hogs a day), can be found in North Carolina.
I find their marketing propaganda disgusting. (Please note that you could insert the words "suffering", "cruelty" and "death" where they have used "food".)

Food is unforgettable memories.
Food is pure joy. Food is family and friends.

And whether it's a Smithfield® spiral sliced ham, John Morrell® cocktail smokies, Farmland® hickory smoked bacon, Butterball® turkey or any of our other delicious options, good food is precisely what Smithfield Foods and its independent operating companies bring to tables around the world every day.

Please boycott cruelty this Easter. It's easy.

Go here to learn more!

The Answer Lies Within You

2010-02-12T10:43:00.000-05:00

I have been called to take a time out ~
and will be on sabbatical until March 21st.

If you are considering veganism, I encourage you to seek the answers within your own heart, for it is there that compassion resides.

"Often we experience knowledge from a deep place that carries no apparent reasoning. We honor this as our intuition. It is a sense of knowing that may have no other explanation or experience to reinforce it. It stands in its own power."

~Nischala Joy Devi
in The Secret Power of Yoga

Namaste'

A Field of Freedom and Peace

2010-02-10T20:30:00.001-05:00

"By recognizing and understanding the violence inherent in our culture’s meal rituals and consciously adopting a plant-based diet, becoming a voice for those who have no voice, we can attain greater compassion and happiness and live more fully the truth of our interconnectedness with all life. In this we fulfill the universal teachings that promote intelligence, harmony, and spiritual awakening. Our life can become a field of freedom and peace as we deepen our understanding of the sacredness and interdependence of all living beings, and practice non-cooperation with those forces that see creatures as mere commodities."

"To some, simply becoming vegan looks like a superficial step—can something so simple really change us? Yes! Given the power of childhood programming and of our culture’s inertia and insensitivity to violence against animals, authentically becoming a committed vegan can only be the result of a genuine spiritual breakthrough. This breakthrough is the fruit of ripening and effort; however, it is not the end but the beginning of further spiritual and moral development."

~Will Tuttle, PhD
The World Peace Diet

A Fellow Traveler

2010-02-08T11:30:00.000-05:00

There's some RADICAL GOODNESS going on over at Vegan Hope.

Check it out!!!

Still Consuming Cows' Milk?

2010-02-06T16:00:00.002-05:00

99% of all meat and dairy in this country comes from
factory farms like this one.

Cruelty-free alternatives are widely available and easy to use.

It's time to go vegan.

Visit Mercy for Animals to learn more and take action.

"There is every bit as much suffering and death in a glass of milk,
ice cream cone, or an egg as there is in a steak."
~Gary Francione

Gratitude & Anna Ferguson

2010-02-03T07:30:00.000-05:00

Over the past few days, I have been feeling an immense amount of gratitude for those who make living a vegan life possible in today's world. Leaders, teachers, guides, yogis, authors, product designers and manufacturers, health food stores, farmers, like-minded friends & business owners ~

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks and Namaste' to all of them!

One of those very special people ~ shining her light in Cincinnati, Ohio ~ is Anna Ferguson. Simply put, she is radiantly amazing!

You may find her changing the world at World Peace Yoga.

Also, check out this fantastic article she wrote recently.

Thanks, Anna!!!

Never Doubt

2010-01-29T21:43:00.002-05:00

Back at the beginning of November, I met with a neighborhood couple and we discussed, among other things, how they might help me implement what I'll call 'my big vegan dream'. (They are quite savvy in web design.)

I was still riding high from the World Peace Yoga Conference and blissfully brainstormed with them over drinks, laptop, and stimulating conversation at our local coffee shop.

Long story short...

My plans didn't materialize (yet) and we haven't had contact since then. The holidays came and went. As did most of January.

Last Friday night I spotted them at the Garchen Rinpoche event ~ so I wrote a 'catch up' email to say hello and bring them up to date on the status of what we had discussed.

Tonight, I opened my email to receive their response. This paragraph was included:

You'll be glad to know that we have dramatically reduced our meat consumption since we last spoke. We used to eat turkey/ham sandwiches every day for lunch. Now we are completely meat free at lunch. And we are doing about 2-3 suppers each week without meat too. So we're not 100% vegetarian yet, but we've made a lot of progress compared to our previous 2 meals per day with meat.

I was blown away!

By meeting with them I had no intention of changing their eating habits. It was a business discussion peppered with intellectual conversation. I was not preaching or trying to convert.
I was merely (and quite enthusiastically at the time) sharing my own experience.

Wow. Something must have caught fire. I am amazed and humbled.

Margaret Mead had it right:

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
indeed it's the only thing that ever has."

Rock on.

A Picture is Worth...

2010-01-28T09:43:00.002-05:00

This waking up to a compassionate, joyful vegan life is a process. It is not, however, without its painful, shocking, disgusted, horrified moments.

I have come to realize that those moments are necessary for us to really 'get' what is happening ~ and thus choose differently based on our outrage, heartache, and sense of urgency.

Like the worn out cushions on our couch, complacency is all too easy to sink back into...and the comfort of subtle slumber like a drug when we're there.

Hopefully, this post will serve as an antidote to that indoctrinated poison.

Meat and Violence

2010-01-25T21:00:00.003-05:00

I don't watch a whole lot of TV anymore. There's hardly anything on that I find worth watching. Most of it is too violent or trite for my current level of interest and not at all what I choose to subject myself to.

However, yesterday I watched almost 8 hours of NFL playoff games. And I was deeply disturbed by the commercials. Violence. Meat. Violence. Meat. Violence. Meat.

Oh yeah, and....beer.

Of course, there was an occasional funny one thrown in for a super-store chain or phone service.

Other than that it was....violence & meat.

This is the premise of Dr. Will Tuttle's book, The World Peace Diet.

As we rape, inject, medicate, shock, torture, oppress, commodify, exploit, burn, beat, shoot, stun, slit the throats of, skin alive, suffocate, electrocute, and needlessly slaughter sentient beings ~ in the form of non-human animals ~ in ever greater numbers (10 billion land animals and 14 billion aquatic beings per year in the U.S. alone) ~ we will continue to do the same to our human brothers and sisters.

He makes a good point.

The book is a must read for anyone wanting to understand how we've gotten ourselves to this point ~ and what we can do if we maintain hope for a more peaceful world.

Meat. Violence.

(Here's an article that explains it from an additional viewpoint.)

It's all over our world today. On TV, billboards, menus, magazine ads...meat.

And all over our world ~ on TV, video games, magazines, movies, books, school yards, households...violence.

When will we wake up?

Can't you see the connection?

It's right before our eyes.

* * * * * * * * *

Today, "Chemical Ali" was executed for his crimes against humanity. At the same time in Bagdad, suicide bombers attacked and killed dozens of people, injuring over 100 more.

Why do we kill people, who kill people, to show that killing people is wrong?

* * * * * * * * *

We must stop the cycle of violence.

We can plant and harvest peace instead.

Vote with your fork today.

Dynamic Harmlessness

2010-01-24T19:43:00.002-05:00

"AHIMSA ~ non-harming, non-violence;
to live so fully and presently in love
that there is no room for anything else to exist."

~Anna Ferguson
World Peace Yoga & Motion Studio
Cincinnati

* * *

Go here and here and here to learn more about ahimsa.

39 cents?

2010-01-23T09:00:00.002-05:00

image from suncoastv.com

On my daily drive to work, I pass a BWW location that has posted yard signs along the road proclaiming 39 cent wings.

Now.....let me ask you....

If someone purchased you (and your loved ones), burned off your lips with a hot laser (with no anesthesia), stuffed you in a cage with several other humans ~ so that you had no room to sit down, turn around, extend your arms, or stand up straight ; and you had to stand in your own excrement (and that of those in the cage with you)....

...only to eventually slaughter you
and sell your precious limbs for 39 cents a piece...

...wouldn't you be outraged?????

Chickens are SENTIENT beings.
They have EMOTIONS and INTELLIGENCE.
They EXPERIENCE FEAR AND PAIN.
They SUFFER.
They MOURN.
They COMMUNICATE.
They NEST and CARE FOR THEIR YOUNG.

They have EVERY RIGHT TO EXIST that we do.
And to be FREE FROM SUFFERING and HARM.

So... unless you're prepared to eat a severed human limb,
you'd better put down those chicken wings.

Because, you know what?

It's the same damn thing.

* * *

And if you justify your eating of dead, decomposing chicken flesh by choosing "humane", "free-range" or "cage-free"...think again.

Visit Humane Myth to learn more.

The Benefits of Being Vegan?

2010-01-21T21:26:00.009-05:00

Visit this blog to read 57 Benefits of Going Vegan :-)

* * * * * * * * *

AND...

HUGE KUDOS to the University of Dayton Building Communities for Social Justice group for having me as their guest speaker this evening!!!

They were a welcoming, attentive, and respectful audience. Based on our follow-up discussions, I expect great things will come of our partnership! :-)

Gotta Love a Good Book

2010-01-20T20:00:00.001-05:00

Until last week, I would have called myself a book junkie ~ or book collector. Then I came across the term bibliophile, which sounds much more accepting and sophisticated :-)

Suffice it to say....I LOVE BOOKS!

Reading them, feeling them, smelling them, shopping for them, highlighting them, carrying them around, being surrounded by them, looking at their covers....yep, I'm smitten!

So today, when I met for chat with my friend Lady P, of course our conversation turned to books.

You see, we both have BIG DREAMS of vegan books we want to write!

And ya' know what, we're gonna do it!!

We're both SO excited ~ for each other AND ourselves!!!

Also, we both just ordered the book Most Good, Least Harm by Zoe Weil. It looks to be a winner for sure :-)

And, get this, there's actually a place called the Institute for Humane Education! Who knew?

Wow, sign me up!

Now...off to finish my bowl of organic Rice Dream chocolate chip ice cream :-p

Being Merciful

2010-01-19T20:43:00.005-05:00

Mercy =

1. Compassionate treatment, especially of those under one's power; clemency.

2. A disposition to be kind and forgiving: a heart full of mercy.

3. Something for which to be thankful; a blessing.

4. Alleviation of distress; relief.

I just came home from attending a Mercy for Animals meeting. They are a grassroots, non-profit organization that was started in Ohio. Now headquartered in Chicago, their outreach and growth over the past few years have been quite impressive.

I knew of them a few years back, having attended several of their monthly free vegan potlucks. It was there I first watched Peaceable Kingdom and The Witness and became aware of the horrific lives and deaths of most (upwards of 99%) farmed animals in our country .

I'm glad they have a new local director and are re-vamping their presence in the Dayton area.

Check out this brief video of their amazing efforts over the past year.

I applaud the courage and efforts of MFA and look forward to spending more time helping them promote their life-saving message here in Ohio!

And So It Begins

2010-01-18T19:11:00.004-05:00

I find it fitting to start this blog on a day when we honor and remember a man who is an icon for the cause of nonviolence. Words that he so often spoke ~ compassion, peace, justice, equality, poverty, love, hope, faith,...can be found time and time again in those advocating for the rights of non-human animals.

As I've read his words and listened to his speeches today, I am struck by how perfectly relative they are to the cause of veganism: a philosophy that advocates for overcoming our oppression of other species in exactly the same way we seek to overcome those things that divide us by race, religion, class, gender, sexual orientation, etc.

At the same time Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. hearkened for the need to overcome racial injustice and poverty, he recognized the importance of fighting for the rights of our non-human animal family members.

"One day the absurdity of the almost universal human belief
in the slavery of other animals will be palpable.
We shall then have discovered our souls

and become worthier of sharing this planet with them."

Over the past year, I have come to realize this day has come. As it has come for many who have gone before us, it has now come for me. And I cannot keep silent.

"If we assume we have a right to exist,
then we must find an alternative to war and bloodshed."

This blog is a step in that direction.

"The animals of the world exist for their own reasons.
They were not made for humans
any more than black people were made for white,
or women created for men."

~Alice Walker

I have little sense of what format it will take as the months unfold. It is my goal to make it an accurate, heartfelt representation of my own attempts at living as a vegan and the truths and trials I discover along the way.

I hope it will be personal, educational, spiritual, truthful, respectful, peaceful, revealing, and inspirational.

So, for today, I give you this amazing site; a powerful resource indeed.

And the startling graphic below...

The Vegan Daily

According to the Fish

On My Mind

When It All Comes Together

Miracle in a Blender

4,000

Becoming Vegan ~ First Fruits

My Choice ~ A Manifesto

By the Numbers

GSA ~ Days 6 & 7 ~ Finding Balance

GSA ~ Day 5 ~ Regrouping

GSA ~ Day 4 ~ Questions

GSA ~ Day 3 ~ Energy

GSA ~ Day 2 ~ Learning

GSA ~ Day 1 ~ Amazing

Green Smoothie Adventure

Fowl Play

Got Milk?

Every Day Is Earth Day

What Will You Eat this Easter?

Food is unforgettable memories.Food is pure joy. Food is family and friends.

The Answer Lies Within You

A Field of Freedom and Peace

A Fellow Traveler

Still Consuming Cows' Milk?

Gratitude & Anna Ferguson

Never Doubt

A Picture is Worth...

Meat and Violence

Dynamic Harmlessness

39 cents?

The Benefits of Being Vegan?

Gotta Love a Good Book

Being Merciful

And So It Begins

Food is unforgettable memories.
Food is pure joy. Food is family and friends.