A quick stop at New Hope vegan restaurant Sprig & Vine leads to the meeting of two ethical eaters intending to dine solo. Educated on a variety of issues and endowed with our life experience, we share stories and beliefs, and part ways having affected each other in some important ways.
He- a vegan of 2 years and vegetarian for longer, with serious values considering the cruel treatment and exploitation of animals. Myself- non dogmatic, permaculturalist, with deep concerns regarding sustainability. Both of us willing to open our hearts and minds and have meaningful, contemplative conversations with a stranger. We compare factory farms with small, local farms, discuss hunting, raw food, Gary Null, the Farm, sardines, chickens, goats, Namaste Cafe, Kayas Kitchen, and of course, PETA.
Our care for the ethical treatment of animals are shared however it is our views on the issue that differ. In my opinion, if we are to be ethical human beings, then we are to be compassionate to our Earth Mother, and we must localize our supply chain in a big way. I believe that animals can be raised and slaughtered with compassion and in the most sacred of ways, if done on a small scale, by caring human beings. I believed that raising farm animals on a small scale brings stability to the local food supply which, at least in agricultural zone 7, could not provide for the protein needs of a vegetarian through gardening and foraging alone. I would even go so far as to say that hunting or raising your own livestock for slaughter might in fact be more humane than being a vegan or raw foodist.
He- a vegan of 2 years and vegetarian for longer, with serious values considering the cruel treatment and exploitation of animals. Myself- non dogmatic, permaculturalist, with deep concerns regarding sustainability. Both of us willing to open our hearts and minds and have meaningful, contemplative conversations with a stranger. We compare factory farms with small, local farms, discuss hunting, raw food, Gary Null, the Farm, sardines, chickens, goats, Namaste Cafe, Kayas Kitchen, and of course, PETA.
Our care for the ethical treatment of animals are shared however it is our views on the issue that differ. In my opinion, if we are to be ethical human beings, then we are to be compassionate to our Earth Mother, and we must localize our supply chain in a big way. I believe that animals can be raised and slaughtered with compassion and in the most sacred of ways, if done on a small scale, by caring human beings. I believed that raising farm animals on a small scale brings stability to the local food supply which, at least in agricultural zone 7, could not provide for the protein needs of a vegetarian through gardening and foraging alone. I would even go so far as to say that hunting or raising your own livestock for slaughter might in fact be more humane than being a vegan or raw foodist.
Don't get me wrong. I love raw foods and I eat a largely vegan diet. But it's the large-scale, industrial farms are the problem. If all of us who cared about animal cruelty and exploitation- vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters decided to eat animal products from small, family-owned, local producers, that would make more of a statement to the owners of factory farms than just choosing not to eat meat at all...
Most vegans and raw-foodists purchase exotic foods shipped from all across the globe, and in doing so, they support oil companies, monocrops, and the inflation of "super" foods- staple crops that have been consumed by indigenous communities for centuries who now can no longer afford them. (see this NY times article about quinoa in Bolivia: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/world/americas/20bolivia.html)
If the bottom line is about life and death, that is a black and white issue, and the killing of one animal life to sustain another life is wrong.
However, if the concern is for suffering, then we must open our eyes to the broad scale effects of our current system that cause suffering in more than just animals. Our agricultural system depends on huge monocrops, which organic or conventional, come at a distastrous price to the environment, our culture, and the quality of our food. Read about it here.
If the concern is for a more sustainable future, then we have a lot of work to do as well as much to learn from our ancestors, our farmers, our gardeners, our permaculturalists, beekeepers, homesteaders, foragers, hunters... each other...
Now for the exciting part... Sustainable, AND vegan diets.
A great start is to read this book: How to Grow More Vegetables (and Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains, and Other Crops) Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine by John Jeavons, who is reviving small-scale farming to counter monocrops through his writings, educational internships on his farm, as well as worldwide workshops.
"Jeavons says mini-farming can feed a person a nutritious vegan diet with 4,000 square feet of land, compared to 7,000 square feet needed for a vegan diet with conventional farming and 30,000 square feet to produce the average American diet."
VOILÀ ! A practical solution for sustainable system design and compassion for animals! Through a system such as the biointensive one described and practiced by Jeavons, livestock can then be added to the system not by need and exploitation, but for the love of the animal.
Now I'm singing, all you need is love, love, love. Love is all there is.
i think we would all be better off realizing that we are all hypocrites no matter what we do. there would be alot less judgement on other people, no one has the "right way" and its a confusing time to be alive and yes all we do need is love.
ReplyDeletei believe that to eat it you must be willing to kill it. plant animal or whatever. to see it, feel it, and be in it brings us right back into reality of where our food comes from. and that seems to be the biggest question. is eating heavily sprayed durian from thailand more ethical or sustainable than eating a goat slaughtered in your back yard. the question is where does it come from and what practice did you support with your dollar. love you jessi thanks for writing!!