Why Vegan?

I realized the other day that at the beginning of this experiment, I talked about my guidelines for no packaged food, but what I didn't do was talk about the vegan side of this blog. I've been vegan long enough that I haven't really thought much about defining it. It is true that living in the mid-west I was constantly explaining that being vegan means that I don't eat animal products. Most people didn't get that it also includes no clothing like leather and silk. No products that have been tested on animals. No supplements that contain or are contained by animal products (or tested on animals). No products that are owned by companies that also treat animals as property to be abused, tortured, or eaten.

It can become a difficult, tedious, and heartbreaking research; however, it is much easier than it use to be. I can watch for the vegan symbols, I read up on the brands I know I can trust. I talk to other vegans, and I don't find the need to really consume many products in general anyway.

In the interest of full disclosure. I do eat some honey, and here is why. I use to not eat any honey... super strict vegan, but I have returned to honey for a number of reasons, and I am super strict on where I get my honey from. I only get honey from farmers that do not treat the bees poorly in anyway what so ever, including feeding them sugar water after they rob the bees of all their food or treating them with drugs. I recognize that the labor of bees is exploited to get the produce pollinated; however, as a culture, we have left the majority of our pollinators in a horribly bad way.

So many other sweeteners out there actually hurt more people and animals than does honey. Sugar from canes have tortured and enslaved so many people and resources its not funny. White sugar is ground with bones to make it more white. Agave is so overly processed and the cactus takes so long to grow, and well there is just a great deal wrong with it to me that I try to avoid it. Stevia is ok, but to me it tastes like fake chemical sweeteners. I don't mind it in its natural plant state, but the processed powders and liquids are way too sweet for me. There have emerged so many different types of sweeteners that it makes my head spin... for real. Sometimes people come in and ask for things that sound like something from a science fiction book.... like Xylitol. What the heck is this stuff that raw food folks are going crazy for?

And the big reason that honey remains my exception is that we need people who truly care for and love these pollinators. We need people who are not going to make bees travel all the way across the country so that the California almond crops can get pollinated.... one of the many things leading to colony collapse of the majority of bees in this world.

I also recognize sugar is one of the first drugs we consume and therefor, I try to sweeten things as little as possible. Besides, so many foods are already naturally sweet, like most fruits (including myself he he), carrots, beets, ginger... you get the picture.

In the past I have been gentle with my animal eating friends, and I wish to remain so, but here I want to make it clear: I am for the complete abolition of animals. I don't think that there is truly an human meat, egg, or milk. Less cruel is still cruel. Eggs that come from "free-range" or "cage free" poultry farms are still in cages, still owned (bought and sold) by people. Male chickens in these facilities still have no use and are therefor "disposed" of in some way. They are still treated as property.

Milk and milk products (cheese, yogurt, kifier, butter, etc), whether from cows or goats, grass fed or not, are still enslaved. Again the males have little value and are gotten rid of some way including the horrendous life veal. The females continue to be forced to breed so that they stay pregnant and therefor continue to produce milk. More cattle enslaved into the industry. More calves ripped away from their mothers shortly after birth. If you don't believe that the mama and baby cows don't have feelings, I dare you to watch it happen. It is so very painful. They feel, and they suffer.

What it comes down to is that there is no other justification for the suffering, torture, and death of 53 billion animals every year, other than we like the taste of them, and we need them to feed that habit. For more information on this I deeply suggest this little pamphlet: abolitionist approach. If that gets you going, then try out the book  Vegan Freak. There is so  much more literature out there now than when I first became vegan, and more of it that every-day-folks can follow and relate to.

So what led me to wanting to dive deeper into this side of my blog this week, is that how we identify has been coming up a great deal around me lately. First, was a really funny video about who is more queer. Though I laughed out loud and could recognize people and conversations, it pushed me further in realizing that I really am over identity politics. I see how it got me to where I am currently at. It helps in my awareness that I still have a great deal of work to do in many areas of social justice work. But really, right now, its not helping me grow more open or more compassionate.

These thoughts really took root while I was in a workshop thing, where the facilitator asked us to go around and list the groups that we identify with. I mentioned vegan and queer, but the queer less and less. Not because I see my self as not queer, but the queer movement is not one I can get behind. Gay marriage is not something I am going to go to the streets for. I don't see it making the world safer for the LGBT... people. I see it as another commodification of the queer community. Another way we are suppose to match the dominate culture and act "normal". Fuck that and the rainbow flag. More than happy to talk about this with anyone who wants to later.

Upon further reflection and really thinking about this more and more, what I would have listed is vegan and feminist. Both identities are about giving everyone the same respect and consideration (yes, I do consider animals as someONE, not someTHING). We are all sentient beings that suffer, and should be treated as such. We are all equal in our inherent value. An example of our hypocrisy in our arguments for it being natural and ok for us to eat other animals is then, why do we get so angry when a bear attacks us? Its only natural for the animal to protect it's self, family, food, or be hungry; especially when we are taking up all its space and land for our own over-consumption.

Yet another reason for me to go vegan, and to claim it is a super core value when considering my daily choices, is it is a super fantastic form of self empowerment. Every single time I decide to put a food or beverage in my mouth, or some kind of product on my body, I am reinforcing who I am and what I stand for. That I will not consume anything that causes the suffering of others. I know that this can not be totally 100%, but I know I am making the best choice possible. No animal died for my food. As far as I can know (and I do ask a lot of questions), I am not eating food dependent on the enslavement of people, or forcing them into some really horrible situation because I want to eat as much coconut and bananas that I can ingest. My cloths are not from a sweat shop in China or California.

I'm not claiming some kind of moral superiority. I'm not saying I have all the answers, or even all the questions. But I feel that I can say that I feel good about most of the choices I manage to make every day.

By having fewer identities to label myself with, I feel that I know myself even more. I know what I stand for. I don't need an organization to tell me what I believe, who represents me, who I need to give money to, what I should pray for/to/with. I can let down the boundaries and open up to the possibilities. I don't believe that we have more in common, so that we need to ignore our differences. I believe in each of us knowing who we are and everyone having the space to express their uniqueness. And that includes the animals.

I'll end with a favorite quote: "If you don't stick to your values when they are tested, they're not values, they are hobbies." Jon Stewart.

Breakfast at Gransma's

So this one goes out to Grandma.

My Grandparents continue to be my greatest mentors and teachers. They have never, that I have seen, turned down someone in need of a place to rest their heads, or of a warm meal. They have let all of us bring whomever into their homes whether it was for the weekly family meal, or a major holiday feast. There has always been room for one more.

As a kid, my Grandparents lived in the same small Kansas town as my nuclear family, so we got to spend a great deal of time with them. Every-once-in-while, Grandma would ask me what I wanted for breakfast. I can not remember answering anything other than "Mash". Well I couldn't remember the name difference of the 2 meals. Loved one, did not love the other.

Grandma knew what I wanted.... cornmeal mush. I loved that stuff. Usually grandma would find the tube of it in the grocery store, slice it up and fry it. When I "grew-up" and moved out on my own, I searched everywhere for that stuff to no avail.

Its been over 20 years and I finally decided to search on the internet, and found out I could make it all on my own with cornmeal or polenta.

So a couple weekends ago I cooked up a batch of polenta. Let it sit out for a few hours to firm up. Sliced it up. Fried it up. Added some bulk earth balance and bulk grade B maple syrup, or home made jam, or local honeycomb (I know how some vegans feel about honey, but i get it from people that are caring for these at risk polinators and reuse jars).

Naturally, it was not as good as Grandma's. It never will be. The flavor from her labor of love is un-matchable. But for a moment, I was transported back to an early winter morning at my Grandparents house. Sitting on the counter in feet pajamas. Watching Grandma awaken the house to the amazing smells of a day about to begin. Maybe this is the reason for my awakening early most days. And my love for creating a breakfast before the rest of the house rises. The moment I take a sip of tea or coffee, as a housemate comes down, hair and cloths still clinging to sleep, is an experience you will not get the rest of the day.

Thank you Grandma for teaching me the gift of sharing food and asking those I care for how they wish to be nourished.

Summer Time In Portland

I feel bad that I haven't written more recently, but it is summer time in Portland. It has been a long time coming, and once here... Wow! It is perfect summer weather. So I have been out and about. Doing what you may ask. Well I am here to tell you.

One day I kidnapped a car and went off to the Salmon River Trail. I have been told that the Old Salmon River Road that takes you to the trail is the way people use to get around Mt. Hood. For me, it is an amazing place to quickly get out of town for a spell and relax.

The Salmon river is the only protected National Wild and Scenic river in the contiguous 48 states, where this is protected for the entire length of the river. I spent all day just waling up and down the river, finally settling into a sandy shore to sleep, snack, swim, breath.... be. It's not too far out from the city, so I hope to maybe bike out there next summer and camp.

I returned to the city very calm. Did a 6 day juice fast that revolutionized my life. A friend from work and I agreed to do the "Reboot" together after watching the movie Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. I think I have already talked about this, but I will some more.

Here is a picture of the little friend that woke me from my nap:

the little stinger was drinking the sweat off of my ankle.

Normally this would have kind of freaked me out, but instead I just kind of watched it. When I finally stood up to leave, it followed me for sometime.

Still riding the high of the clean diet, I went for a long walk with a friend. We headed up to the Old Growth Trail in forest park. We had a grand conversation, so I completely neglected the picture taking responsibilities. Sometimes I go a really long between hikes in Forest Park, but it is a true gem in this city. That day we got in 8 miles and were able to brush against some old growth forest....and we didn't leave the city! Portland, I do love you!

Summer is not complete with out a venture off to pick blueberries. Again a car was hijacked (thanks Arturo), and 2 housemates and myself went off to Bear Hallow to pick some berries.

The space is beautiful, the berries were at their peak, its only $1.50 a pound for no spray berries from a very old and established orchard. Then when I got home from closing up the co-op, we made some jam, a pie, and well we ate a lot of them. Add these to the raspberry sauce I made from a great berry exchange, I had my first pb&j in 7 months! A couple bakeries in town have gotten use to me bringing in a flour towel and wrapping up a loaf of bread or baguette to take home. Dang it is good!

Somewhere in there was a long bike ride along the Springwater Corridor. It started simple enough, I just wanted to go for a long bike ride, and not have cars around me too much. So I picked it up along near the Johnson Creek area and headed toward Mt. Hood. It was amazing. I got to see Zenger Farm from the other side:

As I made it around Powell Butte, I got such an amazing view of Mt. Hood, I felt like I could make it there in 20 minutes. Truth is, no, but I can make it to some amazing places to go camping with my bike!  And that is worth some super cheers!

So, that is a snapshot of what I have been up to lately. What does all this have to do with being vegan and not eating packaged foods. Mostly it brings me back to what is important to me, my life, and how I live it. It is a busy hectic life sometimes, but the simpler I make it the better I can move through it with ease. I am learning that I am a very simple person. I am so happy with a plate of rice or quinoa and some kale (or whatever the house or farmers are growing right now). Home cooked meals, enjoyed with good conversations and laughter creates the most satisfying experiences, not to mention good for the digestion. So I hope to start a regular dinner night with friends who want to cook from their heart in their hearths. Creative cooking isn't always about how can I can get crazy on this sauce, but how can I create an exciting meal with what I have right here.

Here is an example. Last night was the General Membership Meeting for the two houses that make up PCH. The host house (this time it was ours) makes dinner. So I was suppose to make enchiladas similar to the ones I made a month or so ago. Well..... I switched rooms in the house, and had been painting and arranging all day. Dinner was running late, so we created a whole new dinner called "Make Your Own Fucking Enchiladas". It was fun. We had the yams, black beans, sauce, tortillas (used blue corn masa this time), and salad all prepared. People just built them up instead of us doing it and then baking it. Its a whole new dinner, and I highly recommend the experiment.

On another note, working at the Co-op, I get to talk to people as they head out for their summer adventures, and I see what they take to snack on. Usually its a can or 2 of coconut water, some kind of bar, and maybe a piece of fruit. At one point I had it in my head that I would make my own "Luna" bars or something, but honestly, I prefer a bag on cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, some sunflower seeds, dried fruit, homemade kale chips, a pluot, apple, carrot, avocado, peach, dates, figs, peanutbutter and chocolate chips, and a bottle of water. I've started to bring my backpacking water filter with me even on little hikes. The fresh river water is so much better than filling up along the way, so I just go straight to the source. It can all be so much easier if we just look at it a little differently. Next time you are at the store getting snacks, just walk in another direction and see where it takes you.