Interview Series #3: Jasmin Singer

My first interaction with Jasmin Singer was over the phone. I was newly vegan and looking for a place to focus more energy on animal rights issues, so on a whim, I decided to apply for an internship at Farm Sanctuary in their New York Advocacy Department (a huge leap for someone who had never completed an internship in her entire life!).  Somehow, my application made it past a lot of the others, and before I knew it, I received a call from Jasmin, who was Farm Sanctuary's NYC Campaigns Manager at the time. Within moments, we were happily chatting about theater (Jasmin shares a theater background with me), Weight Watchers (so random, but fun to discuss nonetheless), and the internship.

After our lovely talk that week, Jasmin followed up with me to tell me I had the internship if I wanted it. I was elated - my first real chance to help the animals! Sadly, I had to ultimately turn the internship down, because I was working two different jobs at the time and realized I wouldn't be able to give the internship the necessary amount of energy it was due. With a sad heart, I emailed Jasmin the news - and to my surprise, she wrote back the most supportive email, which included information about joining Farm Sanctuary's New York Activist team. After a few months of working busily at my jobs, I decided to join. And the rest is history.

Jasmin is not only an unbelievably kind, funny, honest, and passionate person, but her love for animals runs so deep that it is just a natural part of her.  Her positive energy is infectious, and the amount of work she has already accomplished in her life is nothing short of astonishing (check her bio below if you need convincing). I am honored to know this rock star of a woman and activist, and it gives me a world of pleasure to share her beautiful and touching story with you all. Read on... 

Jasmin Singer is the co-founder of Our Hen House -- a central clearinghouse for all kinds of ideas on how individuals can make change for animals, which she runs along with her partner, animal rights lawyer, Mariann Sullivan. With both a daily blog and a weekly podcast, the two identify opportunities, report on successful activists and enterprises, and brainstorm ideas ranging from the brilliant to the farfetched. From 2007-2010, Jasmin was the campaigns manager for Farm Sanctuary, where she headed up all grassroots advocacy via Farm Sanctuary’s Advocacy Campaign Team. As a writer, she has blogged for Crazy Sexy Life, Civil Eats, Making Hay, VegDAILY, Zaftig Vegan, and others, and she is the current NY Animal Rights Examiner for Examiner.com. Jasmin has contributed several articles to VegNews Magazine -- including one you can find in the current issue, called "(Car)Bon Voyage" -- which explores what's green (and what's mean) about the ecotourism industry. Jasmin's writing has also been seen in Heeb Magazine and Satya Magazine. Her workshops — which have been featured in publications such as TimeOut NY and The Village Voice — have been presented at universities and law schools throughout the country, as well as conferences such as Taking Action for Animals, Farm Sanctuary’s Hoe Down, Let Live Northwest Animal Rights Conference, SUNY Social Justice Conference, and the Institute for Critical Animal Studies North American Conference. In 2009, just before she turned 30, VegNews Magazine named Jasmin one of their “20 Under 30” activists to watch out for. She and Mariann live in New York City with their amazing pit bull, Rose.

Kiss Me, I'm Vegan: What was the turning point in your life that led you to veganism? Was it one huge moment, or a collective group of small moments that changed you?

Jasmin: Though it was seeing footage of factory farming that ultimately "turned" me, there were many instances in my life that led up to my veganism, instances I feel were an integral part of the process.

I had been vegetarian for many years before I was vegan. I went vegetarian when I was a teenager, mainly because I thought meat was "icky," but didn't really give it much thought beyond that (obviously, or I probably would've gone vegan a lot sooner). I was a theatre student and I thought I was very cool. I wore all black, smoked clove cigarettes, and tried really hard to stay on top of anything I deemed even remotely trendy. I think vegetarianism probably fit into that category for me. In fact, when people would ask me about my diet, I would say, "I'm vegetarian -- but not the mean kind!" (Ha ha -- little did I know! No, I'm kidding ...)

Meanwhile, I was actually employed as an AIDS awareness activist, for an educational theatre company. I was heavily involved in that social justice cause, and in many others -- like gay rights and women's rights. It's sadly ironic for me to look back at that now and realize that I was passionately advocating for the reproductive rights of females, yet I was literally consuming the byproducts of the reproductive organs of dairy cows and egg-laying hens -- two unimaginably cruel and horrendously exploitative systems within animal agriculture.

Jasmin (on the right) performing in an AIDS-awareness theatrical production with the theatre company, Nitestar.

Then, when I was in my early twenties (I'm 30 now), through a friend in my theatre company I met a woman (Marisa Miller Wolfson of Kind Green Planet) who was a vegan activist. I remember thinking she was extreme and so oddly different. But I was also completely intrigued by her lifestyle and convictions. She showed me some footage of factory farming, and really took me under her wing. After seeing that footage and being pretty traumatized from it, I thought that I would probably try vegan on for size, yet it still terrified me somehow. Vegan. Vegan. The word had such a funny sound to it. It sounded so ... subversive.

 

Marisa and Jasmin

Then, Marisa introduced me to a bunch of her friends as a "new vegan," and I thought, "Shit. I'm a vegan. It's official." In retrospect, it was absolutely the best decision I could've ever made -- or the best one a good friend could've made for me! After learning about animal issues more thoroughly, I quickly realized that there was no other way to be. I began to see veganism not as a "personal choice," as I had thought of it when I was vegetarian; rather, as a moral imperative. Once I was exposed to the ugly underbelly of factory farming, there was no way I could take part in supporting it. And once I got over the initial shock of the lifestyle switch from vegetarian to vegan -- a shock that was 100% self-induced, and a tad overdramatic -- I absolutely loved it. There was clearly no turning back.

Jasmin with cow Phoenix at Farm Sanctuary. Photo courtesy of www.farmsanctuary.org. Photo taken by Connie Pugh.

KMIV: What have been the greatest rewards of your vegan lifestyle? What have been the greatest challenges?

Jasmin: Though I am tempted to say that the greatest reward has been feeling so amazingly good about not contributing to animal cruelty, and knowing that I am living in accordance with my ethical beliefs -- I tend to think that maybe being an ethical person shouldn't be so easily characterized as "rewarding." It's almost like saying that I feel really good about not beating up the old woman on the bus. Some things are just a given -- or at least, they should be.

It's very rewarding to have the honor of knowing the absolutely most amazing, awesome, and heroic people I know. There are such GOOD people who are part of the animal rights movement. I'm humbled, constantly, every day, to know these people -- to call them my friends and my colleagues.

But specifically, the greatest reward has been my relationship with my life partner -- the incredibly brilliant, talented, kind, funny, and sharp Mariann Sullivan. Though in many ways our relationship was unlikely at first, our worldview was so completely compatible, and we just clicked in a way I had never experienced before. Mariann has been in the movement for a long time. She is an animal rights law professor, writer (mostly on animal law issues), and soon-to-be Chair of the Animal Law Committee of the ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Though I had met (and dated!) several non-vegans before I was with Mariann, it was just so -- refreshing! -- to be with somebody who gets me and gets it so deeply. And to work alongside her with Our Hen House has truly been a coup!

Mariann and Jasmin

As for the greatest challenges, well, it's pretty hard sometimes to sleep at night knowing that 286 chickens die every second in this country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's even harder when you see people you love consuming animal products. Sometimes it seems impossible to know where to put that. They say that ignorance is bliss, but I don't think that's true at all. Still, sometimes it can be really infuriating to see people "unknowingly" contributing to animal cruelty -- the very thing we work so hard to fight.

For me, that's where activism comes along, and those moments are exactly when I try really hard to remember that embracing a vegan lifestyle doesn't begin and end with animals. To me, being a vegan means extending compassion to people, too, even though sometimes, I have to get through a lot of pain to find that place.

If I didn't have activism, I would seriously go berserk. That's one of about a thousand reasons why it's completely necessary for everyone to get active for animals -- and no one way is too small. Everything we do makes a difference, and not only does it have the power to preserve our own longevity in this movement, but given the hideous state of animal welfare today, it really is imperative that we step up to the plate. This is something I talked about in a recent workshop I gave, called "From Veganism to Activism."

Veganism to Activism with Jasmin Singer from jasmin singer on Vimeo.

KMIV: You recently shifted from working as Farm Sanctuary's Campaigns Manager to creating your own website, Our Hen House. How did you get originally get involved in Farm Sanctuary's work? What led you to pursue a new direction with Our Hen House?

Jasmin: The three years I spent at Farm Sanctuary were, without question, the three best ones of my life.

In early 2007, Mariann and I visited the sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY. It was a life-changing experience. I remember feeling the same way the first time I had visited Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary and Eastern Shore Sanctuary the year prior. To spend time with a rescued farm animal is an experience unlike anything else. They are each so different, so special. I immediately fell in love with the chickens -- who I found to be social, brave, and funny animals.

Jasmin and Camila (the chicken) at Farm Sanctuary. Photo courtesy of www.farmsanctuary.org. Photo by Connie Pugh.

When I got back to New York City, I eagerly agreed to coordinate Farm Sanctuary's NYC Walk for Farm Animals, which is a massive fund and awareness raiser. That volunteer job led to a position at Farm Sanctuary, coordinating activist efforts. I soon was organizing national campaigns, and I also became the national Walk for Farm Animals coordinator. While I was at Farm Sanctuary, I got the chance to work with some of my mentors -- including Gene Baur, the co-founder and president. I also had the opportunity to meet activists from around the globe. From that vantage point, I really got to see, first hand, what incredible and diverse work activists everywhere are doing for the betterment of animals. Though sometimes it feels otherwise, the fact is that we animal activists really are everywhere!

Jasmin Singer emceeing the 2009 NYC Walk. On her right is David Benzaquen.

Jasmin leafleting at Harvard

Last month, I left my job as the campaigns manager at Farm Sanctuary, though I have stayed on in the consultant role (and I continue to lead the monthly NYC activist meetings). Though it was a very difficult decision to leave, I had an unrelenting yearning to start Our Hen House and to invest myself in it fully. When I give workshops, the main point that I always stress is that in order to be the best animal advocate we can be, we need to know what we're good at and find a way to plug that into animal rights. I felt like I was at the point where I needed to do my own thing, and to really use the creativity I felt bubbling beneath my skin in order to create change for animals.

Our Hen House is a central clearinghouse for all kinds of ideas on how individuals can make change for animals. With a daily blog, a weekly podcast, and a video page, we identify opportunities, report on successful activists and enterprises, and brainstorm ideas ranging from the brilliant to the farfetched. That part of it has been really exciting, and even though we've only been up for 2 1/2 months, we've received tons of feedback from people all over, telling us that they got the grant we reported on, or they submitted a pitch for a call for papers that we featured and theirs got chosen for publication, or they were inspired to start scouting out locations for the vegan business they want to open, or (probably the best one), they went vegan!

We have a couple other exciting projects we're working on for Our Hen House, too. Since my background is in the arts, and since I'm totally passionate about the idea of shedding light on amazing creative types who are using their art-form for animals, we'll be starting a video series called "Art of the Animal." We will feature somebody who is doing amazing things for animals in a very creative and artistic way. I'm super-excited about this! We'll also have a virtual reading series, where we'll get an author to read a section of her or his (pro-animal-themed) book, and then answer questions that people submit -- all virtually! We are also at the beginning stages of making Our Hen House a non-for-profit! And, somewhat separately, I am writing a very special children's book, which was inspired by my gorgeous and perfect pit bull, Rose.

Jasmin and Rose

KMIV: What advice would you give someone who is interested in veganism, but afraid of taking the leap?

Jasmin: As you can see from my own process with going vegan, I fully understand that for some people, the idea of going vegan can feel like a huge gestalt shift (oftentimes it is, in fact, a huge gestalt shift), and that can be scary. I understand that you might have initial concerns, sometimes ones that you won't even admit out loud. For some people, going vegan means admitting to yourself that, on some level, you've been lied to your whole life. Milk does not do a body good. Cows in California are not actually happy (well, the ones at Farm Sanctuary probably are). "Humane meat" is an oxymoron. These are things you might not have known. Really owning that is upsetting.

But that was the past.

Here are some other truths: In case you haven't noticed, the United States of America is not protein-deficient. Vegans are not protein-deprived. You do not need animal products to get protein. You can thrive on a healthy vegan diet (in fact, the American Dietetic Association recommends it). There are millions and millions of things you can eat as a vegan -- and you will not feel as though you are sacrificing anything (except cruelty). Vegan food is delicious, delectable, and healthy. After about 6 weeks (the amount of time it takes your body to get over an addiction -- which animal-based food is), you will no longer crave meat and dairy. The word "vegan" isn't actually scary at all, and there are millions of people who are living healthfully and happily as vegans.

Consuming eggs and dairy are just as "icky" (to use my teenager-word) as consuming meat, and even though you're not eating flesh, you're still supporting an industry that kills animals for their flesh. (Actually, the egg industry -- even the "organic" egg industry -- kills all the male chicks, since there is no economical use for them in the egg industry.)

Also, I'd strongly recommend that anyone considering a vegan lifestyle -- but afraid or reluctant to fully go there -- sign up immediately for Vegan at Heart, which is a project of Kind Green Planet, and is created by my personal vegan-maker, Marisa Miller Wolfson. Vegan at Heart is a free online coaching program for people who are vegan at heart but not necessarily in practice.

Lastly, I can tell you without hesitation that going vegan will be the best thing you've ever done in your entire life, and it will open doors for you that you didn't even know were there.

KMIV: Okay - you're stuck on a desert island with three vegan food items - what are they?

Jasmin: See, this is kind of unfair, because I just realized that the first answer I wanted to give was already given last week by David Benzaquen. (By the way, remember before when I was telling you that working at Farm Sanctuary allowed me to work with amazing activists? David was one of them. AND he used to be my intern!)

You know what? I'm going to use my answer anyway, even though David obviously stole it from my brain. Sacred Chow's raw marinated kale. It tastes like vegetable heaven with a hint of mustard.

Next: S'nice cupcakes. In fact, I just ordered 50 for Mariann's upcoming birthday party! And by the way, S'nice is opening a new location about a block from our apartment. So long, life as I know it ... .

Lastly, homemade Parma. I realize that this is kind of a disgusting choice, given my other two foods, and since I won't have any toast to put it on, but I could put homemade Parma on cardboard and find it delicious. Parma is this sprinkly stuff that tastes cheesy. You can get it packaged at the health food store, and that's all fine and good, but the homemade Parma is where it's at! The recipe is from The Yellow Rose Cookbook by Joanna Vaught. Incidentally, that book is published by Herbivore, which is kind of the most magical place on earth.

So, Lindsay, I'm intrigued. This deserted island that you speak of ... is there WiFi?

 Many thanks to Jasmin Singer for making this interview possible. To learn more about Jasmin and Our Hen House, please visit www.ourhenhouse.com.

My Mom's First Meat-Out

I've got one amazing mama. Growing up, whether it was a conversation with a stranger, rescuing and caring for an animal in need, or helping me with my book reports for as long as it would take, my mom was - and still very much is - the ultimate giver. We have been through nearly every experience you can imagine, she and I, and we have come out not only as a solid mother-daughter team, but as good friends. Sure, there have been roadblocks - as with all family bonds - but what I love about us is that we actively try to live in the present, always thankful and aware of the time we have together. What my mom and I have is a special thing - and it has only grown stronger with my veganism. 

Mom and me on my wedding day.

See - when I went vegan, I wanted to shout it to the hill-tops. I was so happy and felt truly awakened by my decision, and I desperately wanted to share that with anyone who would listen. And my mom listened. And listened. And listened. Never one to judge, my mom lent a gracious, kind ear to everything I had inside to share about what I've experienced on this journey. And when I say everything, I mean everything - every scary fact learned, every exciting discovery made, every delicious (or questionable) dish attempted. I had no filter with my mom - and thankfully, I didn't need to.


 As if all this weren't enough, my mom has allowed the openness she's shown me to guide her on her own path towards veganism. Every day, I am in awe of her resilience, her adaptability, and her courage to not only face the difficult truth of how badly animals are treated in order to be killed for food and clothing, but to then actively make choices in her own life to better their conditions. I guess you could say, she's my hero.

Last Saturday, my mom attended her first ever Meat-Out event - a fundraiser for PETA at Hobos Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. (Never heard of Meat-Out Day? Click here for more info.) Below, you can read her firsthand account of that lovely experience, all with photographs she took herself to document the evening. Enjoy!

___________________________ 

My First Meat-Out

by Myra Wolf

My mom is 88 years old and grew up on a ridge in West Virginia.  She walked two miles to school everyday, and her food was grown at her home in virgin soil. Her sister, Clara, is 99 years old and grew up that way too.  But they moved off that ridge for fuller lives and a different food supply.  At 75 years old, my Mom got breast cancer.  At 85 years old, my Aunt Clara got breast cancer (at the same time my Mom did). 

I wonder every day if the diet they ate during their twenties and beyond played a role in their getting breast cancer later in life.  I was thinking hard about that when I got a phone call about the "Great American Meat-Out" from my daughter Lindsay.

Getting food (that's me on the left with the serving spoon)  

Lindsay introduced me to vegan food two years ago.  Coming from an animal-lover environment our whole lives has played a huge role in her choices today. The education I have been completely open to in these two years has brought me to wanting that lifestyle myself. 

The delicious food!  

Food and good cooking go hand in hand for me.  If I eat anything processed to death it just tastes horrible. Fortunately, I have gotten to experience some really yummy, wonderful vegan meals that have made me sit among family and friends and feel at home.  One place was Hobos, the setting for my first Great American Meat-Out.  The chef was Gretchen Hanson.  

Chef Gretchen making sure everything is in its place (she's in the blue shirt).

I brought a friend but had no family with me when I arrived. Once I arrived at the podium for my reservation, the manager happily said he would seat me earlier than my reservation called for and escorted me and my guest to the PETA welcome table.  We were greeted with happiness, gift bags, a table full of free information and had a wonderful chat with the two PETA representatives. Chef Gretchen soon came out to warmly greet us, and I knew family was already there even if you didn't bring yours along.

 The PETA table

The aroma of the prepared buffet of vegan food pulled me to the table as we were escorted to a seat I didn't sit in - I grabbed my plate and headed to the grub! I filled it with everything offered.  Our table mates next to us had already eaten, and we started up a chat.  James was a vegan newbie (vegan for only a couple weeks), and Chunkit was vegetarian.  Our "family" meal started with conversation - we talked about the lack of vegan restaurants in the area and how we needed to have more.  James told me about one he liked in Philadelphia (at least two hours away) called Horizons.

James and Chunkit

Chef Gretchen checked in on us as she scurried from table to table making sure wine glasses were full, plates were set out, and people were included in conversations inside her "home".  I left Hobos happy. From the lady that cooked up my fried green tomatoes, to my waiter that told us of his travels in Barcelona for seven months, to our friends at our side table, I felt as though I had a wonderful, delicious, gourmet meal with family.  I took the apple cobbler to go home and heat it up for later to prolong my happy feeling. In my first week of eating vegan (so far), this was one place I could go to eat out and eat at home at the same time. That experience alone has taken me into two more days to add to my seven days of eating no meat, no dairy, and no eggs and feeling over the moon about it - inside and out.

___________________________


A little bit about Chef Gretchen Hanson and Hobos Restaurant:

"Every meatless meal matters." - Chef Gretchen

I spoke with Chef Gretchen of Hobos Restaurant earlier this week on the phone as she was in the midst of traveling to a food expo, just to get an idea of how the whole Meat-Out event went. What a kind, warm lady! A vegan herself, Gretchen has the interesting challenge of running a restaurant that is not entirely vegan (meat and seafood are standard fare, right alongside vegan dishes). While her dream is to one day have a completely vegan restaurant, she understands that business would be a whole lot tougher if she only served vegan food, as it would greatly limit her clientele (especially in a beach town with very limited vegan dining options). By keeping the options wide open, Gretchen has found that she has managed to open a lot of people's hearts to try vegan food - most for the first time. "I'm helping to facilitate a more plant-based lifestyle for meat-eaters," Gretchen said, as she explained that nearly all of the food made in her restaurant begins vegan, and whatever is not vegan is obtained as sustainably and compassionately as possible. Customers often walk into Hobos asking Gretchen "Where is the love?", which is just their familiar way of asking her what was made with the most love on any given day. For Gretchen, it's all about making food from a loving, creative place. Happy to take on a challenge, Gretchen will always accommodate anyone with a food allergy or sensitivity. Gretchen's favorite experience at the restaurant is to take someone who originally came in ready to order a burger and will walk out having "dipped their toes" in Hobos' vegan culinary delights. When asked what prompted her to go vegan, Gretchen replies, "Spiritually, it's where I've always wanted to be." I couldn't agree more with her.


And what does she do in order to make the meals containing meat? She cooks by memory from years of eating the stuff - yes, she's that good.


For the Meat-Out, Gretchen did a wonderful thing and kept the admittance price low, so that more people would be able to come, which resulted in a packed house of happy, loving customers ready to celebrate for a great cause. When asked if she will change anything about Hobo's Meat-Out event in the future, she said nothing - except to make it even bigger next year. In addition to celebrating Meat-Out 2010, Gretchen also hosts vegan wine dinners once a month at the restaurant and teaches vegan cooking classes in her spare time. Sounds like this dynamic and talented chef is well on her way to creating the vegan restaurant she dreams of. I will definitely show my support at Hobos every time I head down to Delaware to visit my mom.

 ___________________________

Chef Gretchen's Bio:

  Chef Gretchen at Meat-Out 2010 (photo courtesy of Myra Wolf)

First, a little about myself ...
 

I suspect that my introduction to a career as a chef came a little earlier than most. I had attained the ripe old age of 2 1⁄2 years when I came to the conclusion that the prospect of facing another unpalatable meal prepared by my culinary-challenged parents was just not the way this particular little chef's life was meant to begin. I dragged a chair to the stove and told everyone to keep back - from that point forward I would be feeding myself.
 

By twelve I had my own little catering business; a burgeoning cottage industry cooking for the "lunching ladies" of our affluent southern California community. Being from the wellness center of the universe certainly flavored the way I thought about food but, without access to big grocery stores or convenience foods, the only things I had to work with were the raw ingredients that were delivered by either the food co-op or the local grocer. Cooking was from scratch, the way God had intended. Was there any other way? If so, I didn’t know it. I cooked my way through high school learning rouxs, salsas, sauces: reading any cookbook I could get my hands on, dissecting the information and experimenting on my ever-willing family and friends.
 

Fast forward many years and I found myself at Columbia University spending much of my time in midtown, training in a classic French kitchen. Bechamel, Béarnaise, Brulee and an addiction to Julia Child had turned me into an incurable foodie destined to seek out restaurant kitchens, cheese shops and charcuteries as my natural habitat. My focus during those years had been classic French in all its glory, but now I found the cuisines of the sun calling to me again and my years of travel had begun.
 

My favorite markets had always been in Mexico, Central and South America; every moment I spent exploring them an adventure in exotic produce, an ongoing introduction to new chilies and spices that cleared the nasal passages and intrigued the palate. Every country I travelled to welcomed me with its own tastes and smells. In Europe, olive oils as unique and different as the rustic red wines that graced every meal and every village proud of its family trattoria with its ancient and guarded recipes. Every chef creating a signature of specialty recipes and flavors that was entirely different and unique from their neighbors.
 

Towards the Far East the flavors became as exotic as the ingredients. Being linguistically challenged in any but romance languages, I was happily content to observe and taste my path through most of the Middle and Far East. The small towns through which I travelled rarely had English speaking inhabitants and yet the universal language of food needed little translation as I became as fluent in curry as I already was in mole’ and coulis. My wanderings had one focus, the food and, for the most part, the women who cooked it. I watched and learned from mothers and grandmothers tending braziers and open flame stoves in the stalls and roughshod kitchens of the daily markets: the alchemy of food as an extension of the nurturing role these women played in all facets of their families and community. Wherever I stayed, I tasted and cooked my way into the heart of each life I was privileged to briefly share.
 

My eldest child was a surprise and blessing that I didn’t expect. Surprise because he caught me without a supporting partner and blessing because I had to figure out a very clever way to combine food with staying home with him. I started a catering company that focused on cooking wholesome meals for people with medical challenges. Whether challenged by diabetes, heart disease or obesity, I began to see the correlation and relationship in every aspect of how we live and what we eat.
 

So now we come to Hobos and everything comes full circle. Food as love, food as healing, food as community.
 

And yet there are still many more journeys left to make, meals to share with friends old and new, and so much more to learn along the way (always that!). I begin this next stage of my life focused on living and cooking a diet based on predominately vegan food choices. As I draw from the culinary background I have been so blessed to have, everything is still, and always will be, made from scratch. Like the hundreds of little farming villages that I have visited and lived in through the years, my ingredients are purchased from my neighbors whenever possible; making my dream of a 40 mile menu a reality from our very first season.

Welcome to my table, welcome to Hobos. 

Thanks to my mom, Chef Gretchen, and Hobos restaurant for allowing me to share this beautiful story. For more information on Hobos Restaurant, visit http://www.myhobos.com/.

Reasons to Smile.

So, as most original followers of the blog know, I love to make these lists. They are my reasons to continue on with the beautiful journey of a vegan lifestyle. There are more experiences than I can count on a blog, but these can definitely be summed up as my "greatest hits" this week.

So, here are this week's reasons to smile...

1. Knowing that the money raised for the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary and Farm Sanctuary from my benefit, Rock It Out, is on its way to each sanctuary. 

(By the way, in case you didn't read the post about the benefit, each sanctuary will be receiving $1300!)

2. Speaking of Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, their next benefit on April 1st has me pretty stoked:

Woodstock's Farm Animal Sanctuary's

Comedy for Karma III
April 1st at 8pm 
Gotham Comedy Club in NYC

 208 w 23rd b/t 7th & 8th Aves.

 

Please join us for this unique annual fundraiser -- arguably the most fun you'll ever have while still helping animals! It's nearly sold out every year so book 'em now!

Check out this amazing lineup:

	Louis was the star of HBO's series  "Lucky Louie" and numerous HBO and  Comedy Central specials. None were rated "G."  His new series "Louie" is in  production and starts on FX in June.  > visit his site
	Dave's series "Insomniac" ran for more than  4 seasons on Comedy Central, and he has  graced just about every network and comedy  club on the planet.   >visit his site
	His third time at C4K, Gary appeared on NBC's "Last Comic Standing" (and that might be because he's so darn tall) and his own Comedy Central Special, "Boyish Man." >visit his site
	You might know Wyatt best from his work as a fake news correspondent on The Daily Show but his long career as an Emmy award- winning comedy writer and standup is far from fake. >visit his site
	Before co-creating The Daily Show in the late 90's Lizz was and still is an accomplished standup. For the past few years she's starred in the off-broadway sketch comedy hit Shoot the Messenger.
	Dan is a syndicated cartoonist, a board member of the farm, and will emcee the e vening, possibly doing naked handstands. >heck, he has a website too

Advance tickets recommended!
$50 for advance general admission seats

or if you want extra-special Karma and to doubly 
help farm animals, consider buying $100 Reserved Seat VIP tickets!

>>Click here for TICKETS and details<<

Many thanks to
Gotham Comedy Club
for donating the space!

3. Discovering the cool line of vegan shoes that eco-friendly company Simple has been working on. I just attended an event of theirs on Tuesday, and boy, do they have adorable sneaks!

4. The fact that my brother's girlfriend has taken a 30-Day Vegetarian Pledge, that since the benefit, my step-mom has refrained from eating meat and my mom and her boyfriend haven't had a single animal product, and that my mother-in-law was so affected from reading Jonathan Safran Foer's stirring book, Eating Animals, that she is no longer eating land animals. Bravo family!

Interested in taking a Veg Pledge yourself? Click here for more info.

5. After already getting the chance to hear from Colleen Patrick-Goudreau and David Benzaquen, knowing the lineup of extraordinary vegan mentors yet to come for my Interview Series, which include:

• Isa Chandra Moskowitz (Co-founder of the Post Punk Kitchen website and best-selling  cookbook author - Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, Veganomicon, Vegan with a Vengeance, Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar, and Vegan Brunch) 

• Jasmin Singer (Co-founder of Our Hen House, 2007-2010 Campaigns Manager for Farm Sanctuary) 

• Jenny Brown (Co-founder of the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary), 

• Susan Voisin (founder of the Fat Free Vegan Kitchen blog), and many more!

6. Meeting the supremely kind Alicia Silverstone.

7. Finishing my second round of 29 Days of Giving. Have you given yet?

8. Experiencing the joy that is 4-Course Vegan in Williamsburg, Brooklyn this past Saturday. Four gourmet dishes. All vegan. Deeeelicious!

9. Getting the chance to volunteer for New York's next Veggie Conquest on April 25th. I'll be serving up a yummy second course dish after chef's compete with their original first course! (Joshua Katcher of The Discerning Brute, will be the emcee - awesome!!)

10. My mom attending a Meat-Out event last Saturday at Hobos Restaurant (Rehoboth Beach, DE) and having an absolute ball! More on this to come...

and finally, 

11. This quote: 

 "We must help the defenseless animal who is the victim of cruelty, and we must also extend our compassion to help liberate the human being who is the victim of his or her own blindness, which is the result of years of conditioning. Only through compassion can real and lasting change take place."

- Sharon Gannon, Yoga and Vegetarianism

At the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, Fall 2009

What are your reasons to smile?

Interview Series #2: Farm Sanctuary's David Benzaquen

This interview is really personal for me, because knowing David Benzaquen has been a truly inspiring experience. David is the Campaigns Coordinator of Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, which operates the largest rescue and refuge network in North America. In addition to rescuing farm animals, Farm Sanctuary also works to educate the public about the abuses occurring on factory farms and ways they can help end these cruel practices, and campaigns for legislation and policy reforms that promote respect and compassion for farm animals. Farm Sanctuary has initiated groundbreaking prosecutions and precedent-setting litigation, and is responsible for the passage of the first U.S. laws to prohibit inhumane factory farming practices.

 David speaking on March 6, 2010 at my benefit, Rock It Out:

A Night to Benefit NY's Farm Animal Sanctuaries.

photo courtesy of Ben Strothmann Photography

I met David last year when I almost interned for Farm Sanctuary (I had to turn down the offer because of my conflicting work schedule). Since knowing him through the experience of volunteering for Farm Sanctuary, as well as more recently, working on my benefit earlier this month, I have to say, he is hands-down one of the most humble, kind, and selfless people I know. His passion for animal advocacy is immense, and generosity is at the core of everything he does - whether it is helping to run a NYC Activist meeting or heading up a chicken rescue in the Bronx. 

I love this guy!

David wears many hats at Farm Sanctuary, and he does so with grace, a huge smile on his face, and complete respect for the animals he works so tirelessly to protect. It is my honor to be able to share his story with all of you. 

Kiss Me, I'm Vegan: What was the turning point in your life that led you to veganism? Was it one huge moment, or a collective group of small moments that changed you?

David: It was definitely a collection of moments. I always loved animals as a child (even though I never had any), but grew up in NYC where one isn’t frequently confronted by the animals he or she eats. However, when I was about 7 years old, I witnessed somebody reel in a catfish. The fisherman's hook had gone through the poor fish's eye and I saw the animal's blood. For the first time, I made the connection between the suffering of human animals and non-human animals. After much prodding and continued socialization by my family and others around me to convince me that I needed to eat animals and that they didn't suffer, I returned to eating flesh. 

A few years later when I was 14, I witnessed someone boiling a crab. The animal escaped the pot and started to scurry away for his/her dear life. The cook proceeded to pursue the animal with some heavy object and attempted to crush it, but the crab avoided several blows before being struck. I was awestruck at having witnessed the killing of an animal who was clearly aware of what was happening and had tried with every ounce of strength and courage to survive. It was no longer possible for me to avoid the truth that non-human animals are intelligent, feeling, and self-aware beings who want to live just like we do. I never ate flesh again. 

As time passed, I learned more about the horrendous abuse of dairy cows and egg-laying hens and realized that I could not support these industries. Going vegan was easy once I knew what a tremendous impact it would have on the animals. (It wasn't until later that I learned the amazing benefits of veganism to human health and environmental protection.)

KMIV: What have been the greatest rewards of your vegan lifestyle? 

David: The greatest rewards have been the feelings of fulfillment and joy I have when I remember that this simple choice is saving thousands of unique, intelligent, feeling, living beings that want to play outside, spend time with their loved ones and friends, choose where to go and live without unecessary suffering. Other rewards have included meeting some of the world's most compassionate individuals, no longer suffering from physical ailments like chronic bronchitis, and seeing farm animals (like those at Farm Sanctuary) as companions, teachers, and heroes, instead of as food.

KMIV: How did you become involved with Farm Sanctuary?

David: In 2004, I had the privilege of working for NY State Senator Liz Krueger who was that year's recipient of Farm Sanctuary's Legislator of the Year Award. The Senator was kind enough to invite me to attend the organization's gala as her guest, and I was incredibly moved and impressed by the work they did. Soon after I joined, some friends at Farm Sanctuary's annual NY Country Hoe Down at the farm. During that weekend I met farm animals for the first time and heard from some incredibly inspiring speakers about how I could take my activism to another level. After finishing college in DC, I moved back to NYC to get a master's degree in nonprofit management at The New School and started interning at Farm Sanctuary's NYC office. It was such an enriching and exciting experience that I stayed on as an intern for 20 full months until I graduated from school. In June of 2009, I officially joined the staff. This was the second best decision of my life (second only to going vegan). 

Today I'm working as the organization's Campaigns Coordinator. I am so lucky that I can work at a place where all of my time is devoted to making change for farm animals, and I'm surrounded by some of the most dedicated, compassionate people in the world. 

For anyone who hasn't visited the farm, I highly recommend doing so. If you're looking to change the world, sign up for Farm Sanctuary's Advocacy Campaign Team (http://www.farmsanctuary.org/act/), and I can guarantee that any available time you can devote (whether it's an hour a month from home or an hour a day in the streets) will be well spent saving countless animals.

 KMIV: What is the easiest part of your job? The hardest?

David: The easiest part of my job is feeling motivated. I've had jobs where I had to push myself or think of my paycheck to get to work in the morning. This is not one of those jobs. I spend my day empowering and training others to be the most effective advocates for veganism and farm animals that they can be. It's exciting work to say to someone that their simple choices are making a huge difference in the lives of animals. 

For the same reasons, the hardest part of my job is to stop working at the end of the day and to have to turn down opportunities. When you do this work you receive hundreds of requests (via email, phone, facebook, in person, etc.) every day to save any number of animals from cruelty. Doing this work well means learning how to prioritize the work that you can do most effectively and keeping a positive attitude by thinking of the tremendous impact you're having, instead of the tremendous suffering out there. 

KMIV: What advice would you give someone who is interested in veganism, but afraid of taking the leap?   

David: For many folks the process of going vegan is a journey and thinking about it one step at a time might make it more manageable. The animal abusing industries benefit from making us feel powerless and disconnected from our food. When I first went vegan, someone said to me, "Every time you sit down to eat, you can save a life." Once you realize the impact of your food choices (and of course, what you buy in the way of clothing, household products, etc), and how powerful you are to make a difference, it's hard to imagine NOT doing it. We all strive to feel like we can make a difference in the world. Going vegan is a simple, fun, tasty, healthy, and compassionate decision by which you tell animal abusers that you won't let them use your money or stomach to commit cruelty. There's no more empowering or effective way to make change. Lastly, seek out support from the incredible resources that are available to anyone who's interested in going vegan or incorporating vegan foods into their diet. Check out websites like http://www.vegforlife.org/ for helpful tips on how to make the transition and use social networking to find others who can help you along the way. (**If you're reading this interview, you are well on your way people!**)   

KMIV: Okay -  you're stuck on a desert island with three vegan food items - what are they? 

David: In order to get a good balance of savory and sweet, I'd have to say Candle 79's seitan piccata, Sacred Chow's marinated kale, and Vegan Treats Bakery's caramel apple cheesecake.

Many thanks to David for making himself available for this interview. To find out more information about Farm Sanctuary, please visit www.farmsanctuary.org.

Interview Series #1: Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

First of all -- I have to say that I am just plain blown away by the outpouring of support, warmhearted thoughts, and love being given to my blog right now. It is overwhelming, humbling, and so wonderful. If you are new to Kiss Me, I'm Vegan! - welcome! If you've been a follower from the beginning - why hello, old friend!  And if you are a Kind Lifer who found my blog through Alicia Silverstone's rockin' post about me - I am so happy to have you here to enjoy this journey with me.

For the past few months, I've been reaching out to mentors of mine in the vegan world to find out about their personal journeys toward veganism and animal advocacy. Well, today, I have a lovely treat for you all - my very first interview with one of those mentors, the amazing Colleen Patrick-Goudreau.

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, pictured with a rescued hen 
(photo courtesy of the Compassionate Cooks website) 

For those who may be unfamiliar with this awesome lady, Colleen is one of my all-time vegan heroes. From her beautiful cookbooks (The Joy of Vegan Baking, a vegan baking must, and more recently, The Vegan Table), to her thought-provoking DVDs and "Food for Thought" podcasts, to her smart, kind, and truly revolutionary website, Compassionate Cooks - Colleen has made it easier and more accessible than ever to make the transition to a vegan diet and lifestyle. She's a passionate animal advocate and an inspiration to so many people who want to create a better world for animals - and especially those who want to eat delicious and satisfying food in the process. In the eyes of this vegan lady from Brooklyn, well, she just plain rocks!

 photo courtesy of the Compassionate Cooks website   

And now, without further ado, my interview with
Ms. Colleen Patrick-Goudreau: 

Kiss Me, I'm Vegan: What was the turning point in your life that led you to veganism? Was it one huge moment, or a collective group of small moments that changed you?

Colleen: Both - in a way!  I had already been an activist around such issues of puppy mills and animals in research but my first 'a-ha' moment that paved the way for where I am now came when I read John Robbins Diet for a New America, and I saw what happened to animals bred and killed for human consumption. I could no longer justify eating mammals and I stopped right then and there. It started me on a path to learn everything I could about these issues, and while I did so, I would share everything I learned with everyone I met. But I wasn’t fully awake; I was still consuming cow's milk, chicken's eggs, and fish - making the typical excuses so many make, because I just didn't want to believe I was contributing to suffering - until I read Slaughterhouse by Gail Eisnitz. My life was changed overnight. Over the course of an incredibly painful couple of days reading that book it became clear to me that no animal raised for human consumption - whether for their flesh, milk, or eggs - escapes the horrors and cruelties of slaughter. I became vegan, I became fully awake, and I became dedicated to raising awareness about animal suffering and to being a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.
 
KMIV: What have been the greatest rewards of your vegan lifestyle? What have been the greatest challenges?

Colleen: Every day brings huge rewards, both for me personally and because of the work I'm honored to do. The most rewarding aspect is hearing from so many wonderful people around the globe who share their stories of transformation with me. I'm so humbled to be part of their journey and hold so much hope because of the openness and compassion I witness in people.

Personally, knowing that the daily choices I make reflect my deepest values of compassion and nonviolence is an incredible way to live.   Becoming awake changed my life in profound ways - it's like I've fully integrated all the parts of myself. There's no guilt, there are no excuses, there's no hiding from the truth. I can look it straight on and not be afraid of it.

In terms of my health, I have a total cholesterol of 102, an abundance of energy, and I'm told that my skin and eyes are bright. :)  In general, my body functions as it should, particularly in the - how shall I say? - digestive and reproductive departments: regular like clockwork, no cramps, no PMS, light cycles - very different than before I was vegan. It's worth mentioning that I attribute these benefits not only to being vegan  - but to eating a whole foods plant-based diet.

My biggest challenge is not having the means to reach a larger audience. I certainly can't compete with the huge marketing machine that runs the meat, dairy, and eggs industries, so I just plug away each day. I'm thoroughly convinced that people want this information so desperately. They want to be healthier; they want to align their values with their behavior, they don't want to create suffering, and I'm so frustrated by people (so many people!) who keep the bar low and abandon all hope and expectation. "People will never stop eating animals! It's too hard," they say. "Tish and pish," I say! "The problem is if we keep telling people it's too hard, they'll start to believe you! It's so incredibly beautiful to raise the bar and watch people rise to it. I'm not surprised by it at all, because I have faith in people, but it's certainly wonderful to witness.
 
KMIV: What inspired you to create the Compassionate Cooks website?
 

Colleen: When I became vegan, my activism increased tenfold. The more outreach I did, the more I realized that the questions people had boiled down to food, nutrition, social aspects, practical aspects, spiritual aspects, and so Compassionate Cooks was born of a desire to fill those gaps for people - to address their challenges. It started with basic leafleting and tabling, moved to cooking classes, then the DVD, then the first cookbook (Joy of Vegan Baking), then the podcast (Vegetarian Food for Thought), then the second cookbook (The Vegan Table), and so on. The website has expanded as my projects have, though I admit we've outgrown it and need a re-design. A girl can dream.  

KMIV: What advice would you give someone who is interested in veganism, but afraid of taking the leap?    

Colleen: I just encourage people to be true to themselves. If they feel compelled to make a transition overnight, then do it. If they feel compelled to do it slowly, then at least do something. But just be honest.

A common assertion I hear from people is that they could stop eating all animal products except X, and that X is usually cheese. And I say, “well, then STOP EATING all other animal products except cheese - for now. At least do what you're able and willing to do. But don't do NOTHING because you can't do EVERYTHING. Each step will bring you closer to the person you really want to be - and to the animals you want to help. But to continue eating animal flesh and animal's milk or eggs because you can’t give up cheese – doesn’t make any sense. It’s an absurd rationalization. “Don’t do nothing because you can’t do everything. Do something. Anything.”  (**one of my absolute favorite quotes ever, by the way!**)

Plus, if you think about it, we only eat the same 7 or 8 meals all the time – we just rotate them! So, transitioning is as easy as creating a new 7 or 8 meals to rotate, while still eating foods that are familiar to us. So, first sit down and see what meals you already eat that are “vegan.” You’ll find you might already make a great pasta dish with marinara sauce or a vegetable stir fry. Next “veganize” something you already love. So, for instance, if you make pesto with parmesan cheese, just remove the cheese, and you’ll be thoroughly satisfied with the pine nuts, basil, garlic, and olive oil. Or, if you make egg salad, try it with firm tofu crumbled up instead. Then, incorporate two or three new dishes into your repertoire. Now you have 7 or 8 NEW dishes that you can rotate. In terms of eating out, that’s also really easy. Don’t feel limited to what looks vegan on the menu – most places can easily “veganize” existing dishes. Ask them to remove the cheese on something and to add some nuts instead; many soups are made with veggie stock; tell them to replace the meat with more veggies. You’d be surprised.

photo courtesy of the Compassionate Cooks website

I could go on and on, but I address these and a gazillion other issues and challenges for people in my podcast, Vegetarian Food for Thought. (It's all vegan.) It's available on iTunes or at www.vegetarianfoodforthought.com, and there are over 110 episodes to choose from - covering everything from food, nutrition, and cooking to the spiritual, social, and practical aspects of living compassionately - living vegan.
   

KMIV: Okay -  you're stuck on a desert island with three vegan food items - what are they?
 

Colleen: Well, the first HAS to be tea! As my regular podcast listeners know, I take my tea EVERYwhere, so that would definitely be with me on this hypothetical island! Green tea and also white - but mostly green: dragonwell, Lu Shan Clouds and Mist, gyukuro. (Does that all count as one?) Next, kale. No doubt. Finally, chocolate. Duh! :)

Thanks to Colleen Patrick-Goudreau and Amanda Mitchell at Compassionate Cooks for making this interview possible. To learn more about Colleen and her work, please visit www.compassionatecooks.com.