Interview Series #7: Joshua Katcher of The Discerning Brute

 Hello friends - before sharing the awesome interview you're about to read, I have some wonderful news:

Kiss Me, I'm Vegan! has our first sponsor!! I am happy to announce that Moo Something, a company that sells custom animal paintings, photos and apparel that promote humane treatment of all animals, will be sponsoring this blog for the next three months! See the side of the blog? There's already an adorable link to their shop right next to this post, so go check it out people!  

Want to learn more about Moo Something? Well, don't worry - I will be doing an interview with Moo Something founder, Cary Smith, in the very near future!

Speaking of interviews...

I came across today's interview subject - Joshua Katcher of The Discerning Brute - last year, when a friend of mine sent me a link to the video below:

Already someone who passionately opposes fur, I totally agreed with the message behind Joshua's video and immediately wanted to know more about this funny, bold, and stylish activist (look at him rockin' that popped collar and black scarf above). I was also inspired by how completely fearless Joshua was in making this piece - for someone to stand face to face with New Yorkers (!) and tell them how their fur coats, earmuffs, and hats were really made, all with a smile on his face - it was something I had never seen before in animal advocacy videos.  I was so intrigued that I continued to follow his website for a while after. Our paths crossed again more recently when he posted about my March WFAS/FS fundraiser on The Discerning Brute, so I felt doubly compelled to reach out to him to find out more about his own vegan journey. What I have learned in the process is that not only does Joshua find unique and innovative ways to help expose the horrific state of animal exploitation, but he also shows us a side of vegan culture that is positive, hip, and attainable. This guy makes veganism and animal advocacy cool. And that is an awesome thing.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Pfluger.

Joshua Katcher created The Discerning Brute in 2008, a lifestyle website focusing on fashion, food and etiquette for the ethically handsome man.   The Discerning Brute features contributors, recipes, reviews,  thought-provoking articles, and monthly contests to win sought-after organic and eco apparel, accessories and specialty items, and keeps readers up to date on environmentally, ethically, and socially responsible news and indulgences. Joshua is an artist, writer, self-taught vegan chef, businessman, activist and television producer living in Brooklyn. He is a committed environmentalist, vegan, and social justice advocate. He is critical of unbridled consumerism, backwards pop-economics, and most things that do more damage than good. He encourages skepticism, critical thinking, and accountability. 

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? 

Joshua: What led me to veganism was surprisingly simple and logical. I was always fascinated by and loved animals, and I had a really great relationship with the woods behind the house I grew up in. So naturally, when someone mentioned to me that animals on farms are mistreated, I didn't want to believe it. I loved the taste and traditions associated with eating animal products. I worried what would happen to pizza parties, trips to Friendly's for ice-cream sundaes and my dad's favorite hot-fudge, and backyard barbecues? What about my mom's brisket and family holidays? It seemed overwhelming, but, being a huge comic book fanatic, I had a deep respect for the pursuit if justice. I was determined to find out what happens in that incredibly tenebrous space between the farm and the plate. Needless to say, I was shocked. I felt ashamed for being duped by this manipulative industry and enraged by the impassivity all around me. This was also around the same time I began to realize that adults are not as perfect as children often believe they are. When I realized that I had the ability to avoid causing so much harm and suffering to animals on factory farms and in laboratories, zoos, circuses, and in the wild, I was empowered and began to carve out a lifestyle for myself that included compassion for others as a primary focus. Of course I also discovered amazing new foods and brave friends. 

 Joshua Katcher for Vaute Couture Menswear (Photo courtesy of Anthony Two Moons).

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

Joshua: The greatest rewards are the community. I've never met so many creative, attractive, passionate, and warm people. There is also the peace I feel knowing that I am not supporting industries that capitalize on something so devastating and unnecessary. Then there's the food! The stereotype that vegans eat rabbit food couldn't be further from the truth. I have become an avid foodie and been exposed to more cuisines and cooking and baking techniques then I ever would have otherwise. It's poetic when you go into something that at first seems limiting, only to find out that it opens up a whole world of new possibilities. The side-effect of being really healthy and shocking doctors who analyze my blood-work during my annual physicals is always fun, too.

 

Photo courtesy of Ryan Pfluger. 

The challenge is remaining relatable and living outside the comfort of a bubble. I am in this movement because it's a social justice issue, and that means people who are not aware of what's happening to the animals, people, and ecosystems need to be able to relate to me and understand my lifestyle and message, so they can come to be aware of this. It's not like a religion where I ever ask anyone to believe something that's not in this physical world. The evidence out there is so commonplace that it's almost invisible. And it's understandable to want to push all of mainstream culture out the window and close the blinds and throw a vegan party, but that becomes self-serving. We must still socialize in mainstream places, patronize mainstream restaurants that offer vegan options, and find joy and fun in art, culture, music, fashion, sexuality and everything else. In other words, we have to know where to put the dark things we know, and not allow them to make us miserable people. Half of making a lifestyle desirable is looking great and having fun. The other half is effectively communicating information. 

Joshua Katcher for Vaute Couture Menswear (Photo courtesy of Anthony Two Moons).

KMIV: What inspired you to create The Discerning Brute?

Joshua: I saw a void in the sustainability movement. No one was really talking to men on any level. Veganism (and just caring about stuff in general) has the stereotype of being feminine. But being a protector and a hero is very masculine. I try to provide advice and information as it relates to male identity. I also maintain the only database of fashion designers making ethical menswear. It's amazing what a handsome pair of vegan shoes and a vintage tie can do to a man's self-image.

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

Joshua: I would say, be practical. It's not a religion, and it's not about being perfect and puritanical. Take your time and get all the information you need. It's out there. Watch some documentaries like Earthlings and Peaceable Kingdom. Read some books like Animal Liberation or Skinny Bastard. While there may seem like pressure to leap in, it's better to make slow, steady changes in your lifestyle, and over time you'll realize you haven't really given anything up that you ultimately didn't want to, and in exchange you'll have gained so much. The fear of "Once you know you can't go back" has crossed every single current vegan's mind. We all said "I could never go totally vegan", but then we did, and we lived to tell the tale.  

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

Joshua: Easy! Kale. Coconuts (with water inside), and Dr. Cow's Aged Tree-Nut Cheese.
  
Many thanks to Joshua for sharing his story with the KMIV! community. To learn more about Joshua Katcher's work and website, please visit www.thediscerningbrute.com.

Paying It Forward: An Earth Day Guest Blog by Steven Todd Smith

Earth Day is tomorrow, which is one of my favorite times of year, because it allows me to share the deep and direct connection between eating animal products and the destruction of our environment (something you may or may not already be aware of). This is a fact that is both difficult to take in and empowering to hear, because the best part about knowing this is that you can make a difference every single day with your fork. You can choose to eat vegan - and by choosing veganism, you are not only working to better the lives of animals who desperately need our help, or to better your own health and physical well-being, but you are taking massive leaps and bounds with a vegan diet to help save our Earth.

Fact: According to a 2006 UN-sponsored report titled "Livestock's Long Shadow," factory farming plays a major role in every aspect of environmental collapse, from ozone depletion to ocean dead zones. Factory farms, which hold tens of thousands of animals per facility in windowless warehouses throughout the country, are responsible for more than 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

Fact: According to Environmental Defense, if every American skipped one meal of meat per week and substituted vegetarian foods instead, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than a half-million cars off U.S. roads.

Fact: The University of Chicago reports that going vegan is 50% more effective than switching to a hybrid car in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In honor of Earth Day, I am asking you, my readers and supporters, to make the pledge of sharing this vital information with one friend, loved one, co-worker, or acquaintance in your life. We are getting to the point where big change needs to happen in our world, and I encourage you to share these facts with others because it will hopefully empower them to make better choices as well.

And now, for the main event - my husband's first guest blog on Kiss Me, I'm Vegan!. Steve has been wanting to do a guest blog for a while now, so I am thrilled to be able to share his words with you. I remember thinking back when Steve ate meat and I desperately wanted him to go vegan - "Steve is the best guy I know, and the kindest person in my life - if he can't make the change, then what about everyone else?" Well, Steve did make that change, and his story below is proof that he is not only living that change successfully, but he also is using his personal experience to fuel positive change in others. Read on!

 Paying It Forward for Earth Day

by Steven Todd Smith

At the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, October 2009.

My journey (indirectly) began when Lindsay, my wife, then girlfriend (but always soulmate, and your lovely bloganista) decided to go vegetarian after I specifically showed her the tragic, gruesome ending of Fast Food Nation, depicting the unfortunate fate of cows in a slaughterhouse.  Her journey took many bumps and bends, but consistently led her in the direction of truth, compassion, and a choice for the greater good.  

 Dancing at our wedding, November 2009. 

During this time, I had direct exposure to her discoveries.  Lindsay would read me passages from books - how an animal-based diet is detrimental to your health, testimonials from workers in the factory farming industry, and inspirational quotes from brilliant thinkers who knew the good that came from eating a plant-based diet.  She would show me videos online, like Earthlings and Meet your Meat, and, while I was very resistant at first, I eventually took in what I was seeing and hearing.

Cooking tofu cutlets for our first ever married - and vegan - 

Thanksgiving, November 2009.

Change is a scary thing to face in your life, especially when it involves revamping all or most of the habits/beliefs you've had thus far. Knowing that I did want what was best for me, for living creatures, and the world but also knowing that I don't like being forced into anything, I decided to educate myself on my terms, in my own time.  Lindsay's patience and guidance helped me the whole way.  The major catalysts for me were:

1) In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, which made me look at the food industry and what I eat in a totally different way.

2) Food, Inc., which confirmed those new thoughts and put a visual with it.  I actually kicked the wall of the movie theater as I left.  I was that mad and ready to start making changes.

3) Skinny Bastard, by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin (of New York Times Bestseller Skinny Bitch), which covered the gamut of an animal-based diet vs. a plant based diet. This was a book Lindsay gave to me for my birthday last year.  It was a present from Lindsay that officially changed my life. 

Having a head-butting contest with Ann the goat at WFAS, October 2009.

With the seeds Lindsay had planted for me along her journey and with my three major catalysts, I took a month-long veg pledge in July 2009 which continued on throughout the summer.  By the end of August, not only was I still eating vegetarian, but I had also cut out dairy and eggs.  I made the decision to go vegan.

Sharing a moment with a dolphin in Santa Monica, August 2009.

Going vegan in September 2009 (thanks to my wife!) was a rebirthing of myself in a sense.  It opened my eyes to the horrors and tragedies that take place in the world and made me realize that I do not want to be a part of them.  It opened my eyes to a world of choice, showing me that I am responsible for my lifestyle and however it affects me or others around me.  It opened me up to life, kindness, and, of course, delicious food.

The most amazing part about going vegan thus far - besides how great I feel about myself and how lucky I am to cook and eat such delicious food with my wife, family, and friends - is the whole "Pay It Forward" nature of the simple act of going vegan. 

Meeting vegan advocate and actress Alicia Silverstone, March 2010.

It was very difficult to know about the animal cruelty and the health and environmental dangers of an animal-based diet and not be able to tell everyone I knew everything I knew.  But through the friendly sharing of knowledge, introducing others to yummy vegan food, and the recommendation of excellent books and films, I've begun to see the chain of "paying it forward" starting.

I ate meat, dairy, and eggs for 25 years of my life.  During that time, I knew a few vegetarians and a couple of vegans.  Now, after seven months of living vegan, I not only find myself in a GIGANTIC community of wonderful, loving vegans, but I'm beginning to see the seeds of change within those closest to me.  

 Cutting our 100% vegan wedding cake, November 2009.

The idea of "paying it forward" can spread so much good over such a vast network/community/population of people that it's amazing to really think how powerful the one initial spark can be.  As a gift, I gave Skinny Bastard to one of my best friends who has already been around Lindsay and I enough to have discussed issues on health, animal cruelty, and the environment; to have eaten home cooked and restaurant vegan meals with us; to know why we decided to go vegan and what it means to us.  As of this past Monday, this best friend of mine has been eating completely vegan for one month.  Not only that, but because of this bold decision of my friend, other mutual friends are beginning to show interest.  Knowing both of us as former meat-eaters, and now seeing us cook vegan dishes for Super Bowl parties and other events, our friends are beginning to wonder what this whole vegan thing is about.  The seed is being planted.

Videotaping Lindsay and my fundraiser for Farm Sanctuary 
and Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, March 2010.

But the chain extends even further!  I can now happily say that from a group of family and friends that also ate meat, dairy, and eggs, I have:

- One amazing mother, 4 months vegetarian/pescatarian, who cooks delicious vegetarian and vegan meals for friends and is beginning to see her friends cook veggie sometimes too!

- One amazing father, who experienced his first vegan Thanksgiving with Lindsay, myself, and the rest of the family, and is keeping his mind and tastebuds open to new foods being introduced into his life!
- One stepmother-in-law, making the choice to abstain from eating land animals for the past month since our fundraiser!

- One brother-in-law, doing a veg pledge and slowly working vegan elements into his diet!  (His girlfriend is on her second pledge!)

- One sister-in-law who has tried out going both veg and vegan at different times in the past couple of years and is continuing to discover where her path leads her!

- One mother-in-law and her partner who've eaten vegan for the last couple of months!

- Many others now interested in trying out parts of a veg/vegan diet!

The world is getting better and better.  :-)

In honor of Earth Day, please share with the Kiss Me, I'm Vegan! community:

WHAT IS YOUR "PAY IT FORWARD" STORY?

Reasons to Smile (Reader's Edition)

I thought it would be easy - challenging my readers to a free chocolate giveaway and chance to be featured on the blog by writing a one-sentence answer to this question:

What has been the best part of incorporating 

veganism into your life?

Who was I kidding? Had I even tried to answer that complex question with one sentence myself? Nope. And yet, forty of you faithful readers did. Beautifully. So beautifully that I was up all night this weekend with my husband desperately trying to narrow these gorgeous, honest, and unique responses down to three final answers. I hadn't prepared myself for how difficult this task would be, because you - yes, you amazing vegan-lovin' folks - have shown me how wonderful you all are. You have given me so many more reasons to smile than what I am able to share today. Please know that thoughtfully answering my question is a victory in and of itself - and whether you have been featured here today or not, continue on your journey knowing that you have already given yourself a reason to smile today.

After hours of a painful narrowing-down process, I made a decision - instead of only featuring three answers in my "Reasons to Smile" post today, I would devote the entire post to you readers, with ten answers featured. And boy, do you deserve the attention! Thank you for inspiring me, for giving me so much joy every morning when I turn my computer on, and for your support, your love, and your courage to set forth and live your best life possible. You are all my heroes today.

And now for today's "Reasons to Smile"  - featuring the adorable, sweet, smart, and kind animals rescued and living at the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary (proof that in your vegan living, you are touching more lives than you know):
 

1. The best part about veganism is the inner peace I feel, each day laying my head down to rest knowing not a single being was harmed so I could sustain that day - total peace. - Renee

2. The glowing feeling I have by nourishing myself and treating animals compassionately, the physical glow I have, and the glowing community of people (KMIV) I have met on this amazing, continuing journey. - Jacquelynn Rankin

3. The best part of incorporating veganism into my life has been the fact that my diabetic little brother followed in my footsteps, and he is now not only happy and healthy, but our love of vegan cooking has made us closer. - Ryel Toby

4. Through our new found veganism, our family (children especially) has been kissed with compassion - compassion for others, the animals, and the earth- it's a beautiful legacy to pass on! - Rachel, mother of two and blogger 

5. In the past I've had a difficult time committing to even the best-for-me habits, so the best part of committing to veganism is how it has shown me that when something is really worth committing to, I am strong enough to do it. - Lauren Russo

 
6. Raising four peaceful, healthy, vegan children. - S. Pearl

7. The best part of incorporating veganism into my life is being able to wake up every morning to look at the world through a compassionate lens that infuses everything with shades of serenity, hues of harmony, tones of truth, and colors of a heightened consciousness. - Angela Colantonio

8. Living with purpose, eating with the kindest intention and apologizing for nothing has made me happier and healthier than I ever knew I could be. -Hilary Detwiller, Plate+Simple

9. Knowing that every single day, I am saving lives. - Molly G

And now, for the winner of the chocolate giveaway, Ms. Mara Conlon:

Veganism has opened my eyes, my tastebuds, my wonder, my sense of exploration, and most importantly, it has opened my heart.

My deepest and most sincere thanks to every single person who entered this contest. If reading these responses has inspired you in any way, feel free to reach out to me at kissmyvegan@gmail.com.

Simple Shoes Rock My Socks.

My 100% vegan-friendly Simple shoes.

Too often on my blog, I discuss the benefits of eating vegan, while sometimes forgetting to emphasize the benefits of living vegan. Veganism isn't just about eating a plant-based diet - it extends to every choice we make in life. From purchasing a toothpaste that no animals were harmed in the making of (I love Tom's of Maine) to finding a solid, eco-friendly dishwashing detergent (Seventh Generation is my fave), every choice we make as a consumer is a vote for or against animal well-being and environmental preservation. I'll be expanding this issue more in the weeks to come, but for now, I'd love to focus on one company that is literally changing the way shoes are made, all in an effort to tread more lightly on this Earth.

Simple Shoes was founded in 1991 and has a beautiful mission statement for their company: 

"How we make our shoes is just as important as why we make them."

It is with this amazingly clear, yet bold statement that Simple has set forth to build and sell shoes that are not only stylish, fun, and comfortable to wear, but  that are also completely sustainable. With materials such as recycled carpet padding, hemp, recycled car tires, and organic-certified cotton, Simple has become a pioneer in the world of eco-friendly products.

photo courtesy of Robert Masarate

Back in March, I attended Simple's launch party for their Fall 2010 collection, and it was clear even then that Simple is working harder and harder to build a more sustainable and eco-friendly shoe. In addition to showing their new line, there was a Sake tasting and a beautiful spread of food, much of which was vegan - and delicious!

Chatting it up with Molly Gilbert of Simple

A preview of Simple's Fall 2010 line

With my friend, actress and singer Molly O'Neal, 

and our new friend, musician Josh Charles 

 Simple's Manhattan Headquarters - can that be my living room please?
All photos above courtesy of Robert Masarate

Although Simple is not a 100% vegan company, they have a line that is completely vegan friendly, and it's totally affordable and awesome! I was a very lucky lady and received a pair of The Women's Satire, the adorable brown and blue shoe I have pictured at the top of the post, in the mail this week. Not only are they the comfiest sneak I've ever come across, but the big, pretty, blue laces remind me of when I was a little kid - just slipping them on brings back memories of childhood. Love it.

So, what are you waiting for? Get some of these shoes for yourself!

Thanks to Molly Gilbert of Simple Shoes for inviting me to the Fall 2010 Launch. To learn more about Simple Shoes, please visit http://www.simpleshoes.com.

__________________________

A Major P.S.:

For all of you lovely people who entered into the chocolate giveaway - do not fret! I will be revealing the winners on Monday when I post a very special Earth Day "Reasons to Smile". Keep your eyes open, and thank you so much for sharing with me your beautiful vegan stories! 

(Haven't entered yet? There's still time! Click here for more info.)

Missionary Chocolates: A Review (And a Giveaway!)

Yes, those are delectable, decadent chocolate truffles you are viewing in the picture above.

Yes, those truffles are not only melt-in-your-mouth delicious, but vegan as well.

Yes, you can lick the screen (I won't tell!).

Where did I find these attractive, sumptuous truffles, you might be wondering?

It all began with an email...

A few weeks ago, I received an email from Vanessa E. Holden at Missionary Chocolates,  a family-owned vegan truffle company based in Portland, Oregon, about giving their chocolates a try. Within days, I was mailed a sample box of these little gems - and for a few moments, I thought Christmas had come seven months early.

Before digging in, I was already stoked, because I love small, family-owned vegan companies. What Vanessa and her sister are doing is nothing short of revolutionary - they have taken the "mom and pop" concept and brought it to the vegan community. My hope is that their company will soon be the go-to place for all things chocolate, for both vegan and non-vegan chocolate lovers alike.

And now for the post-digging in reaction...

Wow. 

"Wow" was all I could murmur after sinking my teeth into these tremendous chocolates (well, "wow" was barely audible under all of the "mmms" and "ooohs" that preceded and followed it). To be honest, these truffles kick Godiva's butt. In a serious way. Soft, rich, and packed with mind-blowing flavors like Meyer Lemon Explosion, Spicy Cinnamon Chipotle, and Vanilla Salted Caramel, Missionary Chocolates' truffles are the only truffles you need to consume in this lifetime.

And that is why I'm doing a giveaway.

(Yes, you heard me right! A giveaway!)

Here is the challenge:

You - dedicated follower of Kiss Me, I'm Vegan! and all-around rock star -  send me a one-sentence answer to this question:

What has been the best part of incorporating 

veganism into your life?

This challenge is open to vegans and non-vegans alike! 

Just send your one-sentence answers to KissMyVegan@gmail.com. The top three winners of this challenge will have their answers featured in my next "Reasons to Smile" post, and the top winner will receive a free 4-pack of Missionary Chocolate Truffles!

Get crackin', boys and girls. A world of chocolate bliss awaits you!

My deepest, most delicious thanks to Vanessa E. Holden for her and her sister's awe-inspiring chocolates. For more information about Missionary Chocolates, please visit http://www.missionarychocolates.com.
 
______________________________ 

About Missionary Chocolates:

Missionary Chocolates is a handcrafted vegan and gluten free truffle company owned and operated by my sister and I in Portland, Oregon. We originally started making truffles for our Mom, who is a vegan (30 years!) with a gluten intolerance. She complained that their weren’t any good truffles on the market she could eat – and specifically, truffles so good she would actually want to eat them!

So, my sister started playing around in the kitchen, and soon enough the truffles took off, to the point where I came as her business partner, and eventually, got dragged into the kitchen too. It is a lot of fun!

Our truffles are made with organic coconut cream, fair-trade Guittard chocolate and the best local, seasonal and organic ingredients we can obtain.  As they are lactose and gluten free,  with no added sugars or preservatives, the truffles are a unique gourmet dessert choice for those who cannot or do not wish to eat dairy products, or those with other dietary concerns.

With flavors like our award winning Meyer Lemon Explosion and the Vanilla Salted Caramel, we offer an array of rich and creamy unique taste experiences that our chocolate fans have come to love (and crave!).

 - Vanessa E. Holden, co-owner, Missionary Chocolates

Interview Series #6: Jenny Brown of Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary

Back in October, when my husband and I made the trip up to Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, we had the most energetic and passionate tour guide named Jenny. Jenny took us through the entire grounds of the sanctuary and spent an ample amount of time at each different place, regaling us with the animals' compelling rescue stories and the work that WFAS does to protect these sentient and kind beings. It wasn't until about three-quarters of the way through that I realized it was Jenny Brown leading us around - the original co-founder of WFAS. I was completely blown away that the same person who started it all was taking time out of her busy day to tour a bunch of visitors around - it was so humbling to witness.

Jenny with Pinky the Pig. Photo courtesy of Derek Goodwin.

I kept in touch with WFAS by putting myself on their email list. About three months later, I was so inspired I decided to organize a fundraiser to raise awareness and money for both WFAS and Farm Sanctuary.  Not only did Jenny Brown (and her assistant Rebecca Moore) support the idea for my fundraiser, but Jenny and Rebecca even traveled two hours to Manhattan for Jenny to be a key speaker at the fundraiser and table at my event!

After watching Jenny in action both at my fundraiser and at the sanctuary, one thing is blatantly clear:

I want to be Jenny Brown when I grow up.

Jenny and her husband (and WFAS co-founder) Doug Abel.  

Photo courtesy of Derek Goodwin.

This woman is fearless. Fearlessly protective of the pigs, chickens, cows, ducks, turkeys, sheep, and goats who live in factory farms. Fearlessly open with whatever audience she has captivated as she describes the abuse and terror these animals endure. Fearlessly relentless in her mission - to rescue the helpless and be a strong, brave, and loyal voice for animals who have no voice themseles.

Goat friends on the WFAS farm. Photo courtesy of Bob Esposito.

When I was a little girl, I used to dream of being like some of the beautiful actresses I watched onscreen. Now, I dream of being like Jenny. She has inspired me to be a fearless advocate for a cause that needs an unimaginable amount of help and commitment.

It only takes a few moments in the presence of Jenny to know that you have encountered a spirit so fiercely compassionate that the compassion rubs right off on you. Jenny is that kind of spirit, and her story is powerful, exciting, and best of all - true to the roots of who Jenny is - the consummate activist.

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?

Jenny: It was during a trip where I was filming undercover (see below) where I saw the suffering of spent dairy cows who were on their way to slaughter at just four years of age. Their bodies broken and spent from producing far more milk than they were ever intended to. And to think that every calf that had been born to a dairy cow was taken away within the first day or two of birth just so people can drink her milk that rightfully belonged to her babies. Going vegan was the very least I could do to help their suffering. It took me a while to get to this conclusion, but it's the hens used for egg-laying and the dairy cows that suffer worse than animals raised just for their flesh. And of course those egg-layers and dairy cows inevitably become chicken mcnuggets and cheap hamburger meat. For them it's a life of deprivation, confinement, stress, fear, pain, boredom and eventually a trip to the slaughterhouse. 

Rescued chickens on the WFAS farm. Photo courtesy of Derek Goodwin.

I also began to contemplate how wrong it is that we are the only species that drinks milk into adulthood AND drinks the milk of another species. It's just wrong on all accounts, and people need to realize that in order for us to drink that milk (or that cheese - cow, goat, sheep, whatever) that there was a calf, kid or lamb that was born in order to produce that milk, cheese, creamer, etc. -and that those animals are forced to have an offspring year after year to keep their milk production profitable. I just wish I came to those important conclusions earlier.

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

Jenny: I'm no longer a hypocrite-- when I say I love animals - I mean it! I don't want to contribute to animal suffering in any way, and, given that farmed animals are the most exploited and abused animals in the world, a vegan diet is truly the only way to have a guilt-free conscience when it comes to truly caring about all animals--rather than just certain animals, which I really don't get.

Felix the lamb living happily at WFAS. 

Photo courtesy of Derek Goodwin.

Eating meat is such a deeply engrained habit that people who visit the farm are often quick to come up with excuses for their carnivorous ways. It's challenging to get people to really think about what happens to these animals that they only know as food - to see their worth, and to rethink everything that has been drilled into their psyches. When you look at the history of our civilization, we've been a slave-owning society for most of civilization and not so long ago women & children were considered property- now we see that as a sad and disgraceful past. It's time to include the eating of animals for the trivial pleasure of our palettes the same way.

The biggest challenge is driving from, oh, let's say New York City to Louisville, KY where I'm from (and my family still lives) and trying to find something other than an iceberg lettuce salad with italian dressing and some french fries to eat! Good luck! I hate how difficult it can be to find HEALTHY food in parts of this country - especially while traveling, when all you can find is the same old corporate chain restaurant crap whose food comes from some corporate factory and is delivered prepared in bags that get heated and served. GROSS.

KMIV: What inspired you to create the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary?

Jenny: I went vegetarian at eighteen after learning about the horrible lives and terrifying deaths that animals intended for food endure. From there I went to film school and after learning quite a bit about videography, I began going undercover shooting video for several animal welfare groups. I saw things during that time (in the early to mid 90's) that affected me deeply and changed me forever. Years later, after establishing a career in television, I went undercover again for the first time in about 10 years. This time it was for a farm-animal focused organization (Farm Sanctuary) and my job was to visit as many stockyards and live auctions in Texas as I could within a week. It was during that trip that I saw farm animals suffering beyond my wildest imagination, and I knew then and there that I wanted to commit my life to doing something about what I saw and raise awareness about the injustices against these animals that so few ever stop to think about-- and to go vegan, which was the very least I could do to help their suffering.

KMIV: What is the easiest part of running a sanctuary? The hardest?

Jenny: The beauty of the sanctuary is that the animals do all the heavy lifting. Once accustomed to human kindness, many of our animals are as interactive as the family dog. Not even the most ardent meat-eater can leave this place thinking that these farm animals aren’t sentient individuals. Once you’ve cleared that hurdle, it’s easy to convey that you have no interest in participating in a system that makes the lives of a calf like Dylan or a hen like Scarlett miserable and short.

Dylan the steer. Photo courtesy of Bob Esposito.

The hardest parts are, in this order: 1) losing beloved animal friends, 2) not being able to help all the animals that we get called upon to rescue, 3) raising the money it takes to keep the place running (currently our operating budget is over $450K annually!), 4) MANAGING PEOPLE (having a staff with all kinds of personalities, passions and pasts can be trying), and 5) not being able to get away as often as I'd like! Even when we are closed for the season we have over 200 animals here who require constant care, bills to pay, fundraising events to put on, etc. It's A LOT of work--so much so that I can never catch up to all I need/want to do, and that's frustrating.

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

Jenny: Anyone can do it, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise or try to scare you away from it. It's sad, really, how many excuses people will come up with about how they HAVE to eat meat - their doctor said so, or they tried it and lost weight, energy, etc. And the sad part is, some doctors WILL tell you that you need to eat meat, because they too have that engrained into their psyches--same for parents. As a vegan, you do have to have a balanced, healthy diet, though, and not one that solely consists of say, Taco Bell bean burritos or pasta or whatever. Ultimately, going vegan saves an average of 100 animal lives a year, and that's not even including fish. That's powerful. It just takes conviction.

Photo courtesy of Derek Goodwin.

Oh - and I like one thing that PETA points out: If you plan to make the transition to a vegetarian diet gradually, the most important foods to cut out of your diet first are bird flesh and eggs. While many people think that “red meat” and dairy products should be the first to go, this isn’t the case. By cutting bird flesh from your diet, you’ll save many more animals. Because chickens are so small, the average meat-eater is responsible for the deaths of many more chickens than cows. Plus, chickens and turkeys exploited by the meat and egg industries are the most abused animals commonly used for food.

For me, when talking about my path to veganism, one thing that helps is to let people know that, although I live in Woodstock, I wasn't raised here, and I wasn’t raised by hippie, vegetarian, tree-hugging parents on a commune or anything like that. Growing up in the South, there was hardly a vegetable that wasn’t stewed to death with a ham hock. My sister and I would fight over the chicken heart, which my grandpa told us was the best part. So at least I’m coming from a place that’s not so alien from the average meat-eater.

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

Dehydrated kale chips, Dr. Cow Nut Cheese and Coconut Bliss ice cream! Can I choose a liquid too? Beer!

An immense amount of thanks to Jenny Brown for sharing her story through this interview. To learn more about Jenny and the work that she does at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, please visit http://www.woodstocksanctuary.org/. 

A few P.S.'s from Jenny:

- Volunteers are ALWAYS welcome! We really need NYC based volunteers to help us stock brochures, table at events and "man" (or "woman") our "Ask A Vegan" booth that sets up at different public parks in NYC throughout the summer.

- ALSO! WFAS was chosen as the PPK's NYC Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale recipient! Very exciting! FB page here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=109576445730047&ref=mf

 

- ALSO! March with us a the NYC Veggie Pride Parade on May 16th! Just write to us at rebecca@woodstocksanctuary.org

-  Join our Facebook Cause here: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/59156?m=8c3a5226&recruiter_id=37014974

 

- And become a "Fan" here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Willow-NY/Woodstock-Farm-Animal-Sanctuary/25267825568?ref=ts