Interview Series #12: Annie and Dan Shannon of The Betty Crocker Project!

The duo I'm about to introduce is who I wish had been featured in the film Julie and Julia.

Well, had that been the case, the title of the 2009 film starring Meryl Streep would have read more like: Betty and Annie... and Dan.

Annie and Dan Shannon, otherwise known in cyberspace as "The Shannons", are creators of The Betty Crocker Project, a refreshing and inspired take on the trials and tests of Julie Powell's own year-long project tackling the work of cookbook legend Julia Child. Instead of taking 365 days to master the recipes of an icon, they are taking all the time they need. Instead of Julia Child, the subject of interest is Betty Crocker, an American classic. And instead of killing animals to reach a culinary deadline, the Shannons have opted to take a non-traditional route by completely - and humanely - veganizing every single recipe in the Betty Crocker Cookbook. 

As Annie states in her description of how the project was started: 

" I recently saw the movie Julie & Julia... I was charmed at first. I mean here was a devoted vintage-clothing-wearing amateur foodie - who wore pearls in the kitchen (one of my own personal dreams - though my dream pearls would be fake ). I admit I was charmed by finding someone so like myself in so many ways. . .  but as you can imagine - she lost me at the Lobster Killer scene. . . and I never really bounced back. See, the Lobster Killer scene planted a little seed in my brain. I kept waiting for her to have a change of heart and save them . . . but she never did. . . and that is just not okay. THERE NEEDS TO BE A HUMANE ALTERNATIVE TO LOBSTER KILLER." 

With humor, candor, and excitement in their hearts, Annie and her husband Dan have set out to prove what dedicated and enthusiastic foodies vegans really can be. And if the pictures of their veganized Betty Crocker recipes are any indication, The Shannons have also set out to prove that vegan food can be delicious, satisfying, and shall I say, traditional? I shall, and I will!

You better check out their website now before they become big cookbook stars, folks.  Without further adieu, please welcome, Annie and Dan Shannon! 

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

Annie: My mom is Sicilian - like super cliche food-equals-love Sicilian - and she raised us kids to really take pride in eating good food. "You are what you eat" was a way of life in our house. But even as Sicilian as she is, she never allowed any of us to eat veal, because it was "just mean to eat babies." Years later, I was skateboarding on a college campus, and some random guy was talking about veal calves and being vegan. I chimed in what little I knew and validated his thoughts on the numerous evils that are the veal industry. That's when he pointed out that if I was eating cheese, I was still supporting systematic cruelty. It took about three hours of learning about factory farms and laboratories to change my life. Not really understanding exactly what I was getting into, but armed with an adamant hatred of bullies and a stubbornness that can really only be genetic and inherited from Sicilians, I went vegan that day. My destiny was sealed - I became an animal rights activist.  

Dan: Funny story actually... In high school I was aware of veganism from some bands I listened to, and it made sense to me and seemed like a good thing to do for the world. I just hadn't pulled the trigger on it yet. One day, randomly, this guy on the track team with me gave me an "organic" sticker from a piece of fruit or something (not a super-common thing in 1995), and I stuck it on my locker in the varsity locker room. This apparently ticked off one of the dudes on the football team, who proceeded to write "VEGETARIAN F&$%!T" in big letters on my locker. I have to admit that was what pushed me over the edge to becoming vegetarian. I figured if I could save animals and the planet and piss off the guys on the football team at the same time, I was really on to something here.   

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

Annie: This is an easy one... meeting Dan. We met about six years ago (Is it bad we keep going back and forth about how long we have known each other? Today we have agreed on six, but I think it might be more like eight...) doing campaign work in the animal rights movement, and we just clicked. We loved experimental food, comic books, and he would let me beat him at video games on a regular basis. I should have known that the love of my life and best friend would be as passionate as I am about sticking up for those who can't stick up for themselves. He really is my very favorite person ever. 

I also like thinking about the thousands of animals who weren't eaten over the years because I refused to eat them, and the money that never went to those heartless jerks that profit from their exploitation, because my money went to vegan products. Every time I think about all the money Tyson chicken will never see, I smile - every time.  

The greatest challenge? I guess I would say dealing with the disappointment when a company decides to add an animal-sourced ingredient to a product that was vegan. It kinda breaks my heart a little, like I was betrayed by a friend.

Dan: Okay, so now that Annie said me, I HAVE to say her. But it’s true, because it was. We never would have met if it wasn't for us both being involved in the AR movement, and she's brought so much joy into my life over the years. And obviously lots of good food. I honestly can't think of a lot of challenges. Aside from marrying Annie, going vegan has been the single best thing I ever did in my entire life. It's been pretty smooth sailing. I guess coping with the fact that I do have a few life-long friends, who I love and respect, who just haven't come around on the vegan thing yet. It's hard to understand sometimes.   

KMIV: What inspired you to create the Better Crocker Project? What kind of influence are you hoping to have with this project?  

Annie: The Betty Crocker brand has a well deserved reputation as being the very best at teaching American amateur chefs how to use products and ingredients to their full potential. When we were putting together this project, we really wanted to help people see how easy it is to be vegan, and that you really can make anything vegan once you know the tricks. I do have to admit that the little girl in me who still worships Laverne & Shirley is enchanted by everything Betty. This project not only encourages me to make some outrageous casseroles and use all these crazy kitchen gadgets, but also gives me an opportunity to share with other people how easy this lifestyle can be. 

Dan: Mostly I just like to eat a lot.

KMIV: I love your simplicity, Dan. Alright, what advice would you give someone who is interested in veganism, but afraid of taking the leap?    

  

Annie: I think it is all about doing the best you can when you can. We make choices everyday. What should I have for lunch? What kind of dish soap should I get? If you just try to make kind choices whenever you can - you are making a difference. We live in a consumer-based society and we "vote" everyday with our purchases. I think a lot of people would also be surprised how easy it really is and how often they already are eating vegan and making cruelty-free choices.   

Dan: Try it out one day a week. See how that goes, experiment with some foods you like, and find a couple of vegan things you enjoy eating. Then bump it up to two days a week. Etc. Sometimes you gotta ease into things, and that's okay. 

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

Annie: Jars and jars of olives, garlic bread, and artichokes... What? I told you I'm REALLY Italian. 

Dan: Falafel, french fries, and coffee. I know coffee isn't a "food" per se... but if I can't have coffee, my third item is hemlock for self-termination. 

The food photos above are courtesy of Annie and Dan Shannon. They include The Shannon's veganized versions of Betty Crocker's Caramel Sticky Rolls and "Beef" and Artichoke Pasta.

A yummy round of thanks to Annie and Dan Shannon for taking time out to do this delicious interview. To follow the Shannons' culinary adventures, please visit www.meettheshannons.net.

P.S. --> Don't think I forgot about the super special giveaway contest I'll be holding for two FREE copies of No Voice Unheard's new book Ninety-Five! I'll be announcing this, as well as a bunch of other awesome KMIV blog news, on Friday!

The Animals of the Gulf Coast Oil Spill: A Guest Post by Alyssa Biber

I've chosen to postpone my Ninety-Five giveaway announcement and interview with Annie and Dan Shannon of The Betty Crocker Project  for a very important reason. This past weekend, a friend of mine emailed me out of deep concern over the recent Gulf Coast oil spill with the seed of an idea for a post. Below, you'll find the words of Alyssa Biber - a person, like so many of us in the KMIV community, who deeply wants change for animals in need. In this case, it's for the innocent animals who are suffering due to the oil spill, and I feel humbled and privileged to share Alyssa's eloquent, heartfelt words about this overwhelming situation. Please read on...

You put the coffee pot on and pick up the morning newspaper.  The picture on the front cover tears your heart strings. A full grown Brown Pelican covered in crude oil; his beak wide open, his wings flailing. The latest victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  You put the paper down, shaking your head sadly.  How do these terrible things happen in the world in this modern age?  But don’t walk away just yet. The coffee can wait a few minutes today.

There are rumors and promises interchangeably floating around about BP or the government footing the bill for this disaster.  We’ve seen how that happens – it could take years before any money changes hands.  While politicians and financiers lock themselves in conference rooms and sign documents there are ecosystems disappearing that can’t be brought back by dollars and apologies.  A future settlement payment from BP is not going to help that Brown Pelican when he’s covered in oil right now.

Brown Pelicans have slowly been making a comeback since pesticides decimated their population in the Gulf in the 1960s.  Only last year were they taken off the endangered species list.  These majestic fishers are now at risk again from the Oil Spill.  According to a veterinarian with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, birds that have been coated in oil that are not found quickly are likely to drown, die of starvation, or over exposure since oil deprives them of their feathers’ natural insulation.  Although one of the most frequently photographed, they are not the only animals at risk.  Every creature from plankton in the ocean who cannot photosynthesize with thick layers of oil blocking the sun up to beloved manatees, dolphins, and sea turtles are at risk.  

Even animals that do not directly come into contact with the oil may find their food source or homes contaminated.  This is why acting now is critical.  We are bombarded by images from the coast and feel the urge to do something, but what?  What can you do if you’re not by the Gulf Coast?  You have plenty of options. 

1.    Volunteer for the Clean Up Efforts: Flying down to the Gulf without a specific volunteer commitment and/or approaching injured animals is unanimously discouraged.   Without proper training and equipment you should never directly approach and oiled or injured animal because it might lead to harm for both of you.  That said, there are other ways to get involved.               

1. If you are in the area you can volunteer to help spot injured animals through the National Wildlife Federation or download the Project Noah app to your mobile device to document and notify rescue group of injured animals (link launches in iTunes). 
2. If you are not in the area you can still volunteer to assist with administrative work, phone calls, flyer distribution, and other important tasks.  The Audubon society has an easy form you can fill out online to find out about volunteer activities in your area. 

2.    Use your brain:

1. If you are an engineer or even just have a really good idea on how to clean up the oil you can submit it to the EPA through this form.

3.    Use your voice:

1. The National Wildlife Federation has posted a form letter you can use to send a message directly to President Obama.
2. If you support the effort to half all ocean drilling you can use the Sierra Club’s form letter on their webpage.
3. Write to your Senator, Representative, or Governor.  Let them know how you feel about the situation in the Gulf.  Find your representatives here.

4.    Put your dollar to work:

1. If you can’t go down to the Gulf to volunteer yourself, you can volunteer your dollars and help out with the efforts.  Several great organizations could really use your financial help in their relief effort to save the animals and habitats of the Gulf region.  These are just a few of the hundreds of worthy organizations you should consider. 
2. Sun Coast Seabird Sanctuary - http://www.seabirdsanctuary.com/  The largest wild bird hospital in the US.  Preparing to take on thousands of birds from the coast. 
3. Audubon Society https://loon.audubon.org/payment/donate/OILSPILL10.html
4. National Wildlife Federation https://online.nwf.org/site/Donation2?df_id=16662&16662.donation=form1
5. Save Our Seabirds - http://saveourseabirds.com/ A smaller organization that goes out and cleans up birds on the front lines. 

It’s important to stay informed and look for opportunities to help as the situation grows and changes.  As of when this was written there is still oil gushing into the Gulf every day.  Crisis Camp has set up a Twitter feed with information and interesting articles about conservation and news in the Gulf.  I haven’t quoted figures about the numbers of dead or dying animals, the number of gallons of oil spilling into the Gulf, or the gallons of dispersant sprayed on the oil, the effects of which we may not know for generations.  I have not even begun to discuss the human toll of this tragedy.  What I am trying to do is set the stage for action.  It’s so easy to get bogged down in the facts, figures, videos, and pictures when we should busy working to save our oceans and wetlands. With so many different ways to help, it’s hard to say “I can’t.”  Because really, we can’t just leave them alone.  

Sources (In addition to the sites linked throughout the post):

John Collins Rudolf and Leslie Kaufman “Pelicans, Back from the Brink of Extinction, Face Oil Threat” The New York Times. 6/4/2010:  US News,  Accessed 6/5/2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/us/05pelican.html

Pictures from the Associated Press.  Taken from “Gulf Oil Spill (PHOTOS): Animals in Peril” The Huffington Post. 5/21/10: Huff Post Green. Accessed 6/5/2010. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/03/gulf-oil-spill-photos-ani_n_560813.html#s96622

Maura Judakis “10 Things You Can Do to Help Clean the Oil Spill” US News & World Reports. 5/3/2010: Money. Accessed 6/4/2010.  http://www.usnews.com/money/blogs/fresh-greens/2010/05/03/10-things-you-can-do-to-help-the-gulf-coast-clean-the-oil-spill.html

Thanks to Alyssa Biber for this beautiful, honest post. 

P.S.

My friend Molly G. says:

"PATH (People Protecting Animals & Their Habitats) is a vegan organization doing critical work in the Gulf. It is a small organization, so every dollar makes a huge difference for the life-saving work they are doing! For more info or to donate, visit www.ppath.org."

Ninety-Five: Meeting America's Farmed Animals in Stories

"She's two and a half years old and has all the energy you'd expect of a toddler. She has two speeds: run and stop. All things new pique her curiosity, and she's inquisitive beyond reason. Her favorite activities are eating, lounging in the sun, bathing in dust, and more eating - she has a special affinity for watermelon, pasta and corn. She experiences a wide variety of emotions, but joy and contentment are two she expresses most often. During the day she often sits on my lap or rests quietly at my feet while I work at the computer. At night she sleeps warm and secure on a bed of straw and shavings with her three other companions.

Gilly is a white Leghorn hen. Her life now is a world apart from the world into which she was born."

Gilly the hen was a rescued companion animal and the inspiration for a fantastic new book called Ninety-Five: Meeting America's Farmed Animals in Stories, the newest release from No Voice Unheard, an independent publisher of beautiful and creative books that give voice to those who are ignored or disregarded by society. No Voice Unheard works very hard to illuminate important social issues that are often ignored by profit-driven publishers. This amazing organization was founded and is operated by former animal shelter workers with over forty combined years of experience in animal advocacy.

Curious about the title? The editors are hoping you'll be. Ninety-five happens to be the often-cited number of animals saved yearly by a single person's vegan diet. Ninety-five animals, each year, can be saved because of an individual's eating choices - what a powerful, poignant fact.

It's hard to even begin to describe how this extraordinarily moving book has affected me. 

When I set out to go vegan almost two years ago, it was because I wanted to be able to call myself an animal lover and mean every word of it. I wanted to be able to look into the eyes of a farmed animal with peace in my heart, knowing that I was no longer contributing to any part of their suffering. I wanted to help be their voice, their protector, and a compassionate advocate for farmed animals everywhere. Little did I know how much I would fall head over heels in love with each and every one whose story I would come across. Ninety-Five has reaffirmed that love, and I promise it will reaffirms yours as well.

Marilee Geyer, Diane Leigh, and Windi Wojdak - the editors of Ninety-Five - have presented readers with a compilation of stories that shed light on these animals' humanity, personalities, and abundant goodness. From the love story of Libby the hen & Louie the rooster, to the brave, kind actions of Justice the steer, to the desire of Amelia the turkey to receive a hug from her sanctuary visitor, the farmed animals featured in Ninety-Five will turn any idea you had about the world within these sentient beings on its head. 

The team at No Voice Unheard have done a tremendous job capturing the love, the joy, the grief, the pain, and the excitement these animals experience every single day. The most surprising part of each story is how, after living in decrepit conditions, these animals find it in their hearts to forgive humans of their trespasses, and to go even further by loving their human sanctuary residents and remaining loyal to them during the remainder of their lives. It's hard to look at the cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, turkeys, ducks, goats, and rabbits in this book and not equate them with our adorable, loyal, loving, and enthusiastic feline and canine companions.

 What struck me most about Ninety-Five was how in each photograph, the animals' eyes grab you and won't let you go. For in each of these farmed animal's beautiful, enigmatic, honest eyes, you can see right through to their heart. And what is found there is nothing short of complete purity. The animals featured in Ninety-Five do not ask for anything more from their human rescuers than to be loved. What a simple, beautiful way to exist. If only humans could live that simply.

I would love to share a few of my favorite passages from Ninety-Five, just to give you a taste of the unbelievable journey you will find yourself on as you read this eloquent book. 

First, there is the complex love story of Libby, the almost entirely mute hen, and Louie, her chatty and boisterous rooster partner, who reside at Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary in Deer Trail, Colorado. Of their love, contributing author Joanna Lucas writes:

"What bonded them was not about practical necessities or instinctual urges - if anything, it thwarted them both. Their union was about something else, a rich inner abundance that seemed to flourish in each other's presence, and that Libby nurtured in her silence and that Louie voiced, sang out loud, celebrated, noted, catalogued, documented, expressed, praised every day of their 1,800 days together."

Sophie the pig's story also melted my heart. Jean Rhode's introduction of her begins with this paragraph: 

"From the time I started volunteering at the [Woodstock Farm Animal] sanctuary, Sophie claimed a special place in my heart. Even more so than the other pigs, Sophie has always had lots of trouble walking. Her hips are stiff and her knees no longer bend. She walks by throwing one straight leg forward, then the other. Still, she gets around the barn and the field and even goes out to the mud bath. And wherever Sophie is, if you call out to her, she will sit up, look right at you and grunt as if to say, "Hello, come see me, come over." She calls us to step over the fence, scratch behind her eyes, rub her forehead."

And then there's the cow who adorns the cover of Ninety-Five, Justice, who was destined to become organic beef, but was saved by a fluke occurrence and sent to the Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary in Colorado. Ninety-Five co-editor Diane Leigh shares what his caretaker has to say about Justice:   

"When Justice first arrived at the sanctuary, he was so scared. The only other time he had been in a trailer was on the trip to the slaughterhouse, and so he banged himself up terribly. That's how he broke his left horn - in that trailer banging around try to get out of there. Sherman, another steer who lived at the sanctuary at that time, went over to him and started licking him through the fence and calmed him down. Justice remembered that, and he's done it for every new arrival since. 

Every time someone new comes it doesn't matter what species they are - goat, sheep, turkey, whatever - he knows if they're really scared... When the new guys come in, Justice just goes up to them and immediately calms them down, and I know it's because Sherman did that for him."

The most poignant part of Justice's story comes at the end, when Justice's caretaker writes: 

"The best thing we can do is stand back. They know how to handle it. We're just humans. I learn something new from these guys every day, and then as soon as I realize that I've learned it, it occurs to me, why didn't I know that? Why should this be some epiphany? They know so much more than we do."

Ninety-Five is a book that proves, without a shadow of a doubt, that America's farmed animals have as much a will to live, love, and share their joy with others as humans do. 

What we could learn from these beings if we stopped looking for ways to use them for our own advantages - how expansive our collective species' minds and hearts would become. Thankfully, there are humans out there like the activists at No Voice Unheard who work on a daily basis to enable us to see a better, more loving, more peaceful way of co-existence with these phenomenal creatures.

I was fortunate enough last month to have an exchange with Ninety-Five co-editor and No Voice Unheard  co-founder, Marilee Geyer. 

Kiss Me, I'm Vegan: Marilee, what was the process of collecting and sharing these stories like for you?

Marilee: The book was inspired by a little white hen named Gilly.  She was rescued from a battery egg factory near me and came to live in my home with my other hens.  One day, my No Voice Unheard partner,  Diane Leigh, and I were in my backyard watching the girls, and she remarked that it would be wonderful if everyone could see how intelligent and charming they are.  The idea for Ninety-Five was born in that instant.  From there, we contacted people we knew who had adopted rescued farm animals and visited some sanctuaries too.  The process was exciting, educational, and at times quite sad. I was thrilled to be able to visit and meet these wonderful animals, but to hear their stories and how they suffered was difficult. In the end though, I think we created a book that honors their experience and honors them as the unique, precious individuals they each are. 

There’s a particular power in showing the individuals behind the numbers: it’s impossible for people to picture the 10 billion animals who are raised and killed for food each year in this country. But introducing readers to this cow and that chicken – it’s just very powerful to be able to connect to individual animals like that. We, too, were very moved by meeting each of these animals, looking into their eyes, and connecting with them. It is a privilege to share them and their stories with the world.

KMIV: What surprised you most about these animals' stories?

Marilee: I knew, from living with my little flock of hens, how unique each animal is – how they each have their own personality, their own preferences, their own particular enjoyment of their lives. And, I’ve lived with dogs and cats my entire life, and there’s no reason to think that farmed animals would be any less personality-filled than those animals.

Still, it was a marvel to see how big and bold and strong all of these animals’ personalities were. Lucas the pig, who continually expresses his infatuation with Petunia (despite her not returning the feeling); Justice the steer and his Buddha-like presence; Farrah and Damien, rabbits almost doomed to be “meat”, with their strong rabbit opinions about how their world should be; Huey, Duey and Sidekick Chick, two ducks and a chicken being sold in a pet store, who latched onto each other and continued to be inseparable friends even after arriving at the sanctuary; Marcie, the sheep who seemed haunted by her past… it should not be surprising to learn how much depth these animals have, but we are trained from childhood to believe that the feeling and intelligence has been “bred out of” farmed animals, and so, even to us, it was often delightfully surprising, and redeeming, to learn the details of these stories.

KMIV: What a beautiful realization to come to, Marilee. Do you have a favorite story in the book?

Marilee: They’re all favorites in one way or another. We really became very enamored of all of the animals in the book as we put it all together…

But one story I found especially moving is that of Justice, the steer. Justice was to be “organic beef” but broke out of the truck on the way to the slaughterhouse. He was shot with a tranquilizer gun by a wildlife officer – which saved his life, as the drugs now in his system made his “meat” unfit for human consumption.

When Justice arrived at the sanctuary, he was terrified, but comforted by another steer named Sherman. Sherman stuck by Justice until Justice was comfortable with his new environment, and ever since that, Justice has been the self-appointed comforter of new arrivals to the sanctuary. He soothes scared sheep, goats, turkeys, whatever – if they’re afraid, Justice in on the case.

Justice makes me think of the millions of other cows and steer who are currently being farmed, transported, and slaughtered. The magnitude of the suffering is unimaginable, and I wonder, how can we do this to such deeply feeling creatures?   Justice is such an amazing being, and is kind of a “touchstone” for me, reminding me all the time of why this book (and others on the topic) is so important.

KMIV: What inspired the creation of No Voice Unheard?

Marilee: I have been an animal activist for almost thirty years.  Ten of those years were spent working at an animal shelter (where the idea for our first book, One at a Time: A Week in an American Animal Shelter, was developed). Diane Leigh and I had known each other for years through our work with the Santa Cruz SPCA, and we had talked many times about creating some sort of outreach project that would take people "behind the scenes" at the shelter. We decided that a book was the right medium and we set out to find someone to support and publish the project.  We sent proposals to publishers and agents, and although they were interested and said that the topic was important, they also thought that the book wasn't "profitable".  They wanted to see happy stories of happy animals with happy endings, which, of course, is not always the reality at animal shelters.  At that point we decided to form our own nonprofit, and I’m proud to say that One at a Time:  A Week in an American Animal Shelter has since sold over 20,000 copies and is just going into its fifth printing. After the success of that book, we realized we had found our niche as a publisher of books on topics that are often ignored by profit-driven commercial publishers.

Our second book was Thought to Exist in the Wild: Awakening from the Nightmare of Zoos, by acclaimed environmental author Derrick Jensen and photographer Karen Tweedy-Holmes. That book won the Grand Prize in the Eric Hoffer Book Award contest the year it came out, and continues to be an important voice for animals imprisoned in zoos.

We’re nothing less than thrilled with the publication of Ninety-Five; Meeting America’s Farmed Animals in Stories and Photographs, and look forward No Voice Unheard publishing more titles. In the tradition of great books like John Robbins’ Diet for a New America and Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, we believe passionately in the power of books to create social change.

Marilee currently works with No Voice Unheard and resides in northern California with a variety of rescued animal companions.

 

 It would be wrong of me to share this beautiful book with you and not do a giveaway, so...

** I will be giving away TWO COPIES of Ninety-Five next week! **

Details will be announced before my interview this Monday with Annie and Dan Shannon of The Betty Crocker Project - so stay tuned!

The photographs shared above are of various animals featured in Ninety-Five and include: Olivia the goat (taken at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary in New York), Heidi the cow (taken at the Poplar Springs Animal Sanctuary in Maryland), Rootie the pig, and Goldie the hen (photos of Rootie and Goldie taken at the Center for Animal Protection and Education).

Thanks to Marilee and the staff at No Voice Unheard for sharing Ninety-Five with the KMIV community. To learn more about Marilee's organization, or to donate or purchase Ninety-Five, please visit www.novoiceunheard.org.

Five BIG Reasons to Smile.

This may be my favorite post to to date.

As with the last giveaway, this was a toughie. I could not believe how many honest, thoughtful, and beautiful answers I would receive from readers answering the question:  

How would you describe your own vegan evolution?

My mom visited me over Memorial Day weekend, and we had a ball dining out at some fabulous vegan joints in Brooklyn and the East Village. My favorite part of the weekend, however, was that on Monday evening, we went through all of the answers emailed to me, and I allowed my mom to help me choose the winners. We were so touched, so moved, so completely blown away by the answers that we couldn't fully narrow it down, and we decided that instead of only choosing two winners to feature, we would select five finalists. I immediately contacted each lady and asked that they share a snippet of their personal journey, and a few pictures, if they were so inclined.

Below, you will find five very different women's stories that have led them all to the same place - a more compassionate way of eating and living. Some changed their diet for health reasons, some for the pure realization of no longer wanting to contribute to any animal's pain. What connects these lovely ladies is the desire in them to change, despite the odds not always being in their favor. While not everyone is completely vegan yet, each lady seems to be well on her way there. I am beyond proud to share these life-affirming stories with you all. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I have! 

FINALIST #1:  Alison Silveira, Oregon

"My evolution has been fifteen years in the making."

 

"I went vegetarian when I was fifteen, along with my best friend at the time.  I was a very unhealthy vegetarian and survived off of fake meat and salad coated in ranch dressing.  The rest of my family continued to eat meat, so I had to make due with whatever I could, as I was a teen with no job to buy my own food.  Then I went to college, and I was even poorer!  I survived off of day-old bagels and ramen noodles.  I met a few vegans, but they seemed so restricted, and they were very underweight.  I just couldn't imagine going to that extreme!  

I got married when I was twenty-three and moved onto a navy base that had a commissary with a wilting produce section.  My husband barely made any money like most members of the military, so we ate a lot of boxed pasta and canned food.  I got pregnant at twenty-five and decided to start eating meat because I was having a hard time getting any fat and calories into my diet.  We were eligible for WIC, so there was a lot of dairy and cereal as part of the program.  

Shortly after my husband got out of the navy, my son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes - which is an autoimmune disease having nothing to do with lifestyle - at the young age of twenty-months old.  With his hospitalizations, we had to eat out of cafeterias (we were in the south, so it was all fried) or at McDonalds.  I got pregnant shortly after that and thus began the cycle of more fast food.  We finally moved back to our hometown in Oregon.  My husband was flying out to work for a month or so at a time, so by then I had a newborn who was nursing every hour and a diabetic toddler, and I was alone.  I was always on the run, and we ate a lot of drive-through, delivery, and junk.   

I was approaching two-hundreds pounds, and I knew someday I would have to tell my son that I was a type-2 diabetic because I let myself go, all while he had another type of diabetes, and there was nothing he could do.  I watched him struggle every day, and I realized that I needed to take care of myself so I could take care of him.  My joints ached,  I was always tired, and I was getting bad acne, so I decided to Google "diets", and I found that dairy was a culprit.  Looking down at my body rolls, I remembered that I was thin when I was a vegetarian, so I thought about trying that again.  Well why not go all the way?  

My daughter loves everything vegan - in fact, she just stole my Trio bar when I set it down!  She is nursing, almost two years old, and seems less fussy without me consuming dairy. I'm a little over three months into this way of living, and I'm already down eighteen pounds, and the aches and pains are gone!  When my son eats vegan (He doesn't eat vegan all the time - he spends a lot of time with the inlaws who eat meat and demand cow's milk, but I'm going to try coconut milk really soon - shhh...), he of course still needs insulin, but his sugar doesn't seem to spike as badly. 

I don't feel  restricted at all now like I thought I would when I look back at those college days. I love to cook now that my kids aren't hanging off of me 24/7, and it's fun to try new things. Most recipes make a lot of food, so I can freeze them for later use, especially when my husband is gone and the chaos begins. So that's my story!"  

The photo above is of Alison with her daughter.

 

FINALIST #2: Robyn Lazara, New York

" Like a necklace, perhaps my personal vegan evolution is best described by stringing features together: Eye-opening... Curious... Invigorating... Alienating... Uncertain... Reconciling... Committed... Lifestyle... Seething... Protecting... Harmonizing... Peace-making... Rewarding... Breathtaking. "

"I was inspired to use a necklace metaphor here because the giveaway was for jewelry!  It essentially describes different phases of my “vegan evolution”.  At first, it was very eye-opening for me to learn about the health benefits of a vegan diet, so I went ahead with it out of curiosity, discovering that dropping animal products out of my diet was very invigorating.  

 In tandem with this, I had formerly close friends develop issues with my new choices, and I noticed that social invitations were not as forthcoming, which was quite alienating.  So I admit that some uncertainty developed, but as I continued to read up about it and satisfy my curiosity, I decided my ethics about how animals were treated needed to reconcile with my behavior. 

 So I committed myself and became a 100% ethical vegan about 6 months after my initial experimentation with it.  After adopting this lifestyle, I found myself seething almost all the time about various animal abuses, but found that channeling that energy into actions conducive to protecting animals was quite cathartic and actually a calling!  I also discovered a true harmony in my life by exercising this daily compassion and becoming part of this larger peace-making movement, which is so incredibly rewarding and breath-taking."

In addition to her volunteer work, Robyn has also begun a blog! Check out www.vegslinger.blogspot.com for more information.

Photos of Robyn above include: Photo #1: Robyn (and her cute vegan boyfriend Bryan) with a bovine friend at Farm Sanctuary, Photo #2: Robyn with her adopted pig at Farm Sanctuary, Photo #3: Robyn with Jessica Mahady, the force behind Veggie Conquest and Robyn's Veggie Prom planning partner, at the 2010 Veggie Pride Parade in Veggie Conquest aprons.

FINALIST #3: Cheryl Hindman, Massachusetts

"My evolution began one day at my local library."

"I, of all people, would probably be the last person my friends would see as a vegan. I live on Cape Cod in Massachussetts, where lobsters, fish, and cookouts are a big part of the life here. It took me losing everything to see what was really important in life.  I used to weigh over three hundred pounds. I had gastric bypass surgery in 1997 and lost all of the extra weight, but I never really felt great - like really great. Food was always fighting me.    

I got married, purchased a home and a business, and then I lost it all in 2008. All that was left was me and my dog, Vinny (a carne corso mastiff). My dog kept me sane - he was my only reason for not just giving up.  He was my strength when I had no one.  Because of Vinny, my love for all living creatures intensified.

My husband and I eventually worked things out.  I started trying to get myself back together and started reading a lot, but I was always tired and sick with the flu a lot. To make matters worse, I drank a case of diet coke a week and was having trouble walking. Little did I know I was poisoning myself!

In hindsight, a trip to my local library one day saved my life.  Don’t ask me how or why, but a book on the "New Arrivals" shelf (a shelf I usually never look at) stuck out to me. It had a picture of a bee on it and was called A World Without Bees. It saddened me greatly, and tears flowed down as I read it. After reading it, I wondered “What on earth is going on here? What else is happening?” That same week, Oprah was on and featured Alicia Silverstone and her book, The Kind Diet. I bought it the next day, read it in one sitting, and that was it! 

The next day, I went food shopping. My husband was skeptical - he had reason to be, since I used to live on candy and ate everything I wanted - but he helped me clean out the cabinets of all the bad foods and supported me.  No one seemed to take me seriously, though - it was rough at first, and it still is. I recently read Farm Sanctuary by Gene Baur in two days, and it made me cry so badly, but it also made everything in this world finally make sense to me. I finally knew why I was here and my purpose in life - to be a better human being. 

The last sixty-five days as a vegan have been amazing! I feel like I am twenty-five again - no joint aches, I'm never sick, and I'm never tired. I eat wonderful food, and I save animals on a daily basis by not contributing to the big, cruel farming industry.  I can handle crying because these animals are worth my tears. I know I will get stronger, and people will start taking me seriously - I'm even planning on getting a tattoo to prove that this is my new life! I am also proud to say on June 19^th I will be doing an orientation at Maple Farm Sanctuary in Mendon, Massachusetts to do volunteer work on the farm.  

Being an animal activist is a rough road. No one wants to hear bad news or the truth, but if I have to lose a few friends over it, then I'll gain new ones, and the animals can also be my friends. Just like my dog, Vinny, who is always faithful. My friends still think I can't put my high heels away to work on a farm, but I will love proving them wrong! They really have no idea what they are missing. I am still working on my husband. I even protested at home and warned him to watch what he ordered when we went out recently, as I may get up and leave the table! He got pasta. He’s coming around slowly."

Cheryl's photos include a photo of her loyal and loving dog, Vinny, and a recent photo of a glowing Cheryl.

 WINNER #1: Liz Bowie, Australia

"I looked into your eyes, and I saw your humanity. I understood that you feel pain, that you grieve and love. I wanted no part in hurting you. I wanted to help you. I continue day by day to honour you by the simple choices I make, and what a joy it has been."

"I grew up in Australia in a typical 'meat and vegetables' family. The plight of animals never really crossed my mind. Sure, I loved them, but it was just not something my family or I discussed. In my early twenties, I went to acting school, and there I met a woman who was vegetarian. She inspired me to give it a go. I still don’t even think at that point ‘animal rights’ was in my consciousness - even she was doing it for weight loss reasons (acting, after all, can make you very self aware physically). Regardless of the reasons for starting, I have never looked back. I began to read about animals and their treatment, and I learned where the meat I had eaten came from and how exactly it arrived on my plate. PETA was very instrumental initially in educating me. Online videos were also crucial.

After several years as a vegetarian, I took it a step further and began to learn about other crimes against animals, like animal experiments, the veal industry, sow stalls, as well as the plight of dairy cows and egg-laying hens, and all the other by-products of these industries (leather, fur, etc). The list is unfortunately endless... 

What I began to feel was that any involvement in supporting these industries was completely unacceptable. How could I, or anyone, for that matter, who is aware of the facts and the brutal reality about the way we treat animals, continue to support it? To this day, it still baffles me. Linda McCartney was right when she said, "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, EVERYONE would be vegetarian."

I also started doing volunteer work in Sydney for Animal Liberation and Animals Australia and continued this for several years until I had my son, Jasper. Always a very sensitive person, to say the footage I have seen and the things I have read devastate me is a massive understatement. Now, when I'm not looking after Jasper, I devote my time to writing about animal rights and veganism. I love interviewing inspirational activists, vegans, and authors, like Kathy Freston or Heather Chase. 

I have also started a blog - www.mumaveg.blogspot.com - so I can share my journey of being a vegan mum. I am so grateful that my husband and I have embraced veganism - having all this knowledge means we can share it with our son. I wish that someone had told me the truth about animals when I was younger, so I could have been raised vegetarian. Luckily my son has me as a mum, and I know he will be one healthy, compassionate, and very happy boy because of it.

My journey began eighteen years ago, and now it fills my heart with sorrow, for the pain animals must endure, but also, and most importantly, hope and joy. Hope because there are people fighting for these beautiful creatures, and joy for every special moment I have with them."

 Photos of Liz include: Photo #1: Liz and her husband with a rescued pig at Edgar's Mission in Victoria, Australia, Photo #2: Liz with the same rescued pig at Edgar's Mission, and Photo #3: Liz, her husband, and her baby boy, Jasper.

WINNER #2: Kylee G., United States

"I would describe my vegan evolution as an evolution of my self. I am a seventeen-year old who has recently had unknown medical issues, affecting my mobility and just about every aspect of my daily life. I was mad at myself, mad at my body, and mad at the world in general. I stumbled upon a video of animal cruelty, and my life was changed for the better. I realized if I couldn't control what was happening to MY body, then I could control what was happening to the body of another creature. I learned to turn my anger and confusion into love and compassion. I have evolved into a person I can be happy with inside and forget about the flaws people see when I walk slowly. Veganism has given me my life back, a new one that I am so excited to explore! "

"Six weeks after a bought of H1N1 flu in December, I developed mobility issues. In the mornings, I couldn't move my body at all without assistance, not even my mouth to talk. Later in the day I could move around slowly, but not much, and I was in constant pain. I could not use my hands to write or even hold a book. I had to be taken out of school my junior year of high school to be home tutored, and I had to miss out on being in "The Sound of Music" with my school's theater troupe (acting being my real passion). While other girls my age were worried about finding the right prom dress, I was worried about whether or not I would even be able to attend my junior prom. The doctors were befuddled, they couldn't seem to figure out what was wrong, except for the possible connection with the "swine flu". 

 

Four months after I got sick, I saw an interview with actress Emily Deschanel about her commitment to veganism that would forever change me. In my heart, I always knew that I would become a vegetarian when I was ready to really accept what I was eating. I just never thought it would be this soon. After the interview, I was intrigued. Emily spoke so passionately about veganism - it was truly inspiring. I went on a Google frenzy, learning as much as I could, and then I finally watched "Meat is Murder" and other videos that focused on animal slaughter. From that moment on, I knew that I would become a vegetarian. I tried to cut meat out of my diet slowly, but was soon repulsed by it, and on my seventeenth birthday this past March, I officially became a vegetarian. 

I was so bitter about what was happening to my body, but I realized if I couldn't control what was happening to MY body, then I could control what was happening to the body of another creature. I learned to turn my anger and confusion into love and compassion. Although not 100% vegan yet, I have reduced animal products to a bare minimum and am moving towards becoming a vegan within the next year. Since March, my health has taken a turn for the better, although we are still without answers. I can move my body in the mornings, albeit slowly, and everyday tasks that I had needed assistance with I can now accomplish by myself. I walk almost "normal", just a little slow. 

I was able to take a day trip to New York City with my family, and in May, I attended my junior prom and danced the night away. Whether or not my change in diet has helped my condition, I do not know. But in my heart, I believe my new kind diet has led to my recovery, and I will come out of this battle with a new, better way of living."

Photos of Kylee include: Photo #1: Kylee in her school's fall play back in November before she got sick, Photo #2: Kylee in New York on a trip with her family, and Photo #3: Kylee with her mom and dad on Prom day.

Endless thanks to these brave, beautiful finalists, as well as to every person who entered this giveaway contest. You are all my heroes!

And keep your eyes out for the next giveaway: this week, I'll be featuring Marilee Geyer and her amazing organization, No Voices Unheard, complete with a review, interview, and giveaway of their latest book, Ninety Five!