Hello my name is Eric

[hippie4lyfe]

Hey guys,

I am a LGBT activist from Long Island, New York and I am very interested in the work soulforce is doing. I would love to learn more and see how I too can get involved.

Peace & Love,
Eric

[Gennee]

Hi Eric and welcome to Soulforce.

Gennee

:wave:

[hippie4lyfe]

Hey thanks I look forward to meeting new people and engaging in good conversation.

Peace & love.

[u-dog]

Welcome Eric! Tell us a little bit more about yourself. This is a great community.

U-dog

[hippie4lyfe]

Well I'm 22 from NY, I'm passionate about animal rights and queer rights. There are some great conversations on here which I look forward to jumping in on.

[Unmasked]

Awesomeness. Really good to see you around here. I'm at a weird place when it comes to animal rights, because I am still eating meat. I dislike the current practices, and I totally support a rehaul in how we are doing things. I'm trying to go mostly veg, but I'm still eating fish and poultry. If I can get down to fish and limited dairy I'll be happy. Welcome to the site. I hope you enjoy your time here.

[hippie4lyfe]

hey unmasked every bit of reducing your consumption makes a difference to the lives you save, so don't feel great every time you opt for a veg meal.

I really recommend you order the free vegetarian starter kit
http://www.goveg.com/order.asp

it has great transition tips and some yummy recipes and its completely free =)

thanks for the welcome :)

[scott snedeker]

I just watched www.meat.org.

For the first time I am seriously considering becoming vegetarian!

I would rather see animals hunted (and I can't stand hunting) than to have them treated in the way I saw on the video!

I raise mini ponies, goats, chickens, peafowl, mini cows, and more. And they are all spoiled rotten. I do collect my hens' eggs and eat them. I guess I could milk my nanny goat too. But otherwise how can I be sure that the products of animals and the animals themselves that I eat are not being mistreated. How would I feed my cats and my dog? what a pickle!

One of my cats hunts and that is natural, but the other two never caught anything more substantial than a small lizard.

I guess I can't change all at once.:confused:

[scott snedeker]

And I ordered the kit too

[hippie4lyfe]

hey Scott,

yeah the video is very disturbing but I am glad you are open to it and ordered the kit it is a great one!

also, I hear what you are saying about spoiling your animals. unfortunately small farms barely exist anymore, it is all mass production and factory farms and the sad truth is the video is undercover investigations of several slaughterhouses, and those are all standard procedure.

thanks for your openness to a difficult subject.

[paul]

Hi Hippie :wave:,

Welcome. I look forward to your jumping in and giving us the opportunity to get to know you. As a small organic farmer, I can appreciate some of your sentiments. Have you seen "The Future of Food" dvd? Also very informative. You seem more informed than most when it comes to understanding where food comes from...nice to have you aboard.
paul

[antiochian]

hi!! nice to have you here!

[hippie4lyfe]

Hey Paul and Antiochian! Gosh, this is such a friendly space lol.

Paul - I have not seen that video, what is it about, where can I get it? Sounds interesting. Yay organic farmers =)

[paul]

Hi Hippie,

Here's the link where you can check it out.

www.thefutureoffood.com/

[hippie4lyfe]

Hey Paul,

It sounds like a great film. I try to always purchase organic for environmental, and health reasons. But also because it is better for the farmers themselves! The scary thing is I hear the USDA is now allowing some farmers of traditionally organic crops to spray pesticides. This is due to heavy corporate lobbying, and it is just a shame.

[paul]

Hiya Hipster,

If you can swing the dvd, I think you will find it worth your while...given what you have written. Many (perhaps most) of us revolutionists, aka organic farmers, don't look to the government for hope. When the original federal bill outlining organic certification was introduced, it included GMO's (genetically modified organism's) as "organic." The grass roots organic movement made a lot of noise and won...this round. The organic stuff you get at the mega mart is usually from the factory 'farm.' The organic movement in this country was started by small farmers. Big business noted that informed buyers understood that non poisoned, tasty, nutritious food is a good thing. They identified a market, and a growing market at that. As you seem to understand, the small farmer has other motive than just not poisoning people and providing nutritious food. The small 'organic' farmer is also concerned about caring for the place that produces the food (i.e., the earth)...which is where the "buy local" movement idea comes from. In addition, part of the philosophy behind buying local is for the consumer to connect to where their food comes from and what goes into it. Go to any farmers market, find your local 'organic' (I quote "organic" because many of us do not use that word since the government now owns it) farmer and strike up a conversation. You'll be lucky to escape without having your ear talked off:D. Why? It's a passion. Most of us don't make any money. I do it on the side as a matter of principle. And this is way more than you wanted. :lol:
paul

[hippie4lyfe]

Hey Paul,

I always try to support my local organic farmers at those open air markets. It is so much more environmentally friendly, fresh, healthy, and a much more pleasant experience.

I noticed that many of the farmers are not certified organic but rather have a different label, Certified Natural ... Something? I believe this is a non-profit activist org that ensures that the food is organic but does not force farmers to go through the USDA's standards and procedures. If I am wrong please correct me as you are the farmer and I would love to know who to support.

-Eric

[paul]

Hey Paul,

I always try to support my local organic farmers at those open air markets. It is so much more environmentally friendly, fresh, healthy, and a much more pleasant experience.

I noticed that many of the farmers are not certified organic but rather have a different label, Certified Natural ... Something? I believe this is a non-profit activist org that ensures that the food is organic but does not force farmers to go through the USDA's standards and procedures. If I am wrong please correct me as you are the farmer and I would love to know who to support.

-Eric
Yep, that's generally correct. It can be expensive, both time and money wise to get certification. Beyond that, many simply grouse at the very notion of government approval. Very often, your local farmer who farms naturally will have higher standards than those set by the government. I encourage you to talk to the people who you buy from, they will appreciate your interest in what they do and are a great source of information.

[scott snedeker]

I've been on vegan macrobiotic diet for one week now! I feel great! energetic, young happy, great sense of well-being and young, did I say young? focussed and sleeping great!.....and lost ten pounds! I don't crave meat, animal products or processed food amazingly.......well except gin! :lol:

But at the same time I am hungrier than TWO BEARS!:eek: even after I eat!

I don't want to give up how great I feel but I fear I'm at risk of going cannibal!

Any advice? Or is this a "ya don't get something fer nothing" situation? :'(

[Vanessa White]

I am way behind on my welcomes, so WELCOME!! You seem pretty firm in your beliefs and convictions, which is great energy to have around here. I have been veggie on and off over the years, at times I frankly don't have the discipline and stamina to resist meat. until I read a publication or watch video about it, and then it totally disgusts me to disrespect our animal friends in that way. Organic is a great way to go as well, it is a bit pricier but I am trying to be more saavy in how I impact the earth. Anyway, glad you found us! How did you make out with getting connected with NYC soulforce? Do tell! :love:

[hippie4lyfe]

Hi Scott,

I totally forgot about soulforce forums and so my reply is a bit late. Anyways, I think it is normal when you first transition to a vegan diet to be hungry. Standard American portions are huge, so if you went overseas and ate their standard diet, you would likely be hungry as well.

My advice is give yourself time to adjust. Also, incorporate smaller, healthier meals. Snack in between those meals, ie do 6 small meals, maybe an apple in between, some flax chips, etc.


Vanessa,

Thanks for the hello! I know it can be hard for some. I still haven't gone to the NYC Soulforce, but I really really wanna go so hopefully that happens soon =) Ill let you know when I go.

[Jennifer5]

Welcome, glad to have you here :)