Comments on: Why I’m no longer strictly-vegetarian: A blog on ethical eating

by: Paula Holmes-Rodman

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 16:36:59 +0000

This is a thoughtful piece you have here, Raven. I’ve been a vegetarian (ovo-lacto) since 1993. It was a month in Morocco and the outside meat markets that finally brought the closet vegetarian in me out. However, I am in what you might call a “mixed marriage” — my husband of 14 years is an omnivore - and the family cook. We not only get by, but both eat very well - as our waistlines will attest. :-) We both try to eat locally - hooray for The Hundred Mile Diet - and we both profoundly moved by Barbara Kingsolver’s “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life”. Of course, we life in the fertile Comox Valley on beautiful Vancouver Island. 100 miles from our house is a bit different that my Montana kin’s situation. Much love to you and all the family.

by: Justin Whitaker

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:51:35 +0000

Great thoughts, Raven. I’m encouraging my folks to move in the local/organic direction now. My dad may even hunt again this year, “better to shoot ‘em with a rifle than hit ‘em with my car.” :)

I’m with you 100% on making sure my purchases go to the best possible place. I still plan to live as much of a pescatarian life as I can; but following the Buddha’s advice to his monks and nuns, I will generally accept any meat that is offered to me as a gift - especially when traveling in foreign lands where vegetarianism isn’t common even amongst Buddhists.

by: Julie

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 19:20:39 +0000

My family and I are self sufficient. We hunt for our meat, grow our own herbs, veggies and use farmers markets for fruits and veggies if we need. The Native American in me believes that the animal you are hunting will present himself to you, if it is meant that you are to have him. We harvest only what we need (and allowed by law of course) and also share with those less fortunate.

by: Raven shadowmoon

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:06:09 +0000

I tried being vegatarian several times but i couldnt do it because i physically can not be vegatarian i get sick constanly when i was vegatarian so i do eat meat but i try to get meat from open range farms because i agree that factory farming is horrible and terrifying :(
I also believe that we all soemthing in the process of eating eating vegtables is hurting a living thing either way no matter what we choose to eat humans are harming somehting in the process but we shgould be aware of what we are harming i believe in what the native americans believe in we can eat meat but we should not waste meat and we should give thanks to the animals that provided us food and we all should eat meat but only low amounts of it not to much americans consume too much meat which is the cause of factory farming :(

by: Corrina

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 07:21:05 +0000

I admire your dedication!

Due to reasons of health and personal ethics, I’ve made the choice to become a vegetarian. It hasn’t been an easy road however. I have difficulty finding recipes that are quick and easy to make, provide adequate nutrition and fit into my budget as a student. It’s even more frustrating to dine out. Finding good vegetarian dishes on a budget can sometimes turn into a nightmare. I still haven’t found a good way to deal with my carnivore family when I visit for the holidays. I guess what I’m saying is HELP!!! I’m trying real hard to maintain a vegetarian diet but money, nutrition and family get togethers are a major hurdle for me. Is there some kind of book, website or personal advice you can offer up to help me deal with these issues?

Keep up the good work and many blessing to you and your family,

Corrina

by: Quinn K

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 03:18:03 +0000

Well we are certainly luck to live in a city that supports such a lifestyle. (not perfect but livable) I love the local restaurants that purchase locally or work to provide in seasonal vegetables and meats. Not only is it better for the environment it tastes like so much better. Things that were purchased at farmers market and picked the day before in a local garden cannot be compared to some thing shipped 2 days in a truck from a greenhouse.

by: dolmadraka

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:35:32 +0000

I agree with you though i wish i could’ve stayed a lacto-ovo vegetarian as i like the ideals (had been 1 for 11+ year … shades of missing being a hippy by 4-5 years i guess). Unfortunately I read the book THE SECRET LIFE OF PLANTS and the statement that plants do not feel pain, like animals do, is unfounded. Which makes it hard to eat anything if you are attempting to not cause pain. So for me much of it comes down to intention toward the lifeform sustaining me. (Kitka is wishing you well again as she is between me and my Mac screen … maybe now that i have passed her feline blessings on, she will let me see what i am typing; yeah she did! ).

Since college i have attempted to live greenly, simply and quietly. In one of my Tibetan cookbooks there is a statement that the Dalai Lama has asked that those that eat meat (which he has to do himself, if I remember correctly) please eat meat from an animal where 1 death feeds many people. I guess you could say i am a conditional omnivore.

However i have a lot of food allergies and intolerances so my naturopath put me on the blood type diet; i found i cannot live for long periods without red meat since i am type O and have barbaric ancestry. I taught myself Indian Ayurvedic cooking and medicine back when i had no health insurance or money for health care), so i attempt to merge the 2 frameworks with locavore eating. I, sadly, have to choose between paying for organic food or for seeing the naturopath, so i balance my finances as best as i can.

People forget that “one size does not fit all.” Traditional Chinese, Tibetan, and Ayurvedic Medicines along with western astrological and Hermetic medicines all talk about different types and the infinite variety and combinations found within. (Vulcan IDIC anyone?). I suspect the following is a result of my backlash against my right-wing fundamentalist upbringing, but i wish we could all find ways to honor both our similarities and our differences. One of my dearest friends at the Grey School of Wizardry is a vegan/raw food enthusist, yet we accept each others space. But that is just me. Tashi Dalek and Danse in the Dragonwinds, DolmaDraka and Bright Eyes (meow)

by: Clea Danaan

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:03:26 +0000

Well spoken! I don’t always live by these guidelines, but I aspire to always. Thanks for the push in the right direction.