Veganic Agriculture – The Missing Link

It’s Time to Plant a Seed for a New Movement

Change happens through action and awareness. Spread the word on social media. Talk to your Community Supported Agriculture or Farmer’s Market farmer. Call a food company or email them. Leave a note when you eat at restaurants. You can use the scripts below, edit them, or create your own. It’s so important to do this in a way that leaves a positive impression. No one wants to change when they are made to feel wrong. Thank you for making a difference!

Social Media

FB: Did you know that plant foods are often grown with animal manure and slaughterhouse by-products such as blood meal, bone meal, and fish emulsion? Veganic Agriculture does not use these products. Ask farms, restaurants, food co-ops, and food companies to grow, or source food that is grown without the use of animal inputs. www.clubveg.org/veganic-farming #Veganic

Talk to Farmers at Farmer’s Markets or Your CSA’s

It is so important to be diplomatic. Remember that as you talk to farmers, they have a certain way that they know how to do things and hearing from a vegan that they are doing it “wrong” could be a real turn-off to them, resulting in negative impressions of vegans, and that will NOT result in change. Here is one idea: I am so glad to belong to this CSA (or, I love coming to the Farmer’s Market). I recently became aware of various methods of increasing fertility in the soil. I was surprised to learn that most organic farms use manure and by-products from the slaughter industry. Even though I choose to eat organic over pesticide laden foods, I was kind of grossed out by that! I found out there is something called “Veganic” agriculture and wondered if you ever heard about that? There’s a pretty big CSA farm in New Paltz, NY, that grows all of their food veganically. It’s called Huguenot Street Farm. There’s also a really cool video of a farmer in Maine who gave a workshop and it’s a great way to learn more about it if you are interested. It’s at www.clubveg.org under the Veganic Agriculture section. There are other resources there too. Thanks so much for listening. This is a passion of mine and I hope that as farms learn more about it they might be interested in trying it out. It can even be tried out one crop at a time. (Note that at any point where you get the sense that the farmer is not interested, know that you are likely wasting your time and bring the conversation to a positive close. For example, if they say “I’m really not intersted” then you can say, “okay, thank you for your time”. If they say “How long have you been farming?” you could answer with “I don’t farm, but I’m interested in learning more about it, and this is part of what I’ve been learning. I’d be happy to share some resources with you if you are interested in learning more. I realize during the growing season, you probably don’t have time for things like this, but if it is okay, could I email you some links in the winter?” Always end on a pleasant note and thank them for their time. Even that will plant a seed, because they won’t think you are an insensitive person, and thinking kindly of you, they may think more about what you said.

Make a Call to a Vegan Food Company

We will be the most effective starting with vegan food companies. Let’s create change where we are more likely to have success. Then, others will hear about it. To a food company: Hello! Can I speak to your customer service or purchasing person? Once new person is on the line: My name is <your name here>. I’m so glad that you make so much awesome vegan food. I love your <name of food> the most! I’d like to share some information with you for your consideration. As a vegan, I find the one missing link for vegans is that usually, plant foods are grown with the use of animal inputs, for example manure, bone meal, blood meal, and fish emulsion, which is ground up fish. This is especially true for organic products. I would like to share with you some resources and that your company would consider asking your farmers or other suppliers to grow your ingredients veganically. You can find out more at www.clubveg.org, and then just click on the Veganic Farming link at the top. Thanks so much for considering this. Would you be willing to present this feedback at your next meeting and let me know what happens? Thanks so much!

Write an Email/Fill Out a Web Form

You can use the same script as above.

Leave a Note at Restaurants, or ask for a Mid-Afternoon Meeting

We will be most effective starting with vegan restaurants. Asking non-vegan restaurants to change how they source their food or asking them to make your issue their issue is something we may not have the most success with initially, but why not start with restaurants that will care more – vegan restaurants? Ask your server to leave a note – something like this – with the buyer. Or ask for a meeting in the mid-afternoon – the least busy time for restaurants. Hello! I so enjoyed my meal tonight! I’m so happy to be able to come here and eat anything I want and I’m so glad you exist. I wanted to share that I’ve been learning that most plant foods are grown with the use of animal inputs. As a vegan, I find the one missing link for vegans is that usually, plant foods are grown with the use of animal inputs, for example manure, bone meal, blood meal, and fish emulsion, which is ground up fish. This is especially true for organic products. I would like to share with you some resources and that your company would consider asking your farmers or other suppliers to grow your ingredients veganically. You can find out more at www.clubveg.org, and then just click on the Veganic Farming link at the top.

Talk to Your Local Food Coop

Coops may be able to influence farmers for you! Speak to your Coop manager, produce buyer, or board of directors (sometimes called Council). They may not be able to get a farm to completely convert, but they can start the conversation and ask that certain crops be grown veganically.