Education on Farms, Animals, & Veganism
Part of our mission is to educate people on current agricultural processes, plant-based and vegan lifestyles, and how to provide all animals with dignity and respect. Check out what we think about some common questions below:
Veganism, Vegetarianism, and Plant-Based Lifestyles
It's great that you've already taken the first step to a more compassionate lifestyle as well as doing something great for the earth. Here are two great resources to find out more about the dairy and egg industry:
Chickens: The Thinking, Feeling Chicken | Farm Sanctuary
Dairy: 14 Irrefutable Facts About Dairy Farming - Mercy For Animals
We understand. We did not want to go vegan at first because we didn't want to give up our favorite cheese or cream in our coffee. But once we made the decision to go vegan, it felt very rewarding and made it easier. We're here to applaud any small changes you are prepared to make. For instance, try "Meatless Mondays" or try one plant-based meal per week. When you're ready, try a nut based cheese or milk and/or try replacing your meat with Beyond Meat or Omni Pork. You can find some great support in the Facebook group "Let's Go Veganish".
Eating vegan does not have to be bland. Some of our favorite recipes are online at: thegreekvegan.com and fullofplants.com. There are also a lot of fantastic vegan cookbooks including Afro-Vegan by Terry Bryant and The Homemade Vegan Pantry by Miyoko Schinner. For new chefs, try Five Ingredient Vegan by Katy Beskow.
- Lower Risk of Chronic Diseases: Research suggests that vegans tend to have lower risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. The emphasis on whole plant foods can lead to improved heart health and better weight management.
Caring for Animals and Finding Foster Farms
I'm glad you reached out. While we're full at the moment, we'd like to help you find an appropriate home for your farm friend. We recommend posting on the Facebook groups Farm Animals Needing Adoption (FANA) or Farm Animal Adoption Network (FAAN). We would be happy to send information about your farm friend to our network of sanctuaries. We need a description, photos, information about any medical needs, and the reason why your friend needs a new home. You can email us at info@herdandflockanimalsanctuary.org
We love the resources at The Open Sanctuary Project. Check out their animal care guides for whichever animal you're needing advice about. If you have further questions, you can email us at info@herdandflockanimalsanctuary.org
Learning About Sanctuaries and Farms
Running a sanctuary is a lot of work, and you need to be prepared both physically, financially, and mentally. There is a lot of support available, and our favorite resource is The Open Sanctuary Project. Please let us know how it's going!
Geoff is Herd & Flocks resident intern and we love having him. You can sign up to volunteer in 2 hour shifts, and we are open to gig-volunteering (pick shifts based on your schedule, easy commitments) and more recurring volunteering. Everyone is welcome!
For sure! Sign up for a tour here.
Environmental Impact of Veganism
We are encouraging people to see farm animals as living, feeling beings who deserve kindness and respect. As we work to provide high quality health care to our residents, we seek to educate the community and advocate for the end to factory farming.The recent devastation from hurricanes underscores the urgent need to shift our food system away from animal agriculture, a major contributor to the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. By eating plants instead of animals, we can feed more people with less land and resource. By adopting plant-rich diets, each of us can help mitigate ecological harms and enhance the well-being of humans and other animals.
The increasing popularity of dairy and beef cows has resulted in deforestation that contributes to global warming.