VISION VOICE VEG*N'z for the Brazos Valley

"Morgan" Needs A Home...Won't You Help?

2010-05-10T15:57:00.000-07:00

Charlie Lindahl sent this to me. An office mate of his suffers from allergies severe enough that he must now evict his 4 year old kitty.

This is Morgan.

Hope someone can find it in their hearts to adopt this little guy. How heartbreaking for him to be ripped from his comfortable and loving home with no place to go......

Check it out.

http://collegestation.craigslist.org/pet/1724241451.html

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children, & Bless this Earth

May Meetup at Gail Ostensen's Home

2010-05-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

Gail Ostensen hosted our meetup last night at her home. WOW! Did we eat good! Some of the delicious dishes folks brought were fresh turnip greens with sliced turnips, corn and veggie salad with a hot chile sesame oil dressing, pear chutney, Humble Vegan Garbanzo Basil Garlic Hummus, guac & blue corn chips, pasta-broc-veggie salad with a poppy seed dressing, fresh cut veggies, strawberries, blackberries and sliced pears. And a delicious vegan brownie cake for dessert.

Among all the munching and the smacking of our lips... we did manage to chat it up about what we want the group to do this year.

Georgia Vergos, Travis Thompson, Laura Thomas, Kristin Williams, Charlie Lindahl, Gail Ostensen, & Slyck Pecena were in attendance. Meg Reynard stopped by for a quick visit on her way to "knock on people's doors" as a census taker.

"Hilde," Gail's adorable puppy dog, enjoyed the attention we gave to her! Have you seen such a cute little face?

Everyone had really great ideas and thoughts....from field trips to animal activism events to educating the public on the health and environmental benefits of adopting a Veg*n lifestyle to a 5K Fun Walk/Run. We also discussed sponsoring "Awakening the Dreamer" event and continuing the holiday donation drive thru....Bless the Beasts and the Children, as well as Earth Day 2011.

We also discussed meeting in the park during the cooler months and alternating pot-lucks with speaker presentations.

John Adams, facilitator of Awakening the Dreamer, stopped by to chat and share some thoughts. John trained last summer for this position. Since age 16, he has been interested in Health as not only physical, psycho-emotional, and spiritual, but societal and planetary, as well. If you want to know more about this amazing symposium.... check out the website.

We all had a great time, fabulous food and good conversation!

If you did not get a chance to attend last night .... we'd love to hear YOUR ideas, thoughts, & suggestions for what you would like the group to be involved in. And if you are interested in being a part of this dynamic group..... just let us know!!

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children & Bless this Earth

MAY 2010 MEET UP 6pm May the 4th

2010-04-28T05:23:00.000-07:00

HOWDY!!!

Wanted to get the word out to everyone about the May Meetup! I am soooo excited!!!! We are meeting at Gail Ostensen's house. She lives in the Woodlake Subdivision.

TUESDAY, The 4th of MAY, 6pm

This meetup is YOUR chance to speak up!! Tell everyone what you want from Vision Voice Veg*n'z. What direction(s) you want us to head. What do you see as our many focuses and what goals do you want to set for the rest of this year. What events do you want us to get involved in. Do we want to plan another Bless the Beasts and the Children in December? I encourage you to take some time and give it some thought before the meetup.Your thoughts, ideas, suggestions, comments, criticisms will be greatly appreciated.

This is the time to bring a dish or something for all to share and for us to sit, eat and get to know each other and have a relaxing evening. Gail will provide the drinks and ice and dishes etc...... This is SO very nice of her :-) THANK YOU GAIL for your gracious hospitality!!

This is also a fantastic opportunity to bring any friends that you have that might be interested in joining our group!! YAY!! we can hear from them too!

We'll meet at 6pm and will eat around 6:45ish..... or when everyone can get there. I know this is earlier then we normally meet... so don't rush. I just thought we could get set the time earlier so those that make it earlier... will have some time to just enjoy chatting with Gail until everyone else arrives.

If you don't mind just shooting me an email for address, directions and to RSVP, I would appreciate it so I can let Gail know how many to expect. You FB buddies... I will post it as an event and you can RSVP there if you prefer.

I so look forward to seeing all of the current folks, the new folks and the potentially new folks!! This will be so great!!!

Sincerely,

Slyck Pecena

Founder & Leader

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children & Bless this Earth

Brazos Valley Earth Day 2010

2010-04-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

WOW!!! This past Saturday here in the Brazos Valley turned out to be a beautiful day for the Earth Day celebration! The morning started off a little “iffy”...... rain? or no rain? We were so fortunate that Cheryl Anne Chandler came up with a tent for us!! Wasn’t needed for rain..... but for protection from that gorgeous sunshine!!! There was a nice breeze around our booth and a BIG THANKS TO HEATHER QUAILS, Coordinator for Earth Day, we had a great location......Right on the main drag.

BIG SHOUT OUTS to the volunteers that shared their busy Saturday with us to help host the table!

*CHERYL ANNE CHANDLER
*KRISTA MAY
*JOHN BORDEN
*GAIL OSTENSEN
*KELLIE WILCOX MOORE *ADITYA SHRIVASTAVA
*LAURA HOMAS

These awesome folks came out to help host our table. We handed out pamphlets, flyers, bookmarks that when planted grow wildflowers and of course.... our famous Vegan and Vegetarian goodies..... These did not last long at all!!!

Let’s see we had Vegan Brownies, Nut Crunch Mix, Cranberry Pecan Cookies, Snack Mix made from raw Pecan-Almond-Cashew-Peanuts-Raisin-Pumpkin Seed in little baggies, Pineapple Cupcakes, Lemon Slices and Lemon-Poppy seed teacakes. All Vegan or Vegetarian and ALL simply YUM-MO!!!!! Everyone loves coming around our booth at events cuz we have the goodies!

We had a lot of folks interested in our group..... had never heard of our group & did not know we existed... that were Veg*n’z. Sure hope to recruit them!

And just look at this little guy..... he is having a great time!!!

Earth Day provided lots of entertainment from a Hybrid car show to demonstrations of Rainwater Harvesting & Composting to Live Music, in which one of our very talented young members entertained the event goers. Cheryl Anne Chandler sang a song called Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas. She is an amazing young woman... far wise beyond her years and not only, musically talented but also, artistically talented. She does our artwork for our group!! Way to go CC!!!! We LOVE you, kiddo!!!

Everyone said this was the best Earth Day yet! A great time was had and we so look forward to next year’s event!!!

Again, Thanks to Everyone!!!!

Slyck Pecena
Founder and Leader

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

APRIL Meetup

2010-04-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

Check out this awesome menu the Village Downtown prepared for our April Meetup!!!

*Vegetable Fajitas w/chimchurri sauce & black beans on the side
*Asparagus w/provolone, red onion & homemade thousand island w/pumpernickel bread
*Bowl of Squash Soup.

Just unbelievably delicious!!! Wish we had pictures!!

Mary Strauss, Sustainability Programs Coordinator City of Bryan, Environmental Services Division, of Be Green in Bryan, chatted with everyone about Environmentally Friendly Yard Care
Equipping your garage or gardening headquarters with tools and techniques that save you time in the garden and are beneficial to the environment! Discover simple ways to conserve water and to reduce your use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

A great group of folks showed up to listen to Mary and to ask her questions. She did an awesome job and is available to speak on numerous topics if you are or your group is interested. Here are just a few:

Environmental/Solid Waste Services
This presentation highlights some of the lesser known but valuable services offered by Bryan’s Environmental Services Division. Do you know where and when you can dispose of your paint and household chemicals for free? Do you know what types or how much brush and bulky you may place curbside? Do you know how to report illegal dumping or other environmental concerns in your area? Find out how you and your family can make a difference in beautifying Bryan!

Water Quality in Your Neighborhood
How do our everyday actions affect the environment? Find out what goes down the storm drains in Bryan as a result of common yard care and home improvement practices and their effect on water quality.

Let’s Tackle Grease in the Kitchen
Grease and oil come from a number of sources. Some of these sources are not easy to spot, such as food scraps, baked goods, sauces and dairy products. Did you know that putting oil and grease down the kitchen sink can cause costly sewer overflows into streets and storm drains in your neighborhood? Learn how and why you should help prevent grease buildups and blocked sewer lines.

You can contact Mary Strauss (979) 209-5910 mstrauss@bryantx.gov

Thanks to everyone for sharing your evening with Mary and making her feel welcome!

And thank you, Mary, for taking time out of your busy schedule to share your knowledge and expertise with the group!

The May meetup is May the 4th, 6pm, at Gail Ostensen’s house!!!! This is a discussion meetup and we want to hear what everyone has to say!! So bring your thoughts, ideas, suggestions AND BRING A DISH or SOMETHING for EVERYONE to share!! It will be a good time to get to know everyone and hear new ideas and suggestions!!

Please email slyck for directions and RSVP if you are interested.

Hope to see you all there!!!

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Vision Voice Veg*n'z for the Brazos Valley Celebrate Earth Day

2010-04-15T14:05:00.001-07:00

Looking for some all day fun?

This is your invitation to join us for the 15th Annual Brazos Valley Earth Day Celebration at Wolf Pen Amphitheater! It is this Saturday the 17th of April from 11am to 4pm!!

Vision Voice Veg*n’z for the Brazos Valley will host a table and hand out vegan and vegetarian goodies, flyers and pamphlets on different topics associated with Earth Day. This is a chance to chat it up with some of us & see what we are up to. Maybe you've thought about joining our group or coming to one of our meetups.... take this opportunity to check us out!

Come on out and enjoy the Music, Food, Exhibits, Displays, Demonstrations, Activities for Kids, and more... All relating to the environment! It's gonna be educational and entertaining. AND admission is free!

This is the time to celebrate our incredible Mother Earth!

See you there!

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Consider Walka Pasta the Pasta!

2010-04-14T16:25:00.001-07:00

Thinking that pasta is a safe, healthly choice at your favorite restaurant? Well... get ready to drop your jaw. Take a look at this article that Charlie Lindahl submitted for posting....... and think carefully, next time, before you order broccolli and chicken pasta or shrimp and pasta.

Thanks Charlie!!

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Brazos Valley Earth Day 2010 (Invite to Participate)

2010-04-07T16:14:00.000-07:00

15th Annual
Brazos Valley Earth Day
Wolf Pen Amphitheater
Saturday, April 17th, 2010
11 AM till 4 PM

Greetings Earthlings!

As you guys may know, Earth Day is coming up in April. Every year, the Brazos Valley holds an event to celebrate it, and this year, it's going to be held at the Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater. If you've never been there, you can see directions here--->D irections

There's gonna be...
Music, Food, Exhibits, Displays, Demonstrations, Activities for Kids, and more...

All relating to the environment!

It's gonna be educational and entertaining. AND admission is free!

I think it'll be a lot of fun, and so I really encourage you to come and to spread the word.
HERE ARE OUR AWESOME VOLUNTEERS!!!

*GAIL OSTENSEN 10am to noon
*KRISTA MAY 10am to noon
*KELLIE MOORE 11am to 1pm
*CHERYL ANNE CHANDLER all day
*ADITYA SHRIVASTAVA noon to 4pm
*JOHN BORDEN all day (will share our table)
*LAURA THOMAS
*SLYCK PECENA all day

Building on that, Vision Voice Veg*n'z has got a spot reserved for the event. So, we're going to get to have a table set up where we can hang out, pass out goodies, flyers, and let people know how much we support the environment, and how meatless eating relates to the environment as well. Who knows? You may learn a few things yourself.

At about 9:30 we'll set up. 9:30 - 10:30 will be the only occasion vehicles will be allowed in the circle drive off of Colgate. When booth set is complete, they ask that we park along Colgate and in surrounding areas. The parking lot with the circle drive will not be available for parking.

At 10am, we'll start doing shifts at the table. We're thinking 2-hour shifts, depending on how many people we've got. And that'll go until the event is over at 4. Than we will need to stay and help tear down.

WE HAVE A TENT.... MAYBE TWO!!! YAY!!!

SEE YOU THERE!!!!

Thoughts and Prayers, Peace and LOVE
Cherylanne Chandler

And check this out! I only recently found out about this, but found it very interesting. Earth Hour is TOMORROW. Saturday, March 27th. From 8:30 to 9:30, millions of people all over the world turn off their lights. For just one hour. Join us.

Both of these videos are really good, and they may just make an impact:
http://www.myearthhour.org/earth-hour-video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FclcMfzjwug
I know that we need a whole lot more than just one hour once every year... but hey, it's a baby step... and it's still beautiful to see people come together like that.

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

April 6th Meetup... Coming up!

2010-04-05T06:14:00.000-07:00

Come join us for the April 6th meetup!!

6:30pm at the fabulous Village Downtown!

Mary Strauss, the Sustainability Programs Coordinator City of Bryan, Environmental Services Division, will share valuable info with us about Environmentally Friendly Yard Care. It is that time of year again and we are working in our yards and gardens.

And of course the Village will fix up a DEEEElicious menu for us to enjoy. Please come and welcome Mary to our group.

When you get a moment......Please RSVP to Franchesca Garza just so she can let the Village know the number of folks that will be eating.

Plan on a big group discussion for the May meetup. Among other topics....be thinking of what you want from this group..... what directions you want to see it proceed....and what events you want us to be involved in.

Also, Earth Day April 17th is coming up and I have reserved a spot for us. I will provide the table. Now all we need is a tent and volunteers to host the event! Our sweet little Cheryl Anne Chandler will make up some great posters and flyers for us to hand out. Anyone else that wants to promote a topic synonymous with Earth Day, let me know and we can get flyers made up. We have some bike safety flyers left over from Green First Friday that we can hand out. And.... of course we'll need volunteers to make up some delicious veg*n goodies to hand out like we did at Green First Friday!!! Look forward to everyone's involvement in this great event!!

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

All Natural Produce Wash

2010-03-29T12:51:00.000-07:00

I’ve been asking around about a good safe produce wash. I always DO organic as much as possible, but I must have my broccoli fix every week and most weeks I can’t find organic broccoli.

I’ve wanted to start washing my non-organic produce for awhile now and just never took the time to do some research...at least not until this past weekend when the Hubby Bear brought home some green grapes from SAM’s. I looked at those grapes.....you could just see the dusty white film all over each grape.... I thought to myself, “No way! At least until we can wash them with something that is safe and effective.”

So, after polling several folks regarding a safe product on the market that works.... Boots McCann, one of our members, came up with the number one answer! She gave me a recipe that is used by the locals in Mexico to wash their produce. It is all natural and made of products that you most likely have in your kitchen right now!

WATER

VINEGAR

BAKING SODA

LEMON JUICE

That’s it!

The recipe can be found here. I tried it this morning and it works great! I feel much better about eating grocery produce when I can’t get hold of my organic.

Thanks Boots!!

Yours In Health

Slyck Pecena
Founder & Leader

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

March Meetup Scoop

2010-03-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

I was unable to make the March meetup at the Village Cafe, so one of our members wrote up a brief description. Read up on what Cheryl Anne Chandler shares about the meetup. And check out the great pics that Franchesca Garza snapped! BIG thanks to you two!

Our yummy menu (Vegan Dinner Specials) looked something like this

Spring greens soup
Avocado and spicy sprouts sandwich on focaccia bred w/ dijon, cucumber, and carrot and a side
Broccoli and sweet pea Alfredo pasta
Pasta Primavera
Apple and almond cobbler a la mode for dessert!

Jenn Atkins spoke for the March meetup. She is a certified nutritional consultant, a student of herbology, and has worked for BNF for over 20 years. She briefly asked about lifestyles of the group and why we had chosen that particular path. She found that most of us were in it for health reasons and animal rights. I also mentioned the environmental relevance of a meatless lifestyle as well as spirituality.

Jenn discussed her thoughts for any diet. She explained how no two bodies are exactly the same and that different people may have different needs. Therefore, it is every individual's responsibility to develop their own personal awareness and to pay attention to their own body, their own needs, rather than putting all their stock in labels, books, and someone else's words.

The focus of conversation was on connecting to our food and being in touch with ourselves. We discussed the importance of how our food was raised or grown, how the food was prepared/processed, and the affects that it has on us. She mentioned not just food, but everything around us that we're exposed to. Water. Clothing. Material. Stress. Where did it come from and what affect does it have on me?

Jenn concluded by restating her main point, "No matter what you're told, you have to consider: 'What's good for me?'."

Welcome to our 2 newbies!! Cassie Baxter & Georgia Vergos. Hope you guys will become regulars!

Next month, Mary Strauss, the Sustainability Programs Coordinator for the City of Bryan, Environmental Services Division, will chat with us about upcoming events that we can get involved in.

I hope you will come and enjoy great food, interesting company and Mary Strauss. Please welcome her and thank her for sharing her valuable time with us!

APRIL 6th, Tuesday
6:30pm, Village Cafe

Join us for our May meetup as we will have a group "chat it up.” We can all join together, get to know each other, talk (among other topics,) about what we want from the group, where we see the group heading and what impact we want to make on the community!!

Yours in Health!

Slyck Pecena

Founder and Leader

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Vision Voice Veg*n'z March Meet-up

2010-03-01T10:57:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!

The next Vision Voice Veg*n'z meet-up will be on
Wednesday, March 10th
6:30pm at Village Cafe.

Please let me know if you will be present and if you plan on eating dinner. Our speaker is Jenn Atkins. She is a certified nutritional consultant, a massage therapist, and a student of herbology. The topic of discussion will be "Living Sustainably".

Hope you see you there!

Thanks,

-Franchesca
chesca.m@gmail.com

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

February 2010 Meet Up

2010-02-12T04:40:00.000-08:00

What an awesome presentation Betsy (Boots) McCann shared at the Village Cafe for our February 9th meetup. She shared her knowledge in the most casual way about the health and environmental advantages & benefits of buying organic produce.

Boots is a Vegan and is a 3rd year Ph.D. student in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications. She currently works with the Farmer Solidarity Project teaching organic production methods to indigenous farmers in Guatemala, and in summer 2009 completed an internship with the Rodale Institute, where she also worked as a Communications Strategist.

About 15 Veg*n'z showed up to listen to Boots and to endulge in a delicious dinner. The Village, once again, out did it self with a mouth-watering menu for our group. Offering a choice of vegan pita pizza with sweet potatoe french fries or bean tex-mex casserole. Dessert was vegan chocolate cheese cake. We Veg*n'z do eat so good!!!.

BIG THANKS to Boots for taking time from her very busy schedule to speak to the group!

Our next meet up is Wednesday, March 10th 6:30pm at the Village Cafe. Jenn Atkins is our speaker. She is a certified nutritional consultant, a massage therapist, and a student of herbology. The topic of discussion will be "Living Sustainably".

Slyck Pecena
Founder & Leader

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Creamy Spinach Pasta

2010-01-25T14:41:00.000-08:00

HOWDY everyone!

Here is an awesome looking dish from one of our members.... Franchesca Garza...complete with recipe! I am anxious to try it out myself.

Just another example of how good we Vegans eat!!

BIG THANKS Franchesca for contributing to "OUR" blogsite!!

Creamy Spinach Pasta

Note: You might want to half the ingredients in this recipe, because I doubled them. I just didn’t want to waste any of the coconut milk. So, this is exactly how I made it.

The recipe is as follows:

1- can coconut milk (about 400ml)
2- tablespoons lemon juice
½ - tsp fine sea salt or regular salt
4 – garlic gloves
1- cup raw spinach
4- tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 small bag of your choice of pasta (about 7 oz.)
Nutmeg seasoning for flavoring
Pepper for flavoring

Sauce:
Put coconut milk, lemon juice, salt, garlic gloves, spinach, & nutritional yeast into blender. Sprinkle pepper & nutmeg into blender for flavoring. Puree until super smooth. (It’s okay to have tiny little pieces of spinach visible, it makes the sauce look pretty).

Cook pasta according to package instructions but remove with a couple of minutes left. Drain and place back into pot. Pour the sauce over and mix. Continue to cook over a low heat until sauce is hot enough to serve. When ready, taste and adjust with more nutmeg, pepper and salt as needed.

Serve and enjoy!!

**You can also toast some pine-nuts in a little of Earth Balance in a skillet. Sprinkle over pasta for added décor and a yummy added taste.

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

First Meet Up for 2010

2010-01-15T06:43:00.000-08:00

The Village Cafe was rockin’ this past Tuesday night the 12th of January. This was the first meetup of VISION VOICE VEG*N'z for the Brazos Valley of the New Year and there was quite a group there. Over 20 people showed up to chat it up, enjoy choices from the great menu that was prepared and to listen to LAURA THOMAS, Vegan Nutritionist currently working on her PhD, give a presentation on Pre and Pro Biotics.

What a great way to start off the New Year! Everyone had a terrific time and enjoyed the fabulous food! (More pictures forthcoming!)

The chef’s cooked up three Vegan options: musaka, soft tacos, and calipso salad.

Some of the comments I received were:

“Laura did a really good job and there were lots of interesting questions.”

“We had a great crowd last night, and Laura gave a very informative discussion on Pro & PreBiotics. Did I mention the food was delicious!!”

“Laura gave a great presentation. She really knows her stuff. Most of what she talked about I already knew, but some of it was pretty enlightening, & there was a pretty big turnout too!”

“Laura's presentation was brilliant. There were new people too, and everyone was impressed. Village Cafe made some really good entrees for us.”

Laura’s material in her presentation was supported by Mary Ellen Sanders, Ph.D.

Dr. Mary Ellen Sanders, through her business Dairy & Food Culture Technologies, consults on all aspects of probiotic applications in the food and supplement industries. She believes probiotics will flourish only if available products are scientifically validated, responsibly produced and accurately labeled. She strives to balance the potential consumer benefits of probiotics with an understanding of the emerging science. Based on her extensive work with manufacturers, academicians and regulators, Dr. Sanders offers a comprehensive perspective to those interested in the continued emergence of the probiotic industry.

If you are interested in this fascinating topic, I invite you to read the complete Scientific Journal from which Laura referred. How Do We Know When Something Called “Probiotic”Is Really a Probiotic? A Guideline for Consumers and Health Care Professionals by Dr Sanders

BIG thanks to Laura Thomas for putting together and presenting an awesome topic!

Join us next month, February the 9th, 6:30pm at the Village for our meetup when Betsy (Boots) McCann, PhD student in plant agriculture, will talk about the nutritional and environmental health benefits of eating organic foods and the importance of organic certification.

Good Health to you all!!

Slyck Pecena

Founder and Leader

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

2010-01-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

HEY!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Come join us for the first VISION VOICE VEG*N’z for the Brazos Valley meet up of 2010!!

One of our members, Laura Thomas, will discuss the advantages and need for Pre and Probiotics to keep our bodies healthy and clean. Laura is a Vegan nutritionist working on her PhD at A&M.

When: TUESDAY the 12th of January

Time: 6:30pm to around 8:30ish

Where: Village Cafe, downtown Bryan

If you want to order from the menu, please RSVP so I can let Chris know how many of us will be eating.

So look forward to seeing each one of you!!!

Peace,

Slyck Pecena
Founder & Leader

Also... on a side note..... Charlie Lindahl sent this interesting website to me about an online nutritional store that carries Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Low sodium foods for different lifestyles.

It's called Dixie Diner's Club and it is located in Houston. Check it out!

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Black-Eyed Pea Croquettes with Dijon Glaze

2010-01-07T12:48:00.000-08:00

A good friend of mine from GOLDS Gym, now living in Dallas.... Mandy Mack.... submitted this DEEEE licious recipe for something different!! They look like little "hush puppies!' YUM-O!

And you know what? That dipping sauce would be awesome with my Humble Vegan Dolmas!

CanNOT wait to try this!!

Hope you guys will enjoy it!!!

Thanks Mandy!!!

Recipe from The Kind Diet cookbook

Black-Eyed Pea Croquettes with Dijon Glaze

2 cups black-eyed peas, soaked overnight in water to cover

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or cilantro

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 tablespoon shoyu (soy sauce)

1 teaspoon ground cumin

2 cups safflower oil for frying

Dipping sauce:

1/2 cup barley malt syrup or rice syrup

1 tablespoon dijon mustard

Drain the beans and transfer to food processor. Add parsley or cilantro, salt, shoyu, and cumin. Blend until the beans are chopped to fine shreds, but don't blend them to a pulp. Form the beans into football/UFO shaped croquettes in your hands.Heat oil in skillet. Place 4 croquettes in oil (oil should bubble furiously) and fry for about 4 minutes on each side.

To make dipping sauce, stir together the barley malt syrup and mustard in a small saucepan. Warm the sauce over low heat until it bubbles. Serve warm alongside dipping sauce.

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

The Animal Rescue Site

2010-01-07T12:38:00.001-08:00

One of our members, Gail Ostensen, sent this to be posted. Please take a moment and "click" to support the Animal Rescue Site. Thanks Gail!!!

Hi, all you animal lovers!This is pretty simple... Please ask ten friends to each ask a further ten today!The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily so they can meet their quota of getting FREE FOOD donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute (about 15 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box 'fund food for animals for free'. This doesn't cost you a thing.Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site!

Please pass it along to people you know.http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

AGAIN, PLEASE TELL 10 FRIENDS!

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Annual Urban Harvest Fruit Tree Sale

2010-01-03T12:18:00.000-08:00

Slyck & VVVers:

Next weekend (Saturday the 9th) will be the annual Urban Harvest Fruit Tree sale.

http://www.urbanharvest.org/classesevents/calendar/tree_sale_2010.html

This is an amazing event, the largest such sale in the world (or so say the promoters, whom I believe). I think they said they're going to have up to 20,000 trees. It is at the Rice University stadium. They fill half the stadium (decks behind the seats). I volunteered last year (general volunteer for hauling, cleanup, invoicing, etc.). If anyone wants to do general volunteering please refer to the URL above. I've volunteered this year too.

Last year the sale was supposed to go from 8AM - 3PM, but the 15,000 trees got sold in 2.5 hours (to bare walls!) Pix from last year: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyberchuck2000/sets/72157612671915203/

And YES I'm a TREE HUGGER! (proudly). See my picture showing same (!) Charlie

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Pure Mutts Animal Sanctuary

2010-01-02T10:18:00.001-08:00

HAPPY 2010 TO EVERYONE!!!

One of our members... Charlie Lindahl.... sent this to be posted. I love the name and the tag line.

Thank you Charlie for sharing this with us!

Pure Mutts Animal Sanctuary

--Pure Mutts - Designer Dogs designed by Nature

Pure Mutts Animal Sanctuary is founded to fill the need of providing special care for old, seriously sick and injured animals that ordinary shelters can't provide due to lack of resources. These special need animals come to the Pure Mutts Sanctuary from other shelters, from other rescuers and volunteers, from concerned citizens. Its a private sanctuary and does not get any state or federal funding. Sanctuary is in the process of getting its Non Profit status.Sanctuary serves as a -Hospice for older animals that have been abondoned by their families at their old age either because they are sick or because family wants a new model.-Long term foster home for really sick and injured animals that need a place for long term recovery. Animals abused by humans or abondoned animals injured in accidents.-Vacation home for healthy animals who stop by before they find their forever home. Usually stray who lived most of their life on streets or abondoned and lost animals who can't find their way back home because they don't have tags or are not chipped.

Check out their website!

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Best Wishes for 2010

2009-12-25T02:00:00.000-08:00

From Vision Voice Veg*n'z for the Brazos Valley, we wish everyone a Happy Holiday & a Happy, Healthy New Year. May 2010 be the start of a very special year for us all.

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Results of Bless the Beasts and the Children

2009-12-22T02:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday the 12th of December the Vision Voice Veg*n’z for the Brazos Valley hosted the 1st annual Bless the Beasts and the Children holiday donation drive thru. The event was held in the parking lot of VILLAGE FOODS. JIM LEWIS, owner, so graciously allowed us to utilize a perfect spot for this drive thru endeavor.

The spot may have been perfect, but that is not the word to describe the horrible, rainy, misty, foggy, windy, cloudy, cold day. When I awoke at 4am that Saturday morning and heard the rain.... I knew it was going to be a very tough day. Hubby Bear and I arrived around 6:30am to start setting up. We had 3 tents donated for use and I cannot tell you how very, very grateful I was for those tents. They sheltered the dedicated volunteers from the weather and kept the donated goods dry while waiting to load into the trucks.

Mary Landreth from Brazos Feral Cat Allies and Della Carroll from God’s Little Creatures brought the tents.

The 5 Organizations that benefited from this event:

BRAZOS FERAL CAT ALLIES
GOD’S LITTLE CREATURES
GREAT PYRENEES RESCUE SOCIETY
IMPACT ANIMAL FOUNDATION
SCOTTY’S HOUSE

I must give our volunteers a GREAT BIG HUGE THANK YOU for showing up! Including our 4-legged ones! I am so proud of each one of them and just so impressed. On a day that would have been so much easier to just stay at home.. in bed... with hot tea and a book.... these terrific folks braved the really crummy weather in behalf of the 5 wonderful organizations and made this event a HUGE success:

ADITYA SHRIVASTAVA Vision Voice Veg*n’z for the Brazos Valley
CHERYL ANNE CHANDLER Vision Voice Veg*n’z for the Brazos Valley
FRANCES DE GELIA Vision Voice Veg*n’z for the Brazos Valley
FRANCHESCA GARZA Vision Voice Veg*n’z for the Brazos Valley
GAIL OSTENSEN Vision Voice Veg*n’z for the Brazos Valley
IRENE ERION Vision Voice Veg*n’z for the Brazos Valley
KELIN WARD Vision Voice Veg*n’z for the Brazos Valley
KRISTEN WILLIAMS Vision Voice Veg*n’z for the Brazos Valley
LAURA THOMAS Vision Voice Veg*n’z for the Brazos Valley
TUXEDO MASK Vision Voice Veg*n’z for the Brazos Valley

JOHN BORDEN Community Fresh Aggieland

VICKI HOLLOWAY KAMU TV/FM

DYLAN HOLLOWAY

HUBBY BEAR PECENA
LOU WEST
RICK MANLEY
SEAN LEGG
TAM JACKSON

BECKY ALMANY Brazos Feral Cat Allies
MARSHA MATCEK Brazos Feral Cat Allies
MARY LANDRETH Brazos Feral Cat Allies

CASSIE God’s Little Creatures
DELLA CARROLL God’s Little Creatures
KELLY God’s Little Creatures

FRANCES DE GELIA Great Pyrenees Rescue Society

ERIC REYES Impact Animal Foundation
JENNIFER TAYLOR Impact Animal Foundation
LORI NOVOSAD Impact Animal Foundation
MICHELLE MARSH Impact Animal Foundation
SHARON OTHOLT Impact Animal Foundation

LINDA PATTON Scotty’s House
MELANIE SCARPACE Scotty’s House

DUSTIN JOHNSON Scotty's House

The following are the awesome sponsors that helped get this show on the road!

BIG...BIG THANKS TO THESE FINE FOLKS!

VILLAGE FOODS, Jim Lewis (parking lot, coupons & distributed over 2000 flyers at his store)
COPY STOP PRINT & POSTAL, Jeff Plotts and Ralph Nieto (donated 750 flyers & coupons)
LITTLE CAESAR’S PIZZA, Phil Trampini (donated all the pizza for the gang & coupons)

VILLAGE CAFE (Kellie Moore's delicious pies)
GOBBLE GREEN, Jennifer and Kevin (tortilla soup and coupons)
BRAZOS NATURAL FOODS, Janice Atkins (a case of water)

Community Partners that got the word out:
KAMU TV
KAMU FM
KEOS FM

THE EAGLE

And we can't forget the awesome photographers for the event and all the great pics they took!!! BIG THANKS to Franchesca Garza and Hubby Bear Pecena!!!

We had a fun-filled day even in the cold, dreary weather. Yes, we were all shivering... but heck, after a couple of hours ..... the body gets numb.. know what I mean? So...no big deal... ya get used to it! People started showing up around 10am and continued pretty much non-stop till 3pm. We had volunteers out at each entrance holding the cutest signs designed and made by Cheryl Anne Chandler and donated by her mom, Tonya Chandler.

People drove up with their cars and SUV’s and vans full of stuff for everyone. We had a lot of folks donate money. And several came by because they had been shopping at Village Foods and was given one of our flyers! We gave out a package of coupons from our sponsors to each person that donated just to say thank you for your kind gifts.

BIG THANKS to Franchesca Garza for providing the orange traffic cones that helped keep things tidy and orderly!!

I kept the troops fed with breakfast tacos from Village Foods. For lunch, Little Caesar’s Pizza on Booneville Road across from Bryan Krogers, fed everyone pizza.. including vegetarian and vegan pizzas! Kellie Wilcox Moore made Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter pies.. and they were to die for!! And then, mid afternoon, Jennifer and Kevin from Gobble Green, located in Austin, came over and brought us HOT n spicy Vegan tortilla soup! WOW!! That soup was awesome! We cameras on site, but did not get any pictures of the food! We all ate well while working hard unloading donations and loading them into the designated trucks

We heard all positive comments... like “so glad you are doing something like this.” “Hope you will do this again next year.” “I think it is wonderful that you chose the rescue societies as well as Scotty’s House.”

Over $2000.00 in cash was donated and thousands of dollars worth of goods and items were loaded up in the trucks over the 8 hours! Considering the weather, we rocked the day! Check out more pictures below of the event.

I am very proud of our new Vegan and Vegetarian (Veg*n) group. It was born only this past September and we were able and willing to put this event together in only 2 months. What a great group of members we have and what an amazing giving community BCS is to come out in miserable weather and donate to 5 worthy and deserving organizations!

If you are Vegan or Vegetarian ... or thinking about making the transition to one or the other.... and would like to be a part of this dynamic and dedicated group of great folks... just contact me! Our next meetup is January the 12th, 6:30pm Village Cafe.

Thank you everyone!!!

God Bless you all!

Slyck Pecena
Founder & Leader of VISION VOICE VEG*N’z for the Brazos Valley

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children, and Bless this Earth

Rekindle That Inner Light and Let It Shine Brightly!

2009-12-21T14:15:00.000-08:00

On this first day of winter and the winter solstice..... a very dear friend of mine... one that I keep close to my heart and think of often... one that I lost touch with for many years and one that just took the time to find me.....wrote this inspiring read on how to let the light shine in your life. How this light, that we generate from within, can inspire others to shine as well.....

As the end of December is upon us, the religious holidays of Christmas and Hanukkah arrive along with the winter solstice that occurs on December 21. With these, and many other celebrations taking place around the world at this time, the reason is light. Ancient people celebrated light at this time of year by making roaring bonfires and bringing greenery inside the home, all meant to bring life and light to a darkened landscape. These rituals represented hope for the coming of spring.

I invite you to read Susan Cadley's blog on "Kindle Your Light." I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Slyck Pecena

Founder & Leader of Vision Voice Veg*n'z for the Brazos Valley

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Time Magazine's Scathing Indictment of Factory Farming

2009-12-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

August 20, 2009
Time Magazine's Scathing Indictment of Factory Farming
By Nathan Runkle

Today's issue of Time magazine carries a compelling article titled "America's Food Crisis and How to Fix It."The in-depth piece paints a sobering picture of the cruel, unhealthy, and unsustainable practices used on factory farms nationwide. Here are some particularly powerful quotes from the feature:

"Somewhere in Iowa, a pig is being raised in a confined pen, packed in so tightly with other swine that their curly tails have been chopped off so they won't bite one another. To prevent him from getting sick in such close quarters, he is dosed with antibiotics. The waste produced by the pig and his thousands of pen mates on the factory farm where they live goes into manure lagoons that blanket neighboring communities with air pollution and a stomach-churning stench. He's fed on American corn that was grown with the help of government subsidies and millions of tons of chemical fertilizer. When the pig is slaughtered, at about 5 months of age, he'll become sausage or bacon that will sell cheap, feeding an American addiction to meat that has contributed to an obesity epidemic currently afflicting more than two-thirds of the population. And when the rains come, the excess fertilizer that coaxed so much corn from the ground will be washed into the Mississippi River and down into the Gulf of Mexico, where it will help kill fish for miles and miles around. That's the state of your bacon -- circa 2009."

Readers also learn:
"In CAFOs, large numbers of animals -- 1,000 or more in the case of cattle and tens of thousands for chicken and pigs -- are kept in close, concentrated conditions and fattened up for slaughter as fast as possible, contributing to efficiencies of scale and thus lower prices. But animals aren't widgets with legs. They're living creatures, and there are consequences to packing them in prison-like conditions."It's encouraging to see mainstream media giving such pressing and important issues such coverage. Hopefully Time readers will reconsider their next burger or pork chop, and opt for the healthy, humane, and sustainable vegetarian option instead.

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Bless the Beasts & the Children, Today the 12th of December 2009

2009-12-12T01:00:00.000-08:00

VISION VOICE VEG*N’z for the Brazos Valley is hosting Bless the Beasts and the Children holiday donation drive thru in the parking lot of Village Foods, 1716 Briarcrest Drive in Bryan, around the corner from Bryan High School. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Today, the 12th of December. You can drop off donated items and people will be there to unload them.

Bless the Beasts and the Children benefits:

BRAZOS FERAL CAT ALLIES
GOD’S LITTLE CREATURES
GREAT PYRENEES RESCUE SOCIETY
IMPACT ANIMAL FOUNDATION
SCOTTY’S HOUSE

Here is a wish list for each wonderful organization:
* Brazos Feral Cat Allies -- Wet and dry cat food and kitten food, kitty litter and money for medical supplies and care for the foster and feral cats.

* God's Little Creatures -- Stainless steel feeding and water bowls, puppy feed pans, new or gently used blankets and towels, dog food and money for a new bath house.

* Great Pyrenees Rescue Society -- extra-large wire crates and dog beds; dog treats; adjustable collars and leashes; a portable, retractable tent; and money for vaccinations, spaying and neutering, medicine and surgeries for sick Pyrenees.

* Impact Animal Foundation -- New or used crates and kennels in good condition, cat and dog treats and toys, kitty litter, carpet cleaner, paper towels, cat "trees" and scratching posts, and leashes.

* Scotty's House -- individual juice drinks; snacks; coloring books; tempera and finger paints; bandages; alcohol swabs; basic office supplies such as folders, pens and pencils; socks and underwear for boys and girls; action figures; Play Station games; and money for medical supplies.

Our Awesome sponsors for this event:
VILLAGE FOODS
COPY STOP PRINT AND POSTAL
LITTLE CAESAR'S PIZZA
VILLAGE CAFE
GOBBLE GREEN
BRAZOS NATURAL FOODS

Thank you for helping children and animals in need.

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children, & Bless this Earth

Bless the Beasts and the Children update 12/10/09

2009-12-10T02:00:00.000-08:00

HOWDY everyone!!!!

12/10/09 Phil Trampini, owner of BCS Little Caesars Pizza is feeding the volunteers!! They even have vegetarian and vegan pizzas!!! BIG.. HUGE THANKS!!!!!

12/5/09 We are looking awesome for the event. We have volunteers, plenty of trucks and now in need of great weather!! YAY!!!! BIG HUGE THANKS to all of you guys that stepped up and volunteered your time, effort and energy to this event in behalf of your group and these wonderful organizations!!

5 Local Organizations will benefit: *Brazos Feral Cat Allies *God’s Little Creatures *The Great Pyrenees *Impact Animal Foundation *Scotty’s House

The lists of donations are now posted on this blogsite. They are on the back of the flyers as well.

11/23/09 delivered 1000 more flyers to Village Foods for distribution

11/18/09 Village Foods gave out all 750 flyers!!! YAY!!! Time for more!!! YAY!

11/12/09 The great folks at Gobble Green out of Austin (a gourmet Vegan food delivery service) is going to bring over some samples of their foods and discount coupons to give away at our event! YAY!!!! Check out their website! BIG THANKS Jennifer and Kevin!!!

11/5/09 Cheryl Anne Chandler has volunteered to design and make up signage for the day of the event!!! WHOOP!!! Thanks kiddo!!!!

If you work for the school district or if you are a Vet or work in a vet clinic, start a contest and give away prizes to the school, the grade, the classroom that collects the most donations for this event.

Have a contest with the vet clinics in town.... give prizes for the mose donations collected for this great cause!

CSPD and BPD and CSFD and BFD's could hold contests and give prizes for the city that collects the most donations...

11/6/09 I visited with Jim Lewis over at Village Foods yesterday and he showed me the area that we can use for this event! It could not have been more perfect!!! Excellent access and location. We have all the area in front of the Galaria Office Building. It is set up like a circle drive thru... so PERFECT for what we want to do!!! YAY!!!!

AND Franchesca Garza, our newest member, can get traffic cones for us!!!! DOUBLE YAY!!!! Thanks so much, FRANCHESCA!!!

I gave Jim the flyers for his folks to start distributing to customers as they check out. Hopefully the distribution will begin today and continue thru the day of the event!!! WHOOP!!!

BIG THANKS JIM LEWIS for everything you are doing to help support this event!

I will send out an email to everyone regarding volunteer sign up and the shifts available as well as availability of pick up trucks... etc.... probably just before Thanksgiving.

In case you have not read the original blog about Bless the Beasts and the Children, go ahead and take a look. This will catch you up to what we are doing.

I encourage each one of you to print out the flyer that I emailed a couple of days ago and hand it out or email it. SPREAD THE WORD!!

EVENT SPONSORS

*VILLAGE FOODS

*COPY STOP PRINT & POSTAL

*BRAZOS NATURAL FOODS

*VILLAGE CAFE

*GOBBLE GREEN

*LITTLE CAESAR'S PIZZA

Community Partners:

*KAMU TV/FM

*KEOS FM

Here’s more scoop:

BLESS THE BEASTS AND THE CHILDREN

Saturday December the 12th (possible inclimate weather date the 19th of Dec)

8am to 5pm Parking lot of Village Foods. (they are our first sponsor!)

Not only are they allowing us to use part of their lot; but also, they will stuff flyers in people’s bags during November and up to the event!! We provide the flyers. WHOOP!!! BIG THANKS JIM LEWIS!!!

People donate items and/or money to these entities. People drive up and we unload the donations and people drive away. Items are loaded in pickups according to destination and then delivered that day. We will store items under tents while waiting on delivery. Everything will be delivered that day.

Volunteer schedule:

Four (3 ) hour shifts beginning at 6:30 or 7am to 6pm. This will include set up and tear down. Maybe 6 to 8 folks (MINIMUM) per shift at the site. We definitely can use as many folks as possible! Each organization needs to have someone at their end to accept and unload the donations as they are delivered.

MARY LANDRETH, with Brazos Feral Cat Allies, has offered up her tent to use!!!! YAY!! Thank you so much Mary!!

We now have 4 tents!!!

COPY STOP PRINT & POSTAL stepped up & donated services for 750 ds flyers!!!! WHOOP! BIG thanks to Jeff and Ralph over there!!!

FRANCES DE GELIA submitted the radio PSA's for the event! BIG THANKS FRANNIE D!!!

KELLIE WILCOX-MOORE owner of the VILLAGE CAFE has volunteered to feed the volunteers the day of the event!!! I know we can always make room for more folks to help Kellie! AND..she has volunteered a tent, too!!! THANK YOU KELLIE!!!!

BRAZOS NATURAL FOODS will donate drinking water for us the day of the event! WOO HOO BIG THANKS, JANICE ATKINS!!!

DELLA CARROLL, God's Little Creatures, is letting us use 2 tents..... THANK YOU, Della!..

BIG thanks to KAMU FM & KEOS FM for helping to promote this event!

NOVEMBER the 5th. I will speak to the Leadership Brazos Alumni Association about our group and the Bless the Beasts and Children event at the new Best Western Inn, Austin Colony area in Bryan from 11:30am to 1pm

DECEMBER the 10th, Thursday, Mary Jo Prince and I will be on Sharon Colson's show Brazos Valley Magazine on KAMU TV to promote the event. (tape the show on the 2nd of Dec)

Whew!!!! Ok, I really need you guys help for sure. You are all Vegans and Vegetarians.. You eat very healthy and have TONS of energy.... come on and put it to great use!!! YAY!!!

Please, let me know you are available to help and we can work together on this wonderful event that will benefit so many local organizations and give great publicity for a lot of local merchants!!!

Bless the Beasts, Bless the Children and Bless this Earth

KAMU TV Pledge Night with Us Vegans and Vegetarians

2009-12-04T05:34:00.000-08:00

This past Wednesday night our group, VISION VOICE VEG*N'Z for the Brazos Valley, was invited to man the pledge bank phones for our local PBS affiliate, KAMU TV. Located in a small community..... around 200,000 when the Texas A&M is in session and less then 150,000 when students leave....KAMU TV has been on the air since 1970. Along with KAMU FM, KAMU TV is located on the Texas A&M University campus in the Joe Hiram Moore building.

Four times a year, the great folks at KAMU TV come into your home via television to ask for help by pledging your $upport so that they can continue to air great programs like NOVA, Nature, Masterpiece Theatre, Sesame Street, and Clifford the Big Red Dog (to name just a very few programs.) I can remember watching the French Chef (aka, Julia Childs) and the Frugal Gourmet on PBS. These 2 programs were inspirational in motivating me to get in the kitchen and start cooking!

PBS and local programming on KAMU are all COMMERCIAL FREE! YAY!!! (I am so tired of endless commercials and all the propaganda they spew!) This is a blessing , but with a catch. Because they air no commercials, they sell no advertising. And with no advertising, they bring in no money to support the station and its programming. So the PUBLIC... as in PUBLIC broadcasting (PBS) .... is truly their salvation. Without the dollars from community support all PBS stations around the nation would cease to exist. Image this.... your only viewing choices on television would be COMMERCIAL or broadcast COMMERCIAL TV! How irritating, boring and time wasting!

I encourage each one of you to make a call... make a pledge to your local PBS station the next time they have their Pledge drive.

Look how great the set looks! Very festive and full of holiday cheer. We had 6 members from our group and 2 guests that took time from their busy schedules... (Hey, I mean.. everyone is super busy, right?) to come and have salads provided by the Village Cafe, meet John Bennett, Station Manager, Elaine Hoyak, Development Director, and Vicki Holloway, Marketing Manager, chat it up with one another and spend a few hours taking pledges from callers.

BIG THANKS to:

ADRIAN COLE
JUDGE CHARLIE ELLIS
CHARLIE LINDAHL
FRANNIE DEGELIA
FRANCHESCA GARZA
TRACIE COLE
TUXEDO MASK
SLYCK PECENA

KAMU allowed us to promote our group's big event on the air. Bless the Beasts and the Children, Saturday the 12th of December from 8am to 5pm in the parking lot of VILLAGE FOODS. YAY!!! Thank you so much for that opportunity!

It was a fun night and it felt GREAT to share our time by volunteering for KAMU TV pledge drive.

Bless the Beasts, Bless Our Children and Bless this Earth

KAMU TV Pledge Night with US!!

2009-12-02T13:23:00.001-08:00

Sitting around the house all snuggly and warm tonight? Tune into KAMU TV/PBS from 7pm to 10pm and catch some of your group manning the phone banks for KAMU's pledge drive!

Give us a call 845-5656 and make a pledge to KEEP YOUR FAVORITE PROGRAMS on the air... so you can snuggle up and continue to watch them all!!! Plus you will get to talk to one of us!

MAKE a CALL.... MAKE a PLEDGE!!!! TONIGHT!!!

979 845-5656

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Animal, Vegetable, Miserable

2009-11-24T01:00:00.000-08:00

In keeping with the theme and interest of Orren Fox's read, posted yesterday...... here is a submission from Kellie Wilcox-Moore regarding the expressed interests and concerns of "where does the meat we eat come from and how were those animals treated and raised?" Also, in this read the ethical and moralistic questions are raised about "why do we humans feel it necessary to kill animals just to have something to eat?" And, "why do we feel simply because we are intelligent humans, we have the right to abuse, to torture and to kill animals.... just to have something to eat?"

Here now, submitted by Kellie is Animal, Vegetable, Miserable. Thank you Kellie!!

LATELY more people have begun to express an interest in where the meat they eat comes from and how it was raised. Were the animals humanely treated? Did they have a good quality of life before the death that turned them into someone’s dinner?

Some of these questions, which reach a fever pitch in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, pertain to the ways in which animals are treated. (Did your turkey get to live outdoors?) Others focus on the question of how eating the animals in question will affect the consumer’s health and well-being. (Was it given hormones and antibiotics?)

None of these questions, however, make any consideration of whether it is wrong to kill animals for human consumption. And even when people ask this question, they almost always find a variety of resourceful answers that purport to justify the killing and consumption of animals in the name of human welfare. Strict ethical vegans, of which I am one, are customarily excoriated for equating our society’s treatment of animals with mass murder. Can anyone seriously consider animal suffering even remotely comparable to human suffering? Those who answer with a resounding no typically argue in one of two ways.

To read the rest, click here.

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Talking About Food and Farming with Orren Fox

2009-11-23T01:00:00.000-08:00

Charlie Lindahl sent this to me this past week. Much like our own young visionaries we have in this fabulous group, Orren Fox is 12 years old and has an amazing fore site into the philosophy of food and intuitively recognizes, acknowledges and respects the intelligence of all living creatures. Some call him the next Michael Pollen.

Orren is the creator of "Happy Chickens Lay Healthy Eggs." He is a self taught expert in these "funny little birds," as he calls them, & raises chickens for the eggs. You will enjoy this read and appreciate the kindness and acute intelligence of this 12 year old.

In his own words:

When I was in 5th grade, we were asked to do a big research project and I, obviously, did mine on chickens. During that time, I learned a lot about different breeds and how to care for birds, but I also learned a lot about how terribly most of the hens in this country are treated. The hens raised for meat and for eggs are not treated humanely. So, after this project, I began to do more and more research.

The following year, I did a "persuasive essay" for my English class and I learned even more about the issue. Slowly, slowly, I began to wonder not only about hens, but also about other food. Then I saw Food, Inc. and it really opened my eyes to what is happening. I can't figure out why people aren't more pissed off about this. Factory farming makes animals objects - not living, breathing, creatures. People say to me "But, it's just a chicken"... Right, it is a chicken, but I wouldn't say "just." I would say, it's a funny, bossy, silly animal that I am not willing to torture for the sake of cheap, tasteless meat and eggs.

I suppose I do. However, the big difference is that hens don't live in your house and I imagine that makes a big difference. The hens don't just wander over while I am doing homework and sit on my lap, but when I arrive at my coop they definitely sing out "hello", "Glad you are here". Sometimes, on beautiful days, I let my hens out while I am cleaning their coop. They wander around and explore. Every now and then, someone will find a worm and whistle over to the others to come see what she has found. Often, when I am at the back door of the barn scrubbing bowls, a hen will come over and tell me she needs to lay and egg, so I let her in and she heads straight to the nesting box.

For the rest of this story, click here.

And....to read more about this amazing youngster..... check out his blog.

Thank you Charlie for submitting this enjoyable read!

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

God Bless Texas A&M University

2009-11-18T02:42:00.000-08:00

In the very early morning hours of November 18th, 1999 at 2:42a.m., Texas A&M University and its family was brought to its knees in disbelief, shock, despair and horror. For it was at that moment the great two-million pound “stack”, known only as “Bonfire,” collapsed and crashed to the ground taking the lives of 12 men and women and injuring 27 others.

Let us always remember. Let us never forget that early morning and the lives lost. On this, the 10th anniversary of the horrific tragedy... let us pray for their families, their loved ones and their friends.

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Little Unexpected Surprises

2009-11-06T03:58:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy the opportunity to speak about Veganism and our group, VISION VOICE VEG*N’z for the Brazos Valley. This is World Vegan month and one of the ideas is to get out and share your knowledge and experience as a Vegan.

I had an opportunity to do just that yesterday. My good bud over at KAMU, Vicki Holloway, asked me to speak at the Leadership Brazos Alumni Association luncheon about our group’s upcoming event, Bless the Beasts and the Children. It was a great looking crowd. Unfortunately, I did not take my camera. There were about 45-50 folks there enjoying lunch and chattin’ it up. And not a one Vegan. Did not surprise me at all.

I shared info about me and that I was a Vegan. Then I talked about our group. We are a friendly activist group with lots of ideas for events. We want to be a part of the community and have an impact on the community by creating an acute awareness and respect for our environment, our children, all living creatures, our bodies and our Earth.

Then I got into the holiday donation drive thru event, Bless the Beasts and the Children. Described what it was, who the benefactors were and gave kudos to all the sponsors and community partners that are helping us to make this an annual success.

I got a few laughs and lots of interest in what we are doing. I thanked the group and then had to leave. As I walked out the door into the hallway, a young woman approached me from the group and was just beside herself with excitement. She said, “thank you so much for coming and talking to us today. I am a vegetarian and I have felt so alone since moving here from California.” I was thrilled beyond words. I just hugged her and said “thank you so much for catching me.” Anyway, she works for the Chamber and wants to become a member of our group and is ready to help with the December event! YAY! Her name is Franchesca... WELCOME FRANCHESCA to our group!!!

This was the 2nd serendipitous occurrence this week. On the night of the meetup, a young college student walked into the Village Cafe. I asked her if she was there for the meeting. She said, “No, I don’t think so.” I asked if she was Vegan or Vegetarian... and she said, “Why yes! I am Vegetarian!” Well, I snagged her like the spider snagged the fly. She came to our meeting and is now a member of our group!!! WELCOME BRANDY!!!

I love it when life gives you little unexpected surprises that make you smile.

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

November Meetup Vision Voice Veg*n'z for the Brazos Valley

2009-11-04T06:22:00.000-08:00

"THE" famous Village Cafe was the place to be last night.... if you were Vegan or Vegetarian that is.

WOW!! We had 15 at the VISION VOICE VEG*N’z meetup! That is fantastic considering there were like 6 MIA regulars. And what else is so awesome.. we had TEN new people!!!! YAY!!!! Big welcome to these folks:

*John Borden, Edible Aggieland, native New Mexican, of course, I am a big fan of that, and guest speaker
*Kristen Williams, Vegetarian Nutritionist major at TAMU and John’s bud
*Brandy Kelly, who was just passing thru the VC, thinking about having some dinner and I snagged her as she just so happened to be vegetarian!!
*Boots McCann, PhD student at TAMU and works for the Rodale Institute
*Alicia Redden, local farmer
*Irene Erin, Postal worker who works horrible hours and can never make our meetups, but did last night!!!
*Jo Evans and her friend Joy
*Shohn Trojacek, IS manager for Pivot Point
*Tammy Jackson, Psychologist

And of course we had our very own photographer, my hubby Bear, again, taking fantastic pics of everything.

My contribution to the meet ups is a little glass of vino to take the edge off the day and to help relax and enjoy the evening.

Another fine menu was prepared for us by the great folks at the Village Cafe, including an “off the hook” black bean burger. I had the sweet potato hash with black beans and jalapeños and the fabulous squash soup! YUM-OH!!! For sure.

We got caught up on the progress of the big event for our group, Bless the Beasts and the Children, coming up Saturday, December the 12th in the Village Foods parking lot. You can check out the latest news on this awesome event at the group’s blogsite.

The donation list is also on our blogsite.

John Borden, head of Edible Aggieland, shared the ideas for developing local farming and the advantages and needed benefits of local farming and farmers markets for low income neighborhoods. He took us back to the “roots” of agriculture and how critical the health of this Earth is to the success of farming. John discussed the spiritual aspects of agriculture and its role representing a rebirth and hope for the health and wellness of all people. BIG THANKS, JOHN!

We also discussed upcoming events for our group:

*Saturday the 14th of November is the Household Hazardous Waste Collection at the old TI building on Hwy 30. Great opportunity to recycle your old computers, oil, batteries, paint, etc. I’ll be working 10am to 2pm if anyone wants to join me, just let me know. To find out more about this event, you can check out their website.

*Saturday the 5th of December, Frances De Gelia and Chrispy Carter are hosting a garage sale to benefit the Great Pyrenees Rescue Society. This is another opportunity to clean up and clean out your stuff! Contact me for more info!

If you guys have any events you think we should be involved in or any ideas for creating an event of your special interest, please... speak up and let’s discuss!

Also.. If you don't want to miss out on all the great blogs people post and on the latest updates.....you can get our blog "delivered" to you via email everyday. Just enter your email address and click on "subscribe."

If you have something you want posted on our blog or have recipes to share or events ... please just send them to me and I will take care of posting for you!! That is YOUR blog.... not mine :-) But, if you want to look at mine.... :-) HumbleVegan

No meeting in December as the Bless the Beasts and the Children will be our focus.

January’s meetup guest speaker will be Laura Thomas, PhD student of nutrition and dietetics and she is VEGAN! She will speak to us about Pro and Prebiotics. The meeting will either be January 5th or the 12th, depending when everyone gets back from holiday break!

You all met Cheryl Anne Chandler last night, this wonderful 15 year old that inspires our group and impresses us with her talent..... if you've not looked at her school project that she won the grand prize for.... I invite you to do so! It will leave you speechless.

Ok, so, another great meetup with a lot of wonderful folks!! Thanks again for joining me last night. I really think you guys ROCK!!

Here's more random shots of you great folks!!

Bless the Beasts, Bless Our Children, and Bless This Earth

NOVEMBER 3rd MEET UP

2009-11-03T02:58:00.000-08:00

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd, is the 3rd meetup for our group! YAY!!!
The wonderful Village Cafe is the place at 6:30pm. Chef Martin and the great folks will prepare another fantastic special menu for us as great prices. You DON’T have to order if you don’t want to.

JOHN BORDEN, of Edible Aggieland, will be our guest speaker. He’ll talk about what his group is doing in the community in the way of edible landscaping. YAY, John!

We’ll also talk about Bless the Beasts and the Children holiday donation drive thru, which is coming along nicely! I am impressed with the organization’s volunteers that are stepping up to help with this event. We still need some of YOU to step up and volunteer for this great event. To catch up on the latest.. check out the blog.

There are a few more events our group can get involved in that benefits some great causes. If you are interested, just contact me.

Look forward to seeing all of you at tomorrow night's meeting!

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children, and Bless this Earth

BLESS THE BEASTS & THE CHILDREN DONATION LIST

2009-11-02T01:00:00.000-08:00

Holiday Drive thru DONATIONS NEEDED

Saturday 12th of Dec. 8am – 5pm VILLAGE FOODS parking lot

PLEASE LABEL ITEMS W/ ORGANIZATION NAME

BRAZOS FERAL CAT ALLIES
*Cat Food (any kind, wet or dry)
*Kitten Food (any kind, wet or dry)
*Kitty Litter (any kind)
*Money for medical supplies & care for
the fosters & feral cats

GOD’S LITTLE CREATURES
*Bowls, Feeding stainless Steel
*Bowls, Water stainless Steel
*Puppy feed pans, large shallow (Wal-Mart)
*Blankets, new or gently used and clean
*Towels, new or gently used and clean
*Pooper Scoopers
*Dog food (NOT OLD ROY)
*Money for a new bath house

GREAT PYRENEES RESCUE SOCIETY
*Wire Crates, extra large *Doggie beds, extra large (check Sams/Wal-mart)
*toys *bowls, stainless steel *Leashes *Collars, adjustable
*Doggie Treats (NO OLD ROY) *Tent, portable and retractable
*Money for vaccinations, spays, neuters, vet services/hospitalization of sick
Pyres. Medicines/surgeries for injured or sick Pyres. Wormer & antibiotics.
Transportation costs to new adoptive homes (gas).

IMPACT ANIMAL FOUNDATION
*Crates or kennels, new or gently used all sizes, especially X large wire kennels
*Cat and Dog Treats *Toys, durable dog *Kitty Litter
*Carpet Cleaner *Paper towels *Cat trees * Scratching posts
*Treat bags for training *Haltis, new or gently used *Leads, new or gently used

SCOTTY’S HOUSE
*Juice drinks, individual *Snacks, individually wrapped *Band-aides *Coloring books
*Neosporin *Alcohol swaps *Tempra paints *Finger paints *Play station games
*Socks and underwear, boys & girls, all sizes *Action Figures for the playroom
*Basic office supplies: manila folders, pens, pencils, etc.
*Sponsorships: children to participate in extracurricular activities (karate, dance,sports)
*Money for medical supplies

*** PLEASE LABEL ITEMS WITH ORGANIZATION NAME ***

ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTABLE

Hosted by VISION VOICE VEG*N’z for the Brazos Valley

WORLD VEGAN DAY!

2009-11-01T03:56:00.001-08:00

HAPPY WORLD VEGAN DAY!!!! and the beginning of WORLD VEGAN MONTH!!!

World Vegan Day/Month was established November 1st, 1994 & celebrations are world wide. This day and month recognizes Veganism as a lifestyle that honors and respects all animals, the environment and our Earth. Vegans don't eat animal flesh, animal by products, or dairy. Most Vegans don't wear clothing made from animal skin or fur, nor do they "sit" on animal skin or fur.

Some Vegans don't use any products that have been tested on animals. We celebrate healthy and compassionate lifestyles. World Vegan/Day month was "born" to create interest and awareness in Veganism and the positive, healthy impact it has on the health of our bodies, all living creatures, the environment and our Earth. This month gives we Vegans a chance to share our lifestyle and knowledge with people that may not have heard of Veganism or those that don't understand the difference between Vegans and Vegetarians.

So celebrate this day and the rest of this month!!! Go hug a Vegan!

And... stop by Village Cafe today for a very special "Celebrate World Vegan Day" lunch!

Don't for get to turn your clocks back one hour!

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Let Them Eat Dog!

2009-11-01T03:30:00.000-08:00

This request was submitted by Kellie Wilcox-Moore, owner of the fabulous and wonderful Village Cafe. Thanks Kellie.

An interesting, yet disturbing article in the WSJ this past week.... Please note the writer is a Vegetarian and is NOT promoting the idea of eating "Fido."

Let Them Eat Dog

By JONATHAN SAFRAN FOER
Despite the fact that it's perfectly legal in 44 states, eating "man's best friend" is as taboo as a man eating his best friend. Even the most enthusiastic carnivores won't eat dogs. TV guy and sometimes cooker Gordon Ramsay can get pretty macho with lambs and piglets when doing publicity for something he's selling, but you'll never see a puppy peeking out of one of his pots. And though he once said he'd electrocute his children if they became vegetarian, one can't help but wonder what his response would be if they poached the family pooch.

Dogs are wonderful, and in many ways unique. But they are remarkably unremarkable in their intellectual and experiential capacities. Pigs are every bit as intelligent and feeling, by any sensible definition of the words. They can't hop into the back of a Volvo, but they can fetch, run and play, be mischievous and reciprocate affection. So why don't they get to curl up by the fire? Why can't they at least be spared being tossed on the fire? Our taboo against dog eating says something about dogs and a great deal about us.
Photo illustration by Darrell Eager

Read More
Mixed Grill: Unusual Foods Around the World
Journal Community
Vote: Would you eat dog?
The French, who love their dogs, sometimes eat their horses.
The Spanish, who love their horses, sometimes eat their cows.
The Indians, who love their cows, sometimes eat their dogs.

While written in a much different context, George Orwell's words (from "Animal Farm") apply here: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
So who's right? What might be the reasons to exclude canine from the menu? The selective carnivore suggests:
Don't eat companion animals. But dogs aren't kept as companions in all of the places they are eaten. And what about our petless neighbors? Would we have any right to object if they had dog for dinner?

OK, then: Don't eat animals with significant mental capacities. If by "significant mental capacities" we mean what a dog has, then good for the dog. But such a definition would also include the pig, cow and chicken. And it would exclude severely impaired humans.

Then: It's for good reason that the eternal taboos—don't fiddle with your crap, kiss your sister, or eat your companions—are taboo. Evolutionarily speaking, those things are bad for us. But dog eating isn't a taboo in many places, and it isn't in any way bad for us. Properly cooked, dog meat poses no greater health risks than any other meat.

Dog meat has been described as "gamey" "complex," "buttery" and "floral." And there is a proud pedigree of eating it. Fourth-century tombs contain depictions of dogs being slaughtered along with other food animals. It was a fundamental enough habit to have informed language itself: the Sino-Korean character for "fair and proper" (yeon) literally translates into "as cooked dog meat is delicious." Hippocrates praised dog meat as a source of strength. Dakota Indians enjoyed dog liver, and not so long ago Hawaiians ate dog brains and blood. Captain Cook ate dog. Roald Amundsen famously ate his sled dogs. (Granted, he was really hungry.) And dogs are still eaten to overcome bad luck in the Philippines; as medicine in China and Korea; to enhance libido in Nigeria and in numerous places, on every continent, because they taste good. For centuries, the Chinese have raised special breeds of dogs, like the black-tongued chow, for chow, and many European countries still have laws on the books regarding postmortem examination of dogs intended for human consumption.

Of course, something having been done just about everywhere is no kind of justification for doing it now. But unlike all farmed meat, which requires the creation and maintenance of animals, dogs are practically begging to be eaten. Three to four million dogs and cats are euthanized annually. The simple disposal of these euthanized dogs is an enormous ecological and economic problem. But eating those strays, those runaways, those not-quite-cute-enough-to-take and not-quite-well-behaved-enough-to-keep dogs would be killing a flock of birds with one stone and eating it, too.

In a sense it's what we're doing already. Rendering—the conversion of animal protein unfit for human consumption into food for livestock and pets—allows processing plants to transform useless dead dogs into productive members of the food chain. In America, millions of dogs and cats euthanized in animal shelters every year become the food for our food. So let's just eliminate this inefficient and bizarre middle step.

This need not challenge our civility. We won't make them suffer any more than necessary. While it's widely believed that adrenaline makes dog meat taste better—hence the traditional methods of slaughter: hanging, boiling alive, beating to death—we can all agree that if we're going to eat them, we should kill them quickly and painlessly, right? For example, the traditional Hawaiian means of holding the dog's nose shut—in order to conserve blood—must be regarded (socially if not legally) as a no-no. Perhaps we could include dogs under the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. That doesn't say anything about how they're treated during their lives, and isn't subject to any meaningful oversight or enforcement, but surely we can rely on the industry to "self-regulate," as we do with other eaten animals.

Few people sufficiently appreciate the colossal task of feeding a world of billions of omnivores who demand meat with their potatoes. The inefficient use of dogs—conveniently already in areas of high human population (take note, local-food advocates)—should make any good ecologist blush. One could argue that various "humane" groups are the worst hypocrites, spending enormous amounts of money and energy in a futile attempt to reduce the number of unwanted dogs while at the very same time propagating the irresponsible no-dog-for-dinner taboo. If we let dogs be dogs, and breed without interference, we would create a sustainable, local meat supply with low energy inputs that would put even the most efficient grass-based farming to shame. For the ecologically-minded it's time to admit that dog is realistic food for realistic environmentalists.

For those already convinced, here's a classic Filipino recipe I recently came across. I haven't tried it myself, but sometimes you can read a recipe and just know.

Stewed Dog, Wedding Style
First, kill a medium-sized dog, then burn off the fur over a hot fire. Carefully remove the skin while still warm and set aside for later (may be used in other recipes). Cut meat into 1" cubes. Marinate meat in mixture of vinegar, peppercorn, salt, and garlic for 2 hours. Fry meat in oil using a large wok over an open fire, then add onions and chopped pineapple and sauté until tender. Pour in tomato sauce and boiling water, add green pepper, bay leaf, and Tabasco. Cover and simmer over warm coals until meat is tender. Blend in purée of dog's liver and cook for additional 5–7 minutes.

There is an overabundance of rational reasons to say no to factory-farmed meat: It is the No. 1 cause of global warming, it systematically forces tens of billions of animals to suffer in ways that would be illegal if they were dogs, it is a decisive factor in the development of swine and avian flus, and so on. And yet even most people who know these things still aren't inspired to order something else on the menu. Why?

Food is not rational. Food is culture, habit, craving and identity. Responding to factory farming calls for a capacity to care that dwells beyond information. We know what we see on undercover videos of factory farms and slaughterhouses is wrong. (There are those who will defend a system that allows for occasional animal cruelty, but no one defends the cruelty, itself.) And despite it being entirely reasonable, the case for eating dogs is likely repulsive to just about every reader of this paper. The instinct comes before our reason, and is more important.

—Jonathan Safran Foer is the author of the novels "Everything is Illuminated" and "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." His new book, "Eating Animals," a work of nonfiction, comes out
next week.

Bless the Beasts, Bless Our Children and Bless this Earth

Sully Needs a Home.....

2009-11-01T02:00:00.000-08:00

Frances De Gelia is one of our members and heads up the Great Pyrenees Rescue Society here in the Brazos Valley. She is on a mention to find one of her Pyre's, in need of a prosthesis, a home. Sully's story showed up in this morning's Eagle. If you did not have a chance to check it out.... here is the link.

You can catch Frannie D and Sully at Petsmart today from 2pm to 6pm!

Good luck, Frannie, hope you find Sully a home very soon!

Bless the Beasts, Bless Our Children and Bless this Earth

We Can't Reform Health Care without Reforming Food

2009-10-31T02:42:00.000-07:00

As a fitness professional in & out of the health industry for 30 years or more, this issue has been, and is, at the top of my soapbox. If Americans aren’t educated on how to eat healthy, given the resources that enables them to eat healthy, and given access to afforable organic food.... then all the health care reform in the world, will be worthless.

Americans will continue to get sick from all the diseases (cancer, high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, & auto-immune disease,) caused by eating “crap.” (i.e. fast food, fried foods, processed foods, artifical sweeteners, etc.)

I might also add in the 3rd facet of this dilemena, that of regular routine exercise. Eating healthy and access to an afforable, well thought out health care plan, will not build quality bone growth, will not strengthen muscles, will not keep your heart healthy, and will not improve your balance, coordination and flexibility.

We deserve to be healthy, to be fit and to live long, disease free lives! Americans should not only demand access to afforable health care; but also, we should demand access to afforable organic foods, and demand incentives from our work places, from our insurance companies and from the medical industry to work out, get healthy and stay healthy.

Charlie Lindahl brought this to my attention from the Huffington Post. Thanks Charlie.
Here is an exerpt from the Huffington Post article. To read the entire, entriguing story click here.

If and when health care reform finally passes, we will have successfully ameliorated only half of the crisis. The treatment half. The next step has to be focused upon doing something about the poisoned filth we've collectively nicknamed "food." Without any real changes in how our food is produced, the health care system will continue to bloat and fall apart. Not unlike the insides of an average American body.

The consequence for you and me, of course, is that the food is becoming increasingly toxic, both in terms of what goes into our bodies, and in terms of how deregulation and deception is hurting the economy. What good is health care reform if we're still being fed poison? What good is an economic recovery if big business is still gaming the system?

Bless the Beasts, Bless our children, and Bless this Earth

Halloween Morning Goodies

2009-10-30T01:38:00.000-07:00

Halloween morning can be a fun time to make a special breakfast for the family. This time of year, it's all about the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown... (and yes, I did watch that program for the billionth time. Even at my age, I still love that Charlie Brown!)

A good bud of mine, John Borden (head of Edible Aggieland & speaker at our next meeting on the 3rd of November) was talking it up about pumpkin muffins the other day. Got me in the mood to make up some Halloween goodies for breakfast!

Here's a few yummy-licious ideas for your Halloween morning. What makes it so great this year, is Halloween is on Saturday, so you have some time to spend with the family.... hopefully...before the chaos starts! LOL!!

Ok, so we have steamy hot pumpkin pancakes with a heated applesauce-raisin-cinnamon "syrup." Then how about a delicious Apple Pineapple Raisin Breakfast Cobbler! YUM-O! And to go with all this goodness.... a steamy cup of Hot chocolate! YIKES.. mouth is watering now!!

And I must admit, a couple of the pics are not mine as my camera battery pooped out, so I had to borrow. But they look just like the real thing.

This is one breakfast that everyone will enjoy!

Let's get this party started!!!

As always, I DO Organic as much as possible

PERFECT VEGAN PUMPKIN PANCAKES

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup oat flour
1/2 t. baking powder

1/4 t. baking soda

1 T. pumpkin pie spice

1 cup canned Unsweetened pumpkin or pumpkin puree (This is a great way to make puree & very easy, I've done it for years!)

1/4 cup agave nectar

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

In a medium bowl, stir together dry ingredients. Make a well in the center and add pumpkin, nectar and milk. Stir just until combined and few lumps remain.

Over medium-high heat, preheat heavy skillet. Baste with coconut oil if skillet is non stick. Using a 1/3 cup measure, make three pancakes (or a 1/4 cup measure to make 4 pancakes), pancakes are about 1/2-inch thick. Cook 2-3 minutes on the first side, gently flip and cook another 2-3 minutes on the reverse. You will know when to flip when the bottom is a nice light golden brown. If they brown too quickly, lower the heat. (Note: Bubbles will not appear in this batter)

Keep pancakes in warming oven until all batter is made.

APPLESAUCE-RAISIN CINNAMON TOPPING

2 cups unsweetened apple sauce or homemade applesauce (core and peel 3 to 4 apples, chop and place in food processor and blend till apple sauce consistency.... that’s easy, huh?)
¼ cup Agave Nectar
1 T organic Mexican cinnamon

Place all ingredients in heavy pot and heat on low to medium till bubbly. THIS WILL BURN!

Top pancakes with heated applesauce-raisin-cinnamon topping and sprinkle chopped raw walnuts

APPLE PINEAPPLE RAISIN BREAKFAST COBBLER

In a large bowl, mix together:
4 to 6 apples, cored, pealed & sliced (use delicious and fuji apples)
Raisins ( your preference as to how many, I use a lot)
1 small can pineapple chunks..canned in their own juice (save the juice) OR Fresh pineapple
1 T. Organic Mexican Cinnamon
Pour 1/2 cup of black strap molasses, mixed with the pineapple juice or mixed with 1/2c Unsweet apple cider
Mix together.
Pour into large baking dish and spread evenly

In a separate bowl, mix together:
1 to 2 cups of rolled oats
1 cup of grape nuts
1 cup of roasted pecans and walnuts (place these in a cookie sheet in a single layer and roast in the oven at 400 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes.)
1 T. Organic Mexican Cinnamon

Spoon this mixture evenly over the top of the apple mixture. 1 cup UNsweet apple cider over the top. Add more if needed. This should be moderately juicy

Bake at 350 to 400 degree oven for around 45 minutes. It should be bubbly hot.

Spoon up in compote dishes and pour ¼ cup of heated Unsweet almond milk over each serving.

VEGAN HOT COCOA

In a heavy pan, add:
1 cup of UNsweet Almond Milk (you can make your own by adding raw almonds to food processor with filtered water. Mix till texture is very smooth. Pour thru cheese cloth.)
1 to 2 T of UNsweet cocoa powder, sifted (this may be too much chocolate for most folks...)
1 to 2 T of Agave Nectar

Stir constantly, heat on low heat till bubbly. (this can scorch!)

Serve hot with a cinnamon stick

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

1World 1 Vision

2009-10-26T03:38:00.000-07:00

Cheryl Anne Chandler is a quiet young teen with knowledge and acute awareness beyond her 15 years. She is the most hard core of the Vegan lifestyles, known as a raw-foodie. And she is the daughter of Tonya Chandler.

I first met Cheryl Anne via email when she contacted me about our first VISION VOICE VEG*N’z for the Brazos Valley meet up. I could tell just by the email what a delightful and spunky young teen she was. She is very clever and entertaining in her writing and I am thrilled to have “C.C” and her mom as part of our group.

I want to share this video project with all of you that C.C. wrote, produced, & directed, along with her friend Jojo Kingston titled 1World 1Vision.

Four years ago the BISD started a unique contest called 1Vision showcase. It is a community project put together by the Bryan schools. This allows the middle schools an opportunity to work with technology AND to create an educational podcast or digital video. These projects have the opportunity to become PSA’s. The requirement for these projects is they must educate the audience about “something.”

250 to 300 projects were entered this year. The showcase and expo was held at Davilla Middle School; open to the public to view all the projects and the winner was announced and awarded.

Cheryl Anne and Jojo won the Grand Prize for this event. And once you watch and listen to this brilliantly made video, you will understand why.

BIG CONGRATS Cheryl Anne! Well done!

Bless the Beasts, Bless the Children and Bless this Earth

Dr. Theron G. Randolph

2009-10-25T03:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a post request sent from Charlie Lindahl on one of the most knowledgeable and brilliant minds in medicine. Dr. Theron G. Randolph is one of the first doctors that realized the undeniable connection between inflammation caused from foods (allergies) and the health of our immune systems.

Check it out...... (thanks Charlie!)

Theron G. Randolph, (1906-1995), was an early allergy specialist and one of the founders of the Clinical Ecology movement.

Randolph graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1933, where he remained, first as a Resident and then as an Instructor in internal medicine, until 1937. From 1937-1939 Randolph worked with Dr. Francis Minot Rackemann as a Research Fellow in Allergy at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. After his fellowship he returned to the Midwest, founding and then running the Allergy Clinic at Milwaukee Children's Hospital for three years, before returning to the University of Michigan Medical School as Chief of the Allergy Clinic (1942-1944)

In 1944 Randolph moved to Chicago to establish his private practice, and became an Instructor in Internal Medicine at Northwestern University Medical School, and a staff member at Wesley Memorial Hospital. Randolph became sub-certified in Allergy in 1945. While at Northwestern, Randolph's medical focus continued to emphasize individual allergic response and diverged from the mass-applicable allergic diagnostics by means of IgE response that became mainstream allergy. His research interest was in food allergy, especially targeting allergies to common foods such as corn which were not widely thought to be allergenic.

Randolph's research in food allergies led him to be regarded as a specialist in this area. In 1949 he testified before the FDA advocating detailed ingredients listings for prepared foods (the "Bread Hearings"). In 1950 Randolph's appointment at Northwestern was not renewed. He went on to publish Food Allergy, co-written with Herbert J. Rinkel and Michael Zeller in 1951. By the early 1950s Randolph had become interested in chemical susceptibility, but his findings were not well received, particularly within the Chicago medical community. One of the primary areas of disagreement centered on the definition of allergy as immunologically mediated, whereas chemical susceptibility is not. No longer a part of the medical research community at Northwestern, Randolph was cut off from research funds. The Rockwell M. Kempton Medical Fund (renamed the Human Ecology Research Foundation in 1960) was established to help provide funds for Randolph's research.

In 1954 Randolph married for a second time, to Janet Mitchell (Tudy), who had been one of his early chemically susceptible patients. (Editorial: The founder of the field of allergy,Pirquet, defined the term as "a changed or altered response from the Greek, "allos"meaning other, and ergon, meaning work. The link to the immune system was, just that, a "belief." So?) In 1956 Randolph set up the first Comprehensive Environmental Control Unit (CECU) at the St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, IL, though it would move several times before finally closing in 1984 due to increasing difficulties with insurance coverage. In 1962 the synthesis of Randolph's work to date was published in book form, as Human Ecology and Susceptibility to the Chemical Environment.

The remainder of Randolph's career was spent applying the ideas it contained clinically, and publicizing them through professional organizations and teaching at various CME courses. He retired from practice in 1993 and died in 1995.

You can read more about his research in Randolph, Theron G. Papers, 1929-1998: Finding Aid.

To learn more about this incredible physician, click here.

Bless the Beasts, Bless the Children and Bless this Earth

Locavore Lunch at The Village Café on October 24th to Raise Awareness for Climate Action

2009-10-24T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hey! Looking for something really great to do this Saturday? Want some really delicious food to eat? Want to be involved with a fantastic group of folks and raise awareness regarding the poor quality of our air and climate and what we can do to improve it?

Well.. then.... THE VILLAGE CAFE is the place to be, this Saturday, October the 24th from noon to 3pm. They are serving up some special items just for this event. If you have questions or want to know more about this endeavor, just contact THE VILLAGE CAFE! (979) 703-8514.

Thanks Kellie for the info!!

And now here’s the rest of the scoop:

Locavore Lunch at The Village Café on October 24th to Raise Awareness for Climate Action

On October 24th, the Village Café is joining over 2,000 communities and venues across the world in an event to raise awareness for Climate Action. A special lunch menu will be served from 12:00 to 3:00 which will consist entirely of food grown in the Brazos Valley. Limiting the miles that food travels from farm to table is a great way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while at the same time supporting local farmers and consuming fresher and healthier food. Additionally, most of the dishes served will be vegetarian or vegan, which is another good way to reduce the environmental impacts of the food we consume.

This global event is sponsored by a group called 350.org, which was founded by author and environmentalist Bill McKibben. 350.org is the first large-scale grassroots global campaign against climate change. Its supporters include leading scientists, the governments of 92 countries, and a huge variety of environmental, health, development and religious NGOs. All agree that current atmospheric levels of CO2—390 parts per million—are causing damage to the planet and to its most vulnerable people, and that government action at the Copenhagen climate conference is required to bring the earth’s carbon level swiftly down to 350 ppm.

As part of this event, there will be a photo booth set up at the Village Café so that people can have pictures taken of themselves to put on a collage that we’ll be making to represent all the members of our community to support action on climate change. Even if you don’t want to eat lunch, just come by and have your picture taken or sign your name to the collage. You can be a part of sending a strong message to our representatives that residents in the Brazos Valley do care about climate change and want strong action taken now!

The Village Café is located in Downtown Bryan on 26th Street, across from Mr. G’s Pizza.

We hope to see you there!

Bless the Beasts, Bless the Children and Bless this Earth

2009-10-23T03:29:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple of events I am involved in..... check 'em out!

http://www.humblevegan.blogspot.com/

Wise Beyond Years

2009-10-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

A member of Vision Voice Veg*n'z for the Brazos Valley, Cheryl Anne Chandler is one of the most amazing young teens that I think I have had the pleasure of knowing. She is years beyond her age in wisdom, awareness, respect, & knowledge when we talk the state of the environment and our Earth; when we talk the conditions of the world and the health of its populations; and when we talk nutrition and the devastating effects that our standard American diet (SAD) has not only on our bodies; but also, on this planet. I am proud to post this blog she emailed to me in response to What Does Bike Safety have to do with "Being Vegan?"I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Thank you, C.C., once again for contributing to our blogsite!!! And now in her own words:

I'm sure you've already noticed this, but i really like to write. Especially when it comes to things i'm passionate about. For me, as i told Kelin, being vegan and a raw foodist is a package deal. It IS a lifestyle. There's a spiritual aspect, an emotional aspect, an environmental aspect, and a health aspect. They are all very important to me.

What TuXeDo wrote in response to your blog was beautiful. I mean, what can I say after that? It came straight from his soul. He's really living a 'natural', vegan lifestyle compared to most of the people (even most of the vegans) in this country. Which is amazing. He chooses not to drive a car, even though if he did, things would probably be a lot easier for him. He sets a great example for me.

I'll be 16 in a year. My mom wants me to drive. My peers are expecting me to drive. Everyone is expecting me to drive a car. I don't want to. For one thing, it kinda scares me. But mostly, i don't want to drive a car because i know that it would be better for my health and the health of my earth, my future and the future of my earth, if i didn't. It's gonna be really hard for me to stand up, put my foot down, and make that decision when the time comes. It's gonna be really hard for me to deal with the reprecussions of that decision long after i make it.

So why would i do it? Because i know that i can't be held back from standing up for what i believe in, and doing something that i know in my heart is right, just because it's hard. "The road less traveled is not always the easiest one." In fact, it's probably never gonna be.

But you know... i must be the luckiest girl in the world to have the loving support of my mom, TuXeDo, and this wonderful group. Thank you all for believing in me. Peace and LOVE. ~MC

Bless the Beasts, Bless the Children and Bless this Earth

Logo for VOICE VISION VEGAN'z for the Brazos Valley

2009-10-17T04:19:00.000-07:00

HOWDY!!!

Cheryl Anne Chandler designed this logo for our group!

Notice the "peace symbol" with the hand, the paw and the hoof. Also take a look at the Earth (mountains,) the Air (sky,) the Water (ocean,) and the Fire that dances around on the outside of the circle. These elements all representing the energy, enthusiasm, power and strength of our group!

Let's post comments to let Cheryl Anne know how much her time, energy, idea and commitment to this project is appreciated!!!

BIG THANKS, C.C!!!

Bless the Beasts, Bless the Children and Bless this Earth

Madam CherryLane's Creamy CashooLicious Pie-Cake

2009-10-16T02:58:00.000-07:00

YAH HOO!!!! We have the SECOND recipe submitted!!! I tell a... it ain't difficult at all.... just send me your recipes (hopefully with pictures) and I will post them for ya :-)

Man O Man!!! Who says us Veganz don't eat good... Mmm Mmm GOOD!!!

This is a recipe designed by one of our members. It is organic, raw and DEEE-licious!

Thanks C.C.!!

Madam CherryLane's
Creamy CashooLicious Pie-Cake
(w/ fruit topping)

submitted by Cheryl Anne Chandler

this was possibly my first successful attempt at any kind of raw conglomeration.

not necessarily necessities:
lotsa dates
lotsa cashews
Live Chocolate Granola from GoRaw*
raw cacao powder (or carob powder if you prefer)
organic cinnamon
lemon
coconut oil
raw agave nectar
all your favorite fruits*

*Village Foods has a large selection of GoRaw products that are great. The granola is the main ingredient for the crust, so if you don't have raw granola (and are going for an all-raw recipe), then you can throw together some flax seeds, sesame seeds, a few nuts if you want, some cacao powder, and agave nectar, and you'll get pretty much the same result.
*Mango, kiwi, and banana are awesome fruit choices for this recipe. Watermelon and organic strawberries are also good ones. And i like to throw in some pineapple because it's my very favorite.

This recipe is very flexible~~~
like a yoga master~~~

Before you begin:
My advice to you is, "Any nuts you use, soak em." In their natural state, they're perfect for squirrels but can be hard on the human digestive system. Soaking them for just a few hours or overnight (depending on the type of nut) softens them up and helps to remove enzyme inhibitors. Cashews are good after about three or four hours. Other nuts, such as almonds, take much longer.
Dates and dried fruits can also be soaked. Again, it makes them easier to digest and just easier to work with.
To make things simple, i usually soak any nuts and dried fruit i'm using overnight and rinse them afterward. "Wash your hands!" (My mom wanted me to add this step.) 'Cooking' with raw foods is a hands-on activity.
Remove the pits from the dates.

Crust:
Alright, so don't build your house on the sand; have a good foundation.
Blend the granola with some of the dates (about six or seven should do it) until it binds together kinda like dough. Take the 'dough' out of the blender and use your hands or a utensil to press it into your pie pan. Press it down hard so that it fully covers the bottom and the edges of the pan in a thin layer. You don't want the crust to be too thick. Put the pan into your refrigerator.

Filling:
Take the cashews (about 2 cups or so) and blend them in a blender. Add a few tablespoons of agave nectar and a few tablespoons of coconut oil, squeeze in some lemon juice, put in some of your fruit if you'd like, and keep blending until the mixture is smooth but not too liquidy. Then spice it up with some cinnamon and cacao. Take the pan out of the refrigerator and pour the filling into the crust. Again, put the pan into your refrigerator while you move on to the next step. It's good to wait until the filling is somewhat firm before you spread the topping over it. (This shouldn't take long.)

Topping:
This is the easiest part and, in my opinion, the most fun too. You can blend up some fruit to make a spread if you like or just 'decorate' around the crust and over the filling with whole pieces.

Ta-da! Your raw vegan pie-cake is all done. Now eat it whenever you like, however you like, with whomever you like, and be sure to have as much fun eating it as you did making it.

Bless the Beasts, Bless the Children and Bless this Earth

Our Younger Generation Can Save this Earth

2009-10-13T03:35:00.000-07:00

This is something I received from one of our younger members. It is in response to my blog What Does Bike Safety have to do with "Being Vegan."

Our younger generation "gets it!" They are the driving force that can make a real difference. This is where the change begins, with our children, with our young people, with all generations.

Tuxedo specifically points out that making the change is a day by day awareness. It is a gradual one that we make in our own time frame until we become completely commited to protecting our local environment, all living creatures and our wonderful Earth.

Thank you Tuxedo for sharing your thoughts!

I think what you said was great, and everything you're doing is wonderful. I've only been living this different way of life for less than 4 years, and like you said it doesn't usually come overnight.

I read that book "Natural Cures They Don't Want You to Know About", thats when the transition began. I didn't do anything immediately, but spread the word, but as I ate these foods that I loved before, they didn't taste the same to me anymore. I could taste the chemicals and the unaturalness of it all. So thats when I stopped eating fast food, and other junk food, and started shopping at the natural food store.

I still bought meat(mainly chicken was my favorite), but I had to limit myself, because it was so expensive, so I would try using a limited ammount of meat in my meals and more vegetables. Then I realized that all the flavor was coming from the vegetables, and that was the part of the meal I was enjoying the most. I found myself picking through my plate for veggies rather than the other way around. So I put less and less meat in my meals and I eventually realized I didn't need it anymore. It was initially a decision based on common sense and trying to save money, but as time went by it became more to me. I wasn't just refraining from meat, because it was the most logical thing to do, I was also doing it because I didn't believe it was right to kill a creature that feels pain and suffering, so that I can achieve satisfaction, and the more and more I became aware of this truth their was no way I'd ever return to eating animals. just that alone has probably significantly reduced my negative impact on the environment.

I've also never owned a car or a cell phone and never will, almost all my groceries are raw and organic/local, I try to recycle, but I'm not very good at that, and I throw all my veggie/fruit leftovers in the woods or somewhere the lawn doesn't get mowed, with HOPE's that it might replenish the soil and something might grow.

Now I'm far from perfect and I've got along way to go, but I think that through baby steps, and coming together in this change we can make a profound difference, and maybe just maybe, save the earth, while us humans still inhabit it.

I want to give thanks and all my appreciation to every one in this group for coming together, and being who you are. I LOVE every one of you and I HOPE and believe that together we can make a difference in this community, and spread that change like seeds in the wind.

Tuxedo Mask

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children, & Bless this Earth

What Does Bike Safety have to do with "Being Vegan?"

2009-10-11T07:35:00.000-07:00

This is what my Hubby Bear asked me a couple of weeks ago as I made the Bike Safety flyers for the Green First Friday event. Actually, that was a really great question. It got me to thinking about the best answer.

Usually when I tell someone that I am Vegan, they immediately ask, "Is that like being Vegetarian?" People tend to associate these 2 distinct lifestyles with food or nutrition. "You don't eat meat." or "All you eat are vegetables." I can only speak as a Vegan and not as a Vegetarian. And I can only speak what "being Vegan" is to me personally.

Yes, as a Vegan, I do follow a very strict plant-based nutritional plan designed by Dr. Alan Goldhamer, Founder and Director of the True North Health Center in Santa Rosa California. I eat this Vegan nutritional plan, and participate in water-only fasting, because it keeps my Systemic Lupus in remission and keeps me medication free. But, as I recently realized on my last 22 day of water-only fasting, that there is much more to "being Vegan" then eating a plant-based nutrition plan.

There is truly a "lifestyle" that is associated with "being Vegan." Eating as a Vegan is only part of this. For over 5 years, I've eaten as a Vegan. Only over the past 4 months, am I learning to practice this Vegan lifestyle on a daily basis.

Practicing the Vegan lifestyle includes stepping back and looking at a larger picture. It is a much bigger venue then what exists in my little world of Hubby Bear, pups Jack n Jill, personal training, Vegan cooking classes, blogging, promoting the VOICE VISION VEG*N'z for the Brazos Valley and whatever else I am up to. For me, living the Vegan lifestyle means living a life of acute awareness. A life that honors, respects, and protects all living creatures, our local environment and our Earth. A life that recognizes the importance of health, wellness and safety for each one of us and for all living creatures. The Vegan lifestyle, to me, is trying to live in harmony with everything around me.

Adapting to this new awareness does not occur overnight for me. It is a step by step process. I did not immediately sell our leather couch and chair. I did not toss out all of my make up, or hair and beauty products. Nor did I sell my little PT Cruiser and get a bicycle. I did not insist that Hubby Bear sell his THREE trucks and buy a Prius.

I admit that my strength & expertise regarding this newly discovered lifestyle is in the nutritional, health, fitness and wellness facets. I promote a plant-based nutrition plan, a daily exercise & meditation routine, a safety awareness of all daily activities, family time, community volunteering, and a hefty dose of daily laughter..... All because from much research, I realize the unbelievable benefits that we derive from these endeavors.

Shamefully I am lacking in awareness when it comes to the environment. For in the past, I have not been the one to recycle, to think about the affects on the environment that a type of vehicle I might purchase will have, & to acknowledge that 90% of the large fish in our oceans are gone. I knew not that 80% of agricultural land in the U.S. is used to raise cows, pigs, goats, lambs and chickens and 70% of the grains we grow, go to feeding this livestock. I failed to understand that 500 million tons of animal waste annually is polluting our air, our water supply and our oceans; and poisoning our agricultural produce with bacteria. I did not give one thought about the plastic bag that I tossed into the trash and the fact it might end up in the ocean somewhere suffocating a fish, a sea turtle, a dolphin, or contributing to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch off the coast of California that is the size of Texas.

Awareness is the first of many steps for me. So, I don't eat the flesh or the skin of animals. I don't wear their fur, their skin or feathers. I eat organic plant-based food as much as possible. I recycle everything I can and I’ve started using the canvas bags to bring home groceries. I don’t take needless trips in my car and try to consolidate my errands into one trip. I’m volunteering in the community, I watch out for the safety of my family, my friends, the deer, the birds, the squirrels, the dogs, and the cats that share space in our country neighborhood.

There is much progress to be made, but “being Vegan” is a lifestyle that makes me want to be a better person. It makes me want to try harder to protect our children, all living creatures in which we share this Earth, as well as our local environment, our bodies and our Earth. I am truly humbled by the impact it has made upon me and the lifestyle attitude changes that I see in myself.

So, in a very long answer...... that’s what “being Vegan has to do with bike safety.”

How 'bout you....... are you thinking more about the lifestyle you live and the impact it creates?

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children, & Bless this Earth

Bless the Beasts & the Children

2009-10-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

UPDATED 10-9-09 8:30AM

It's time to think (actually way past time) about the Holiday Season and what VISION VOICE VEG*N'z for the Brazos Valley can do to promote "good tidings to all." This is the time of year for giving, donating and taking care of those that are less fortunate then we. (although, I don't know why we don't have this spirit all year long...)

With this in mind, our group has a mission..... a vision, a focus...... an event to zero in on. I’m talking about the Bless the Beasts and the Children Holiday Drive Thru! You know, the song from the 1970’s Carpenter’s hit...... http://www.rhapsody.com/the-carpenters/gold-35th-anniversary-edition/bless-the-beasts-and-children/lyrics.html

Bless the beasts and the children
For in this world they have no voice

They have no choice

Bless the beasts and the children

For the world can never be

The world they see

Light their way when the darkness surrounds them

And give them love

let it shine all around them

Bless the beasts and the children

Give them shelter from the storm

Keep them safe, keep them warm

VISION VOICE VEG*N’z for the Brazos Valley is striving to host an annual donation drive to benefit the local rescue societies and Scotty’s House. Village Foods is the location for this drive thru. The target date is Saturday, the 12th of December from 8am till 5pm.

This event sets itself apart from KORA Radio MASH Toys for Tots and the Brazos Food Bank drive, in that we want items specifically for the local rescue societies and Scotty’s House. Some things might include:

Societies: food, dishes, bedding, crates,
Scotty’s House: clothes, toys, food, bedding

I am so very excited to have our first sponsor!! Village Foods is allowing us to use their parking lot for this event! AND have agreed to post some flyers in their store AND to put a flyer in one bag of each person that checks out! YAY!! I will provide all the posters and flyers. This is where we need printing services donated......

I am on a search for more sponsors.

*Maybe a possible radio remote at the site that day
*promotion-marketing-advertising
*a tent for us to stash the goods while loading in the trucks
*transportation... hopefully there will be lots of volunteers with trucks and or SUV’s

*printing for flyers etc

And of course, this will not be possible without YOUR help..... VOLUNTEERS!!! Please spread the word and gather friends, family and peers to volunteer for this cause-worthy event!

In addition to volunteers and sponsors, I am seeking your ideas, thoughts, and info to share and pursue. So, please...... let me hear from you :-)

Bless the Beasts Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Tofu Curry Stir Fry

2009-10-08T13:54:00.000-07:00

Here's our very first submitted recipe!!! See.. it can be done.... it doesn't hurt... it doesn't take much effort... really! LOL!!!

This delicious, award winning.....curry dish is from Aditya Shrivastava, one of our newest members. He did not give it a title... so I gave it this title. Thanks Aditya!!

TOFU CURRY STIR FRY

(all in his own words)

so there's not a strict recipe for what I had cooked, only thing to be mindful is: cook tofu till edges start turning brown. everything else is can be played around with!

- heat oil in a pan, medium-high temperature
- add hard tofu, diced into cubes.
- keep stirring till edges start turning brown
- add 2 diced tomatoes / or any pasta sauce
- add spices: 1 tble spoon each of turmeric, ground cumin, curry powder
- stir to mix them in
- add 2 diced bell peppers
- 1 spoon salt
- keep stirring, it's done when bell peppers become slightly tender.

Bless the Beasts Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

Green First Friday Downtown Bryan

2009-10-04T05:30:00.000-07:00

WOW!!! What an amazing night we had this past Friday!!! The night was absolutely gorgeous, comfortably coolish, with a slight breeze that kept our green balloons "alive." The 2nd annual Green First Friday in downtown Bryan was rockin' with music & laughter.
Vendors lined the east side of Main Street with everything from recycling to solar paneling to community farming to Vegan/Vegetarians promoting why this lifestyle would help clean up and protect the environment. Carnegie Library had a book sale. Wood carver, spinning wheels, pottery makers attracted a lot of attention. Live music from Valley Junction Blue grass band entertained passer-byers.

Outside, in front of Village Cafe, folks were jammin' to live music and across the street, you could buy a bear from Brazos Valley Bears; and produce and jelly from Farmers Market. Tons of people were walking the streets, giving hand shakes and fist bumps, greeting folks they knew and making new friends and chattin' it up with the vendors.

Our table, VISION VOICE VEG*N'z for the Brazos Valley, handed out flyers about our group meetings and what our group represents. We had "riding bikes saves the environment" flyers, we had "bake safety" flyers, & we had "why going Vegan or Vegetarian is healthy for the environment and for the body." We gave out flyers on "what it means to be Vegan."

We handed out Vegan goodies to people. Everyone was pleasantly surprised that they were so good.... especially after we told them there was no dairy, no sugar, no oil, no sodium, no eggs, no butter, no white flour and no artificial sweeteners! Laura Thomas made the banana chocolate chip muffins..... these were amazing! I made oatmeal-raisin-walnut-coconut cookies. CC and Tonya Chandler brought granola, grapes, pineapple and trail mix. I saved back the trail mix for us volunteers to munch on.... Yum...OH!! THANKS to you guys for the munchies!

Our hosts for our table were Aditya Shrivastava, CC Chandler, Frances DeGelia, Laura Thomas, Tuxedo Mask, and yours truly. We all had a terrific time. This event gave us the opportunity to introduce our group and our purpose to the community; and to let the community know there are Veg*n'z living here and we don't have 2 heads!
All in all... it was a very successful and fun-filled event! I give out HUGE kudos to all the hosts that took time from their very busy schedules to make room to be a very important part of this grand event! We could not have done this without each one of you!

And we give BIG thanks to Mary Strauss, who headed up this fantastic celebration of protecting this Earth and our local environment. What a really great job she did!

We'll be there next year, for sure!

Bless the Beasts Bless our Children and Bless this Earth

October Meetup Review

2009-10-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

BIG.. HUGE.. thanks to those of you that attended last night!!! There were 12 of us, with two newbies!! Kelin Ward and Aditya Shrivastava. WELCOME!!!! I so appreciate your interests, your support and your contributions to our new group!!! WOO HOO for all of you!!!!

For those of you that missed the 2nd VISION VOICE VEGN'z for the Brazos Valley meetup last night.... all I can say.... you missed out on a LOT!!!

We met at Heather Dushcher's garden and learned how to grow your own food. She discussed soil prep to nurturing your crops to picking your goodies to keeping them fresh thru the winter. She is growing sweet potatoes, lettuce, green bells, snow peas, green onions, sage, basil and much more.

Heather helped us to understand about composting our own trash and how easy it is. And I was surprised to find out that you don't need that much space to compost. In addition to composting food trash, you can compost flour bags, coffee, and grass trimmings.

We had a great line of up FOOD!!! WOW! We have got some fabulous chefs among us! Vegan curry dish (which I missed out on!,) Black bean corn pico, Vegan tofu salsa, Raw strawberry pie and Raw Kiwi pie, and fruit and dates and wheat rolls...we ate well!

I was too busy eatin', listening to Heather's presentation and chatin it up that I took NO pics!! So, I stole the only one to post from Heather. (Thanks Heather!) That's why I need my photographer, the Hubby Bear at these meetings!
The announcements I made were:

*Green First Friday tonight. Our table will be around the Carnegie Library from 5:30pm to 8:30pm

*I will be posting announcements etc on our new blog. I encourage you guys to share "stuff." This is our blog. Send me what you would like to post and I will handle it for you! Recipes, recommended books, DVD's, movies. Ideas, thoughts, inspirations, blogs you want us to follow, events you want us involved in..... this is your opportunity!!

*BV Solid Waste Mgmt hosting Bi-annual Household Hazard Waste Collection, Saturday Nov 14th at the Old University Services Bldg. I'd like us to volunteer as a group for this!! What are your thoughts?

*Tax Breaks for taking care of your pet!!! YES!! up to 3500.00 annually. Sign up to get this Bill passed. (This I did not mention at the meeting)

*NOVEMBER meetup is Tuesday the 3rd of November at 6:30pm Village Cafe. Laura Thomas, one of our members, will be guest speaker. She will discuss Pre and Probiotics. Hope you can make it. If you want to order food, please RSVP HumbleVegan just to give them an idea of how many will be eating. You do NOT have to order.

Charlie Lindahl shared the 350.org event in The Woodlands at his church, Northwoods Unitarian Universalist, on October 24th (Saturday) is having International Day of Climate Action. If any of you wish to attend, Let Charlie know!!!

Here are some links of interest for those of you that missed out on last nights fun and for those of you that attended and want more info!
*Brazos County Planting Chart
*Square Foot Gardening
*Brazos Locavores

Well... thatsa wrap.. till next time!
Have a great weekend... hope to see you out at Green FF tonight!!!

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children, & Bless this Earth

GREEN First Friday.. Downtown Bryan!

2009-10-02T02:00:00.000-07:00

WOO HOO!!! It's Friday night!!! Time for First Friday in downtown Bryan. Oct 2nd 5:30pm to 8:30pm. This is the 2nd annual GREEN First Friday!

Stop on by our table, Vision Voice Veg*n'z for the Brazos Valley to meet us, for some Veg*nz goodies and to learn how you can make BCS a safer ride for cyclists & how biking can help "clean up" our environment!

CU @ GREEN FIRST FRIDAY!!

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children, & Bless this Earth

Bi-Annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection

2009-10-01T10:36:00.001-07:00

I received email below today. Let's think about volunteering as a group! What do you think?

"It is getting close to that time of year for the Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Agency to host their bi-annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection and we need your help!
This event is not possible without the help of our volunteers!

Date:
November 14, 2009, Saturday is the correct date.

Location:
Old University Services Building
(map attached)
You will enter through the exit located on University Dr. the name of the road is Old TI Rd. and there is a small brown side on the right side of the rd. so if you are driving East on University (toward Physician Center) you will turn right on Old TI Rd.

Shifts are:
6:30 - 9:00 - Breakfast and Refreshments Included!
8:30 - 11:00 - Breakfast, Refreshments, and Lunch Included!
10:30 - 1:00 - Lunch and Refreshments Included!
12:30 - 3:00 - Lunch and Refreshments Included!

All Shifts are 2 1/2 hour shifts, you are welcome to work as many shifts as you would like but we ask that you please fill the time requested."

This is another fantastic opportunity for us to show a unified presence in the community as the new VISION VOICE VEG*N'z for the Brazos Valley! A great way to show our support for cleaning up the environment.

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children, & Bless this Earth

2nd MEET UP TONIGHT!

2009-10-01T00:50:00.000-07:00

HAPPY OCTOBER!!!

Look forward to seeing everyone, 6pm at tonight's 2nd Meetup of the Vision Voice Veg*n'z for the Brazos Valley!

Tonight's focus is learning to grow your own food and compost your own trash. Hopefully we'll be outside around Heather Duchscher's garden & compost field if it doesn't rain. Just in time to plant in October. And no matter if you live in an apartment, on a boat, in a trailer house or have acres of land.... you can grow your own food.

Don't forget to bring some munchies for the group (if you can,) a chair (if you want to sit) and a drink (if you want something other then water.) ! This will be a really awesome, informative meetup!

November's meetup is posted for the 1st Tuesday night, November 3rd at the Village Cafe, 6:30pm. So, make note on your calendars and I'll announce the guest speaker at tonight's gathering.

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children, and Bless this Earth

Savage Cabbage...Giving Peas a Chance

2009-09-30T01:27:00.000-07:00

This is a community blog for our meetup group.... VISION VOICE VEG*N'z for the Brazos Valley. We share posts, recipes, thoughts, & ideas; recommend books, movies and DVD's. We speak in behalf of our causes and represent our special interests.

Each week, we will showcase a special blog. Either a blog that one of our members follows and enjoys or maybe it is one of our member's blogs. This is our way of getting to know each other and allowing the public to get to know us.

This week, we are highlighting one of our members. Christie Maloyed's recipe blog. I just luv the name! Savage Cabbage, Giving peas a chance.

In this Veg*n blog of recipes, you'll find everything from beverages to pizza to tofu to tacos.

Check it out! I really enjoyed reading about all the great varieties and can hardly wait to try out some of them!

Bless the Beasts, Bless Our Children, and Bless this Earth!

Two Restuarants You Need to Check Out!

2009-09-29T08:21:00.000-07:00

Looking for a great place to eat in Austin or on Galveston Island when you visit next time?

Mother's Cafe & Garden in Austin offers Vegan and Vegetarian selections. Located at 4215 Duval Street.

The Olympia Grill in Galveston welcomes Vegans and Vegetarians and offers selections for you "meat-eaters," too! Located at Pier 21 at Harborside Drive.

Check em out! You won't be disappointed!

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children, & Bless this Earth

Fight For Tax Breaks for Pet Care Costs

2009-09-28T10:51:00.001-07:00

Are you interested in getting a tax break for taking care of your pets! Do you want to encourage others to take care of their pets? Then act now! This is so easy.. the form is filled out. All you do is type in your Reps name and send it off...

FIGHT FOR ...TAX BREAKS FOR PET CARE COSTS!

U.S. Representative Thaddeus McCotter has introduced the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (“HAPPY”) Act, legislation to allow individuals to claim tax deductions for qualified pet care expenses. The bill would allow any taxpayer who legally owns one or more domesticated animals to take an annual income tax deduction of up to $3,500 for pet care expenses, including veterinary care costs.

This is absolutely ground-breaking!! We can make this happen. We can join together and not only, be reimbursed for our vet costs; but also, this will encourage pet owners to attend to their pets. In the economic crunch, unfortunately pet care is one of the expenses that goes by the wayside.

This Bill can certainly make a big difference in whether pets get the care they need or not.I challenge you to do your part! Whatever State you live in, send this form to your Rep and lets get this thing passed!

FIGHT FOR ...TAX BREAKS FOR PET CARE COSTS!

Bless the Beasts, Bless our Children, and Bless this Earth