The recent (and ongoing) disaster in Japan is absolutely heartbreaking. The situation seems to be worsening on a daily basis. While everyone is struggling to help the injured, missing, and displaced human victims, I know that my fellow vegans are feeling pain for our often-forgotten animal friends as well. In my online ArtFire shop I am offering a set of cat postcards for a 2$ donation (plus shipping). The money collected will be donated to help the animals displaced by the Japan disaster."
3 no-kill animal organizations in Japan. More information about this rescue group can be found on their Facebook page.
I've long been active in animal rights, veganism, and animal rescue. I've also been painting, drawing, sewing and creating all kinds of crafts for as long as I can remember. I like to make items celebrating the beauty of nature and animals. I now have two Etsy shops: my original shop, Neva Jewelry and Design, and my second shop, a side project for tiny plush cats called Camp Kittens.And now, for the giveaway! In order to enter, you must do ALL of the following:
My latest rescue efforts have centered around stray, feral, and abandoned cats in myneighborhood. My husband Sean and I moved into this neighborhood and soon discovered that approximately 60 cats were living on the grounds of the local elementary school, and new colonies were spreading out around the neighborhood as the cats got too crowded. Many neighbors didn't like the cats, and our first involvement was finding some of the cats dying from being poisoned - we rushed them to the emergency vet though it was too late to save them.
We have now spayed/neutered and vaccinated approximately 45 cats and returned to them to the neighborhood. We've received help from some neighbors, so now the cats live in various yards and shelters with a much more manageable number living at the school. We've removed and found homes for about 22 cats who were tame or were kittens. Unfortunately, a few cats were extremely ill and had to be euthanized.
One thing I found through doing a TNR (trap, neuter, return) program on this scalewas that some people weren't supportive because they didn't understand its goals. So when I explained to these neighbors that if I was successful, then 1) no new kittens would be born into the colony, 2) the number of cats would immediately decrease as I sought homes for tame cats and kittens, and 3) all remaining cats would be vaccinated against disease, people became very open to the effort. I still sometimes have neighbors stop and thank me as they drive by while I'm walking my dogs.
When we initially began this project, I went out every single day to feed the cats at the school as well as another few cats who made their home bases elsewhere. Now more neighbors have taken on feeding cats, and there are just fewer cats around. Four of the once feral cats, Deedee, Leelee, Pookie, and Apollo, now live inside with us. Deedee was hit by a car and severely injured, and had to stay inside during her long recovery. She was deeply bonded to her mother, Leelee, so I brought her inside to keep Deedee company. Pookie is older and is now deeply attached to our dogs. In addition, after Apollo was adopted but returned to us for misbehavior, he also stayed in our home. He has a great deal of energy and really needs to be with our two boys Liam and Obi so he can get the rough play out of his system every day.
One of my main goals for my Etsy shops is to help finance my rescue efforts, but I alsohope to raise money for donations to some of my favorite charities. For example, I did a pre-Christmas fundraiser for Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary. Because I work full time and have an autoimmune disease, I don't always get as many things listed in my Etsy shops as I might like to. But creative work is also my therapy in a way. It's something joyful and fulfilling when sometimes rescues don't go as I planned and the evening news is full of sorrow.
I've been vegan for about 16 years now, after having been vegetarian since high school. I love being vegan, I love to cook, and I love to eat (a little too much). Being vegan is the ideal diet for my autoimmune condition as animal fats and the hormones in animal products fuel inflammation. However, the real reason I'm vegan is because of my love for animals. I can't love them as much as I do and wear pieces of them or eat them. I've never once regretted the decision to be vegan, though even so sometimes knowing the kind of pain animals go through can be heart-wrenching.
I grew up in a family that essentially ate a big slab of meat, an over-cooked vegetable and some kind of starch at every meal. When I look at the colorful rainbows of vegetables I eat now, and the different cuisines I've tried from all over the world, and as I appreciate the subtle flavors of fresh herbs and spices, I can't imagine why anyone would find a vegan diet limiting. Being vegan has expanded my palate and made me appreciate a much greater variety of flavors and textures.
SASHA Farm, the largest sanctuary of its kind in the Midwest, is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year! And the Vegan Etsy Team is excited to be part of the festivities. Team members will be donating various items to the Silent Auction that will be held during the 10th Anniversary Celebration Banquet, scheduled for March 12. Check out the SASHA website to learn more about this amazing place and about the event. And if you or your group has something to contribute, we're sure they'd love to hear from you too!The 10th Anniversary Celebration Banquet and Silent Auction will be held at Weber's Inn in Ann Arbor on Saturday, March 12th. More details are available on the flyer, and tickets can be purchased online, at the sanctuary, or by sending a check to SASHA Farm, PO Box 222, Manchester, MI 48158. We have a great evening planned, and you don't want to miss it!
We're starting our plea for silent auction donations a little early this year... The only requirement is that the items donated are animal-friendly. The proceeds from the auction each year account for a significant portion of our income and all that money goes directly toward the care of over 250 rescued animals.
If you plan to donate this year, you can let us know by email or by calling the sanctuary at (734) 428-9617.
It's November - a time when the air gets a little crisper, vegan bloggers go crazy for VeganMoFo, we all plan insane Thanksgiving menus... and we all adopt turkeys at Farm Sanctuary!
Adopt a turkey? Why, that's madness! But no, it's true - you can adopt your very own turkey today! You won't actually be taking him (or her) home, of course; your turkey will be staying warm and snug at home at the Farm. But your donation will help provide all the necessities and comforts that make life there so grand!
If you haven't done so already, make adopting a turkey part of your Thanksgiving tradition. And if you haven't adopted a turkey yet this year, what are you waiting for?! :D
I'm sure you've all heard of Farm Sanctuary, the amazing animal sanctuary with locations in New York and California doing work to educate the public about the true nature of farm animals, and to save some of those animals from the lives they would suffer on factory farms. Their upcoming Walk for Farm Animals will continue to help raise awareness, and also help raise funds for Farm Sanctuary to continue to do this important work. Vegan Etsy Team member Roni of Daisy Wares will be participating in this year's Walk. Check out this great info on the event and how you can support it!
I'm Roni from Daisy Wares, and I'll be participating in the Walk for Farm Animals to help Farm Sanctuary raise awareness about the realities of factory farming. The annual Walk for Farm Animals helps fund Farm Sanctuary's education and advocacy efforts.
S.O.S.:1.The letters represented by the Morse Code signal · · · - - - · · ·, used as an international distress signal, especially by ships and aircraft. 2. A call or signal for help. 3. Now a call or signal to shop S.O.S. Thrift, an online marketplace to help Sea Shepherd Conservation Society clean up the Gulf Oil Spill and efforts to save animals and habitats affected by the crisis.
Ever since the BP oil spill happened I've been spinning my wheels, wondering what to do to help. I have two kids which is a full time job, so heading down there to actively participate in the cleanup process isn't going to happen, at least right now. I might get my chance of course - sadly it doesn't look like cleanup is going to happen overnight.
But oh life, it is full of surprises. Jodi and her partner, proprietors of This is It! Creations, have recently learned that they must move by the end of May. On top of all of the normal woes a couple faces upon moving, they also have the care of the bulls to consider.
For those of you who have been following the story of the three bulls who were to be sold to slaughter, we've got some good news for you: The money was raised, and Pooka Cow, Spotty Friend, and Less Spotty Friend are now safe in the care of Jodi and her husband! The three bulls were able to spend Valentine's Day out to pasture where they belong, rather than en route to a slaughterhouse.We are now the proud parents of these sweet boys, and we are thrilled that they will be able to live out their lives... I promise that I will keep you all updated - for now we are just going to focus on taking care of them and trying to raise enough money to make sure they have everything they need.Spoken like a true cowmama. :)
Was it the bake sale to end all bake sales? Possibly. (Though from what I've been hearing, these Vegan Bake Sales for Haiti have just been one rocking event after another.) At the crack of 10:45 am, a team of dedicated vegans arrived at the doors of Moo Shoes, the beloved vegan shoe store on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Immediately we sprung to action: cupcakes here! Raffle table there! You, grab that chalk and hit the sidewalk! And by 11:30 the store was a sight to behold - delights from wall to wall for sweet toothers and shoe lovers alike.
The day flew by, one giant blur of a cocktail-esque cookie dance party. I got to sample many extraordinary goodies, including homemade green tea red bean buns, pesto pinwheels, double dark chocolate truffles, buckeyes, donuts from Babycakes (thank you kind stranger!), mini tomato muffins, pizzelles, danishes!, twinkies!!, and probably a few other delicacies that I've forgotten in my post-bake-sale-sugar-crash delirium.
That list doesn't even compare, though, to what I missed out on: I don't even know how many kinds of gorgeous cupcakes including fauxstess!! and my own chocolate orange with princess frosting and maple with black walnut frosting - nope, never got to try my own cupcakes! - adorable heart-shaped peanut butter and jelly cookies, many other kinds of delectable truffles,
oatmeal pies, pretzels, scones, fudge, rocky road brownies, chocolate dipped fresh and dried fruits, splendidly adorned sugar cookies, cheesecake... I think I have to stop thinking about it or I'll cry. Why, oh why, didn't I bring one hundred dollars and ten tupperware containers? Learn from my mistakes people. Let's just say this: if ever a bakery carried the array of vegan deliciousness that was displayed at the NYC bake sale, none of us would ever leave that bakery again. So when you go to the Vegan Bake Sale for Haiti in your area, stock up!
The whole day through, our tables of baked goods were a feast for the senses. We had a continual supply coming from the back with which we restocked the tables, and we just kept selling through! Not to mention the raffle table - at times we got so busy back there I could barely keep up; at one point there were three of us taking tickets, and it needed all three of us just to hold it down. And no wonder: local businesses and crafters were very generous in donating some truly awesome prizes.
And all of that leads to the really fabulous part - the point of the whole shebang. By the end of the day, we had raised nearly $46oo to donate to Doctors Without Borders, to support their current work in Haiti! And with the last few baked goods left over being sold at places of work the following Monday, plus a few other contributions that trickled in, we've actually now reached $5k. We'd love to find a sponsor to match us, so that we can send a full $10,000 - if you have any ideas for that please leave a comment. But either way, I'd say not too shabby for a lil' ol' bake sale, now is it.
I continue to be moved and inspired by the wave of vegan bake sales across the country and, in fact, throughout the world. At last count, we have collectively raised something in the neighborhood of $35,000 to support Haiti relief efforts through various organizations. There's a common misconception that vegans care more for animals than for people; anyone who believes that, please consider yourself corrected. The point of true compassion is that we don't draw a species line! I am so proud of the vegan community, but more importantly I am so thrilled that we've been able to come together to do something that will actually make a difference for the Haitian people.
And it doesn't end here! The coming weekend brings vegan bake sales in D.C., New Orleans, Little Rock, Falls Church, and likely others. If there aren't any set up in your area, well why not go ahead and organize one! Or if baking isn't your thing, get creative - teach a yoga class for Haiti. Sell ice cream sundaes for Haiti. Organize a five mile walk for Haiti where participants ask friends and family for sponsorship. Put out a donation jar at your office or place of business. Have a plant sale. Finally have that yard sale you've been thinking about and donate the proceeds - get the whole block in on it and place a small ad in the newspaper so that you draw a crowd. Throw a party with a $5 cover charge! There are so many things you can do to help people get involved, and generate a sizable contribution in the process. And if you don't have the time, of course there's nothing wrong with a plain old donation. :)
Disclaimer: The really awesome photos (top pic of cupcakes, pic of twinkies, pic of fauxstess, pic of cinnamon rolls) and the pic of me (immediately above) were *not* taken by me! The rest were. You can see a whole set of photos from the NYC Vegan Bake Sale for Haiti on our Flickr Pool.
"We've been asked where the cows will go if we do raise enough money to save them - they will stay here, at least for the short term. We have 11 acres of land, a barn, and a stream. We are planning to create a line of products where all of the profits will go toward their care (hay, vet bills, fence mending, etc.) If we can find a loving family with enough land to adopt them, we are definitely open to that as well."Country idyll or the abattoir - three lives are on the line. So, wanna buy a journal? :)
OK. Now, on its face that sounds a bit silly. But hear me out. When done right, a good bake sale can bring in some dough, (ha ha! - pun enjoyed but not intended) and I'm talking dough that can be counted in hundreds or even thousands. And believe me when I tell you we're doing it right. You get some vegans together who are really into baking, and the delicacies that come forth are out of this world.
I'll be participating in the bake sale here in NYC - it's going on all day long at Moo Shoes on Sunday, January 31st. (Hey fellow NYC VET members - hope to see you there!) Yeah, I'm making cupcakes. You know it. We're donating proceeds to Doctors Without Borders - those docs are doing amazing work, and amazing doctors are a big part of what's needed there right now. This bake sale is gonna be HUGE - and with an insane raffle too. Srsly ppl, do not miss this event.
[Geography Lesson] Hispaniola = the island on which are the countries of Dominican Republic and Haiti.[/Geography Lesson]
But guess what? Bake sales aren't it! There's also the amazing Josh Hooten and his partner Michelle of Herbivore Clothing Company: they teamed up with Ink Brigade to create this fab t-shirt. Naturally proceeds are going straight to the epicenter. Shirts have just begun to ship - I've already ordered mine... you're waiting for what, exactly?
So that's the news flash folks. Vegans are compassionate about animals - we're also compassionate about people! When you care, you care. And it's important to realize here that everyone can help. So you're not a doctor or nurse who can go volunteer; so you don't have "disposable" cash to donate. No matter. Pick up that wooden spoon and whip up those chocolate chip cookies! Can't bake? Then just go volunteer your time during the bake sale - it takes a good staff to run one successfully. No bake sales in your area? Organize one! Or get creative and see what else you can come up with. We can all do something, and at times of such desperate need we all should.Being a person who had my own city partially destroyed in a semi-natural very-disaster not so many years ago, I have to say that sitting here watching this happen is really, really anxiety provoking. I have absolutely zero connection to Haiti, other than the facts that it's also populated by humans and cool animals and is on the planet earth. Nevertheless, the mere thought of the magnitude of human suffering that is happening there right now makes me start to freak out and cry a little bit. The only consolation I have for it is in focusing on what I can do, and that is to get involved in (and tell you about) all of the fabulous fundraising that is happening in the vegan community.
