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Birdwatching Cows & Peacekeeping Geese

This morning, looking out my window, I saw the cows turn and trot toward… what? The sheep followed, at a distance, wondering what they were up to. I wondered too. Cows rarely run for no reason, especially not the elder and otherwise less-than-optimally-agile cows who are down here with us, rather than up in the . . . → Read More: Birdwatching Cows & Peacekeeping Geese

Meet Tiki and Breeze

breezehead

Before coming to VINE Sanctuary, emus Tiki and Breeze spent several years sharing a small pen with another emu, never having the opportunity to exercise their legs or break the monotony by ranging freely. One day, their female companion escaped and became locally famous before dying while being recaptured. The retired dairyman who had bought . . . → Read More: Meet Tiki and Breeze

Meet Mama T

"Mama T," a turkey at VINE Sanctuary

Mama T (also known as Mamati) came to the sanctuary from a local small-scale farm, where she had been overcrowded with hens and geese in a small coop with a tiny mud yard. When she first arrived, she was so overweight from lack of exercise that she rarely walked more than a few steps at . . . → Read More: Meet Mama T

The Many Faces of Happy Meat

As a calf, Jasper was tied to a tractor and left to starve by a small-scale dairy farmer who had no economic use for him. Both factory farms and small-scale farms judge animals only according to their usefulness to people.

Locavores and ex-vegetarians alike seem to share some common misconceptions about locally-sourced animal products. For example, they seem to believe that the environmental waste associated with meat, dairy, and egg production will be lower on a small-scale farm than on a factory farm or CAFO (confined animal feeding operation). While CAFOs do pollute their local . . . → Read More: The Many Faces of Happy Meat

A Few Fun Facts about VINE

Norman, choosing to walk in the woods rather than stick to the path

VINE Sanctuary cares for many heavyweight bovines like Norman, a 12 year-old weighing 2,500 lbs, who enjoys life despite a touch of arthritis, thanks to high-quality veterinary care. . . . → Read More: A Few Fun Facts about VINE

Meet Princess

Portrait of Princess

Princess came to VINE Sanctuary from an agricultural college, where she was the subject of agricultural experiments. We don’t know exactly what was done to her, but we do know that she was bred repeatedly, suffering both forcible impregnation and the grief of having her calves taken from her. We first suspected, because of the . . . → Read More: Meet Princess

Mother Hen and Chicks (video)

After that last video, you’re ready for some happy chickens, yes? Well, you’re in luck, because one of the feral tree-sleeping hens here at VINE found herself a safe place to hatch a couple of chicks. They’ve been bowling us over with their cuteness ever since. So, here’s your chance to see something few people . . . → Read More: Mother Hen and Chicks (video)

The Cows of VINE

Check out this video slide-show of some of the bovine residents at VINE… the photos really capture their personalities and also let you see some of the beautiful scenery here at the sanctuary. . . . → Read More: The Cows of VINE

 
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