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
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Building on Miriam’s “pushy vegan campaign,” VINE Sanctuary invites every vegan—pushy and otherwise—to join us in resolving to convince two people to go vegan this year and, in so doing, begin the process of reforming U.S. food and agriculture in five years. At present, only 0.5% of people in the United States are vegan. If . . . → Read More: Resolved: Vegan USA by 2018 
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 
“It’s kale time!!!” Every morning, the chickens come running when they hear those words. Breakfast kale, yum! Since their foraging yards are frozen, all of the birds appreciate the bright greens each morning. Just like us, chickens are more healthy when they eat their leafy greens. This is especially important for the birds from the . . . → Read More: Join the Kale Club! It’s nearing the end of the year. It’s also apparent, given that we’ve passed December 21, 2012, that the world is not going to end as we’ve been promised it would by all sorts of Maya-Calendar-Believing people. Princess Nakamaru also clearly got it wrong, as we have not been plunged into darkness (unless you count . . . → Read More: A New Year’s Resolution That Makes Sense: Introducing “The Pushy Vegan Campaign” ACTION ALERT
The unfortunate fad known as the backyard bird phenomenon is moving in a predictable direction. People are throwing away roosters right and left (unwanted roosters). They are not caring for hens (hurting hens). And now, here come the profiteers wanting to rake in even more money off the backs . . . → Read More: ACTION ALERT: Tell Victory Chicken: Stop Exploiting Birds! 
A belated reply to the Green Mountain College student or supporter who supposed that saying “soy isn’t in season in the winter” was some sort of argument for the superiority of animal flesh as a “sustainable” source of protein. Black beans, red beans, pink beans, white beans. Chick peas. Green lentils, red lentils, yellow lentils. . . . → Read More: Festival of Winter Protein Today is “Giving Tuesday,” the anti-consumerist antidote to “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday.” If you can afford to do so, please do show your support for VINE Sanctuary or any of the other equally deserving animal sanctuaries, shelters, and rescues that depend on donors to feed, house, and provide health care to animals who would . . . → Read More: Help Animals by Supporting Sanctuaries on “Giving Tuesday” 
Each of the five of us here at VINE Sanctuary had our own reaction to the death of Lou. Sad, mad, numb—each of us felt each of these and other feelings, in different proportions and accompanied by different thoughts. Today, on the two-week anniversary of Lou’s death, we decided to share our personal thoughts and . . . → Read More: In Memoriam: Lou |
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Reflections on Feeding Kale to Chickens
I had an epiphany while feeding kale to chickens this morning.
Today dawned uncommonly warm after an uncommonly windy night. As I lugged water jugs to the foraging yards, I could hear the chickens rustling inside the coops, eager for the doors to open. They sensed and were ready to seize the sunshiny day.
Birds . . . → Read More: Reflections on Feeding Kale to Chickens