getting some love from Grace at the 2011 Farm Sanctuary Hoe Down

Every year in Watkins Glen, NY there is an event that turns the quiet little town into a bustling mecca of vegandom. The Glen is known to many as a NASCAR hot spot, or perhaps a place to get buzzed while buzzing around between wineries, but for those looking to have a deeper experience the Farm Sanctuary Hoe Down is something truly special.

I arrived on Friday night and set up my tent and then hung out by the camp fire, serenading myself and whoever else wanted to listen with my ukulele. I was so happy to be at the farm after a long absence that I stayed up till almost 4 a.m. I made some new friends and hung out beneath my old friends, the moon and stars.

Saturday at the Hoe Down offered a fine line-up of vegan speakers and workshops, which this year included Crazy Sexy Cancer survivor (or thriver, as she would say) Kriss Carr, vegan bodybuilder Robert Cheeke, Farm Sanctuary co-founder Gene Baur, sanctuary animal caregiver Susie Coston,  FS Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives Bruce Friedrich, humane educator Zoe Weil, author Victoria Moran, cooking demos, and more.

At night the farm transformed into one of the best vegan parties around. The transition period included a cocktail hour with live music, a showing of the documentary Forks Over Knives, and a Hilda Club tour to visit the critters on the farm around twilight (a magical time on the farm). Gene Baur gave a presentation on his trip across the country in the VW van that he once sold veggie dogs at Grateful Dead concerts from to finance the farm. Kindfood from Ontario presented Gene with a beautiful cake to commemorate Farm Sanctuary’s 25th anniversary.

cake by Kindfood in Ontario commemorating Farm Sanctuary's 25th anniversary

Once darkness was firmly established the contra dancing began in the People Barn, and the crazy vegans started to let loose. Soon after a live DJ took over and the rowdy dancers shook the rafters of the barn, earning the right to call this party a hoe down. Simultaneously another camp fire began outside for those who didn’t want to dance, or who needed to take a break to roast their vegan marshmallows. That fire went on long after I fell asleep exhausted.

Most of us camped in tents and we all enjoyed big meals served on the deck of the People Barn. Sunday morning featured a yoga class led by Katya Burns, a coffee talk with the Farm Sanctuary staff, and breakfast. I got to spend some time with Gene and Susie out on the farm, and recorded an interview for an upcoming episode of Vegan Radio. By lunch there were torrential downpours, whose melodious pitter-patter struck a soothing symphony on the tin roof of the People Barn. I had to pack my tent up during the deluge, so I got a free shower before my ride home, which my fellow travelers appreciated. I am so blessed to be part of this vegan revolution.

Be sure to check out my new galleries of sanctuary farm animals. You can click this link to see only the photos I added to the galleries from the Hoe Down.

Here are my favorite photos from the event on flickr:

Jonathan Safran Foer speaking at the Farm Sanctuary Thanksgiving event in NYC

Last Weekend I went to New York City to photograph the Farm Sanctuary Thanksgiving Dinner at the Tavern on the Green, which is located in Central Park. I was looking forward to hearing the talk by guest speaker Jonathan Safran Foer, author of Everything Is Illuminated and the new and controversial book Eating Animals. I first heard of the book when news of it convincing Natalie Portman to go vegan was circulating around the Internet (Anyone who knows me knows I am a big fan of Ms. Portman). All the buzz around the book was surely one of the reasons the event sold out so quickly.

Performance artist Laurie Anderson introducing Mr. Foer

I have had a chance to read Eating Animals since the event, and it is pretty good. I think it will get lots of people thinking about veganism, and the atrocities of factory farming. I can’t say I agree with Mr Foer completely in his views and ethics, as he still condones some forms of animal exploitation even if he does not participate in them. It seems he avoids products from factory farms and is vegetarian, but is not completely vegan.

I find the strong points in the book to be his critical insights into the power of tradition in influencing what we eat and the stories we create around food. His book and his talk at the event revolve around his grandmother who is Jewish and spent the final years of WWII running from Nazis and scavenging for food, but who would not eat non-kosher meat even to save her own life. Her explanation was that “If nothing matters nothing’s worth saving”. In this Foer finds the kernel of reason that should convince us all not to support factory farms and to boycott their products. I applaud him for calling Michael Pollan out on his wobbly ethics, pointing out in Eating Animals that Pollan will still eat factory farmed food even though he knows the facts. Like Pollan, many people who believe the myth of humane meat will try to eat only “free range” or “organic” meat but are easily swayed into eating factory farmed meat when it is inconvenient to get the feel good flesh. Humane meat, besides being a ridiculous concept, is a slippery slope. My belief is that the commodification of animals always leads people to a system that is oppressive, violent and unnecessary. We are better off evolving towards a more compassionate and sustainable way of being in the world. Foer may find my stance unrealistic, but I am a visionary and not a skeptic. We need a critical mass, and soon.

Below are some of my favorite photos from the event. If you would like to see more check out my flickr page, but I would love to have you comment on this page first!

Thanks to my friend Andreas for putting me up Saturday night and buying me dinner!

Danielle Konya from Vegan Treats poses in front of King Kong. She says she loves gorillas.

Farm Sanctuary co-founder Gene Baur giving a thankful talk.

Farm Sanctuary’s new Executive Director Dr. Allan Kornberg gives a brief talk.

A close up of Jonathan Safran Foer

A plate full of decadent vegan deserts, mmmmm…

Me with Gene Baur and my good friend Paul Saccone

I interviewed Emily from Baby Cakes for an upcoming episode of Vegan Radio

Here I am with my dearest Farm Sanctuary friends: Samantha Ragsdale, Gene Baur and Susie Coston

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