The Crazy Vegan Lactivist

The past few weeks, with my daughter's 6 month well baby visit fast approaching, I am seriously questioning the safety and efficacy of vaccines. I have read many many personal accounts of children suffering permament damage from vaccines. In addition, I have researched what is actually in vaccines and I can't say I am surprised. Being a chemistry student, I have worked with some of those chemicals and wouldn't even think about handling it without gloves and a lab coat...let alone have it injected into my body! I have also investigated the amount of foreign cells that the vaccines were grown in can get into a vaccine and cause cross-contamination with other bacteria, viruses and other nasty things. I have also been studying about how children's immune systems are actually WEAKER than they were a generation ago and how autism, food allergies, ADD and asthma are all on the rise and much of it can be related to toxicity from vaccines. I am still investigating the sources of this information but the personal accounts of some other mothers alone is enough to make me wary of them. My husband and I are at the very least delaying vaccines until 1 year and will continue to do more research. At the moment I wish to not vax my child at all, but DH still needs some convincing on that one.

On the vegan front things are going great! We all feel wonderful. I know my vegan lifestyle is improving my health significantly, both mentally and physically. Some favorites this week...

Lentil and Rice Curry with Kale

Thai Tofu with Peanut Sauce

Baked Eggplant with Garlicy Angel Hair Pasta

The more I do it, the happier I am that I went vegan! I feel great physically and it just seems to really flow with my values. Even my skeptical omni husband has been really happy with the meals I have been making as well as some baked vegan treats! Some favorites:

Falafel with Cucumber and Tahini Sauce

Buffalo Style Tempeh with Sweet Potato Fries

Hummous and Salad in a Pita

Baked Marinated Tofu with Roasted Red Potatoes and Broccoli

I see more and more about the obesity epidemic on TV and in the paper...couple that with what I have found out about the cruel and inhumane way most farm animals are treated, the more I feel this is the right decision for our family. Some would say we are "animals" and need animal products to "survive". That may have been true in the past, but in our current society we can get all of the nutrients we need without them. I say...EVOLVE DAMN IT! Yes we are animals, yet we are also capable of empathy and reasoning and can rise above our base instincts to a more compassionate way of life. And while we're at it, let's eliminate animal products and testing from our soaps, shampoos, and other products too. 

 The one thing I was worried about with going vegan is that my milk supply would suffer. I am happy to say that my fears were unfounded and I think my supply actually went UP! My 5 month old and I are still happily nursing away and plan to for quite awhile. 

In a matter of a few months I have gone from a busy PhD student/researcher to a stay-at-home mom.  The change has been very very stressful and one of the more difficult times in my life....however it has also been one of the most rewarding.

For the first time in my life I have time. Time to really sit and just think, ponder, and explore my own mind. As I lovingly and gladly nurse my sweet daughter I can really explore my values, my beliefs, my very essence. Here is what I have found:

 I am a devout catholic....I am also scientist and we typically shun God. But despite my very "rational" education I cannot ignore the influence of a Living Loving God in my life, very gently yet delibrately directing me towards my best.  

 I am vegan. I just cannot ignore the sufferings of others, including animals. Maybe vegan isn't for everyone but according to my values and my beliefs I cannot take part in flesh, dairy or the unnecessary testing of cosmetics and other products on innocent beings. 

I am simple. I don't need a whole lot in life. I need God and the Catholic Church in my life, although I acknowledge that this is my no means everyone's journey. God leads others to be Muslim, Jewish, Bhuddist, Pagan, ect. I refuse to condemn others or their beliefs as I cannot possibly understand what it means to be YOU and what YOU have gone through. Only God can. and God bless you all! Ok, back to simple...I want my family and a safe place to live and be...that's all.

So this blog is yes...about simple living, my garden and my rants and raves about stupid plasma screen TVs that are just ridiculous...can't 1000 dollars be better spent on charity or health care or something just a little more noble? My disgust with blatant consumerism of plastic crap that hurts the earth and others. 

But this blog will now also cover veganism...I will no longer ignore the suffering of other animals just to satiate my appetite. and Catholicism which is my personal spiritual journey and a very real and fascinating history...and my freeing realization that everyone has a different journey and I pray that I can befriend and try my best to understand and be compassionate towards others who are different from myself. 

 Ok...time for me to step off of the soapbox and go to bed :)

I have finally had a successful vegetable garden this year, especially helpful since going vegan. However, it is almost TOO successful as I am completely overrun with zuccini! I think if my husband sees another zuccini on his plate he is going to go nuts. Luckily, Mother Earth News had a big article on how to preserve various fruits and vegetables year round so I may start doing that so we have some home-grown zuccini this winter, not shipped from who-knows-where thousands of miles away. I am even planting a fall garden so we can extend our growing season a little bit with some nice fall/winter vegetables. I am open to suggestions so feel free to comment on that (or of course anything else!)

Other green things going on here include running my husband's truck off of biodiesel (fuel from vegetable oil), buying organic and sustainably produced food thanks to a new-found health food store in my area, and line drying clothes rather than using a dryer. The compost pile is going well too and will help provide organic fertilizer for next year's garden.

It continues to amaze me how many are oblivious to how much blind consumerism hurts not only the environment, but often the very people that make the products. I love my parents dearly, but they constantly rant and rave how the president isn't doing a thing about global warming...all while leaving every light on in the house, drinking tons of bottled water and tossing them in the trash, and using harsh chemicals in their home. While I agree that more should be done politically, every person also has to do their own part, and it will never change if WE don't change. They come to my house and can't believe how little we have sometimes, very few pots and pans, gadgets, and we don't buy paper napkins or towels. The list can go on. However they often insist on buying these things for us to "help", however its not because we are poor that we don't have these things, its because of the environment. As Ghandi said "We must be the change we wish to see in the world." I love that quote....

Something very freeing happened yesterday.

It was hot as Hades this week. One day it was 105 degrees and every day the heat index was 115 or above. Not a good situation for a baby to be outside in. So we stayed inside, we cleaned, baked, read, cooked, and of course surfed the internet. We read up on some gardening tips and found new vegan recipes to try. However by day 3 of the heat wave we were bored and cooped up. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of free indoor things to do around here. We had more than enough books and magazines so the library was not too appealing this week. So we went....to the mall. So what was so freeing? We didn't spend a single cent!

It was a good place for us to walk and get some exercise while still keeping cool, I was reluctant to go because I didn't want to be tempted but it was liberating to be able to walk around as I realized I was truly content. There wasn't a single thing that I felt compelled to purchase. We certainly didn't need anything but it was wonderful to not WANT anything.  No sense of longing for a "better" life, no feelings of inadequacy, we were just content to browse and say "that looks kind of nice but no thank you!"

 This is a big step for me. In my younger days I used to always want to buy something no matter where we went. However now things look even better....sitting right there in the store window and not my home! Despite being bombarded by ads, and sales, and billboards all telling us we aren't good enough, pretty enough, rich enough, stylish enough, we feel ontent and therefore calm. Fulfilled and therefore happy.

When did you realize you had enough? even too much? When did you stop being swayed and controlled by the consumerist culture? 

 

There are several decisions that have been on my mind recently. In an effort to make our lives not only simpler but more rewarding, richer, and healthy I decided too:

1. breastfeed my daughter and practice child-led weaning

2. become vegan

3. plant a vegetable and herb garden

I truly believe breastfeeding is one of the best things you can do for your child, not only is it the best food for your child, it promotes a close mother-child bond. I could go on and on about the benefits of breastfeeding but it has been a beautiful and rewarding experience for both my daughter and me. I only wish our society here in the US wasn't so prude about such a loving bond between child and mother.

Becoming vegan came about gradually. I have always been health-minded but the environemental impact of meat-eating has gotten to me as well. It may not be the best decision for everybody but I am glad that I can enjoy a vegan lifestyle. It really helps in keeping only healthy, fresh, whole foods. I can't believe all the junk, sugar-laden franken-food that is out there and how many people live off of it. With issues of childhood obesity and diabetes on the rise, I am happy to raise my daughter on a healthy whole-foods diet including our own organically grown vegetables. I am ashamed to admit it but I was watching cable television and saw this show "Honey, We're Killing the Kids". I was amazed at how many families seem to live off of soda pop and junk food. The habits of these children were so ingrained in there lives that many of them cried at the thought of having to eat vegetables!! I couldn't believe it, it provides further motivation to breastfeed my daughter and to raise her in a healthy vegetarian lifestyle. And hopefully helping mom out in the garden will give her a greater appreciation for where her food comes from.

One decision I struggle with is to go TV-free. I struggle with it. I know it would be better for our family to eliminate it but when my daughter nurses for 30 minutes straight, I must admit its nice to have something to watch. However I think we need to get rid of it. The direct marketing towards children, the ideas they push, the sensationalism and the poor body image (especially for girls) I really don't want my DD exposed too. Hopefully we can make strides in this and greatly reduce our TV and hopefully throw the box out all together!

What decisions have you made in your life to make it simpler yet richer?

This blog is about my family's efforts and thoughts towards living a simpler life.  The simple life means something different for everybody but for us there are a few key priorities -

1. slowing down
2. not being tied down by material stuff OR social conventions
3. appreciating the free things in life - such as family, friends, the outdoors
4. sharing our resources with others

So what does all this mean? Well firstly, slowing down means not over-scheduling. We of course have obligations and activities but we try to give ourselves time to just "be", to reflect, and to enjoy.

We try to keep our expenses down and our material possessions minimal. This way we spend less time worrying about money and dealing with the upkeep of possessions and gadgets and more time enjoying life and what is important and truly enjoyable and fulfilling to us. We certainly have our hobbies - my husband is a mountain biker, I am an avid runner and gardener, but we try to have hobbies and interests that make our lives truly richer and more rewarding.

We don't care what people think. Many don't approve of our choices or understand them. We are often left out of the workplace conversations about the latest sitcom or other television show. I get funny looks bringing my own bags to the store. Despite a PhD and the option of a high-paying job, I stay at home with our baby daughter. Not being tied down by bottles and formula I *gasp* - breastfeed in public! While others  complain about how they don't have time for what's really important....we try to live for what's truly important rather than having a brand new SUV, plasma screen television, or large expensive home.

Not only does living this way truly fulfill us and reduce our stress, we feel it is important for social justice and the environment. The earth's limited resources are distributed and consumed in such away that although some of us live in extreme excess, others don't have the basic needs of clean water and food. We hope that by not only reducing our consumption but also carefully considering the sources of our food, energy and water, in addition to actively contributing to the community that we can at least make small steps in making this world a better place for everyone.

So starts our adventure - life is an adventure and should be lived to the fullest, time is too precious to be wasted on unfulfilling pursuits and caring about other's view of us...enjoy!