Things are blooming, growing, and getting greener at the Sanctuary, which has all the residents, staff, and volunteers in the happiest of moods. Not only will you see happy animals napping in the (mostly) warm March sun, you'll see tumbleweeds of fur floating through the air and along the fence line, as the sheep, goats, horses, and cows shed their fluffy winter coats. Pretty soon it will be time to put up the sun shades and swimming pools, but for now we're going to enjoy the chilly mornings and not-so-hot days. It's a perfect time to bring your friends and family to come meet the animals and learn more about compassionate living at one of our many community or private tour offerings!
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Speaking of tours, with the busy tour season upon us, we'd love more volunteers to help with tours and other aspects of sanctuary life! We are also an approved SSL organization for older students in need of service hours. Here is a list of some of the positions we are looking to fill; if interested please email us with the subject: VOLUNTEER POSITION at [email protected].
- Assistant Tour Guide (requires learning safety protocols and stories of our residents/understanding of animal agriculture system from our Farm Manager and Tour Director, Jason Bolalek)
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Tour Assistant (ensures safety protocols are upheld on larger tours/school groups, helps with animal interactions)
- Photographer/Videographer (if you have interest in capturing our animals living their best sanctuary lives and having your work featured on Rosie's' social media platforms)
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Chicken Guardians (our sweet little flock loves to get outside to forage in the grass and dirt, but with our neighbor foxes and hawks we like to have the girls closely watched during outside time)
- Land Management Consultants (if you have a background in pasture or land management, we can use all the help we can get on how best to manage our fields to help them recover)
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Sanctuary Beautification Helpers (if you have any free time or desire to come help plant things, paint things, create name signs for our residents, we welcome the help)
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Grassroots Fundraisers (raise money for Rosie's for your birthday or other honor, host a plant-based bake sale, gather funds for hay or bring some produce to our residents--use your imagination, we appreciate it all!)
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The Update You've Been Waiting For...Marty!
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Photo by Annika Von Conrad |
Yes, that's our tiny little Marty Man looking so grown up!!
Just look at how this boy has flourished and grown in the past three months with love, the best babysitters in the world, and the freedom of sanctuary living! He's fully integrated with his potbelly brothers Winston, Beaufort, Teddy, and Ollie, though we're still working through the intricacies of piggy hierarchy. Marty recently was able to do an Instagram Live with his brother and sister, Myles and Maya, who were rescued in mid-February and adopted by the wonderful folks at Arthur's Acres Animal Sanctuary. Marty maintains his outgoing, confident spirit and is always the first to greet visitors as they walk through the lavender gate here at Rosie's!
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Have You "Herd?" - by Rosie's Co-Founder, Craig Waldman |
My Crazy, Unexpected Vegan Journey
“YOU’RE a Vegan??” It’s a question I get with some regularity from friends I havent seen in a while as well those new to my life. The older friends have a habit of also asking “What happened to you??” as if my left leg mysteriously fell off my body since the last time they’ve seen me. And for people that have never met me, the self-conscious part of me queries whether they were expected a vegan to be a tad more frail in physique (I like the ring of that better than “thinner”), who is a radical hard left-leaning multi-issue activist, and not someone who is a partner in one of the largest law firms in the world. Well, politics aside (I’m a middle of the road guy for those who care), the overly simplistic answer to what happened to me is “Have you met my wife?” But my story runs deeper. So here goes.
It is indeed true that I tried out veganism to temporarily get my wife off my back. My wife is Michele, the Founder and true heartbeat of Rosie’s. I was in bad physical condition (far worse than now), and more importantly, she was having an issue connecting with me emotionally as a partner. If you know Michele, that’s not surprising due to the fundamental sadness she feels when she sees anyone eating an animal, much less her life partner. I told her I would give it a month, but not to be disappointed on Day 31 if I went to Morton’s to resume my carnivorous consumption. Well, she’s smarter than that, so asked me to watch Gamechangers on Netflix, which takes an athletic view of veganism. She also brought me on Day 1 to a fundraiser for Charlie’s Acres, a sanctuary in California where Michele was volunteering. The compelling director of Gamechangers, Louie Psihoyos, just happened to be speaking at the event as well. After that night, and engaging discussions with Louie, I started my journey. And after the month, there was no denying I felt better physically and had more energy. So I decided to keep plowing ahead.
But what really moved the needle for me in those first few weeks was a commitment to explore the animal cruelty element with my eyes wide open. I started with the happy moments – the myriad YouTube videos of joyful cows released from dairy farms jumping and bucking with abandon. But alas, I then watched the videos that no one wants to watch, and everyone should. Calves being ripped away from their mothers, with the male ones shot and disposed of; pigs bloodied even before their lives ended; live baby chickens going through meat grinders; etc. And a simple but powerful concept started to sink in – there has got to be another way I can eat without causing so much pain to innocent beings who asked for no part in any of it. So I kept going, finding my way, including foods that appealed to me. And here I am four plus years later. Sure every now and then I think about some non-vegan food, oddly often items found on a Jewish bagel breakfast table. But I think back to the videos, go connect with the animals at Rosie’s and keep moving forward. Who knows where this unexpected journey will take me, but it’s been rewarding thus far, and it puts off for now Michele leaving me for Joaquin Phoenix.
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Compassion Corner - by Sanctuary Manager, Jason Bolalek |
Have you ever wondered about the concept of a "farm animal"? It may surprise you to know that there is actually no such thing. At Rosie's, we believe in shedding light on this topic and challenging the common perceptions that are often misconceptions. This month, I thought I’d delve into the truth behind the existence of so-called "farm animals" and why it's essential to reevaluate our understanding of these remarkable creatures. Farm animals are a widely recognized and accepted category of animals that are specifically bred and raised for agricultural purposes. However, it is important to understand that the term "farm animal" is a human construct and does not accurately reflect the intrinsic nature of these beings.
From an ecological and biological standpoint, there is no inherent distinction between a "farm animal" and any other animal species. All animals, whether they are domesticated or wild, have evolved and adapted to their respective environments over millions of years. They possess a range of behaviors, biological characteristics, and social structures that are unique to their species. The categorization of certain animals as "farm animals" is primarily based on human intervention and selective breeding practices. Humans have selectively bred certain animal species for specific traits such as size, productivity, and docility, to suit their agricultural needs. As a result, these animals have become dependent on human care and management for their survival and reproduction.
However, it is essential to recognize that these animals are not inherently "farm animals" in the sense that they are naturally predisposed to live solely within the confines of a farm. Animals, such as cows, chickens, and pigs, have wild ancestors that lived in diverse habitats and exhibited natural behaviors that are vastly different from their domesticated counterparts. Furthermore, the notion of a "farm animal" often implies a utilitarian perspective, where animals are viewed primarily as commodities or means of production. This perspective has lead to the objectification and mistreatment of animals, disregarding their inherent value and capacity for suffering.
In conclusion, while the term "farm animal" is commonly used to describe animals raised for agricultural purposes, it is important to recognize that this classification is a human construct that does not accurately reflect the complexity and diversity of these animals. Animals, whether domesticated or wild, are unique individuals with their own inherent worth and should be treated with respect and compassion. |
Our big, beautiful ray of Sunshine celebrated her first birthday on March 26th! She enjoyed her special day just like every other day here at Rosie's--getting love and treats, rooting in the earth with her best friends, and being reminded that she is someone, not something! Happy, happy birthday, Sunshine Daydream! |
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Rosie's Recommended Recipes
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Vegan Lemon Bread This delicious, moist lemon loaf by Chocolate Covered Katie is easy to make and bursting with sweet lemon flavor! Ingredients - 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
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1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup milk of choice
- 1/2 cup plain vegan yogurt
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- zest of 1 large or 2 small lemons (1 tbsp total – don’t omit)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions - Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Grease a 9x5 loaf pan.
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In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
- Whisk liquid ingredients in a separate bowl, combine wet and dry, then stir until just evenly mixed.
- Spread into the pan.
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Bake 50-55 minutes, or until loaf has risen and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- If desired, frost with either melted coconut butter or 1/2 cup powdered sugar combined with 1 tbsp milk of choice.
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