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I’ve been asked to contribute some writing to this fine website. It’s the last time anyone’s going to ask me to do such a thing.
I can’t do this straight. I’m sorry. You’re not going to be getting any yummy recipes out of me -- or even recipes of things that are yummy. I make cookies that are to die from. The views expressed herein are my own and do not represent the Whangarei Vegan Society (a.k.a. “Whangarei Vegans”), any other of its members, nor any persons whom any of its members have spotted by looking out a bus window. Having said all that, I will endeavour to provide something of use to you, calling on my 48 years of veganism and 11 years of Whangarei residence. For instance, I can now confidently inform you that you can wear obviously pro-vegan message garb (“apparel” for those of you who don’t like 4-letter words) and still be accepted for jury duty. I know. It shocked me, too. Y’all must be purty desperate for jurors up heah. The case obviously had nothing to do with animal abuse or human physical health, so the band of 11 had to put up with the brief but pithy “diet-tribe” which I managed to express on Day 2 -- in context of course! I can also very-nearly-confidently inform you that veganism has saved my life. I am beating life-threatening atherosclerosis -- thanks for the hideously hyperactive lipids factory I seem to have inherited, mum! -- which was so severe that I was recommended for that ever-popular Triple-Bypass Surgery but which failed to manifest itself in any heart attack, major or minor, due to my long-term veganism (and that’s the consensus of all the doctors who’ve seen me, vegan and carnist alike). I’ve been given the time to clean up my sugar habit and eat lots and lots of kale and, at this writing, I am feeling much, much better on only a small fraction of the medicine I was on 2 years ago -- with virtually no discomfort. A major reason for my rejecting surgery and running instead to my doctor friends is that I was told that I would have to take statins with the surgery. In this country, I am led to believe that all of the domestic statins contain cow’s milk, and I wasn’t having any of it. And I made darn-tootin’ sure that the medicines I am on, to get me through this safely, contain no animal products. I don’t know why I’m here on Earth, but I do know it is not to cause the suffering of innocent animals. Hey, remember the rodeo Code of Welfare re-write that the judge ordered a couple of years ago when S.A.F.E. and the N.Z. Animal Law Association lost their lawsuit against the Government? Shane Reti’s office recently told me that the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is still working on it and it won’t even be forwarded until they approve what they’ve done in November, so it may not even reach the Associate Minister for Agriculture by the start of rodeo season. Why don’t you apply some pressure, as I have done? I really don’t think that folks should go out to Maungatapere every January, year after year, and watch things done to animals which are in violation of the spirit and intent of the Animal Welfare Act. Thank you. Well, enough about me. How are you? Catch you next time -- unless somebody with more sense and taste stops me. Billy Leonard is the author of Diamonds & Rats and Streccano, which are available at The Piggery in Walton Street and Book Inn in the Kamo shops and also in our public libraries. He also wrote Stickno Bill’s Guide to Complete Fulfillment, which is not. He is Treasurer and Membership Co-ordinator for Whangarei Vegans and reminds you that annual membership is only $5! NONE OF THE MEDICAL MATERIAL EXPRESSED ABOVE IS INTENDED TO REPLACE PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. -- THE AUTHOR
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I would like to feature Beetroot in this article as it is one of the easiest vegetables to grow in most Northland gardens and is so nutritious for vegans, especially being high in iron. One of the beauties of beetroot is that the whole plant is delicious. The leaves are similar to those of spinach and can be enjoyed steamed with a dash of olive oil a pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper, in a salad mixed with other greens or baked as a pie ‘crust’/ layered in lasagne or any other favourite way you eat spinach or silver beet. The root of course is great peeled and munched raw, grated or cubed in a salad or roasted, boiled, baked or steamed. Try it in burgers and in chocolate cake. Like all spinaches and chards though, when you have an abundance, just remember not to be tempted to serve the leaves generously for more that 2 - 3meals a week due to the high oxalic acid content.  A Veganic Garden in Northland
Winter Winter is generally a quiet time in the garden. Growth slows so there is less weeding, mulching and pest watching required. It is an ideal time to plan and set up or improve garden systems which work best for your requirements. Thanks to the European Vegetarian Union for allowing us to use their Vegan V logo as part of our logo designs.
This will make us immediately recognisable as a Vegan organisation! We are grateful to the EVU for sharing this logo with other organisations around the world, including us here in Whangārei. (From the Archive)This blog post was originally shared in 2019  If you’ve ever stewed in the traffic porridge waiting to crawl over the harbour bridge, or at the entrance to the Wellington tunnel where four lanes compress to one, you will have wondered if there was a better way to organise your transport.
And you know the answer: it’s the century old bicycle. December is generally a time when the hard work is done and you can start to enjoy your harvest but it is also ok to plant corn, more beans, zucchini and tomatoes to keep continuity of supply. It is still ok to plant salad greens through summer where there is shade and the soil can be kept cool and moist. The shade can be on the south side of the house amongst other plants, such as lettuce under brassicas, shrubs, flowers or herbs but remember to feed the soil as the more established plants will compete more strongly for nutrients.
February and March are the peak of the harvest season and are the busiest times in a Northland garden. It can also be the messiest looking time in a garden.
The challenges of shield beetles is still with us in early Autumn. We can keep using a garlic spray to deter bugs. Once the nights start cooling the bugs will go into hibernation mode. Note to myself to plant more cleome and mustard next year as a catch crop for shield beetles. The bugs congregate on the flowering cleome and mustard and are easy to collect. Starting a Veganic Garden
This article aims to encourage Vegans who have not had a garden before, to give it a try. The benefits are significant:
(From the Archive)This blog post was originally shared in 2019.
Going on holiday as a vegan can often be a tricky experience. In many countries it can be difficult to find places to eat that cater to a vegan diet. Not so in Melbourne, VIC! Melbourne is a vegan paradise, with many many 100% vegan restaurants and cafes, and a huge variety of vegan products available for those who like to prepare their own meals. In this blog post I will share some of the places we ate when we went on holiday to Melbourne recently, and what you can expect from this exciting city! |