Life after death at Greensprings

Last weekend, as part of Earth Day, Scott and I visited the Greensprings Natural Cemetery in Newfield, NY, where the Greensprings board of directors had an open house. It was a beautiful day, and we were treated to a light lunch and hikes through the natural cemetery complete with birdwatching and information about native species from some of the knowledgeable folks who were there that day. We also learned more about natural burial and the Greensprings vision, in which I have been interested since I first heard about it a year or so ago. What will life be like after death? From what I could see, it will be incredible.

Set atop a hill, the cemetery offers views for miles. It was breathtaking, and my photos cannot do it justice. I was surprised at how much I liked it and how comfortable a place it seemed. It's a large parcel surrounded by state forest, and in addition to being a cemetery for natural burials (no embalming, no vaults, use of sustainable caskets or shrouds), it is going to be preserved as green space and a haven for wildlife.

Life on Earth will continue after my death, and by choosing natural burial, I will do my part to make it good. I will return to the earth, and above me the flora and fauna will have safe homes where they can thrive: deer will graze, birds will nest and sing, and small mammals will pick their way from here to there across my final resting place. Open space and habitat will exist there for as long as the earth turns, a place for people to connect with the natural world. The natural heritage of all peoples will be preserved, and I will become part of our magnificent and fragile planet. It's a beautiful thought!

Maybe it's morbid to think about these things at my age, but I find it to be an incredibly peaceful and comforting thought. There is no better headstone than nature herself. In that place of beauty, no words even need be inscribed: the woods and fields and sky say plainly in all seasons that here lies a person who cared.

Being vegan means having it all

Last Friday I turned 35, and as a treat, Scott and I went to NYC for some vegan eats at some of the fine restaurants there. From Friday evening until sometime late Saturday afternoon, I indulged in great food, vegan shopping, and even dessert. It began at Blossom for dinner. Just incredible! The food was top-notch, all vegan, and organic. It's hard to describe the feeling of opening a menu and knowing that nothing you read inside will bring to mind the horrors of animal suffering or factory farming. At this place, no server will come to your table and announce that the daily specials will include nothing that doesn't make your heart despair. Instead, the specials were cruelty-free and made the decision about what to have just that much harder. Scott's mom Blanche provided the birthday dessert: scrumptious vegan brownies and champagne.

I ran 8 miles in Queens Saturday morning, and after a delicious breakfast of vegan pancakes and smoothies, again compliments of Blanche and her culinary talents, we were off to the city again. The afternoon found us in various exciting locations: Red Bamboo Soul Cafe, Moo Shoes, and Babycakes, a vegan bakery. And I thought my vegan cupcakes were good! These were divine. I even parted from my anti-materialist ways and treated myself to a pair of new Vegetarian Shoes. I'm so inspired about my lifestyle these days, so this time in the city really came at a good time. For almost 24 hours, I felt as though I had been transported to another place, where animal cruelty was a thing of the past. Going from one vegan-friendly place to another was stone-stepping through the usual harsh realities that vegans have to wade through most days, especially at restaurants.

We probably spent more than we should have, but it really provided a relaxing and exciting respite (even though my feet were sore from so much walking!). The best part is that there are still a ton of vegan places there (and elsewhere), so here's hoping I've got enough birthdays left to try them all!

You are what you eat (yes, you are!)

After listening to a recent Vegan Freak Radio podcast (#66 The Vegan Health Show) and its interview with vegan nutritionist Vesanto Melina, I am all set to take my diet to the next level. She is coauthor of Becoming Vegan, which has been on my bookshelf for several years, and I've just never read it. Why, I have no idea. I'm sure there is great advice in there that would probably help me better plan and execute this very rewarding lifestyle that I've chosen. It ain't deprivation, believe me, but I suspect that it could be even more delicious and satisfying! Hard to imagine it getting any better, really, but if it can, I want to be in on it.

Chances are good that my eating habits are pretty shoddy, even though I'm vegan and try to eat a variety of foods. A vegan lifestyle is the healthiest there is, but like any nutrition plan, a person has to pay attention to what's going into her mouth and how often. Just having whole wheat foods and legumes in the house doesn't do jack if you're not eating them.

So with summer supposedly coming (obligatory whine about upstate NY's horrid weather--winter into April this year for the love of doG), I've decided to go partly raw. According to the Melina, here is a quick overview of what's necessary to go completely raw*:

>> 12 cups of vegetables per day, half of these (6 cups) should be greens (broccoli, kale)
>> 5 pieces of fruit
>> 1 cup of nuts and seeds
>> A source of omega 3 fatty acids (e.g., fresh walnuts)
>> A source of vitamin B12 (got that covered with vegan vitamin supplements)

*Note that this plan doesn't include a source of Vitamin D, so sunlight or supplementation is required (and care will be needed during winter in in northeastern climates).

According to Melino, going partly raw is very healthy for people, and that would be eating mostly raw according to the above plan and adding legumes and fortified foods (e.g., soymilk or ricemilk). I'm picturing delicious salads with organic chickpeas, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and other goodies, plus a salad dressing made with flax oil to really cover the bases on the omega 3s without adding too much fat (there's a great recipe in Becoming Vegan). And I'll keep some of my favorite cooked recipes in the mix, too, but with a nutrition makeover (whole wheat pasta, low-fat baking).

Farmer's market, here I come! I'm looking forward to putting better meals together and kicking the excess sugar, white flour, and other nutritional dead wood that were discussed in the podcast (and that have definitely been part of what I eat).

Vegan diets are humane and healthy. There's no better way to go, so get going!

Other helpful links:

vegan food pyramid
VeganLife multivitamin

Donate a dog bed for homeless dogs

So I came into a little unexpected money lately, and I decided to use part of it to help animals. I donated a dog bed to a local shelter! Check this out: Kuranda dog beds! Just click through to find the shelter you want to support, provide payment information (you even get a discount!), and the company ships the bed straight to the shelter! Very easy, and great for these homeless doggies while they wait for their new humans to arrive and choose them to go home.

I'm hopeful that this summer I'll have a chance to go by the shelter that's close to me and donate some time for whatever they need. I actually get a lot of satisfaction from tidying up litterboxes and otherwise doting on animals by cleaning up their living space--so no task is too grungry for me if it helps the shelter and the animals who count on it.

Go ahead, donate a dog bed. You know you want to, and it makes you feel so good thinking about a scared and abandoned dog (or two, or three!) resting safely and comfortably on one of these beds (and maybe even having one of those funny dog dreams where their paws and ears twitch).

Wildlife rescue gloves arrived!

If your neck of the woods is anything like mine, your roads are increasingly dotted with the broken and distressing bodies of spring wildlife casualities. I think that the road animals are the worst part of spring, and people just do not know enough or care enough to slow the flip down to avoid these creatures. Anyway, I'm literally taking matters back into my own hands this spring, and on Friday the central part of my wildlife rescue kit was waiting on the porch when I got home from work: nonleather veterinary gloves!

These babies come up to my elbows and are made out of a synthetic sharps-resistant material. There is some good padding, but they look like they'll also allow plenty of dexterity if needed. They're made by a company called Hexarmor (the Hercules R8E 3180), and they're designed for use by veterinarians. I'm really excited!

Rounding out my kit will be an animal carrier, some old sweatshirts, and maybe one of those insto-handwarmers just in case. If I find wildlife that needs my assistance, I'll be headed straight to Cornell veterinary hospital because I do not yet have a rehabber's license, but it can be a while getting there, and having some warmth on the way may be lifesaving, especially for youngsters.

These gloves are a bit pricey (I searched around for the best price and purchased online), but it's going to be completely worth it for peace of mind and confidence in handling should the need arise. Here's hoping I'll see fewer and fewer wild animals on the roads, but if my help is needed, I'm ready to step up.