Hobart Winter Sunset

A beautiful, wintery sunset last night over Mt. Wellington.

Why Vegan?

My first tentative foray into veganism came about during late 2009/early 2010 as a response to my quest for a healthier lifestyle. To my surprise I found all the research pointing to a vegan diet as a diet that could not only increase health but actually reverse some diseases.  As a nurse I found this very exciting and decided to try it for 30 days. I remember I was quite apprehensive and unsure if I would be able to manage without eggs, dairy and “white “meat (I hadn’t eaten red meat for many years) and didn’t really expect to follow it through.  I was particularly worried about missing cappuccino and parmesan cheese. How funny that seems now.

At the time I was an “I only eat chicken and fish and can’t see what’s wrong with dairy” kind of person but my readings during this time awakened me to the true nature of the dairy industry. I had a naive notion that cows hung about meadows with their calves, grazing, and waiting to be milked by kind farmers with ruddy faced wives. I had no idea that calves were dragged away from their mothers at birth, girls, to become milkers and boys to become veal. It had never occurred to me that the industry wouldn’t allow any milk to be ‘wasted’ on calves when it could be sold to blasé consumers.  I also had no notion that the traumatised and inconsolable cows cry loudly as this happens and that this outward expression of sorrow (actually the sound of their hearts breaking) follows the calves as they disappear forever.  Once I was aware I couldn’t become unaware and found there would be no return for me to my unthinking days of dairy consumption.

Welcome!

Hello, my name is Jude. I am a Tasmanian vegan. I have been vegan for just over twelve months. I wanted to start this blog to provide a space for vegans, food-lovers and Tasmania-philes to join me as I reflect on my amazing journey over the last year and to share my future vegan experiences. As I live in an incredibly beautiful part of the world I am also committed to sharing some of its magic with you. Despite the beauty I have found here, being a vegan in Tasmania is to take the road less travelled. Increasingly, I find myself wishing for more spaces (both physical and virtual) to come together with other vegans, so welcome one and all.  Furthermore, it is my intention to hunt out vegan/vegan friendly eateries and wares in Hobart, to share tips and recipes, and generally revel in all things vegan.

My companions during this journey will include my two lovely daughters Gem and Kate, my incorrigible dog Daisy, and my unsuspecting friends and workmates.

I look forward to sharing this journey with you...