By Shelby Jackson

My Eleanor Wolff Internship with the Vegetarian Resource Group has been wonderfully inspiring and informative. Charles and Debra were warm and welcoming and made sure that I experienced all the fun Baltimore had to offer. Debra’s kindness never failed to put a smile on my face, and Charles thought-provoking banter exercised my mind and challenged me to think in new ways. As a vegan from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, I had never spent much time with many vegans, especially vegan adults. My coworkers and all those involved in the VRG, as well as the many individuals I met at conferences, proved to be reaffirming on many different levels.

The variety of skills and talents my coworkers brought to the table helped me realize the many different tasks that keep the VRG running smoothly. I began to contextualize the vegetarian and animal rights movement in new, more enlightened ways. The wide variety of organizations and causes are the nuts and bolts that hold things intact just as the ideas, passion, and commitment from all the individuals within the movement fuel it forward. There is a place in the movement for every individual interested in vegetarian advocacy, one that they must personally seek. I learned that I have a definite place; although I do not know exactly what it is yet, I am comforted by the fact that it exists, and that with time, it will become clearer to me.

Working the VRG table at the Taking Action For Animals, School Health Interdisciplinary Program, and Animal Rights conferences, I was forced out of my comfort zone. I began to comprehend that crossing such a threshold, and taking advantage of experiential learning and face-to-face interaction is an effective way to carve your place and truly engage in the world. This sort of engagement is essentially what the entire movement hinges on, and I would have been deprived of many understandings had I not immersed myself in the conversations taking place at the conferences.

Sitting in the VRG office typing away on a computer often made it difficult to grasp the tangible effects I was attempting to bring forth. Often, I felt disconnected from the world that I was presumably working to better. Then I began to realize that results are not always that which you can see, and that certain types of advocacy and real world work are very different than the work that is done in college. Unlike college, you will not get a pat on the back or an A for your hardest, most challenging work. In the real world, you must learn to give credit to yourself by identifying the relation of your work to the larger scheme of things. My work at the VRG helped me discern this difference, and I now realize that the work I engage myself in beyond college must be, like the work I have done for the VRG, personally meaningful. I must remember that not everything is visible, and that as long as I am working for the greater good, and motivated by genuine passion, my efforts will bring happiness.

Click here to learn more about interning with us!

Are you a frustrated vegan or vegetarian who loves shoes, but can’t find any decent non-leather options? Our Guide to Leather Alternatives tells you where to get non-leather shoes, bags, belts, and wallets. Don’t forget hiking and work boots. We even answer those special questions like where to find ballet shoes, baseball gloves, biking gloves, bowling shoes, motorcycle gear, orthopedic shoes, skate shoes, tool belts, and more.

Click here to view our 2012 update to the Guide to Leather Alternatives!

Thanks to VRG volunteer Alan Polster for converting this update into HTML!

By D.A. Colvin

Organic Vegan Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
( Serves 8 )

• 8-10 large Russet Idaho Baking Potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch-sized pieces
• 1 Cup Earth Balance Buttery Spread
• ½ Cup Bragg Liquid Aminos
• 3 teaspoons Goya Adobo Seasoning, without cumin and pepper
• 3 teaspoons onion powder
• 3 teaspoons garlic powder

Fill a medium-sized stainless steel pot halfway with water. Bring the water to a rapid boil. Reduce heat to medium and gently pour in the cut potatoes. If necessary, add more water. Stir the potatoes a bit so they can cook evenly. Check them occasionally with a fork. When the potatoes are soft and tender, turn off the heat and drain them in a colander in the sink. When the potatoes are well drained, return them to the pot or put them in a dry clean bowl. Mash the potatoes thoroughly until there are no lumps. Gently stir in the seasonings and mix thoroughly and evenly until the potato mixture is creamy. This makes a wonderful delicious Thanksgiving dish! Serve and enjoy!

Organic Vegan Gravy to serve with mashed potatoes above

• 1 envelope Hain vegan gravy
• 1 Cup boiling purified water
• 1 heaping Tablespoon Earth Balance Buttery Spread
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 3 Tablespoon Bragg Liquid Aminos

In a medium-sized stainless steel pot, bring 1 Cup water to a rapid boil. Gently slowly pour in the gravy mix, stirring evenly and rapidly. Reduce heat to medium or low, continue stirring until gravy mix thickens, then add remaining ingredients. Remove from heat and pour over mashed potatoes (see above recipe).

Salad Dressing

This dressing is wonderful and delicious in any garden salad or salad of greens. It’s very versatile.

• ½Cup or 6 Tablespoons Bragg Liquid Aminos
• ½Cup Olive Oil
• 3 Tablespoon Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
• 2 Tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder

Mix well in the salad until all the seasonings are evenly mixed and the delicious pungent flavor is well balanced.

Delicious Sandwich of Organic Vegan Thanksgiving Leftovers

• 2 slices of your favorite organic vegan bread, lightly toasted
• 1 thick slice of Thanksgiving Tofurky Roast
• Mashed potatoes and gravy (see above recipes).

Serve Tofurky Roast covered with mashed potatoes and gravy on toasted bread and enjoy!

D.A. Colvin is a social and environmental issues freelance writer and is an active environmental advocate and animal rescue advocate. She and her husband live in the SW of the USA and are the happy proud parents of an adorable beautiful 8 month old sweet baby boy. They also share their sweet loving home with two adorable, wonderful, sweet cats, their babies. D.A. Colvin can be reached via e-mail at: [email protected]
and her blog at: http://bodyearthself.blogspot.com.

For more Thanksgiving recipes, visit: http://www.vrg.org/recipes/vegan_thanksgiving.php

Today there are so many vegan mock meat/bird products available for Thanksgiving! Here are some you may want to add to your menu:

Celebration Roast and Hazelnut Cranberry Roast en Croute from Field Roast
http://www.fieldroast.com/products/

Tofurky Freast and Savory Gravy from Turtle Island Foods
http://www.tofurky.com/tofurkyproducts/holiday_products.html

Vegan Whole Turkey from Vege USA
http://www.vegeusa.com/VegeUSA/products/vegan_turkey.html

Holiday Roast from Gardein
http://www.gardein.com/products.php?t=frozen&p=67

If you’re looking for some fantastic recipes to prepare for Thanksgiving consider purchasing these books from The Vegetarian Resource Group:

• Vegans Know How to Party, by Nancy Berkoff
• Vegan For the Holidays, by Zel Allen

You can also find many recipes here: http://www.vrg.org/recipes/vegan_thanksgiving.php

If you’re in Baltimore this weekend, we’d love you to join us at our 31st Annual Vegan Pre-Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner!

Sunday, November 18, 2012
5:00 P.M.
North Baltimore Mennonite Church
4615 Roland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210

Admission is $4 per adult and children under the age of 16 are admitted free. Please bring a vegan dish that serves four as a contribution from each member of your party. A vegan dish is made without meat, fish, fowl, dairy, eggs, honey, or other animal-derived ingredients. Write the ingredients of your dish on a 3 x 5 card to accommodate guests with special diets. Also, please bring a serving utensil for each dish. Paper plates, cups, napkins, and plastic utensils will be provided; however, we suggest participants please bring their own reusable dishes and utensils in order to reduce waste.

If you are unable to cook, you may bring a prepared vegan dish for four from a local natural foods store or restaurant. We also encourage you to bring a non-perishable vegetarian canned food item to donate to North Baltimore Mennonite Church, who will distribute it to those in need.

Need recipe ideas? Check out our Vegan Thanksgiving page.

To volunteer or for more information email [email protected] or call (410) 366-8343.

We look forward to seeing you there!

By Whitney Blomquist, VRG Intern

Carol Adams, author of The Sexual Politics of Meat, came to speak at my college, Towson University. I was asked to set up a booth for The Vegetarian Resource Group at the presentation along with four other health and animal rights organizations. I was excited to be able to table for VRG while enjoying Carol’s presentation.

As the room filled up a slide of images began to play on the screen. They depicted the link between women and animals exploitation in advertisements. Each picture showed ads that are used to encourage and condone the consumption of meat. Carol’s presentation was very raw and powerful. Some of the images were disturbing and some were very revealing. Carol goes on to state that her concept of the “absent referent” separates the meat eater from the animal and the animal from the end product. The “absent referent” refers to the issue of advertisements in popular culture sending messages that animals, like women, are nothing more than a piece of “meat.” Rather it be a piece of meat that you eat or one you look at in a sexual sense, the lines have become blurred and society has become accepting of both the demeaning of women and the mistreatment of animals.

Carol did an excellent job presenting her position on the relationship between women and animals and got the crowd surprisingly interested. She was kind enough to answer questions and mingle with everyone after the presentation.

Some long time vegans visited the VRG booth and I had a lengthy conversation with someone who was interested in resources for vegetarians that had began to eat meat again but wanted to become vegetarian again. She mentioned the cost strains of being a vegetarian in college and I shared with her some tips of how I shop inexpensively and prepare quick meals and healthy snacks to get through a busy day of classes.

As Carol said, her book is older than most of the students she shows this presentation to, revealing how pertinent these topics remain.

For more information on The Sexual Politics of Meat, please visit Carol Adams website: http://www.caroljadams.com/

You can purchase The Sexual Politics of Meat here.

To learn more about eating vegetarian/vegan on a budget, please visit:
http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2006issue2/2006_issue2_mealplans.php

http://www.vrg.org/blog/2011/11/08/vegetarian-and-vegan-living-in-your-twenties/

We’re working on an archiving project for The Tom Regan Animal Rights Archive at NC State University. We are in need of original copies of the below issues of the Baltimore Vegetarians Newsletter (VRG was originally Baltimore Vegetarians):

• 1982 Vol. 1 Issues 1 & 2
• 1983 Vol. 2 Issues 1, 3, & 12
• 1984 Vol. 3 Issues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6
• 1985 Vol. 4 Issue 3
• 1986 Vol. 5 Issues 7 & 11
• 1987 Vol. 6 Issis 6

If you have an original copy of any of these issues that you are willing to give to us to give to NC State, email us at [email protected] and let us know which issue(s) you have.

Please do not send the issues via mail without first contacting us in an effort to avoid receiving the same issue multiple times. Thank you! -Whitney Blomquist, VRG Intern

By Valerie Shore, VRG Intern

“Mainstream” and “Veganism” aren’t two words that people would always associate together, but Leilani Munter is working to close that gap. Leilani became vegetarian at only six years old and is now a newly reformed vegan ARCA racecar driver who is using her position to bring awareness to many environmental issues in her races. ARCA, the Automobile Racing Club of America, has a mix of both hobby and professional racers and is a regional stock car racing club, similar to NASCAR. Leilani advocates her issues of choice by having the outside of her car advertise them, so that they appear on-screen for all ARCA fans to see. It’s difficult to raise funds for advertising like this, but Leilani is determined to see her cars on the track.

Getting sponsorship is hard, Leilani claims. Since she is an activist who has such solid beliefs, companies shy away from supporting her. Leilani races maybe once a year, when she can get all of the different funds put together, because it does take a while. In February 2012, Leilani raced at Daytona with a race car decked out in messages about “The Cove,” the Academy Award-winning documentary about the dolphin and whale slaughter that is happening in Taiji, Japan. Leilani ended up having a tire on the car burst, but it actually ended up being a blessing in disguise – the downtime allowed the media to focus on her car and prompted discussion about the issue from the commentators. That’s why her newest project, a “Powered by Plants” race car, is so important for her. Essentially, the “Powered by Plants” race car will be a vegan-themed race car promoting a plant-based diet and bringing awareness about veganism to the fans of ARCA. Leilani hopes to be sponsored by vegan and Eco-friendly companies that agree with her cruelty-free message. She says she has always been more of an activist than just a driver, and refuses to sacrifice what she believes in for sponsorship.

In even more of an effort to dispel myths about the vegan community, Leilani also hopes to have a vegan chef present at the raceway when her “Powered by Plants” car races, preparing vegan food for all of the crowds at the stadium. She believes one of the best ways to getting through to non-vegetarians is through non-judgemental, friendly ways – and what’s more friendly than free food? Many of us have experienced times when someone will scoff at the idea of “vegetarian meat,” but the truth is that it’s good. When she was married, Leilani had an entirely cruelty-free reception, with all vegan food. She says that many of her guests were apprehensive, but afterwards came up to her and were surprised by how much they actually enjoyed the food. Leilani hopes that the crowds at her race will experience a similar epiphany, and perhaps reverse some of the stigmas they have about the vegan/vegetarian community.

However, one of the problems she’s facing is the fact that some vegan companies, according to her, aren’t willing to sponsor her pro-plant car because the audiences at ARCA aren’t in “their demographic.” “How else do you reach new customers if you don’t go outside of people who are probably already eating your product?” Leilani asks. But, she is not giving up on her “Powered by Plants” car. Leilani wants people to know the impact of what they choose to put on their plate and how meat alternatives can be sustainable options. To learn more about Leilani’s “Powered by Plants” race car, check out her website at http://leilanimunter.com.

By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS
VRG Research Director

With thirty locations in ten states and four international locations, Elevation Burger opened in 2005 as a fast-casual burger chain featuring 100% USDA Organic beef. For patrons looking for a meatless alternative, Elevation Burger has offered two veggie burgers from the beginning.

Veggie Burger #1’s ingredients are as follows: button mushrooms, onions, crimini mushrooms, portabella mushrooms, cooked brown rice, rolled oats, mozzarella cheese, water, bulgur, parsley, cheddar cheese. Contains 2% or less of yeast extract, natural flavor, modified vegetable gum, salt, mushroom extract, garlic powder, autolyzed yeast extract, spices, citric acid, malted barley, natural butter flavor, whey, dehydrated onion, annatto, dehydrated mushrooms, guar gum, natural smoke flavor, turmeric, soy lecithin.

Veggie Burger #2’s ingredients are as follows: organic cooked brown rice, water, organic corn, organic carrots, organic onions, organic green peppers, organic rolled oats, organic red bell peppers, organic soy protein isolate, organic canola oil, organic high oleic sunflower oil. Contains 2% or less of broccoli, sea salt, carrageenan, organic soy sauce, organic onion powder, konjac flour, organic garlic powder, organic spices.

We were told that all burgers are served on a potato roll containing the following ingredients: enriched unbleached wheat flour, water, yeast, sugar, potato flour, vital wheat gluten. Contains 2% or less of honey, vegetable oil, salt, guar gum, natural and artificial flavors, yeast nutrient (ammonium sulfate), dough conditioners (mono-diglycerides, sodium stearoyl lactylate, ascorbic acid, monocalcium phosphate, azodicarbonamide), calcium sulfate, enzymes, calcium propionate, yellow corn flour, turmeric, annatto.

Patrons may order either Veggie Burger #1 or #2 wrapped in iceberg lettuce instead of on a potato roll.

The veggie patties are grilled on a separate, specially designated surface away from all beef burgers. No oil is used. The same utensils are not used for both veggie and beef patties. Once sanitized, however, utensils previously used for meat products may be used for non-meat products. The kitchen contains a three-compartment sink that is used for all utensils.

Elevation Burger offers Elevation Sauce as an optional condiment for all of its burgers. Their Elevation Sauce is “…a creamy, tomato-based sauce that is not spicy or hot.” It contains eggs and is not vegan.

The caramelized onions offered as an optional condiment are prepared on the same grill surface as beef burgers.

Also on the menu is a grilled cheese sandwich served on the potato bun described above. Elevation Burger told us that the cheddar cheese is made with “microbial rennet, not animal rennet.”

Elevation Burger cuts its own potatoes and fries them in olive oil. There are no flavored coatings on the potatoes nor any flavorings in the oil. We were also told that no meat items are prepared in the same fryer.

Mandarin oranges are offered as a side dish at Elevation Burger. Cookies served at Elevation Burger contain eggs and butter.

Readers interested in learning more about Elevation Burger may visit: http://www.elevationburger.com

The contents of this article, our website, and our other publications, including the Vegetarian Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company employees or company statements. Information does change and mistakes are always possible. Please use your own best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. Further research or confirmation may be warranted.

To purchase our Guide to Food Ingredients, please visit our website: http://www.vrg.org/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=8

For information on food ingredients, fast food, and for other information of interest to vegetarians and vegans, please subscribe to our enewsletter at http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/

To support VRG research, you can donate at http://www.vrg.org/donate

There are many ways to stay connected to The Vegetarian Resource Group!
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By Natalie Evans

After recently working a booth for The Vegetarian Resource Group at a fair in Baltimore with our daughter and seeing the expressed interest of the public, I thought it only fair to try to help get The VRG fever spreading south! County fairs in Southern Maryland consist of tractor pulls, quilt competitions, baked goods, farm animals and of course dogs – that is, hot dogs!

When I initially contacted the liaison for the rental space he asked what business I was with so that he could place us accordingly. When I told him I was a volunteer for The VRG, he said “Hmmm, never heard of them, but I do know we have lots of vegetable eaters down here.” Immediately, I thought we had an in! The fair houses a commercial building where vendors can advertise to the public with free samples, magnets, pens and raffles. As we were setting up our table on Thursday night, worry set in as the table across from us was a Cake Shop with free samples. We had a basket of fresh vegetables on display but not for sampling, the competition was on!

With that in mind the fellow vegans and vegetarians were pleasantly surprised to see The VRG display. Along with the smiles and excitement we were also met by raised eyebrows from the local cattle and chicken farmers who got a laugh at removing the “Don’t” from the “Be kind to animals don’t eat them” bumper sticker. One local wanted to know if we could put a food stand up since the only food offered at the fair was mainly meat. This led to many interesting conversations. We learned of local farms who offer organic CSA’s to others sharing when to uproot sweet potatoes and what fall crop should be planted. Many shared their health improvement since switching to plant based diets.

To our surprise, based on the visitors who stopped at the booth to either gain information or share, all had one frequent comment, “Wow, this is exciting to see!” With limited resources in the rural area, many were excited to learn about VRG. Some took time to look through recipe books, while others signed up for The VRG email list or subscribed to the journal. We encouraged them to add their name to a sheet to form a local group of vegetarians and vegans.

Of all of the vendors distributing information at this fair, I left feeling that we had won the competition I had set that Thursday night. The visitors to The VRG were fed a wealth of information. We may not have been giving out sweet treats but I am certain that what we gave out will have a positive impact! We are hopeful that we can continue to spread the word throughout the community to help those who are interested~ thank you VRG for letting us help you help others!

If you would like to to volunteer in St. Mary’s Country Maryland, or do outreach booths in other parts of the country, please e-mail VRG’s outreach coordinator Mary at [email protected].