A Day at the Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary

“Your neighbors must think you’re nuts,” said one of my fellow guests.

“Oh yeah,” said one of the operators of Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary, “but that’s how we know we’re doing the right thing. It’s once we start fitting in that we’d have to worry.”



It’s strange that we live in a culture where doing the right thing is considered eccentric. If you quit your lucrative private sector job to become a social worker, for example, a lot of people will think you’re damn crazy—including some of those very people you’re helping with your social work. (Side note: My brother is a social worker who helps at-risk youth. Certain members of those at-risk youth make fun of him for driving a car that’s far from its prime. His response? “At least I have a car.”) If you make a concerted effort not to watch television, a lot of people resent the hell out of you for even mentioning it. And if you eschew the flesh and milk of animals because you think it’s unnecessary and wrong, a whole lot of people will find your decision detestable, and they won’t hesitate to say so.

But doing the right thing has never been easy. And that’s why people who make personal sacrifices in order to do the right thing never cease to impress the hell out of me. So when I spent an afternoon at a “Veganize It!” cooking class at the Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary, I couldn’t help but admire all the folks who ran the place. They’re kindhearted souls who have devoted their lives to creating a refuge for rescued farm animals, such as goats, llamas, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and other animals not commonly accepted at shelters. And while the cooking class was geared towards those at the beginning of veganism—and not seasoned vegan cooking professionals like myself—the experience was nonetheless soul-rewarding.

Check them out online:

http://www.peacefulprairie.org/

If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, consider donating.
They have a lot of mouths to feed!

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