The uneatable in the unbelievable

For those seeking some real food the Birmingham Farmers Market runs throughout the year. Items such as:

- Range of honey related produce, jams and chutneys
- Dry Cured bacon, pork and gammon steaks and pork pies
- Cakes, scones and fudge plus seasonal fruits
- Homemade biscuits, cakes and preserves
- Traditional hand made cheeses
- Range of red and white wines
- Organic vegetables and fruits
- Aromatherapy and soaps
- Free range eggs
- Ciders, perry, fruit wine and juice
- Apples and pears
- Ostrich meat and grilled burgers
- Freshly baked breads
- Yoghurt, cream, butter, cheese and cheesecakes
- Free range rare breed packed meats and grilled snacks

Website below for dates

Under intensive farming, sows are kept for life in stalls so narrow they are unable to turn around. They never see the sun or roll in the mud. They must stand on concrete or wooden floors and are sometimes chained to the floor or wall (tethered). This is how they live each day, every day for their entire life.

Male pigs are ear-tagged, teeth clipped and their tails are cut off. They are crowded into darkened sheds until slaughtered at six months of age.

Pigs are clean, friendly and as intelligent as dogs, but no dog could be legally kept under these conditions.

Veganism Comes to the Heart of England

This June sees Birmingham host the year’s most unusual, cheerful celebration of positive living. Yes, the vegan revolution is coming to the second capital of England, courtesy of Realfood, a Wolverhampton-based national vegan education organisation. The latest edition of New Scientist commented on the vegan phenomenon in the UK, observing that “there is a rush towards vegetarianism and veganism in the UK.” And when New Scientist notices a trend, it is usually spot on! The festival will take place at the Birmingham Carling Academy, Dale End on Saturday 18th June from 9:30 am to 5 pm. You are invited to come and interview speakers (especially our keynote speaker - see below), stallholders, or members of the public on why they are visiting the festival. Food reviewers may also be interested in the wide range of vegan foods on offer. There should be many photo and interview opportunities, affording the chance to witness vegan martial artists, bodybuilders, etc.

So if you are interested in finding out more about veganism, why not come to the Heart of England Vegan Festival?

We have noted American author Joan Dunayer flying over to give the keynote address. As an ex-vivisector turned vegan, she will have plenty of insights into why people choose to reject cruelty. She is available for interview and will be signing copies of her groundbreaking books at the festival, including her most recent work, Speciesism.

We also have Pat Reeves, from Kingswinford, a local champion, talking about nutrition. Pat developed cancer 16 years ago and was given 6 weeks to live. Through treating herself holistically and following a vegan diet, she not only survived; she went on to become the British female champion power-lifter in her age and class for over a decade! This year she retained her title and is still fighting fit.

We have many other speakers and performers, covering all aspects of vegan living, from 85-year-old Joan Court, veteran campaigner for human and animal rights and colleague of Gandhi’s, who sailed out to save seals and whales with the Sea Shepherd earlier this year, to Rubber Richie, who is appearing in the next Harry Potter film. Richie will be performing his comedy brand of “extreme yoga” – something you have to see to believe. We also have vegan bodybuilders and the elite marathon runner Fiona Oakes, who as well as running an animal sanctuary is a retained firefighter and was the 30th woman over the line in this year’s London marathon – despite having broken ribs!

And, of course, there is the food. Come to watch cookery exhibitions, try free samples, or treat yourself to Caribbean vegan cuisine, sushi, lasagne, vegan cheeseburgers, or delicious cakes – which, being vegan, have no saturated fat or cholesterol in them!

If you want a full list of speakers, performers, stall holders, events, etc., then contact Mary Brady from Realfood for further information. Check also the festival website for the line-up www.veganfestivals.org.uk and other information about the festival.

If you wish to interview any of the performers, speakers, or writers at the festival or beforehand, then email  mary@realfood.org.uk or phone 0845 458 0146.

*Sponsored by the Vegan Society, Redwood Foods, and the Cocoa Tree (chocolate company)*

vegan food = proper tasty
good on you, looks like a good festival

A Vegan festival - wow ! Will Mr Spock be there ?

> A Vegan festival - wow ! Will Mr Spock be there ?

hahaha ... Incredible!!!

Some knobhead has posted who seriously seems to believe that vegans are literally from another planet!

wad' a fella!

Incredible!

heh heh heh!!!!

It IS true, you people are just as iliterate as the activists on the anti-war sites.

at least vegans can spell, blood breath...

"Illiterate" has two l's. Sometimes you just couldn't make these things up... I don't pretend to be a perfect speller, but if I was going to accuse someone of being illiterate I would run it through a spell checker first!

The festival was a roaring success by the way, and we have had many new vegan buddies sign up, which was the whole point of the day.

Surely Gordon Ramsey can't really be so scared of veganism that he would bother to post here? Someone is having a laugh. Mr Ramsey is obviously far too busy cooking dead pigs to bother with the likes of us! Surely he is far too important a tv celebrity and failed footballer to bother with us. His employees are paid for him to call them names, isn't in their contract somewhere?