Farm Fest @ Maple Farm Sanctuary 2011

This past Sunday, Maple Farm Sanctuary in Mendon, MA hosted Farm Fest, a festival-fundraiser and celebration where the rescued animals are the stars for the day. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness and money to help provide veterinary care, housing, food , and a peaceful life for the animal residents, who have come from factory-farm conditions and/or were previously abused, neglected or abandoned. 

The event featured music, yoga sessions for kids & grown-ups, children's activities, reiki/massage/healings, vendors from various animal welfare organizations and other non-profits. VegWorcester was among the groups tabling, handing out outreach literature, selling vegan books, pins and t-shirts. A VegWorcester-led group even rode their bikes from Worcester to the event! *high fives* Some of the same folks who were at Worcester VegFest were also at Farm Fest, including Massachusetts Animal Rights Coalition, Vegetable Circus doing a fun kid-friendly show, and Like No Udder vegan soft-serve ice cream truck, just to name a few.

Whole Foods (Bellingham, MA) gave out free plates of healthy vegan food to FarmFest attendees. The highlight was a colorful salad with greens and berries, topped with tofu and a strawberry dressing. They also served up what I think was a quinoa/eggplant mix, cannellini beans and veggies, bread with two choices of hummus, and completed it with PopChips Salt & Pepper potato chips, and bottles of Adina Holistics Herbal Elixir. 

Some of us got a chance to visit with the baby chicks the sanctuary just received from a local post office where someone had mailed them. Its scary to think that live birds can be legally shipped through the mail and what might have happened in transit. The chicks were so small, sweet and fragile! They ran around excited and eager, happy to feel the freedom of their new peaceful farm life.

Some of the residents on the farm include animals like goats, cows, pigs, llamas, chickens and even a mini horse! It was inspiring to see how happy and relaxed the animals were, and inspiring to see the important work going on at Maple Farm. I encourage you to like their Facebook page, visit the farm, donate and volunteer! I am definitely excited to visit the farm again soon and find a way to help out.

Here's a video I shot at Farm Fest. Music is live audio from Brief Awakening's performance at the event, and also Nick Drake's "Horn" towards the end, following a quick thank-you message from Cheri, (co-founder of Maple Farm Sanctuary.)

Loving Hut Buffet Anniversary In Review

 Last Saturday, VegWorcester celebrated the one year anniversary of VegWorcester vegan buffet fundraisers held at the Loving Hut on Chandler Street. It was one of the the busiest vegan buffets since the location began their partnership with VegWorcester, back when they were still called Buddha Hut. With customers waiting at the door to be seated, and staff scrambling to find tables to seat all of the guests, it was a jam-packed afternoon.

Drew Wilson presented The Loving Hut owner and staff with a certificate of appreciation for one year of fundraisers and support on behalf of all of the VegWorcester community. It has been amazing to see so many people at the buffet fundraisers this year, participating in and encouraging vegan businesses thriving in Worcester. The Loving Hut has become one of the hubs for the local vegetarian-vegan community to gather, enjoy good food and promote compassion for animals. They have served food at a wide variety of local events, including Worcester’s own first annual Vegfest last Spring.

There were all kinds of fun things going on at Saturday’s $10 all-you-can-eat fundraiser. As usual, 10% of all the buffet sales were donated to VegWorcester and the buffet spread was well rounded with rice and noodle dishes, a variety of delicious mock meats, fresh veggie roll-ups, soup, and fruit. Many took part in the free raffle and won a host of goodies like vegan recipe books, gift certificates, t-shirts and more.  The former Barely Legal Treats vegan bakery made yummy free vegan cupcakes in a variety of flavors for guests who arrived early enough to snag one!

You may have noticed Supreme Master TV representatives were on location, filming portions of the event. They were hard to miss! “Supreme Master Television is an international, non-profit channel airing constructive news and programs that foster peace and promote healthy, green living.” Their motto is “Be Veg, Go Green, Save the Planet!” The TV reps interviewed several VegWorcester members, asking questions about the buffet fundraisers, their personal interest in going veg, community events, environmental issues and animal welfare.

VegWorcester would like to thank everyone who came out to show their support for The Loving Hut, and who continue to spread the word about local vegan eateries, outreach and community events. We couldn’t do it without you!

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cross-posted @ (http://vegworcester.com/2010/11/17/loving-hut-buffet-anniversary-in-review)