THE VEGAN NEWS

APRIL 1999


The Vegan News is written and edited by P M Lloyd. Please e-mail your contributions to the editor at: pauline@bury-rd.demon.co.uk or fill in the form provided.


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In This Month's Issue:


Recipe of the Month

Here are some more tasty breakfast ideas:

Raw Muesli

Ingredients

Method

  1. Place the muesli base in a dish and add the water and raisins. Leave to soften in the fridge overnight.
  2. Divide the muesli base mixture between two bowls. Top with the grated apple and the chopped banana.
  3. Add a small amount of orange juice to moisten, if necessary. Top with vegan yoghurt and/or fruit compote (optional).
  4. Finally, sprinkle on the coconut, wheatgerm, cinnamon, seeds etc. Enjoy!

Recipe Serves 2 - But increase the amounts if you have a big appetite!

Note: Yeo Valley Organic Fruit Compote (apple, blackcurrant, strawberry and blackberry flavour) goes well with this raw muesli and can be poured over the muesli as a special treat. It's made entirely from organically grown fruit, but does contain some sugar.

Home-made Muesli

Rather than buying ready-made muesli I usually make up my own and store it in a large jar, so that it's ready for use. I make it using Suma organic muesli base (containing wheatflakes,oats, barley and jumbo oats) and add chopped brazil nuts, sultanas (or raisins) and sunflower seeds - all organic of course and usually from Neal's Yard. It's also possible to add chopped, dried fruit - dates, apricots, figs, whatever's available and you can also add coconut flakes and vegan banana chips. The main advantage of making up your own muesli is that you can make it just how you want it and of course it's sugar-free. An even easier way to do it, is to simply provide all of the ingredients and let everyone make up their own!

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Readers' Contributions

I am a 23 year old mother of two. I have been a vegan for over 5 years now and have been pregnant and raised children, one on a completely vegan diet. My children are extremely healthy, only three stuffy noses ever and I attribute this to their vegan diet. I would like to let other young, pregnant mothers and people alike, know that it's completely safe to maintain a vegan diet, especially with children.

Simone Weaver, Fairfax, USA.

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April Product Review

This Month - Hair Products:

Wooden Quilled Brush

A rather nice wooden hair brush which is ideal for grooming medium/thick hair of all lengths. Made from beech wood which has been produced in well-managed forests and certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council, this brush has flexible non-animal bristles which are set into a rubber pad. My hair is long and gets quite knotty - especially when I cycle in the wind - yet I have been really pleased with this brush, as it removes the tangles painlessly. And because the bristles are flexible they are able to take the strain and don't keep snapping off like the ones on my old brush!

This brush is available from The Body Shop and costs £7.95. Note: There are several types of beech brushes available which are suitable for different hair types.

Dessert Essence Daily Replenishing Shampoo With Tea Tree and Lavender Oil

Another animal-free hair product. This shampoo can be used on all hair types and is said to be good for the scalp because it contains Babassu oil, a cleanser obtained from the rainforest. Bursting with essential oils - lavender, rosemary, geranium and tea tree, it does leave the hair clean and shiny and has a thick, creamy texture which makes it easy to apply. I must admit I found the smell rather too powerful for my liking, but fortunately it wore off quite quickly to leave 'the sweet smelling freshness' mentioned on the bottle! This product has 'The Beauty Without Cruelty Seal Of Approval' and contains no animal ingredients, alcohol or synthetic colours/perfumes. Rather expensive at £3.99 for a 240 ml bottle. I purchased mine in Holland & Barretts.

Incidentally, if any male readers would like to review some male, vegan hair products, then any reviews I receive will be published in a later issue.

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Vegan Campaigns

Hillside Animal Sanctuary Appeal

From Easter, The Hillside Animal Sanctuary will be located entirely in Frettenham, on its original site at Hill Top Farm. Recently the whole of Hill Top Farm has become available for use as an animal sanctuary and so Hillside's second animal sanctuary (based at Bridge Farm in Downham) is now being closed down. Funds are urgently needed in order to build some new facilities for the rehoused animals at Hill Top Farm - for example 'a bunny haven', a fox-proof pond for the ducks and new shelters for cows and horses. If you would like to make a donation to this appeal, then cheques/postal orders should be made payable to 'Hillside Animal Sanctuary Ltd' and should be sent to: Hillside Animal Sanctuary, Hall Lane, Frettenham, Norwich NR12 7LT. Donations can also be made by visa, by phoning 01603 891227. You may also like to read my earlier review on Hillside Animal Sanctuary.

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What's Happening in the Veganic Garden This Month?

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Top Ten Favourite Butterfly Nectar Plants:

  1. Buddleia - The favourite nectar plant of 18 species of butterfly. Try Buddleia davidii (lilac and white varieties are best) or B. x weyeriana.
  2. Ice Plant (Sedum spectabile) - A good source of autumn nectar. Can attract 25 species of butterfly.
  3. Lavender - Try Lavandula angustifolia as not all species of lavender will attract butterflies. Thirty species of butterflies have been recorded feeding on Lavender - the Whites are particularly fond of it.
  4. Michaelmas Daisy - Also autumn flowering. Try 'Barrs Pink' variety, or a variety supplied by John Chambers, as not all types are attractive to butterflies.
  5. Oregano (Wild Marjoram) - Oregano vulgare. Popular with bees too. Grows well in containers. I have always found this plant particulary good at attracting butterflies in my garden. Incidentally, it's also used as a caterpillar food plant by the Large Heath and the Large Blue.
  6. Aubretia - A good source of spring nectar. Lovely purple flowers. Try 'Purple Cascade'.
  7. Red Valerian - The Pink variety is most attractive to butterflies.
  8. French Marigold - Try the variety 'Naughty Marietta' or the dwarf variety - both are sold by John Chambers.
  9. Hebe - Try 'Great Orme' or 'Midsummer Beauty' and Hebe albicans, H. brachysiphon and H. x fransiscana are also popular with butterflies.
  10. Candytuft - Use Iberis amara or I. umbellata. This plant varies in its attractiveness to butterflies, but it is well worth trying.

Other good butterfly nectar plants include: *Ivy, hyssop, scabious, privet, dandelion, teasel, globe thistle, statice, lilac and bird's-foot trefoil.

*Note: I have lots of ivy in my garden and it is always covered with feeding Red Admirals in the autumn; birds like the berries too.

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Vegan Organisation Review

If any vegan organisation would like to be reviewed in this section, then please email: pauline@bury-rd.demon.co.uk.

The following organisations have been reviewed in earlier issues:

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Other Interesting Vegan Websites

The Vegan Society (UK)

An excellent site and a particularly good starting point for obtaining information, for the new or intending vegan. You can now visit their online shop or become a member.

World Animal Net

World Animal Net produces the World Animal Directory - a worldwide listing of over 6,000 animal welfare organisations. You can also find out about their campaigns nd read their book reviews.

Second Vegan Festival

Find out all about the second vegan festival which is being held at the Camden Centre in London, on the 15th August 1999. Write the date in your diary now and don't miss it!

Ethical Consumer

Ever wanted to know how ethical a company is? Well now you can find out at this site. It's also possible to read a sample of Ethical Consumer magazine here, or visit the 'Clean Clothing Directory' - a directory which lists a variety of fairtraded and/or ecologically-friendly clothing outlets in the UK. (Please note: this is not a vegan website and that not all of the products offered are vegan.)

Plants for a Future

Plants for a Future is a resource centre for rare and unusual plants, particularly those which have edible, medicinal or other uses. Read their on-line leaflets on plant use, or browse the database of over 7,000 species of useful plants.

Green Energy

This site is maintained by Friends of the Earth and has plenty of energy-saving tips, as well as information on sources of renewable energy. You may also like to visit Friends of the Earth's Genetically Engineered Food site.

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April Book Review

Gardening For Butterflies by Dr Margaret Vickery (Butterfly Conservation).

This concise and nicely illustrated booklet clearly explains why we need to provide habitats for butterflies and why we should garden organically. Containing plenty of tips on how to set up a butterfly area in your garden, this book details the most popular butterfly and caterpillar plants and provides colour photos and information on many of the butterflies which are likely to be seen visiting gardens in the UK. It includes planting plans for gardens of various sizes, as well as information about the butterfly plants which can be grown successfully in containers, tubs or window boxes, perhaps on a patio or balcony. If you would like to set up your own butterfly area, then a copy of this booklet (plus a copy of the John Chamber's Wildflower Seed Catalogue!) will be all you need to get started. Gardening for Butterflies can be purchased from Butterfly Conservation and from the Organic Gardening Catalogue (£5.50). (See this month's article for address details.)

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Copyright © Pauline Lloyd 1999