Please be aware, this post contains images that some poeple may find upsetting.

What is one supposed to think when you come to realise that something as innocent as a side portion of peas, or even a humble loaf of bread, could potentially be the result of numerous callous and unnecessary deaths.

I write this now, after witnessing something so distressing, it just sickened me….

A string of dead crows were strung between two poles, resembling something similar to clothes on a washing line. I stood there in shock, wanting to weep. It was the sort of thing you might expect to see in a horror film or a medieval history book but this was real! The usually scenic and beautiful public footpath, frequented by families with small children and dog walkers alike, was defiled by this horrific and disgusting spectacle.

By definition, if this is what some farmers do to protect their crops, can anything beyond what we grow ourselves be considered veg*n? Are we to begin relying solely on our own produce?

I understand the concept of veg*n farming, but up until now I haven’t really given it a second thought.

I would not describe myself as overly strict in that sense. For example, as long as vegans were suitably catered for, I would not avoid eating in a restaurant that served meat. Similarly, I do not avoid vegan products that state that milk may be present due to being made in a shared factory. I still uphold these principals but I believe we need to be aware and that something should be done in terms of how our crops are produced!

Put simply, if you abstain from animal products on the basis that you object to the killing of animals, then what makes it okay that animals are killed in the production of the vegetarian food that we eat.  The shooting of birds in order to protect crops, in my opinion, should follow the same guidelines used for allergy sufferers. The products should have to state, ‘not suitable for ***** due to the methods used in manufacture’.

Vegetarian (at least!) farming needs to be brought into the mainstream market! We should not have to worry whether the farmer shot birds that pecked at his crops or deer that grazed in his fields. In my opinion, veg*n farming should not be an alternative (like Organic farming) but instead, a necessity!

To some, it may seem a little eccentric, but if you follow any form of vegetarian diet on the grounds of ethics, or simply because you love animals, suddenly all of this becomes very relevant.

Please let me know your thoughts…