The 7TH Annual Richmond Vegetarian Festival was held at Bryan Park earlier this year. This local park is huge and wildlife friendly! Bryan Park is a 262-acre local park that has had preservation, since 1994 by local citizens. To learn more about Bryan Park and the vast area, please visit “The Friends of Bryan Park”.
Welcome to the Festival!
The festival this year had several vendors on hand for the local community to gather and celebrate vegetarianism! Here in Virginia, local small business vendors and nonprofit organization are not as well known or advertised as heavily as larger corporation entities. The reality is a number of them do rely heavily on word of mouth or as much free advertising as possible. It is the small businesses that are attempting to thrive in a corporation world!
However, this festival was not just for local vendors. The festival included different nonprofit organizations to help promote further awareness in Virginia to a number of different causes that go hand-n-hand, vegans, Vegetarian Society of Richmond, and the average concerned citizens.
Visiting all of the vendors and organizations was a pleasure. Having a chance to speak with those that are consciously aware that every action we take does have a direct result on our environment. Awareness of our surroundings, tools and/or benefits, is with everyone!
In no particular order, here are few vendors and nonprofit organizations that grasped the festival, at least from one person’s point of view! These really stuck out because of their passion for what they do, provide, and the type of good ol’ customer service that is rarely seen anymore.
Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force (Nonprofit)
This vendor is actually made up of Animal Control Officers, local Law Enforcement, prosecutors and attorneys, that helps in taking action against owners who are cruel and inhuman to there pets, domestic and some livestock. They encourage the public to report such actions as they become aware, or witnessed.
Abuse of any kind is very hard to digest. Here in Virginia, the realization that awareness and knowing that there is somewhere to go with information does exist. This nonprofit organization brought it to everyone’s attention. It is not just after effects of prosecution.
As it says in the brochure, “We are here to tell you that it [animal fighting] happens everywhere in both rural and urban areas. There is no protocol for an animal fighter, they are both men and woman, rich, poor and in between. They are parents and church goers, business men and woman, and often times your everyday average person.”
Animal Adoption and Rescue Foundation, Inc. (Nonprofit)
This nonprofit organization founded in 1993; traditionally, it is known as AARF. The uniqueness of AARF: they are a no-kill animal foundation for dogs and have a program in place to help learning of the dog(s) personality, likes and dislikes – to best match them with potential owners!
AARF!
Searching for an animal to love and cherish, is never easy, but neither is determining if you want to adopt a pet. Best advice ever: challenge yourself. Learn that it means to adopt. Understand that the pet is going to be just as nervous as you are in a new environment. Understand that the potential adopted pet may have suffered cruelty at some point, and has under gone rehabilitation. If adoption is just not for you, then see about volunteer work. It is a fantastic way to support a worthy cause.
Cary Town Teas (Vendor)
What a discovery! Tea is a delicious, relaxing, and filling beverage. Here in Virginia, it gets very hot and humid, and most of us know how to make sweet tea to cool us down and relax a little. However, after just learning about this shop and speaking with the owner/operator, I am sorely tempted to just purchase on a regular bases! Hearing the enthusiasm for the variety of teas that were brought for the masses to taste was excellent. Knowing the types and qualities of the different teas is hard to master. The whole, “this taste good,” “don’t drink that,” to the “Wow, what a drink!” is experienced. It appears that this owner is up to speed on quality tea!
The vendor also had a mild selection of tea accessories. There were varying sizes and shapes of tea strainers. For the consumer who makes his or her own tea, this is a great find! Moreover, instead of using a regular old kitchen whisk to mix up the tea, a bamboo whisk making that job 100% easier! So if you love tea – visit the selection!
CaryTown Tea!
NIKKEN – Wellness (Vendor/Health Consultants)
Being healthy is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Having awareness of our body is what can keep us one-step out of a doctor’s office. However, when you have to go to a doctor, it is usually too late to stave off that cold, aliment, containment or even the compounded effects from the current or previous way of living. (Smoking or diet habits are the best examples)
The movement is on in the Richmond, Virginia area to bring awareness of alternative methods of healing to the masses. The reason being: there just cannot be a pill for everything. Our own environment has a lot to do with our physical body’s health. While speaking with an independent consultant, there was information shared about magnets and uses within/out of our body. There was even information about a method to magnetize water and the benefits that causes. Additionally, the health of our bones and what products they have to offer was discussed as well! All of this is important – no matter what age you happen to be. Thinking now about how to stay healthy, fit, and in balance, is very important to learn at any age and this seems like it would be a great place to get started.
Remember: We are what we eat!
Now, these are just a very small few that were at the festival to display their cause, passion, or small business. The overall promotion is that of the vegan lifestyle and society in Richmond, Virginia. Promoting awareness of how livestock is treated. Promoting of what just one person can do for his or her part.
Speaking first hand, this is a much better lifestyle that has gradually taken form with my husband and me. Just a few months ago, in fact almost a year ago, we had been avid lovers of meat, chicken, or the usually variety of fish and seafood. However, by revolutionizing our diet and standards to meet the changing economy, we found that our health improved three fold in a short amount of time. It was not until later that we began to look at what goes into the treatment of livestock, our pets’ food, water, or other ready resources, that we took an even bigger step back to grasp the whole picture. The festival had good, informational vendors, speakers, and literature on hand to further expand this lifestyle. While it is still not fully accepted or respected, it is coming to the area at large.
Enjoy the pictures!
Rikki's!
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