Last month I had an interaction with someone who leaned toward what I would consider an extreme point of view - “meat is murder” — and anything otherwise is wrong. 🤪 Personally, I find that stance slightly disconnected from reality. There is no such thing as a “death-free” diet. Eating only plants in no way equates to “no animals were harmed.” I also consider it unrealistic to assume that imposing a single dietary ideology on the entire global population would be naturally viable or sustainable for the planet — particularly if it must depend heavily on industrial agriculture, chemical fertilizers, and intensive soil disturbance. There is no one size fits all scenario. We are all innately different and have every right to make our own decisions about how we nourish ourselves.

A plant based food system would favour large-scale monocrops — soy, corn, wheat, canola, — which rely heavily on tilling/plowing. This practice both displaces and kills wildlife including rodents, birds, insects, and soil organisms. So before a seed is even planted, the death-free diet claim has gone out the window. Not to mention, many of these crops are also GMO and sprayed with synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, including glyphosate (a topic worthy of its own post — and we will go there one day 😉). The idea that plant agriculture is inherently harmless simply doesn’t hold up when we take a wholistic stance.

Another point, is that there is a difference between calories and nourishment. Much of the modern “food” offers ultra-processed calories, not true nutrient density. And there is more money to be made in systems reliant on agro-chemicals and patentable ingredients than in localized, regenerative models.

I also believe there has been a strong push toward plant-based diets from large industry and the media — framed around health of environment, animal welfare, being better for us, feeding the growing global population, etc. Since our current global food system depends heavily on industrial chemical agriculture I do not believe it could support a fully vegetarian or vegan global population without deepening that reliance.(Did Trump not just do this?) And I certainly do not want to touch any lab cultured “food” nor do I want to eat insects. And I do not want to rely on a “global food system” I want to build resilient food systems within our local community. Connecting to the farmers and food producers in the Ottawa Valley and beyond….

Historically, geography matters as well. There has never been a large-scale, long-term vegan civilization independent of trade and modern supplementation. Human diets have always adapted to local ecosystems. Arctic populations relied on marine mammals and fish. Pastoral societies across Africa, Central Asia, and Europe depended on livestock. Agrarian civilizations combined crops with animals for manure, traction, and nutrient cycling. In cold or arid regions with short growing seasons, animal foods were often essential for survival. Even today, vast rangelands cannot support crop production but can sustain grazing animals that convert inedible grasses into nutrient-dense food. Historically vegetarian (not vegan) cultures are more common near the equator, where growing seasons are constant.

Nutritionally, many people can now thrive on a carefully planned vegan diet in the modern world, but doing so typically requires supplementation, especially vitamin B12, and sometimes iron, iodine, or long-chain omega-3s. Supplements are expensive, and in order to maintain optimal health on a long term vegan diet, will require a significant monetary output. This is another reason, that this ideology in particular is not feasible for everyone.

Protein and fat are foundational to human biology — supporting bones, muscles, organs, and brain function. Animal proteins contain complete amino acid profiles, whereas plant proteins are often incomplete. The human brain is especially rich in fat and relies on adequate protein to manufacture countless essential molecules, like hormones. I came across an interesting point in Vegetarianism Explained by Natasha Campbell-McBride: the author talks about signs of a nutrient-starved brain. She notes a lack of nuance - everything becomes matter of fact - black-and-white - I’m right and you’re wrong (sound familiar?) Another notable sign is a diminished sense of humour. 🙃 I am certainly not categorizing all vegans in this way — far from it — but I do think the topic deserves nuance rather than ideology.

Which brings me to one of my favorite sayings:
“It’s not the cow, it’s the how.”

Not all farming practices can be lumped under the same categories. Beef farming varies dramatically depending on the model. Industrial feedlots carry undeniable environmental costs as well as being less humane. Regenerative agricultural practices, however, have a beneficial impact to the health of the environment. Through rotational grazing, cattle mimic natural herd movements, stimulating plant growth, increasing root depth, and improving soil structure. Healthy soils rich in organic matter act as carbon sinks - storing carbon, retaining water more effectively, and supporting more biodiversity.

All that said, I am not here to force steak down anyone’s throat. I believe we each have the right to choose the diet that best suits our body, culture, ethics, and circumstances — Paleo, Keto, Carnivore, Vegetarian, Vegan, or otherwise.

The modern Western world has given many of us the privilege to choose any dietary frameworks at any time of year. Every body is different. Our needs change over time. There is no shame in adjusting, evolving, or experimenting. Autonomy over our sacred vessel matters.

Thank you for listening to my humble opinion on a very complex and layered topic.

This is the perfect segue to a VENDOR SPOTLIGHT!

Vendor Spotlight: Amber Payne of Arc Acres Farm

You can find Amber at the Ottawa Farmers' Market most weekends.

Amber supplies our grass-finished beef and organic pasture-raised pork. Arc Acres practices regenerative agriculture with the goal of producing nutrient-dense food while actively rebuilding soil and ecosystems.

Amber grew up in a farming family and is now working her family’s fourth-generation farm. She raises cattle and pigs and grows herbs and vegetables to sustain herself year-round. With experience in forestry and training as a nutritionist, she approaches farming — and life — holistically.

If you have met her in person, you know how passionate she is. She welcomes thoughtful questions about her farming practices and loves educating the community.

Arc Acres is also my exclusive source for beef suet, which I render into the tallow products many of you have come to know and love. We deeply respect what Amber stands for and are proud to carry her products under our roof.