As we each come to terms with the way of life that we now have to face with this extraordinary turn of events, there is an overwhelming sense of fear. What will happen to my job, how will I pay for the basics, and what will we eat? Let us face the fear together in an enormously productive and simple way – let’s each plant a vegetable patch. This provides us not only with food for all our family (our pets included of course), but to garden is possibly one of the most therapeutic things one could do.
Gardening enables you to live for the moment and find necessary peace as you can see colour and natural shapes around you, hear the birds and insects, feel the texture of the ground and soil, smell the earthy nourishment and sweet scent of flowers….and eventually taste what you have produced knowing it is full of essential goodness.
If you have no access to a patch of garden, start on a windowsill or patio with potted herbs and sprouts. Maybe find out who gardens at your local allotment, and if they happen to be elderly and are self-isolating, offer to maintain it for them and share the produce.
We are moving into summer with longer daylight times and warmth around the corner. With schools and universities now shut, this is the perfect time to plan your vegetable garden as a family and spend some quality, valuable moments together.
What nutrients can we grow?
The vegetables that we are mentioning are particularly important for your dog, but we would benefit from eating them all too!
Fast growing lettuce, carrots, green beans, runner beans, peas and turnips
Beetroot where we use the whole plant – including the valuable greens that are full of nutrients
Cabbage, broccoli, swiss chard and kale – all so full of calcium
Sweetcorn that grows so fast as the weather warms up
Sunflowers not only for their beauty, but their valuable nutrient rich seeds
Leafy healthy spinach and rocket
Quinoa can even be grown as explained here – A rewarding and nutritious plant to grow
Esther the Wonder Pig
This is a picture of a sixteen year old girl that is under more pressure than any of us can likely even fathom, enjoying a quiet day with a pig she loves, with cupcakes and a smile on their faces
An Emotional Day
As a vet, I experienced an emotional rollercoaster of a day and for the first time in my 25 years as a vet; I crumbled into a crying mess
Shouldn’t we all eat what we feed our chickens?
When it comes to sustainability in our food choices to ensure a future for both ourselves and the animals around us, the proof is out there that a plant-based diet is the healthiest
Get rid of the dog!
The contestants had no idea that the family dog, fed two predominantly animal meat-based meals a day, was contributing to more carbon emissions that either the car or the human family meals!
A message of hope
It’s a reminder for us all that giant leaps often start with small steps
Game Changers Changing Dog Food
FINALLY WE HAVE SCIENCE TO PROVE THAT EATING WHAT WE FEED THESE ANIMALS IS FAR HEALTHIER FOR US THAN FEEDING OFF THEIR MUSCLE!!
Mars petfood said to be developing a meat-free pet food!
I am very excited to read that the multi-national food corporate Mars who own Pedigree and Whiskas pet foods, are finally concerned about the environmental impact of farming and are looking at meat substitutes for pet food!
The life of a dairy cow
This may be one of the hardest posts I will ever write but as a vet, a mother and now a vegan, I feel that everyone has a right to know about the life of a dairy cow
Ruff goes on holiday!
The joy you feel on holiday with your pets who are enjoying themselves is immense
The most delicious date loaf ever
I looked up a recipe online as I was concerned that maybe I wouldn’t be able to enjoy a delicious date loaf again now that I am vegan…..how wrong I was!
Our human food has shaped our dog’s gut microbiome
We tend to feed our pets on the foods that we like – yes we are all guilty of it!
Whatever it takes
My journey to find the ideal balanced plant-based food for our little dog has been fraught with stress as my husband (also a vet but also a complete perfectionist) is in denial with
