by Gene
This week marked an important milestone for farm animals. Martha Stewart, America’s domestic icon and the woman who wrote the book on modern living, devoted an entire hour-long episode of “The Martha Stewart Show” (Hallmark Channel, 10 AM ET/9 AM C) to the pleasures and benefits of living a compassionate vegan lifestyle. I was honored to be a part of this groundbreaking show, along with my good friends and fellow vegans Twitter Co-Founder Biz Stone, who will serve as the Honorary Chair of Farm Sanctuary’ s 25th Anniversary Gala in Los Angeles on September 24, and health and wellness guru Kathy Freston, author of the New York Times best-seller Veganist.
Millions of viewers watched as Biz showed Martha how to prepare one of his favorite vegan dishes — Seitan Bourguignon — and told her about how his life changed after visiting the New York Shelter of Farm Sanctuary and looking into the eyes of a cow. They listened as Kathy explained why our bodies are better able to process plant-based foods rather than animal-based ones. With humor, personal anecdotes and factual expertise, Biz and Kathy showed Martha — and the people watching at home across the U.S. — how fun and easy veganism can be.
For my part, viewers were introduced to Persia, the sheep who Martha adopted through our Adopt-A-Farm Animal Project back in February, and the life she’s enjoying at Farm Sanctuary. I talked about the horrific treatment of animals on factory farms and how eating plants instead of animals is the best way people can protect them from this abuse. I told Martha about my dear friend Opie, who I found as a calf dying of hypothermia at a stockyard with a temperature so low it wouldn’t even register on the thermometer. Viewers saw incredible “before” and “after” photos of Opie, who with proper care and support pulled through and grew up to weigh nearly 3,000 pounds and to enjoy a long, happy life at Farm Sanctuary.
When programs like “The Martha Stewart Show” devote valuable air-time to the plight of farm animals and the benefits of veganism, a powerful message is planted in the public consciousness demonstrating that these issues are important and worthy of our consideration. Stewart has built a media empire based on her uncanny ability to influence the tastes and opinions of consumers. When she speaks about the importance of showing compassion for farm animals, millions of people — many of whom may never have considered these issues before — listen. Some might decide to go vegan right on the spot while others may decide to “lean into” veganism — as Kathy so wisely puts it — by reducing the amount of animal products they consume. All of this is progress and means that less animals will suffer. Martha Stewart’s vegan show was a major event, as a mainstream audience was exposed to compassionate living ideas, and that’s a very good thing.
Martha Stewart does not normally impress me. But This is impressive.
What a beautiful show!
Posted by: Carolyn | April 01, 2011 at 10:23 AM
I made the vegan beef borgounion last night...fantastic!!
Posted by: Heather | April 01, 2011 at 03:34 PM
Wow !! That is great news ! Thank you Martha Stewart for airing this show.
Posted by: Susan Johnson | April 02, 2011 at 02:15 AM
This episode was the only full episode of Martha I have ever watched, and my opinion of her skyrocketed after viewing it. More so when I learned that she is an adoptive parent of a Farm Sanctuary animal (we have adopted two...so far!)!
I appreciated that the show was so positive and not "fringe" or preachy. What a great day for animals and veganism alike - congratulations!
Posted by: Christina | April 02, 2011 at 12:13 PM
Love it! Go Gene go! Keep the momentum going! xoxo MA
Posted by: MA Moore | April 08, 2011 at 05:15 PM
I see you there. Wow congratulations!
What a hudge step for Vegans, I didn't know her but when I stumble upon her videos on youtube I was sorry she didn't teach Vegan meals.
I'm glad slowly we reach the time that we'll not only look for vegan recipes online but tv will open a space to us.
Posted by: Obsessed With Animals | April 29, 2011 at 06:13 PM
i absolutely loved your vegan show, martha. thank you. i just
wanted to tell you about the wine
that was used in the beef borgounion. i dont know what type of wine was used, but many wines are not vegan or even vegetarian. i love wine and i have been searching for that yummy
vegan wine. most wines are made with animal-derived ingredients to assist in the processing of the wine. the ingredient is isinglass. it is a pure form of gelatin from sturgeon fish bladders, also gelatine from boiled cow's or pig's hooves and sinews. also, egg whites(or albumin) and caeins (protein from milk). sorry wine lovers. i was
shocked myself when i found this out. i have found some vegan wines. there are many web sites
you can visit to find them. p.s.
beer also is not vegan. there are a few, but the hops and left overs are sent to factory farms. super bummer when i found out.
but anyways, super great show martha. you are too cool. keep on vegan on! vanji
Posted by: vanji | August 04, 2011 at 09:43 PM