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Looking for a jolt of that good time veggie energy? More enduring than of a shot of spirulina (and without the disagreeable aftertaste), the best source would have to be Vegetarian Summerfest, an annual convention filled wall-to-wall with so many inspirational stories and individuals that one could probably thrive on the collective enthusiasm until the next gathering, like a camel stockpiles water. Sponsored by the North American Vegetarian Society, this was Vegan Street's first foray into the wild world of for-profit booth management, and we had such a wonderful time that our presence next year is virtually guaranteed. Summerfest is five days of lectures, cooking demos and discussion groups, not to mention remarkable vegan food, but, to indulge in a cliché, it's so much more than that. The best part of the conference is meeting hundreds of others who are either already committed to the meatless lifestyle, or interested enough to learn about it. Also dining across the table from those whom you've long admired, people like Howard Lyman, Gene Bauston, Rae Sikora and Joanne Stepaniak, was an extraordinary but strangely commonplace occurrence. In fact, meals were usually a highlight for us at Vegan Street, and not entirely because of the amazing food (I swear!); sitting down to eat was a great communal experience, and the most memorable conversations took usually place around the tables scattered throughout the dining room. I often wished I could divide myself up among those tables, and listen to what I'm certain were dozens of fascinating conversations.
Viva la Summerfest! Until next year... |
Alas, I had to content myself with having a singular existence.
I was fortunate enough, though, to sit at a table with George
Eisman, registered dietitian and author of The Most Noble Diet, a book that extolls the benefits of veganism, as he talked about
the kind of foods he likes to eat at home in upstate New York.
Describing himself as somewhat of a forager, he told us that he
often picks sorrel near his home and eats it raw. There were some
at the table who were unfamiliar with sorrel, so he ran off to
the nearby wooded area, picked some, along with clover to contrast
it with, and gave us all a sample of the lemony weed to try. On
a different night, I happened to be sitting at the same table
as the esteemed T. Colin Campbell, PhD, vegan champion and project
director of the China-Oxford-Cornell Diet and Health Project.
The whole table sat enthralled as Dr. Campbell talked about a
famous California-based physician whose success rate with heart
patients is beginning to drop, and his belief that this is because
the other doctor includes yogurt and fish in his diet plan, rather
than making it entirely plant-based. Most nights, though, the
most interesting conversations were with just everyday folks who
drove from all over the country and beyond to attend a vegan conference.
We met so many interesting and committed people during our stay
in Johnstown, PA., and there are a lot with whom we'd like to
stay in touch.
In our many discussions at the conference, both at our booth and
in the cafeteria, we were deeply impressed by the many modest
stories of strength, commitment and compassion we heard. We heard
old-timers and newcomers alike talk about their passion for the
animals and our planet. We also heard over and over again how
important veganism is in the lives of the conference attendants,
and how people have extended the idea and practice of compassion
to include all living beings. Going to Summerfest gave us all
the evidence we needed to confirm that Vegan Street is going is
the right direction, and that the movement we are a part of is
comprised of countless examples of thoughtful and intelligent
people living thoughtful, intelligent lives . 
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