Inspiring: pig farmer turns vegan and now grows vegetables

This is the kind of story that makes me happy. That shows that change is possible! While there is an increasing amount of positive stories about veganism in the media, most of those reports are about the growing number of vegans, vegan celebrities, or the emerging offer of vegan products in shops. So mainly about the consumption side of the story.

But the ultimate goal is the abolishment of the use of animals, for food, clothing, entertainment and other purposes. Circussen without animals, food production without the exploitation of animals. It’s not just about getting consumers to choose vegan options, but about getting farmers to practice veganic agriculture. So their company makes the transition to veganic farming (without the use of animals, and also without animal products such as manure). So that no animals are used and exploited.

The story of Swedish farmer Gustaf Söderfeldt is a great example!

¨photo via link: https://freefromharm.org/animal-farmer-turned-vegan/soderfeldt/

Gustaf Söderfeldt

‘Humane’ meat

Gustaf and his partner Caroline wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and settled on the countryside, where they started a small scale pig farm. Gustaf found the way that animals were treated in industrial farming horrible and wanted to deal with things differently: on a smaller scale, with respect for the animals, and offering them a ‘good’ life and ‘animal friendly’ slaughter. The number of customers interested in his ‘humanely produced meat’ steadily grew, and his bussiness supplied special shops and restaurants. The company grew, but the more pigs he bred, the more he found himself doing it for the money. It started to bother his conscience.

Gustaf says:
“Our customers loved to hear that the pigs had had “a good life” and how “humane” our meat was. But of course, they didn’t want to hear about the ugly side of raising the animals. If I’d told them that a mother sow didn’t want to be separated from her babies or that the pigs screamed with anguish as they were loaded onto the lorry bound for the abattoir, I wouldn’t have kept a single customer.”

The only way I could continue in my profession was to hide the truth, and my life as a pig farmer and meat retailer felt less honest with every day.

“Most of our customers bought meat from us to silence their own consciences. People don’t want to admit to themselves that they’re supporting an industry that treats animals horribly. That’s why they buy so-called “humane meat”: that way, it’s easier to feel better about eating other meat, too.

Acting as an advertisement for the meat industry felt more and more troubling to me. None of our customers were interested in learning more about the ways in which animals suffered. I was only “allowed” to discuss the nicer aspects of raising animals. The only way I could continue in my profession was to hide the truth, and my life as a pig farmer and meat retailer felt less honest with every day.”

Veganisme is the future of farming

He and his wife initially heard about veganism through videos on youtube, and then realised there is no such thig as ‘humane meat’. About four years ago, they made the switch, realising that vegans want the same thing: for animals to have a good life! That was what had made him start a pig farm in the first place. But vegans had gone one step further: if you really care about animals, you shouldn’t breed them at all! Gustaf used to think that humans needed to eat animals to be healthy, but also learned that that is not true.
He and Caroline became vegan and stopped raising animals and switched to cultivating vegetables, without the use of animal manure, blood or bones, or any other animal inputs.

Gustaf says:
“There’s nothing fun about raising animals to kill them – even the most ardent meat farmer would agree. You do it because you think you have to, but inside, you feel awful. You learn to switch off your emotions.
As a vegan, I found that I didn’t have to lie to myself any more, and I no longer had to turn off my feelings. It felt amazing! Having a clear conscience is truly the best feeling there is.”

The transition of the farm was not easy, and they lost a lot of customers. But four years after the switch, it is now lucrative. They grown tomatoes, potatoes, beans, peas, carrots, lettuces, onions, cabbage, kale, broccoli, flowers, and much more, all of which are sold at numerous farmers’ markets and via subscriptions.

Gustaf is convinced: Veganism is the future of farming: It is kinder, healthier, more efficient, less wasteful, and more climate-friendly.

And we can only second that! Hopefully his story can be inspiring for many famers around the world!