Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons
Go figure, eating green is actually green!
Eating more fruits and vegetables is not only good for you; it is good for the environment, too. On average it takes 3-15 TIMES as much water to produce animal protein as it does plant protein. It takes up to 16 pounds of soybeans to produce 1 pound of beef. A farmer can feed up to 30 people throughout the year with vegetables, fruits, and cereals produced on less than 2.5 acres of land, but if the same area were used for the production of eggs, milk, and/or meat, it would only feed 5-10 people.
Growing vegetables responsibly is actually beneficial to the environment because they produce oxygen, transform carbon dioxide, and fix nitrogen. A single cow produces 53-132 gallons of methane a day, or about as much as a car. It only takes 0.4 pounds of carbon dioxide to produce a cup of broccoli, a cup of eggplant, 4 ounces of cauliflower, and 8 ounces of rice, but it takes 10 pounds of carbon dioxide (25 times as much) to produce just one 6-ounce beef steak.
The Indianapolis Vegetarian Society is currently looking for volunteers for their up-coming Indy Veg Fest 2012 on August 25. This local organization, started in December of 2000, is Indianapolis’ primary resource for vegetarian and vegan living, educating both seasoned vegetarians/vegans and those simply interested in the lifestyle by hosting a variety of events and providing an active online community.
There is a call out meeting Saturday July 28th from 12:30-2:00 p.m. at the Earth House (237 North East St.). Please RSVP by Wednesday July 25 if you are interested. You can RSVP by emailing indyherbivores@indyvegsociety.org
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