Bath City Farm
How a suburban farm in Bath is raising our spirits along with the animals.
What is it: A working farm in a residential area of Bath.
What you need to know: The southwestern city of Bath is known for its hills and skyline views, but one of the most unexpected viewpoints is at Bath City Farm. Overlooking the west end of the city, Twerton and Bath Football Club ground, the farm is virtually hidden in the residential Whiteway neighbourhood. Sprawling across grassy hillsides, its 37 acres include pens for Gloucester Old Spot pigs, sheep fields, Shetland ponies, Dexter cattle, Pygmy goats, and chickens and ducks.
What they offer (online and off): Bath City Farm helps hundreds of people every year by running nearly a dozen social and educational projects, including Roots to Health, which supports adults with complex health and social needs. For local families, it’s a great spot to visit with young children and get to know more about farm animals. There’s also a café and a farm shop selling produce, jam and meat.
Why we think it matters: In a time when many of us live in cities, being around farmyard environments, seeing animals and experiencing the daily and seasonal rhythms of farms, can be hugely grounding for many different communities. Bath City Farm isn’t just a plucky working farm, it provides vital therapeutic activities and emotional and social support to hundreds of families and individuals in an under-resourced area of Bath.
In their own words: “When I was signed off work 18 years ago, the mental health team tried to get me into quite a lot of different things. Bath City Farm is the only place that got my interest. It’s made me much better coming here. I’ve learnt how to clip goats’ hooves, mend fencing and do lots of mucking out! It gives me something to look forward to every week. I love what I am doing here. It suits me down to the ground.” — volunteer, Bath City Farm
One piece of advice for where you are: Stop by to see the animals and pick up some fresh groceries, drop in for a cup of tea and a flapjack, or (if you’re looking for a community to join) sign up to be a volunteer. If you’re not based within reach of Bath, keep an eye on their Facebook page for news—recent updates include the arrival of a rare Large Black pig and new kids for a momma goat named Biscuit.
Miyoko's Creamery
Miyoko’s Creamer is making “doing good” feel very easy for the rest of us.
Doing Good From Home with Miyoko’s Creamery
What is it: Founded by celebrity chef Miyoko Shinner, Miyoko’s is a California-based vegan cheese company whose mission is to shift the dairy industry from animal to plant-based. They call this the Evolution of Dairy and it is all very exciting!
Why you’ll love it: More than being one of the most delicious dairy replacement items we’ve ever had (and, truly, we’ve tried it all) we love Miyokos because it stands for something. While their mission is partially to help you make an out-of-this-world mac n cheese that will blow the minds of your very non-vegan friends, it is, equally, to shift our world completely, by inspiring more people to go vegan. (They even run a farm animal sanctuary!)
What you need to know: If the world stopped consuming meat and dairy, global farmland use would be reduced by over 75 percent. That’s the equivalent of the United States, China, the European Union, and Australia combined reverting their farmland back to a natural environment. Buying an electric car, lowering your thermostat, and taking quick showers all pale in comparison to simply eating less meat and dairy. The way we produce, consume, and waste food is unsustainable. Every person has the power to effect change just by their daily food choices. (Source: The Guardian)
What they offer: Literally: Vegan cheeses, butter and spreads made by skilled cheesemakers, using traditional cheesemaking cultures and processes resulting in a line of products so good that we actually can’t even understand how it is possible. (It also makes all the dishes we bring to Thanksgiving instant hits with our otherwise skeptical families). Figuratively: hope for a sustainable world that does not depend on the exploitation of animals.
Why we think it’s different: If you were vegan over a decade ago, you might remember the floppy American-cheese-esque slices that once sat on the outskirts of the produce section, near the tofu. They were, putting it lightly, a travesty. (Though we thank them for a stepping stone in the dairy-free evolution.) Miyokos is different because its products are aged and processed in a way that mimics the dairy industry processes. In short: we’re able to make mac and cheese and lasagna and brown butter sauce without feeling like we’ve sacrificed anything in regard to flavor or texture. More than that, we feel GOOD about ourselves when we make this switch. This. . .is a game-changer.
In their own words: “Our mission is: Phenomenally Vegan. What do we mean by that? It’s the new gold standard for the future of food that emphasizes artistry, integrity, ethics and conviviality. It's the credo that drives everything we do from the creation of our products to inspiring others to try this phenomenal lifestyle. Phenomenally Vegan is how we change the world. Together.”
Why we love them: In addition to their wonderful products, lovely founder, and ambitious mission, we love Miyokos because of their dedication, honesty, and adherence to their values. In 2015, Miyoko founded Rancho Compassion, a farmed-animal sanctuary based in west Marin County. Here, over 70 (otherwise slaughter-bound) animals have the chance to live out their days in peace and comfort. Visitors are encouraged to come and interact with the animals, receive education into humane living and maybe even cuddle a cow. (All offerings are virtual for now, but the sanctuary is still very much in operation!) We love Miyokos because they’ve found a way to take their passion for all living beings and put it into products that are actually capable of freeing those same beings. They make “doing good” feel very easy for the rest of us.
