Guest Blog: Five Reasons to go to a Vegan Fair
Have you ever wanted to go to a vegan fair, but never got to it?
Story and pictures by Ole Dalen and Merethe Leirvik - a couple of travelling Norwegians on a plant based diet with cameras in our hands.
We live in a city in Northern Norway where plant based food fairs are non-existent. Therefore it is easy to dream about going to the UK to experience the thrill and excitement of attending one. We decided to go to London for a week this autumn, and looked online for any nearby vegan events. We found the Salisbury Vegan Market. The Stonehenge is located just 13 km northwest from Salisbury, in Wiltshire. We have always wanted to go there. We jumped on a train from London and went on an expedition to see the world's most famous prehistoric monument and eat amazing vegan food.
Here are our 5 very good reasons to go to a vegan fair…
Reason 1: The Food!
You get to try out new artisan vegan products. The big selection of tasty vegan food will spoil you for the day. If you have lactose intolerance, no problem, and very often with gluten free and raw options too. You may discover and buy unique products that are not yet available in mainstream stores. There is bound to be a nice selection of sweet treats and bakes, and you don't need to be reading any labels to check if it is all vegan.
Reason 2: The people.
Interesting, like-minded people who are passionate about plant based living, sustainability and animal rights. It is a friendly environment to meet others who share similar interests and values, and very pet friendly too.
We talked to the vendors and heard some of their stories about what brought them to take on a vegan business. Zita at Sophie's Delight wanted to make a change in business after lockdown, and this idea of vegan cheese came along […I have been loving it ever since. And it is so good to give people who are lactose intolerant and people who are vegan an alternative with creamy, flavourful and delicious artisan cheese…]
Reason 3: Learning.
Discovering new ways to live more sustainable and care more about the impact your daily choices have on the planet. From dairy alternatives and ethical clothing brands, to cruelty free cosmetics, vegan fairs often highlight the latest in plant based and eco friendly products. What goes down the drain is something everybody should think about when it comes to pollution and toxic waste that goes into our oceans.
Reason 4: Support local independent businesses
You are directly supporting people who are contributing to a healthier and more sustainable world.
Not only adults want to make tasty plant based foods. Baby Cheesus is a small UK business run by two homeschooled vegan brothers, and they started 4 years ago, making them 11 and 14 years old at the time. It all started in mum's kitchen. They brought homemade cheese around to friends and family and everyone told them they should sell their products. It was that good! They now travel the country participating in vegan fairs, and it is a nice bit of pocket money for the boys, according to their mum.
Reason 5: Get inspired.
You may find plenty of inspiration for new dishes to try at home. Whether you are new to plant based foods or have been vegan or vegetarian for many years, you can always find something new and cool at the fair. It is a great way to learn how you can make a difference for yourself and the planet. No matter the reason, if it is for your health, for the environment or the animals, your choices matter!
Vegan Runners, are a UK-wide athletics club full of beautiful, compassionate runners of all levels of ability. They promote a healthy, performance-enhancing and cruelty-free lifestyle.
The Mayor of Salisbury, Mr. Sven Hocking, is very happy to be at the Salisbury vegan market.
“Today the sun is out, the sky is blue, there is some music going on. Different people from different places are coming to Salisbury today so it is fantastic, I love it!”
Daisy Botha who started Vegan Fairs in 2017 is well liked by the vendors and they are very satisfied that the fair is so well and ethically organised. She has worked hard to make all this happen, and Salisbury Vegan Marked is one of over 35 vegan fairs run by Botha each year.
She encourages people to come from places around the cities and not just come for a day, but stay in the city for the weekend. Explore attractions and tourist places. Check out the local scene. Make it a fun trip for you and your family.
Making the choice to go for a vegan diet is widely considered to be the “single biggest way” to reduce your environmental impact on the planet. If you swap out meat and dairy with plant based meals for two days in a week, that will most certainly also have a huge impact.
According to the website, Veganfairs.co.uk, the number of vegans or vegetarians has risen by 360% in the last 10 years, 1 in 7 Britons identify as vegan or vegetarian and it is estimated that there are 22 million “flexitarians” living in the UK today. You can visit their website to find a fair near you.
Good luck on your vegan fair adventure!
