Today is Mother’s Day and I spent a large part of it in the Bourke Street Mall in a cow suit.  A sign around my neck a stark reminder of why I was there, “I’m a mother too” it read.  So I came, albeit for a few short hours, to view the world through the lens of a cow.  I was struck by the many and varied attitudes from people passing by and how they mirrored the same attitudes people have towards mother cows and all farmed animals.  Some people defiantly pretended not to notice a rather large cow in their path offering them a leaflet and a ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ cheerio, or perhaps they really didn’t notice, so consumed in the passion of their next purchase.

Some children insistently delighted in pulling my tail, despite my protests ‘you’ll break it’.  Others on seeing a really large cow suited person were heard to cry ‘hey, quick take my picture’ to their friends as they rushed to hug the cow, offering an obligatory peace sign.  But most politely took a leaflet and from my distorted view I could see many stop, smiling inquisitively as they read about the cute little calf named  Hansel who innocently peered back at them.  The picture told that Hansel was one in a million and posed the question ‘want to know why?’ Some pensively turning to the back to find the answer, others folded up the leaflet for later reading.  Perhaps wounded by the new found awareness that indeed cows were mothers too who dearly loved their babies and suffered from the loss by separation and human complicity to this, some people returned to learn a little more.

Coming to know cows as I do was all the reason I needed to be where I was today – to make a plea to human decency that we can do better.  Cows are naturally cheerful and innocently inquisitive.  They form strong and ongoing bonds with those they like and will harbour grudges against those they don’t.  Cows have a keen sense of smell, so watch out if you come bearing concealed wheetbix in your bag.  It won’t only be the piggies you’ll have to keep an eye out for.  Their babies, given the chance, will play together and mother cows will even form a nursery-like alliance allowing others to wander off while they look after the crèche.  Stories abound of cows who have walked over great distances to find their separated calves.  And they like to spend their days eating grass, chewing cud and looking into the distance having peaceful ‘cow’ thoughts.   Sadly, it is often this facade of nonchalance that causes people to think cows are dull and dim, yet their world is an emotional one.  Of happy, sad, and even ‘eureka’ moments when they find something new and interesting, or solve a problem.  All these things are supported by science not just anecdote.  In short cows really are ‘cool’!

Today may have been bitterly cold, wet and miserable, albeit the suit kept me warm, I was hungry, and it was unpleasant standing with my large cow head constantly flopping forward and obscuring my view, but at day’s end, I got to go home, hang with friends and wish my mum a happy Mother’s Day.  Something so few cows ever get to do…

Compassion, loyalty, forgiveness, affection and love- are all found in abundance in the animal kingdom. Animals touch our lives in so many profound and beautiful ways, they speak to our hearts and minds of a gentle and kind way of living, of not harming others.  I really don’t think it is the want of any decent human being to wish to harm or cause harm to others, human or non human. One of our greatest lessons will be, can we too learn to get along as they do?

A huge thank you to everyone who has expressed an interest in helping us with a new projector! We have been heartened by your response and it means a lot to us that Edgar’s Mission means so much to you.  Many have asked just what type of projector we are after, and after much consideration we have determined, that with your support we can obtain a start of the art projector that will service our needs most fully.  One of the difficulties we have faced is finding a projector that works brilliantly in daylight, as many of our school or farm presentations are during the day, to this need we have settled on a BenQ MX717 which is available for us at the special price of $1100 from our friends at TECS.

If you would like to contribute towards our new projector please click here to donate. Any additional funds will be directed towards our Humane Education Program.

Together we can change the world and we thank you in advance for your support!

Use this as your Facebook profile pic by right clicking and save the image to your computer, then upload it to your Facebook account and spread your love for chickens

Chickens are inquisitive, intelligent, affectionate and fun loving creatures, they have cognitive abilities that rival some cats and dogs and they outnumber humans more than 6 to 1.  So where are they?  With over 43 billion chickens on the planet today, most live their short and unnatural lives either crammed into tiny wire cages or confined into ammonia ridden sheds.  Chickens are indeed amongst the most maligned and abused land animals today.  And the only reason they are treated like this is because people buy the products of their suffering.

We know in our society the harshest penalty we afford those who transgress our laws is to lock them away in prison, we take away their liberty and we take away the things that give their life meaning and purpose.  Yet we do these things to gentle chickens and call it industry, simply because we can however we can choose not to do this and we can do better! Here are some fun, creative and delicious ways to make the world a kinder place for all!

UPDATE: See how the Edgar’s Mission resident chickens celebrated here.

Check out some recipes below and also visit these links:

• Egglesscooking.com
• Vegiehead.com
• Veganeasy.org
• VivaLaVegan.net

Scrambled Tofu by Vegan Easy

200g tofu, crumbled
2 spring onions, finely sliced
2 tsp tamari
2 tsp savoury yeast flakes
½ tsp turmeric
2-3 tbsp water
Chopped fresh parsley and/or chives to garnish
Freshly ground pepper
Olive oil for frying

Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan. Fry onion and tofu for a minute or two.

Add tamari, yeast flakes, turmeric and water to pan and fry for a further minute.

Remove from heat and stir through the fresh herbs. Add cracked black pepper to taste.

Berry Pancakes by Vegan Easy

Pancakes
1 cup self raising flour
Pinch salt
2 tablespoons vegan margarine, melted and cooled
2 tablespoons maple syrup or agave nectar
1 cup soy milk (or other non-dairy milk)
1 teaspoon egg replacer
1 tablespoon water

Berry mix
1 cup mixed frozen berries
1 tablespoon agave nectar or sugar

Put the berries in a small pan, add the sugar or agave syrup and place over a low heat. Cook gently until berries are soft.

Mix together flour and salt. Combine the egg replacer and water then add the margarine, maple syrup and soy milk and mix thoroughly. Add the wet mixture to the flour and whisk until smooth.

Heat a frying pan over a medium to high heat. Brush pan with a little oil and then pour in about ⅓ to ½ cup of the pancake mixture. Each pancake should be about 4-5 inches across. Spread into a round shape with the back of a spoon if necessary.

Cook pancake on one side then gently loosen with a spatula and flip over. The pancakes should take about 1-2 minutes on each side and be golden brown when cooked. Keep pancakes warm between kitchen paper when cooked.

Pile pancakes on a plate and spoon over the warm berries. Drizzle over extra maple syrup if required.

Big Ears – a tiny, fluffy, yellow duckling, we suspect a Pekin.  Not more than a week or so old, Big Ears was found wandering along Bell Street, Preston, quacking out directions for Edgar’s Mission.  While we are unsure how the little mite found her way into such a dangerous predicament we do know that there exists goodness in the human heart.  This was evidenced by the Good Samaritan who took the hapless duckling to the local veterinary clinic.  So who you ‘gunna‘ call when you find a duckling in need?….’Yep‘, luckily we were in Melbourne at the time, made a slight detour and Big Ears was Edgar’s Mission bound.

Chippy-Chippy takes her name from the profession of the boyfriend of her one time foster carer, Isabella Marks.  Chippy had been handed into an animal shelter and due to her tender age she was in much need of specialist care.  On hearing of Chippy’s plight and with the knowledge that one of the most important things in a duckling’s life is another duckling, we determined a special friendship was in order.  So back to Melbourne to collect Chippy, but to our surprise Chippy was much bigger than we had anticipated, none the less our heart and home was still open for Chippy but maybe not Big Ears enclosure.  Tiny baby ducklings like Big Ears are very precious and can be harmed by overly excited older ducks and ducklings such as Chippy.  Chippy, we suspect, is just over one month old.  Ducklings at this age start to lose their fluffy down replacing this with white waterproof and insulating feathers.  We thank Isabella for all the tender loving care she showered upon Chippy.

Nancy Wake – While Nancy Wake, the heroine of the war time era, was also known as the little White Mouse, our little mouse is yellow and not a mouse at all but yet another baby duckling!  However, at just a few days old she peeps just like a little mouse.  Poor Nancy Wake was actually given as a birthday gift to a rather unkind soul who promptly surrendered the tiny creature to a Melbourne animal shelter.  The word had obviously hit the street that if you are a baby duckling in need of new digs Edgar’s Mission is the place to be!  Big Ears now has a new friend to share her heat lamp and duckling chow with.  Baby ducklings of this age are most vulnerable. Without the love and warmth of a mother duck they can quickly succumb to hypothermia.  Nancy Wake and Big Ears have so much fun together; their personal favourite treats are lettuce and watermelon!  But a warning, if you do come to see them, cuteness alert big time!!!

Donna – You guessed it is another duck.  Donna is a much loved white muscovy female whose lifetime partner had sadly passed away.  The lonely Donna is about seven years old and has taken an instant shine to young Chippy!  The two are now firm friends and have really been just what the doctor ordered for both.  Chippy was rather weak on her legs upon arrival and this was causing us great concern as she was showing a reluctance to walk and sitting often.  Donna was rather despondent and looking for a reason to live as her world had been turned upside down.  Ducks are very loyal and loving creatures and do mourn the passing of their buddies.  Chippy has given Donna a reason to live and Donna has given Chippy a reason to explore her world, and both lives are richer for this.

Alexander the Great – While Alexander the Great, the Greek King, created one of the largest empires of the ancient world and was considered one of the greatest military geniuses of all time being undefeated in battle, our Alexander the Great is a broiler rooster and his greatest battle will be staying alive.  At around six months of age Alexander rooster tops the scales at a little over 7kg and we love him dearly.  Alexander the Great rooster is sweet, friendly and no trouble at all.  Sadly, his crowing was unwelcomed by neighbours at his previous home necessitating a new abode.  It is truly difficult to find the words to describe the heartache I feel for Alexander. He enjoys the sunshine and pats, walks in the grass, looking for grubs and just being alive and I know all this will soon come to an end when his not so little body says no more.  A tragedy of human design is Alexander and it should shame us all.  But until that fateful day, I will do my utmost to ensure Alexander has plenty of reasons to live, love and lie about in the sunshine.  Alexander knows his name, comes chatting away when you call him and even puts himself away into a little kennel at night time.  A truly lovely bird.

Sanchez and Merlin-are two adorable goats who were made redundant at an animal shelter where they had lived for many years.  Until recent times the two buddies had made themselves useful by keeping the shelter lawns trim however a change in management said goats out, mowers in.  And so the two lads found themselves in urgent need of a new place to call home.  The white Sanchez ‘s long horns give him a regal look and he is the taller and more confident goat, while the sweet polled (no horns) Merlin is brown with lovely little black knee-high stockings and somewhat on the reserved side.

Meet Melvin - Left for dead in a ditch by the side of the road amongst the dead bodies of his companions, little Melvin somehow found the will to survive.  But he couldn’t do it alone.  By some divine intervention a council roadside worker came upon the grizzly scene along the little used road and both lives would change for the better.  Shaking his head in disbelief he caught sight of what he thought was something moving.  Taking a second look, nothing did move, but just as his heavy heart told him to move on a tiny ‘baa’ pierced his soul and he saw the young wether.  “I couldn’t leave the little blighter there could I?” he would later tell.  A severely underweight and recently shorn merino, with infected sores from where he lay, was the lamb that would be named Melvin.  The only movement the poor little chap could muster was to lift his head.  It took the love, kindness and innovation of the worker and his wife to get Melvin on the road to recovery.  Quickly fashioning a sling to keep the resilient Melvin upright would prove livesaving as sheep left on their sides for too long will succumb to bloat, a condition which results in difficulty breathing and often death…. Read More

Brenda and Jacqui - Meet Brenda and Jacqui, two very lucky rabbits, and here is their story. The imminent closure of a factory farmed meat rabbit facility in Southern Tasmania spelled reprieve for 300 lucky bunnies, of which Brenda and Jacqui are just two. Securing their safety was the Tasmanian based animal sanctuary Big Ears who have worked tirelessly along with Victorian organisations, Freedom for Farmed Rabbits and Radical Rabbit to bring about the best animal welfare outcomes for the hapless New Zealand White rabbits. Sadly several rabbits were in such a poor state of health upon their rescue the only humane thing to do was to help them peacefully pass from this world – a passing that is never afforded a factory farmed rabbit… Read More

Timmy & Macho are having a chat

What are Timmy and Macho chatting about? Leave a funny comment below for your chance to win an Edgar’s Mission prize!!!