This is for "D" the vegan gun toter

Well thank you first of all for posting a comment "D" to my Meat food for life. You said in your post that many vegetarians/vegans do not eat meat for environmental reasons. I think that is a good cause since I do not want polluted water, land, air or food for that matter. But to say that eating only vegetables is saving or helping to save the environment is a bit of a stretch.

Unless the veggies are harvested by hand, transported by horse drawn wagon (methane)and use no water to grow them, have no fertilizer to help them grow, and the seeds just appear out of thin air then they are not as GREEN as you think.

Even organic veggies require fertilizer to grow. If compost is used this must be stored some where and transported by truck (diesel fuel or gasoline)or packaged in plastic bags (oil based) and then shipped. Even if it is shipped by trains they use (diesel) for generating electricity to make it go (more economical than trucks). I have never seen a train pull up to my local garden store or grocery store. Even if the grower picks it up himself fuel is used. If manure is used then we are back to Cows (methane), horses or exotic animals such as elephants, etc. These require feed that also must be transported the same as the compost. The amount of methane produced by these animals is HUGE so there we go again with the pollution factor. You could have your own compost pile but it better be HUGE and start now so you will have it for your future garden.

As for growing your own veggies for a vegetarian I would say that 1 acre per person would be advisable. Now weather is a major factor with any garden. I assume all those who are vegetarian's live in Florida, California or some other great year round climate. Otherwise you better can enough for winter (canning requires Heat=fuel). Now that garden does not produce, milk (cows again), soy products in quantities for food (I would not want soy as my only food), Sugar if used, coffee same, oranges, bananas, olive oil, rice, coconuts, tea, avocados, nuts, salt, pepper, various other spices, grape fruit, apples, dates, molasses, pomegranate, kiwi, star fruit, honey, juices, peanut butter, butter (cows), cashew butter, pineapples well you get the point I hope. Most of the non U.S. grown products must be shipped by boat or train and they are far from environmentally sound. Ever seen what ships dump in the ocean?

I did not even cover the stores that sell these products or the people who work there and I would say they drive to work, not walk in most cases.

Now I hope every vegetarian that grows their own food has sufficient water for it in the form of rainfall. If not then water must be provided from other means such as the city, county or through irrigation canals. All use some sort of power to get them to you. Even the irrigation canals cannot flow up hill. Not to mention the chemicals (oil again) used to make water safe for drinking, except for the irrigation canals.

Now vegans do not eat eggs but vegetarians do and these eggs have to be transported, refrigerated, inspected(light source, electricity)and packaged. Now the people who do this may not be as GREEN as their product and I am sure they drive to work (fuel). Does it require any fuel source such as electricity to make the recycled egg cartons?

Now we won't even go into the production of the seeds. But energy must be used for packaging, transport, and the growing of the seed producing plants to begin with.

You also mentioned that I was wrong about the lack of vitamins in a pure vegetarian / vegan diet. Yes they have many vitamins but if cooked improperly say goodbye. How can you be sure they are cooked properly. I suggest drinking the left over water or using it for soup to insure that you get the vitamins. Steaming is the best way to cook them. If you are eating them raw you can get the full benefit of the nutrients. But who could eat raw veggies for life. I suggest you still take supplements for your health just in case.

I agree "D" with your train (no pun intended) of thought, yes, cows, chickens, pigs, ducks, geese, turkeys and other food animals do produce products harmful to the environment. But being a vegetarian or a vegan is not much better and much more expensive in the long run.

You also mentioned you are a gun toting vegan. Where do the components come from for gun powder, the steel for the weapon or the lead, you get my point.

Again I thank you for your post but as long as humans live on this planet no matter what we eat we will still contribute to some kind of pollution and there is no way around that unless you can live without food, water and shelter.

Thank you again "D". This post was not meant to put you down in anyway but to help you see the truth behind any diet.