Positive steps all over the world

My husband made homemade sauerkraut last fall and we are down to the last bottle. It will be hard to wait for the kraut cabbages that only ripen in October. Believe me, homemade kraut is way better than the store-bought kind! For the sauerkraut lovers among us, here is a tasty way to enjoy it:
White Beans with Mushrooms and Sauerkraut

Donna in Portland sends encouraging news --- in a link sent to her by her daughter:
Tara just shared this link with me….and it makes me so happy. It’s all about the vegan movement that is happening around our world!!! Happy for the animals….and the planet….and for all of us!!! donna: http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/27/foodanddrink/hot-vegan-destinations/

Ellen in Texas told me her watermelons are growing big and went on to say:
I wanted to share with you a movie from Japan called "Little Forest". It was made into two parts: Winter/Spring and Summer/Autumn. I love both. Here is a link I just discovered that has excellent video quality AND English sub-titles to boot!

Here is the link to Summer/Autumn: http://kissasian.com/Drama/Little-Forest-Summer-Autumn/Movie?id=19693
Here is Winter/Spring:
http://kissasian.com/Drama/Little-Forest-Winter-Spring/Movie?id=19694

It's a drama about a young woman who leaves the big city to live a simple life in her childhood home in the countryside of Japan. It is set in the modern day as evidenced by the appliances, microwave included. The whole time, she grows, prepares/cooks and eats foods that mostly come from the earth. Although not 100% vegan, it comes pretty close. I love that there is much reverence and mindfulness that permeates these episodes. It makes me feel calm and happy. Plus, she has a kitty cat, which is a sweet bonus for me.

I haven't been able to watch "Little Forest" yet myself, due to technical difficulties, but it sounds like a good one. I'll keep trying. Thanks, Ellen!

Christel in Germany sent a link to a cooking retreat at Plum Village --- it is already full but it's nice to know that it's happening. She says,
... due to a family celebration in August I can't take part, but it would be wonderful to be there:
http://plumvillage.org/retreats/info/2016-cooking-retreat/

It is wonderful to see that Plum Village is teaching vegan cooking and also wonderful to hear about a new effort taking shape in the Earth Holder Sangha to promote plant-based eating. George in Pennsylvania sent an email about this and now I'm hearing from others in the group, including Marge Wurgel in San Diego who sent this remarkable news about an official plan to reduce meat consumption in China:

This. Is. Huge.
China’s health ministry has just released dietary guidelines. And they’ve established the goal of cutting meat consumption in China by 50% in the next 15 years.​
And who’s supporting the effort? Arnold Schwarzenegger and Avatar director James Cameron.
If realized, these guidelines would lead to a net reduction in meat consumption that would be greater than ALL the meat currently consumed in the United States.
This has massive implications for Chinese health – and astounding consequences for the health of our planet.​
Get the story, and find out why it’s so significant, here.
Yours for healthy people & a healthy planet,
Ocean Robbins

The world is really changing, and each of us, when we shop for groceries and prepare a meal, is helping to turn the tide. I'll end with these thoughts from "How to Eat" by Thich Nhat Hanh:

"Our way of eating and producing food can be very violent, to other species, to our own bodies, and to the Earth. Or our way of growing, distributing and eating food can be part of creating a larger healing. We get to choose."

Happy cooking,
Eve