Just started a Vegan playgroup here in Grass Valley, CA. (from this area? you are welcome to join us; just pm me for details).

I was wondering who has Vegan play groups going in their area, what have they found successful and encourage more Vegans to start one up in their community.

:) Jennifer

HAH! there isn't even an AP playgroup around here, much less a vegan one... one more thing i should organize if i only had the time and discipline.

I'd love to start one, but don't think there'd be a big interest here. I am part of an AP playgroup and some of them are veg friendly so I'll take that.

Well, my reason for starting the Veg one is the added support for moms who may be new (which the other mom in the group is a very new Vegan; there are only two of us so far.) I have no idea if there is an AP playgroup. There is something up here along AP lines for families but it sounded like it was waldorf and what I was interested in was a group to get Vegans to unite not concentrate on one belief system. I am a Christian and esp. want to see Christians stand up and say "I am Vegan" so I do mention that on the flier and wonder if that is part of the reason I am not getting people. I worded it in a way to make Christians feel comfortable about joining the group but I emphasis that I want the group to be all different backgrounds, just Vegans supporting each other and respecting that we have different beliefs. No offense to fellow Christian Vegans but it seems that some Christians are afraid to have beliefs out of the norm of what Christians accept. Vegans are a minority in many belief systems (minus the Veg oriented systems) and I think if the Vegans in my community unite as one, we would all feel more comfortable no matter what our churches, temples, etc. say about our diet because we would all be a support system for each other. I really, really want to support new Vegans because it can be scary when you first become Veg. Esp. with everyone throwing tha whole B12 and protein arguments your way. Without knowing the studies done to prove that most Vegans without B12 supplements get way more than enough B12 and that enough protein isn't the issue but too much, it is hard to defend yourself against caring (or just obstinate!) family members. Maybe I'll reword my flier to talk more about the need for new Vegans to have a support system. Yeah, I'll try that. :)

Glad to hear you ladies have a support system too. Be it for vegans, vegetarians, AP, waldorf, homeschooling, unschooling or whatever may fit you, it is important to feel like you are not alone and that there are resources for you when needed. That is why I love these forums!

Jennifer

well maybe a christian ap play group is just too small of a minority group yk? there aren't tons of vegans out there as it is, less that are christian AND have small children. good luck though i'm sure the moms that need it will appreciate it.

It's not a Chirstian Vegan group. It is a Vegan group. I put a thing on the fliers saying something about Christians so they would feel more comfortable about coming. Like I mention in my above post, I want to see Vegans from different backgrounds join the group, but I mention Chrisitans specifically because sometimes they have a harder time with being Vegan. Maybe I'll just take the following off the flier: Although this group is for all Vegans, it is my hope that more Christian Vegans will feel comfortable with their choice of being Vegan by knowing that they are not alone. I hope to see the group grow to include Vegans of different backgrounds who will be a support system for each other.

If you saw that on the bottom of a flier for a Vegan playgroup, does it sound like an all Christian group or does it get across that the group is for everyone?

:) Jennifer

that sounds plenty open i think. hey i saw a site where you could list your vegan play group on line. maybe that will help you find people

http://www.vegfamily.com/

Thanks for the link. :) I am already listed on Veg Family and that is how I got the other mom. Maybe i'll get a few more from there.

Jennifer

Hi Jennifer

I was just curious how your playgroup was going?

well i hope.

your dd is sooo cute
:D

(Thanks tons!! We think she is cute too). It is still me and the one mom but we have run into some moms who belong to Sierra Madres and Padres sometimes on the same day and one has my number. We have a good time with them, and have a good time just us and are little ones. We go to the co-op, gone to the bead store, Rebecca's Mighty Muffins. I have most of the interest on the group and once I catch Allison of Allison's Gourmet (on the Veg Family sight as well), we can get the day in concrete and start a monthly meeting for Vegans. There is nothing up here set up like that for Vegans and Allison is excited about it. I am finally starting meet different moms up here that have different similiarities. No vaxing or of course Vegan or homeschooler. It sure takes awhile to find others that you'd like to do kid stuff (or adult stuff) with. I am good at starting things, so once things get going with both, I am thinking of starting a alternative homeschoolers group because the conservative one I belong to is not open to everyone and I'd like to get a group going similiar to the supportive alternative learning forum. I am going to suggest making changes to both current things. Maybe a vegetarian playgroup would get more moms and kids, and a new name for the other group that doesn't include families in it that everyone on the meeting can help decided (maybe something like Sierra Vegans something). :) Slowly but surely. Jenn

The Groups are (just clarify because what I wrote was confusing) the play group and a Vegan group for all Vegans. :)