"You eat rabbits? You can't eat those cute, fluffy bunnies! It's mean! You're a monster!"
I hear different versions of these statements when people find out I'm raising rabbits for meat. Not everyone, but more people than I'd like. You see, I am a practical and compassionate person. I grew up knowing that food comes from animals. My Dad hunted, we fished, and we had a big garden. My Great Uncle Bob raised meat rabbits. I know that everything dies for us to live, be it plant or animal. I know that my food doesn't actually come from the grocery store.
Faced with that reality, considering plants to be as valuable as animals, and knowing that I need animal protein to be healthy, I was faced with a quandary. How do I ensure that the food I eat has a good life, and a good death? Factory farming is horrific, and not something I wish to support with my $$ vote. I don't want GMOs in my food, either. So for me, it comes down to either knowing my Farmer, or being my Farmer. I didn't know anyone who raised rabbits, and they have always been part of my sustainability plan.
Did I mention that they're cute, and a joy to interact with every day? This makes boundaries very important. My breeding stock have names, and everyone else is destined for freezer camp. They get lots of terms of endearment, lots of love and affection. Just no names. I thank them sincerely for feeding me when the time comes to dispatch them. I hate that chore, but it's the only way to ensure they have a good death. Fearless, painless, and quick. I owe them that.
For me, this is a lesson in learning to love what nourishes me. I'm not interested in faceless food. I don't want to pretend that food comes from the grocery store, when it comes from living, breathing creatures. For me, it feels cruel to spend my $, which I believe to be my most effective vote, in support of factory farming. Nature created me as an omnivore, and so I'm doing the best I can to take care of myself and the planet. I'll always strive to do better, and rabbits are a small step toward sustainability and walking lightly.
I hope to be able to raise all of my own food eventually. Baby steps. For now, I love raising rabbits, and am looking forward to planting an impossible garden this spring. If I'm lucky, I'll be able to get some chickens, too.
