Renewable Revolution

Goat Cheese Farmers Give it All Up to Make Vegan Cheese Instead

by Abigail Geer
August 2, 2015
5:30 pm

After 20 years as award winning goat cheese farmers, Carol and Julian Pearce have decided to give it all up and make vegan cheese instead.

Still in the transition phase from farm to sanctuary, these two compassionate farmers decided that there was simply no way they could continue to justify bringing more life into the world while there were so many being mistreated and murdered, and in desperate need of a new home.

The No Kill Goat Cheese Farm

Having always identified themselves as being animal lovers and compassionate carers, their goat cheese business was a ‘no kill’ farm, where the animals were not slaughtered after their production days were over, but instead would live out the rest of their natural life on the farm.

As well as the no kill farm, the couple had already been taking in abused and abandoned goats, pigs, cows, horses, chickens, ducks and dogs for many years, and this is what ultimately led to the decision to halt their profitable farm business, in order to pursue an altogether more ethical cheese making venture.

Although many people are under the impression that small scale farming is not cruel or inhumane, this story highlights the fact that even a ‘no kill’ farm is not without its ethical problems. Apart from the fact that the animals are still being exploited for their milk (which was only ever intended to be drunk by their own kids), the farm is bringing more and more animals into the world in order to create that milk.

As hard as any farmer may try to care for their animals, the industry is inherently flawed from a moral standpoint as the animals are always being treated as commodities, with their bodies being exploited for our own gain. The Pearce’s statement about their decision to turn their farm vegan echoed this point by saying, “We did the best we could for our animals while still producing cheese, but then we realized ~ a vegan farm will allow us to do even better.”

The Animal Friendly Cheese

These two resourceful farmers are converting their 20 years of goat cheese making experience into vegan cheese making, in an effort to adapt and utilize their skills and find additional funding for their new 501(c)(3) non-profit rescue organization, The Sanctuary at Soledad Goats.

With the tagline “our cheese rescues animals,” the couple is hoping that their newfound love for vegan cheese making will help to spread the message about cruelty free cheese and help them to rescue more animals from the exploitation of the farm industry at the same time.

A Model for All Farms to Follow

Skeptics of change always come up with reasons why things have to remain the way they are, even when the current system of farming is leading to the exploitation, confinement, suffering and death of billions of animals every year.

As Grace Hopper said, “The most dangerous phrase in the language is ‘we’ve always done it this way.”


Stories like this one offer hope and provide proof that it is indeed possible for us to change our ways and to find more compassionate alternatives. There are many options for animal farmers wishing to give up their current exploitative practices in favor of kinder ones, whether it’s switching from goat cheese to vegan cheese, or from pig farming to vegetable farming, we can create a better future for animals.     



http://www.care2.com/causes/goat-cheese-farmers-give-it-all-up-to-make-vegan-cheese-instead.html