The Vegan Thread

they have gold stars on them

ooooooohhhhhhh

Forum donators only.

Them fizzy crisps are the only crisps in the whole wide world I don't like. They taste like they're off.

My sister bought some of those last year... kinda baffled as to how they get the fizzy taste to them

Posh eh... maybe a bit too posh for Sainsbury's!

The fruitarianism book is on the way to you

Don't open it until it falls from your letterbox.

rep

Going to Everest Base Camp in about a year and do a bit of winter stuff up here in Scotland. Grappling with choosing a sleeping bag that's comfortable to -13 or so. Seems that nothing synthetic matches down in terms of weight/warmth/pack size... although they do have the waterproofiness advantage.

Any one have any suggestions for something non-down? I might try to get a second-hand down one otherwise.

Edit: how ethical is ethical down? Am I better with natural/biodegradable down than synthetic stuff produced from oil? Apparently down has a lower carbon footprint? And so on... Just looking for random opinions basically.

Could just do what I did in Kyrgyzstan recently - unthinkingly pack a one-season synthetic sleeping bag that's recommended for temperatures of 15 and above and get used to freezing your ass off when it's -7.

That may not be helpful.

I have a ~£10 Tesco sleeping bag that's rated to about 15 deg and absolutely love it. Sometimes if my sheets are in the wash I sleep in it for a few nights because it's so great.

Not sure I'd take it outdoors though

This is the sort of thing I struggle with. Usually for me it’s wool. Is it more ethical to but something made from petrochemicals or an eco alternative (bamboo or hemp or something) that’s been shipped halfway around the world.

A lot of the food you buy is shipped halfway around the world, and yet transportation still only accounts for around 3% of the total emissions from the product. It’s less for items that doesn’t need cooling, so it is thoughtful, but not relevant to take into consideration.

My organization recently funded a project, that clearly showed that hemp was the most sustainable choice, based on both emissions, pesticide, energy and water use etc.

You might get there if you combine it with a fleece liner and a outer layer.
Ethical down is just csr mumbo jumbo to me, just like ethical slaughter. However, down is hands down the best material, so I would look into second hand or borrowing - and stay out of sight from the vegan police

Made these seitan sausage rolls from scratch yesterday (well, not the pastry). Pretty good! More spicy than sausagey because of what I had in the cupboard at the time. Would make again.

I think it depends in part on what down you use. Eider down is (I've been told by a sign at Barnes WWT) is the baby Eider duck moultings as they fledge (or maybe shed winter feathers). So if it's Eider down then it's picking up duck left overs. Is that exploitation? Does it deprive other ducks of material for their nests? Haven't a trucking clue. But when I read the sign I was slightly surprised as I'd always assumed it was left over dead ducks.

Edit - this might be shite and the sign was a lie.

Yeah it's mostly a byproduct from geese/ducks/whatever that have been killed to be eaten I believe. Eider down is unfortunately a fair chunk more expensive and I'm already going to find it difficult shelling out £200 for a sleeping bag.

Andy Kirkpatrick recommended (in 2008) synthetic bags for multi-day trips in the damp (which is what I'll probably be doing in Scotland)... pointing out that down bags, whilst lighter, accumulate water weight and end weighing about the same after some period of time. And actually this makes perfect sense to me; the two most recent multi-day trips I've done up here, I got absolutely soaked both times. To the point where my drybags were starting to let water in even. I can't imagine how miserable I would have been in a wet down bag in those situations. Aside from the weight the main disadvantage is pack space which I don't think will ever be a major issue for me.

Found this: synthetic, -9 comfort rating, 1.7kg. Seems a pretty good spec. $195 in the US... £200 here! Bastards.

Get a decent mat. Previously used an inflatable one from Thermarest (Neoair Trekker) which was like lying down on a heater!
Though my conditions were a little warmer!

I made seitan sausage rolls for lunch today. Pretty good for a first attempt! I adapted the seitan recipe from someone on here but I can't remember who (sorry).

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Received - thankyou. I shall have a peruse at some point.

Please make me one

They were actually dead easy! I just found the screenshot I took of the recipe (conveniently cropping out whoever posted it's username). The overspiced broth was mostly smoked paprika, some mixed herbs and some light soy sauce. Then just make it into sausage shaped bits, fry lightly, wait for it to cool/dry off. Then just stick it in some pre made puff pastry and whack it in the oven at 200° for a bit.

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I think this is the recipe of @richardshill
Regardless, looks lush

I am experimenting with different 'sausage roll' methods but seitan on its own as the filling is a bit too heavy ( for me ) compared to say a nut roast mixture and this one - http://iceandlettuce.com/2016/10/30/vegan-pork-and-apple-sausage-rolls/
doesn't even appear to steam/cook the seitan first . Raw seitan in pastry ?