For many people, the holidays bring up the anguishing question of whether or not to attend family dinners that will feature the corpse dead turkey prominently displayed at the center of the table.

According to our entirely unscientific Facebook poll, just under half of people who follow our page skip the festivities altogether while just over half attend while making some sort of intervention such as bringing vegan options or letting other attendees know how they feel. Of those who do not attend, many tell their relatives that they are skipping the event because they cannot celebrate while looking at a dead bird. A few try to turn the tables by inviting the family to their place for plant-based festivities.

Many people report that family members are especially defensive on the day of the holiday itself. If you feel that’s true for your own family, then this week might be the week to “talk turkey” with your family, before they have bought and cooked a bird. 

Here are some things that your family members might want to know about turkeys, in order to make decisions that are consistent with their own values:

For more information about turkeys that you can use when “talking turkey” with friends or family members, we recommend Karen Davis’ book, More Than a Meal. For tips on dealing with the defensiveness and hostility that can arise even if you don’t say anything, you may find Carol J. Adams’ book, Living with Meat Eaters, helpful.

Here at the sanctuary, we have included turkeys in our community since 2002. Notable former turkey residents include Cara (who was deeply devoted to a group of ducklings), Mama T (who was the boss of a group of roosters), Dante (who stepped up to be the adoptive “uncle” of a group of juvenile chickens rescued from ritual slaughter), Lily (who became the best friend of Truffles the pig), and Willy (who appointed himself as our official tour guide and especially liked children). Current turkey residents include Lois the explorer, the ever-friendly Paula, and the always fabulous Fabio. Wild turkeys also seek and find safety at the sanctuary, where we reserve more than half of our land as a wildlife refuge. We love to see mother turkeys leading their children through the pastures and into the forests every year.

You can meet the turkeys at the sanctuary and, perhaps, recover from any holiday unhappiness at our annual Party FOR Turkeys to be held, as always, on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. You will get to know turkeys and other sanctuary residents while helping to prepare coops, barns, yards, and pastures for winter. Your labors will be rewarded with a sanctuary tour along with a potluck of vegan snacks with sanctuary staff. Learn more here.

Speaking of holidays, this week only we are auctioning off many items suitable to be given as gifts. From Vermont specialties like savory maple syrup, VINE tees, and Cheryl’s famous vegan cheese to activities like a cooking class or a one-week stay in Costa Rica, not to mention holiday favorites such as cards and jewelry, there’s something for everyone at our first-ever holiday auction fundraiser to support the sanctuary. Check it out!

Since all of the items we're auctioning off have been donated, all of the proceeds will benefit the sanctuary. If you don't see anything you like but still would like to support the turkeys and other animals at VINE, please do choose one of the buttons below to make a contribution today!

If you prefer to donate by mail, you can send a check to the address below.

VINE Sanctuary, 158 Massey Road, Springfield, VT 05156

VINE (Veganism Is the Next Evolution, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation (EIN 52-2248977)