*CORRECTION*: VegFest will be held on Sunday, June 5, 2022, at Eastern Market in Detroit. We apologize for the confusion.

If you've already read the February newsletter, the only change is the VegFest date. Please accept our apologies for the additional email.
VegFest is Back and Admission is Free!
After a two-year hiatus, VegMichigan is excited to announce that VegFest is making its return! We are also excited to announce that, for the first time in event history, VegMichigan will be free to all attendees. This popular springtime tradition will be held at Eastern Market in downtown Detroit on Sunday, June 5. We wanted to make VegFest a mostly outdoor event, and Eastern Market was the perfect location. Please save the date, and we hope you'll join us for a fun and inspiring day! With free admission, please invite family and friends!

If you've already purchased a ticket on Eventbrite, your order will automatically be refunded. There is no need for you to do anything. If you have any questions, please contact noelle@vegmichigan.org.
5 Ways to Celebrate Vegan Valentine's Day
Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for that special someone in your life or maybe you just want to treat yourself, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve got creamy hand-made chocolates, sips of delicious wines, and even special getaways—can you think of a better way to have a very vegan Valentine celebration? Read the blog here.
We're Asking Michiganders to Take the 30-Day Pledge
VegMichigan is inviting Michigan residents, who are new to plant-based eating, to take a 30-day pledge to reduce their meat, egg, and dairy consumption. During the 30 days, they will receive a free bag of plant-based food, helpful resources, and a VegMichigan mentor who will guide them along the way. If you know of a group that would like to participate in this program, contact our outreach coordinator to learn more. Consider joining VegMichigan to help support this program. Thank you!
"I really enjoyed it. I got product I would probably not have tried and ended up enjoying them. I have already purchased 2 of the items I tried." - Susan
Upcoming Events & Presentations
Join us for great virtual presentations, including a Valentine's Day cooking demo, an inspiring talk by Marc and Kim Ramirez, and our ongoing book club discussion. Plus, join us for Seeds, Sun, and Soil. How Starting a Vegetable Garden Can Provide More Than Dinner, on Tuesday, March 1 at 7pm. This new presentation is for anyone thinking about starting a home garden. Gardening is a great way to eat locally, reduce packaging waste, stay active, and manage stress. Click on the event links below or check out our event calendar to view details and register for upcoming events.
Longtime family farmers Matt and Deanna Tregoning will show us how to start a home garden and discuss the many benefits of gardening on March 1.
Thursday, February 10, 7pm (Virtual)

Thursday, February 17, 6:30pm (Virtual)

Monday, February 21, 5pm

Sunday, February 27, 1pm (Virtual)

Tuesday, March 1, 7pm (Virtual)
Meet Our New Staff Member
Please join us in welcoming our new Outreach Coordinator, Nikki Diroff, to the VegMichigan team! Nikki will be working to expand our 30-Day Pledge and other in-person outreach efforts, with a focus on colleges and universities. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, where she first learned about the environmental, ethical, and health benefits of a plant-based diet. She has worked in animal care and rehabilitation for various nonprofits, including the Bird Center of Michigan, Hawai’i Wildlife Center, California Wildlife Center, and Michigan Humane. Welcome, Nikki!
Advertisement
Toarmina's Pizza - Canton & Troy
The Best Vegan Pizza in Town! 

3700 N. Lilley Rd, Canton, MI 48187
Order Online or call 734.981.0060

1123 E. Long Lake Rd, Troy, MI 48085
Order Online or call 248.524.2441
Plant-Based Shopping at Fresh Thyme
No matter if you are looking for bulk items, splurges, or staples, spend some time at Fresh Thyme (we recommend at least an hour!) You will certainly be delighted with the vast plant-based options that lie around each corner. Read the blog here.

No Fresh Thyme in your neighborhood? Or just keen to learn the inside scoop on other hot vegan finds at Michigan grocers? Check out The Vegan Mary’s complete grocer series here and follow The Vegan Mary on Instagram @the.veganmary and Facebook @TheRealVeganMary.
Last Month's Winners and New Raffle
Congratulations to the winners of last month's word scramble! (The answer was: Let's make 2022 better for animals.) Nina Najor won a gift card to Chive, Renee J won a gift card to Juicy Kitchen, Andrea Koueiter won a gift card to Estella's Vegan Cuisine, Kathleen Hempsall won a gift card to Rose Gold Coffee, and T De La Fe won a gift card to Veg-N. For this month's raffle, you'll have a chance to win:
$25 Gift Card to Aratham Gourmet To Go (Detroit, Troy, Westland)

$25 Gift Card to Detroit Street Filling Station (Ann Arbor)

$25 Gift Card to Flint Crepe Company (Flint)

$25 Gift Card to Rise Authentic Baking Co. (Grand Rapids)

Sanders Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels
To enter the raffle, solve the word scramble below and email your answer and one prize preference to raffle@vegmichigan.org. Those with the correct answer will be entered into a raffle drawing for the prize of their choice. Winners will be announced in the March newsletter. Good luck!
gve elvo si ni eht ria 
Plant-Based News Headlines