Today I Ate an Organic Cow

Today I ate an organic cow. I'm a vegetarian. Oh, and I went to a H.E.M.P. (Help Marijuana Prohibition) picnic, so I was quite the "rebel".

Whitney, a friend who works at the dry cleaners next to our bakery, helps organize these rallies. After many invites I finally went. It was the perfect day for the park: rainy and cold. I kept thinking of Seattle, though the one day I was there the skies were blue and the sun shone upon my back. I think the older hippies who lead H.E.M.P. also had something to do with my Northwestern thoughts.

One of the group leaders, Farmer Bill, brought some organic ground beef from his farm. Whitney assured me the cattle were grass-fed and well treated. I'm not a hard-core animal activist or green person but my flower child tendencies figured it was OK to try it. After all, it wasn't hormone-filled, grocery store meat, no?

Two ladies opened the packets and began shaping the meat into red, round patties. It didn't hit me until later that they might not have washed their hands. Hemp, meat AND unsanitary food preparation? Bring it on!

I got in line and put some carrots, chips and a hamburger bun on my paper plate. Most of the patties were small; mine was about the size of a deck of cards. (That's the correct helping size for meat, just FYI.) I topped it off with classic ketchup and mustard.

Whitney, her sis Lindsey and I sat down. I picked up my burger and took a bite. I haven't had a burger since turning to a green diet, so I have nothing to compare it to, though Whitney said you could definitely taste the difference.

Taste was good, not going to lie. Yet something in the back of my mind kept reminding me I was eating animal muscle. I didn't completely not enjoy it, and knowing this had been a well-cared-for creature eased guilt and fear of chemicals and disease. But the experience reaffirmed the fact that I don't really want to incorporate meat into my diet again. I left it behind and therefore don't find it as delicious as I once did. I'm a creature of habit and it's no longer for me.

Happy cows come from California, and organic ones come from Farmer Bill's, but I'll let each one have their beef.