Harvesting A Deer Killed by a Car
Harvesting A Deer Killed by a Car
I did this for the first time in my life yesterday. I picked up a deer that was hit by a car and I harvested the meat.
Growing up in Wisconsin I have driven past hundreds of deer and don’t recall ever thinking about using this resource. Instead, I drove right past the deer to the fast food drive through where I bought my cheap burger and milkshake. The drive through was socially acceptable, the deer would have given me a name.
Part of me doesn’t want to share this with you, especially a photo. But I think this experience can demonstrate a few things that I’ve been trying to teach.
If you want to be the change you wish to see in the world, I encourage you to stop worrying what people think about you. Look, I’m eating roadkill. That’s one of the lower stigmas that I know of in this society. But, I look at the world through the lens of “what is beneficial for the earth, my community and myself” instead of “what will people think.” This is true freedom. I don’t desire to be known as someone who eats roadkill. The media could pick up on it and spin me in a bad light. But I’m being me and using a resource that makes complete sense to use. This is some of the most sustainable food on earth.
Which leads me to my next important point. Nothing is black and white. If there’s one thing I could drive home to people in the environmental movement it is simply that nearly nothing is black and white. Vegans will often take a 100% stance that meat is bad for the world. Here’s an example that not only proves the contrary, but is far more sustainable than buying nearly any vegan food at a store or restaurant. Our environmental and human crises are not black and white. Many will unfollow me without reading or thinking out this caption. That’s the thinking that won’t solve our problems.
If we want to truly change society and change the world we must think intricately and embrace diversity, in all manners of life. We must go beyond the mainstream environmental messages and thought patterns, the greenwashing and trends. We must go far, far deeper. That doesn’t mean anyone reading this has to pick up animals from the side of the road. This is just my tool to teach my lesson for today.
Here is my followup post on social media the next day
Over 600 people unfollowed me after yesterday’s post.
I used this deer to discuss two topics.
First, to effect change we must not worry so much what people think about us. We must look at life through the lens of “what is beneficial for the earth, my community and myself” instead of “what will people think.”
Second, the issues we face are not black and white. It’s all grey.
I expected some people to unfollow me, but I didn’t expect over 600.
I want to reassure you all that this won’t change my future posts. I will always keep it real, whether it means people like it or not. I will always be truthful. I won’t greenwash and I’ll keep doing the right thing, for myself and for all of us on this journey to a more just and sustainable world. I’m not trying to lose people, but rawness will do that sometimes, and I’ll take that route.
To be clear:
I did not post that photo for “shock value”. I don’t think that it was shocking at all. It is life. It is a grand delusion to think this isn’t happening. All the pretty social media feeds are contributors to this green washed idea that everything is easy and clean in this movement. I’m guessing most of the people who unfollowed me drive cars, fly in planes and buy their food from the globalized food system. All of this leaves behind a trail of death that we are personally responsible for in part. But our social media feeds don’t show that.
My page will not contribute to disconnection from reality. I intend to connect each of you more deeply with our Earth, to encourage you to look within, and to take this all far deeper than you had planned or expected.
For those asking, I’m not going to share about how to cook it. I’m not going to talk about how to identify safe roadkill to eat. That’s not my purpose. Again, the deer was a vessel for a bigger lesson.
For those worried about my health (such a common theme), worry not. I am well researched and had a lifetime expert with me.
In summary, continue to expect truth, rawness, and to be encouraged to think in a way you hadn’t thought before from this page.
I love you all and thank you for being here,
Robin
