Exploits of a Vegan Wannabe

I am thrilled to introduce our guest contributor Gillian Wilson. Gillian is a 20 year vegan, wife and mother of two healthy, rock star vegan children.  I met Gillian online when I was searching Etsy (artisan community website) for vegan messenger bags. She designs one of a kind bags that are gorgeous, funky and earth lovin. Gillian also started Mt. Hood Apothecary and creates vegan soaps and lotions inspired by the Cascade mountains.

I asked Gillian to share some insight about her 20 year journey with us, in her own words below.  Meet Gillian Wilson of Bergen Bags and Mt Hood Apothecary.

My name is Gillian, and this is my vegan story.

I have been a vegan for over 20 years.  I despised meat my entire life and became vegetarian at 14.  2 years later I saw Dr. Michael Klapper speak about a vegan lifestyle.  He is a brilliant speaker and talked about pulling the fat out of arteries during heart surgeries he would perform, only to have his patients go back to the same diet and load them back up.  That was the day I quit all dairy.  Honey, leather, and the rest were dropped later on as well.

I became vegan at what, when looking back, was the dawn of a very exciting consciousness shift in our country. This was the time just before the internet exploded into everyone’s world.  The resources are mind boggling now.  I just looked up “vegan chocolate éclair” and at least 20 recipes are there immediately, and for free.  Amazing to me still!   I was very active in animal rights causes, and surrounded myself with like minded friends.  I also grew up in Portland, OR which is very veg friendly.  Outside of my small circle, however, I seemed liked an alien to my family and coworkers who had never heard of “vegan” and did not understand.  I talked like a preacher until I lost my voice.  This choice seemed so obvious to me!  How could anyone accept the model of a factory farm or what eating meat does to your body – or worse – COW MILK!!!!  I was angry – which I suppose goes hand in hand with being a teenager.  I had a cause.

I started a wholesale vegan baking company while I was still in high school supplying vegan cookies to many local restaurants.  As much as I loved cookies, even I grew tired of them and settled into a career path outside of the animal rights world.  My temper settled down and I learned to live with tolerance of other diets.  I was happy to talk about my lifestyle to anyone who was interested.  But I kept it at that.  My new job took me all over the country.  Being vegan in the NW was still not too difficult.  Being vegan in Texas, Wyoming, and you name it in the Midwest back then was a real eye opener.  Not easy!  Bacon is a condiment in most of the country I learned.  What surprised me very much was all of the little communities that were in every state had a vegan presence that was growing rapidly.  Montana turned out to be one of the most vegetarian progressive states I had the pleasure to work in.

Now you can’t turn on the radio or TV without hearing of a celebrity becoming vegan, which is great for the exposure.  I just read that Bill Clinton is going on a “plant based diet” which must be the PC term for vegan.  It is very heartening.

I married a decade ago and converted my husband to being vegan and I have 2 young sons who are of course vegan.  My vegan pregnancy and birth experience could be summed up as “very easy”.  My boys are rarely sick as I compare them against their omnivore friends who always seem to have ear infections, coughs and running noses.  My boys are both very adamant vegans and are still shocked if we eat out and they see anyone eating meat.  I just had a vegan friend stay with us for a week, and they were asking her “why would anyone eat meat”?  She had the kindest answer to this question I had ever heard.  She told them, “People who eat meat are not all bad; it is just a very old fashioned idea.”  “Old fashioned!”  I loved that!   Eating meat, fish and dairy really is just an old fashioned idea whose time has come.  As much as driving huge cars, using lead based paint, or insulating our homes with asbestos.  I am the only vegan or vegetarian in my extended family to this day.  I love to host the holiday gatherings so I can fix an entire vegan spread for them.  The fear of loss keeps so many people making bad choices.  Food is such a personal comfort item.  People are emotionally attached to their diets in one way or another.  I have learned over the years it is better to charm with fresh vegan cupcakes or amazing main courses then to have endless vegan discussions.  Over the years I have introduced many to my vegan world and all that there is to gain through it.  I know many of those introductions stuck resulting in new vegans, and spreading the word.

Recently – I missed my vegan business from the early days so several years ago I started two small companies.  “Bergen bags” which you can find on Etsy (www.bergenbags.etsy.com) is a creative outlet for me.  I make messenger style bags and purses out of vegan materials and up-cycled fabrics as I can find them.  I also started Mt. Hood Apothecary which is only available through local shops.  I make all vegan soaps and lotions specializing in local plants and scents from the Cascade mountain range.  (I send free soap with every bag order!)  I am happy to offer support to anyone who is just starting out, or has any questions.  I think it is wonderful that Sherry has this blog.  I thank her for inviting me to contribute, and to anyone who has read this far.

Gillian Wilson

You may contact Gillian through her Etsy site at www.bergenbags.etsy.com

Have a delicious day.

Tags: Bergen Bags, compassionate eating, dairy free, going veg, guest contributor, Mt Hood Apothecary, trying vegan, trying vegetarian, vegan, vegan bags, vegan challenge, vegan experience, vegan messenger bags, vegan transition, vegan wannabe, vegetarian transition