What I Wish Everyone Knew About Factory Farming

Sunrise at Farm Sanctuary.

For the past few weeks, Chelsea and I have been surrounded by green hills and hundreds of cute, fuzzy animals. Crowing roosters kick-start each day of our picture-perfect pastoral scene here at Farm Sanctuary.

I am volunteering here all of February to tell the stories of the sanctuary's animals. The tales often begin at unseen factory farms, where 99 percent of animals in the U.S. are raised.

After first reading about factory farms in Eric Schlosser's best-selling book, Fast Food Nation, I stopped eating fast food. After a few more years consuming online research, documentaries like Cowspiracy, and books about the environmental impact of traditional animal agriculture, I decided to opt out of the destructive system and stopped eating factory-farmed meat, dairy, and eggs served in restaurants or sold in grocery stores. The ultra-triathlete Rich Roll ultimately inspired me to shift to an entirely vegan lifestyle three years ago, and I haven't looked back since.

Farm Sanctuary's friendly rescue animals have served as reminders that I made the right choice in adopting a plant-based diet. Here are five things I wish everyone knew about the factory farms where most meat is raised...

Read the full article at Mind Body Green.

Inquisitive Lola pig bids you farewell! (Photo credit Chelsea.)