Update from our quail slaughtering, butchering, and cooking workshop

On Sunday, November 2nd, JM, a friend of SAFE who owns a small farm in Berkeley led SAFE members and friends in a quail preparing workshop. I milk goats as part of an apprenticeship program, and so J obliged to help us organize a workshop, eventually coming to the idea of a slaughter to better connect us to our meat. We chose quail because they are small and therefore they're easier and faster to slaughter, prepare, and cook than, say, chickens. It was also much more convenient for J to get them and keep them on his limited space until the workshop, and allowed us to have more people participate.

While there is a spectrum of beliefs in SAFE concerning the eating of meat and the morality of that decision, there is a general belief that if a person wants to eat meat, they should know that an animal must die to produce it and be willing to participate in that death. The bloodless, skinless, Styrofoam backed and cellophane wrapped meat in a grocery store reduces an animal’s sacrifice to a neat chunk of protein, robbing the eater of a connection to the animal and the land (or feedlot) on which it was raised. This disconnect encourages wastefulness and unhealthy overconsumption of meat. Diverse agroecosystems, which have reintroduced animals in balance with crops are the best models for young farmers to emulate, but managing these systems requires a knowledge of animal husbandry. Furthermore, in a future of scarcity, if we are to continue to eat meat, perhaps at least some of it should be raised and slaughtered as locally as possibly - in our own back yards. People grappling with these issues have a desire to learn the techniques of humanely killing and cleaning and animal, then decide if they have the temperament to slaughter, or even eat meat, ever again. For these reasons and more, we coordinated this workshop.

Some of my friends told me that it was one of their favorite workshops that we've done. I too, enjoyed the experience of this event. There was a very respectful and intimate atmosphere and a strong current of discussion about some of the tradition behind raising and killing animals. Before the slaughter, J discussed his views on sustainable meat eating, and throughout the event he kept an open space for checking in emotionally. Everyone present offered help and support to one another. We had a vast range of experience present, but each person came away with some new ideas and perspectives on meat eating, not to mention a full belly. I also came away with a very valuable personal lesson. I’ve been a vegetarian for over ten years. You might find it strange then, that I helped organize an animal slaughter. Being a part of SAFE and learning about different perspectives of food activism has made me a supporter of responsible meat eating and has caused me to question my long standing vegetarianis. I went to this workshop not intending to participate but curious about the process, thinking if I did start eating meat again I would want to be highly involved in its production. I left knowing that I am not currently capable of killing an animal. One day I hope to own or work on a farm. I realize that death is a huge part of farm life and even having animals for eggs or dairy requires culling of some. The day will come when I will have to confront my decisions again. But for now, being a college student and living in an apartment in Berkeley, I feel secure that I took the time to witness a slaughter, appreciated it, and realized it’s not for me. For now that seems like a good enough reason to stay vegetarian, and I feel much more at ease holding onto that choice that I made ten years ago.

I must admit I am a biology and anatomy lover and so snapping pictures kept me busy for most of the event. Here are some of my favorite shots. Please do not view the slideshow if you may be sensitive to images of animal slaughter. If you are interested in the process, note the captions of the slideshow, which guide you through the steps. (Photos by J.C., B.B., and M.R.; editorial assistance by Mat)