Happily Ever Esther

by Steve Jenkins

  Such rapid change is still scary, but it’s also exhilarating. We’ve learned new things, met new people, and found a confidence in ourselves we thought was reserved for those corny motivational posters in office buildings everywhere. (If you can’t grasp the concepts of teamwork or achievement without a poster, we’re amazed you managed to dress yourself and arrive at the office in the first place.)

  What’s the secret? Was it magic piggy powers? Or did we just set a goal and get to work trying to achieve it? Our actions were inspired, certainly, but we had to make them happen on our own, inspired or not. There was no special potion; we just followed our gut instinct, even when most other people thought we’d fail.

  As Esther’s pages continue to grow in popularity, so too does the number of ways she is making her mark on the lives of people she connects with. We have made a conscious effort to maintain an upbeat, funny tone on our pages. We’ve refined the way we present our message to make sure it remains positive and engaging. We focus on building relationships with people, but those relationships are not with us—they’re with Esther. We do our best to empower her fans with information and stories that help them understand why we do what we do. But we’re extremely careful to do that in a way that’s not off-putting or preachy. We’ve found that to be the most engaging way of promoting a vegan lifestyle to a broad spectrum of people.

  We had a lady from the southern United States write us with thanks for teaching her young sons that it’s okay to have two dads. It let them see that families might look different, but fundamentally we’re all the same. That’s the sort of lesson we never intended to communicate through Esther—it’s just a fortunate by-product, but we’re thrilled it worked out that way.

  We also had a lady from Ottawa, Ontario, let us know that not only had Esther’s photos become her “happy place” when she was having a bad day, but they also had become a means to communicate with her mother, who was suffering from dementia. One day, the lady was sitting beside her mom’s hospital bed, watching a video on our Facebook page, and she decided to show her mother the screen. They both sat there smiling at a video of Esther doing her thing—opening the fridge and harassing Derek for a bite of whatever he was eating. This supporter said it was the first time in months she had seen her mom smile, and it meant the world to her.

  Who knew a pig could mean so much to so many people? Esther has an uncanny ability to make people happy, forget about everything else for a few minutes, and just have a laugh.

  That has been our goal from the minute we realized we were becoming accidental activists. We knew Esther alone had caused us to reevaluate our lives. Watching her walk side by side with our dogs, establishing herself as a member of our family, and growing into her larger-than-life personality has been all we’ve needed to see her for what she really is. She’s really no different from a typical companion animal such as a cat or a dog; we just didn’t know that until we knew her. And once that happened, we knew that if other people got to know her as we did, and saw that amazing smile for themselves, maybe they would start to see things differently too.

  We acknowledged the crazy misconceptions around veganism, and rather than feed into them, we distanced ourselves and came at them from a different approach. No one wants to feel pressured. No one wants to be lectured, to be made to feel like a bad person. Our objective has never been to communicate, “We’re vegan, and you must be vegan too!” We just wanted people to fall in love with a pig and start asking their own questions. And that’s what has happened.

  People started to feel like they were part of something. Small communities of fans have since created their own pages to discuss all kinds of stuff. They discuss everything from Esther’s latest post to one another’s favorite brand of plant-based milk, because they’re trying to eliminate dairy from their diet. It’s incredible, and it’s all because of the sense of inclusivity we create on the page. We support people when they ask questions, and when they share a milestone such as giving up pork or beef as they work toward an “Esther-Approved” lifestyle. Even that term was created with the intention of being approachable; it’s meant to open up a conversation, not to announce an edict.

  Our message has always been one of kindness and positivity. Everything we’ve achieved has been because we approached it with kindness. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred upon hearing the term, someone will ask, “What does ‘Esther-Approved’ mean?” That doesn’t happen when you just straight-out tell someone you’re vegan, because people have preconceived notions about that. Some respond well, whereas others conjure up images of someone throwing flour at Kim Kardashian for wearing a fur coat and immediately view you as an extremist. (Even though she’s the one wearing the skins of a few dozen animals that were likely electrocuted, and possibly skinned alive to avoid damaging the fur. Standing up for those animals doesn’t sound so extreme when you look at it that way. Unfortunately, we aren’t programmed to do that, thanks to the incredible marketing campaigns of the fashion industry. Similarly, we wouldn’t stand up for a pig that was destined to become dinner until we got to know one.)

  You can’t demand that people do something that goes against what they’ve been taught their entire lives. You need to teach by example. You need to open up your life to how beneficial this lifestyle is for humans and animals alike. Through that, you will inspire people to change. We also fine-tuned the messaging on our social media pages, giving each a highly specific tone and direction. Esther’s Kitchen has evolved into its very own community of people, tens of thousands of people just like us who are looking for ways to make their kitchen kinder and healthier.

  We constantly provide new recipe ideas thanks to our amazing friend Chef Linda, who has cultivated a warm, welcoming place for people to learn how easy it is to start substituting products and making “Esther-Approved” meals at home. We’ve kept the focus on very familiar, family-friendly meals, because that’s what the average person wants to eat. We left the fancy kale salads and quinoa burgers to the more advanced chefs.

  The Esther’s Army page has really taken on a life of its own. Its original purpose was to promote the crowdfunding campaign when we were trying to buy the farm. We knew the campaign would require some serious marketing, but we didn’t want to dilute Esther’s page with post after post about Indiegogo. Esther’s Army let us tell people what they could do to help without our having to use our main pages as much. We could post memes and various calls to action that would help us spread the word much further than we ever could have on our own. By the end of the campaign, that page had more than ten thousand people on it, all working together to achieve a common goal. When the campaign ended, we had a huge network of people and nothing for them to do.

  At the same time, we received a massive influx of messages to help find homes for animals all over the world. People knew we were opening a sanctuary, and they wanted to send us animals. We got messages from all over Canada, the United States, and even Europe, asking us to take in a pig here and a horse there. We wouldn’t be able to help the vast majority of these animals, if for no other reason than geography. But we had our army, and they were situated all over the world, so we decided to put them to work again. Esther’s Army has become a relocation/rehoming and advocacy powerhouse directly involved in the placement of almost 350 animals just in the past year, across dozens of countries. But we didn’t stop there. We also use that page to do sanctuary spotlights, sharing information about various sanctuaries around the world and the people who run them.

  Esther has made countless people sit up and take notice. Of course, they all want to meet her, but she’s also making people pay attention to pigs in a way they hadn’t before. We try to take advantage of their enthusiasm and direct them to a place where they can take their relationship with pigs to the next level: a sanctuary. Seeing a pig and getting to know one online is a wonderful way to open the door, but to really deepen that relationship, we think people need to actually interact with pigs, to see just how different ea
ch of their personalities is. Sanctuaries are invaluable for that, but they can’t help if no one knows they’re there.

  We got lucky. We know that. Most sanctuaries do not get the exposure we’ve been able to create via Esther and our Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary. But we think it’s really important to remind her fans that they don’t need to wait for a chance to visit Esther—there are other sanctuaries just like ours all over the place. I love getting a message from someone who says they did a Google search and found a farm sanctuary just an hour from their house in Texas. This lets us help not only the person who wants to create meaningful change, but also the sanctuary in their area—one that might be struggling to pay the feed bill or get volunteers to show up when needed.

  I cannot even begin to fathom how someone could do this on their own, or even with a very small group of dedicated supporters. It takes a staggering amount of time, money, and energy to operate a sanctuary. We wouldn’t survive if not for our volunteers.

  The deeper into the world of animal rights we go, the more areas we see that need attention. But where do you draw the line to ensure you stay focused enough to be effective? We decided to stick as close as we could to pigs. For example, we flexed our advocacy muscles against pig-wrestling events—yet another thing we didn’t know existed until we got involved in all things pig.

  Pig wrestling is very common at county fairs and similar rural events. The organizers take a bunch of piglets or small adult pigs and throw them into a ring. Then they let a bunch of people chase them, wrestle them down, and drop them into buckets. It’s incredibly cruel and unbelievably stressful for the pigs. Sometimes these events even use larger pigs, ones that require three or four people to pick them up. Pigs don’t like to be picked up at the best of times, never mind being manhandled by strangers and dragged around by their legs. More often than not, the pigs get injured, sometimes mortally.

  When we found out about these events, we immediately set out to stop them. We used Esther’s Army to petition event organizers and speak to sponsors. Of course, we also implored community members not to attend. While we failed on many occasions, we did have some successes. We can directly attribute the cancellation of numerous pig-chase events to the work of Esther’s Army. Everyone played a big role, but we have to give particular thanks to one special lady named Monica. She has become the general of our army, tirelessly devoting herself to making sure every animal that comes to our attention gets the best possible chance for a wonderful life. She personally attends some relocations, aids with transportation, or just lends moral support for the families involved. She also makes sure everything Esther’s Army touches is handled the way Esther would do it: with kindness, understanding, and a smile on her face.

  If Esther has taught us anything, it’s that being kind to everyone you meet can have a bigger effect on your life than you could ever imagine. It sounds so lame, but every time someone asks how we made all this happen, the first thing we say is “Be kind to people.” It’s easy to get frustrated with any number of situations over the course of a day. Often the first thing people do is take to Facebook to air grievances. We’ve been the subject of many vent posts from various activists, sometimes even sanctuary founders, who were upset about one thing or another we did or said. We learned very quickly that you can’t please everyone, and complaining about it just drives a wedge between people.

  There’s enough negativity in the world, so make it your mission to be nothing but positive. Give people a break from the everyday downer news stories; make someone smile for a change. Stay focused on your goals, and believe that even when your closest friends think you’re insane, anything is possible.

  Our sanctuary has continued to grow, with new animals moving in on a regular basis. All of those visions we had in our heads are coming to fruition. The barn has been freshly painted in a traditional barn red with gleaming white trim. Our fences are up, and the stone walls are starting to look like walls again, not just big long piles of mossy rocks. We’re settling into our new life, and Esther couldn’t be happier we followed her lead.

  I don’t know about Derek, but I still pinch myself more than once a day to make sure it’s not a dream. As I sit here typing these final few words, Esther is sleeping soundly on her queen-size mattress in the sunroom beside the table where I work, and there’s a thirty-pound turkey named Cornelius standing behind me, demanding my attention. Just a typical day in our magical life, a life made possible thanks to a wonder pig named Esther, and a smile that’s changing the world.

  ESTHER-APPROVED RECIPES

  Raspberry Overnight Oats

  Fried Eggz and Toast

  Thick Black Pepper–Maple, Smoked, Rice-Paper Bacon

  Creamy Tomato Soup

  Grilled Turky and Cheeze Sandwich

  Esther’s Pulled Jackfruit Carnitas

  Wonder Scrapple

  The Derek Burger

  Steve’s Garlic Parm Fries

  Esther’s Cashew Parmesan Cheeze

  Esther’s Macaroni and Cheeze with White Cheddar–Style Cheeze Sauce

  Provolone Dolce–Style Cheeze

  Mango Piña Colada

  Chocolate Wine Cake

  RASPBERRY OVERNIGHT OATS

  Our Raspberry Overnight Oats are an easy and delicious breakfast or snack. They are very simple to make and save you time preparing breakfast the next morning. Enjoy your Raspberry Overnight Oats cold or warmed with a cup of coffee or tea at home. Eating on the run? Pop the jar and a spoon into your bag and off you go! This recipe is also a fun activity for children. These overnight oats are perfect to serve the next morning for children’s sleepovers and guests. This recipe can be made the night before you need them and stored in the refrigerator for an additional 2 days.

  Cuisine: Esther-Approved breakfast, gluten-free

  Prep Time: 15 minutes

  Refrigeration Time: Overnight

  Yield: 4 servings (in 2-cup mason jars)

  Ingredients

  4 (2-cup) glass mason jars with seals and lids

  2⅔ cups rolled oats

  4 tablespoons chia seeds

  4 tablespoons coconut palm sugar

  8 teaspoons raspberry preserves

  4 cups unsweetened almond milk

  1 cup sliced almonds

  1 cup fresh raspberries

  Method

  Layer the following ingredients, in this order, in each mason jar: ⅔ cup rolled oats, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, 1 tablespoon coconut palm sugar, 2 teaspoons raspberry preserves, 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, ¼ cup sliced almonds, ¼ cup fresh raspberries.

  Place the seals on the jars and tighten the lids. Place the jars in the refrigerator overnight.

  Serve the overnight oats with spoons.

  Notes

  Use certified gluten-free rolled oats for a gluten-free option. The coconut palm sugar may be replaced with maple syrup or vegan light brown sugar.

  FRIED EGGZ AND TOAST

  Now you can enjoy an Esther-Approved fried egg that is cholesterol-free and plant-based! Our Fried Eggz even have a savory “yolk.” You will have extra “yolk” left over if you want to make your Fried Eggz runny after frying. For a big breakfast, serve two Fried Eggz with our Wonder Scrapple; Thick Black Pepper–Maple, Smoked, Rice-Paper Bacon; toast; orange juice; and coffee.

  Cuisine: Esther-Approved breakfast, egg-free, gluten-free (Eggz only)

  Prep Time: 15 minutes

  Cook Time: 5 minutes per Eggz

  Yield: 4 Fried Eggz

  Center “Yolk” Ingredients

  Makes 10 teaspoons

  2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

  1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

  6 teaspoons warm water

  ½ teaspoon kala namak salt

  ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric

  2 teaspoons tapioca flour

  Place the Center “Yolk” ingredients in a small bowl. Whisk with a fork until smooth. Set aside.

  White Fried Eggz Ingredients

  1 cu
p organic silken tofu

  ¼ teaspoon kala namak salt

  ¼ teaspoon onion powder

  ¼ cup tapioca flour

  Vegan butter

  Salt and pepper

  Method

  Combine the White Fried Eggz ingredients in a food processor or blender. Process until smooth. Place this batter in a 1-cup glass measure. Pour ¼ cup of the batter into a ¼-cup metal measure. Set aside. Heat a nonstick sauté pan or griddle to medium-high heat.

  Spread 1 teaspoon vegan butter on the nonstick sauté pan or griddle for each Fried Eggz. The Eggz need oil to properly fry.

  Pour ¼ cup of the White Fried Eggz batter for each egg, leaving room between the Eggz for the batter to slightly spread in a circle or oval shape on the skillet. Immediately create a 1-inch well in the center of each Eggz white, until the bottom of the pan is visible. Pour 1 teaspoon Eggz Yolk in the center of each White Fried Eggz round. Put the bread in the toaster at this stage.

  Fry the first side for 3 minutes or until the surface of the Eggz is no longer moving. Flip the Eggz over. Fry this side for 2 minutes. The edges will bubble and crisp like a traditional fried egg. If the Eggz are undercooked, the texture will be chewy due to the tapioca starch. Flip the Eggz over and onto the serving plates so the Eggz Yolk is up. Pour additional Eggz Yolk onto the center if desired. Serve with toast and vegan butter. Add salt and pepper to taste.

  Notes

  Use a gluten-free bread for a gluten-free option. These Fried Eggz contain soy. Tapioca flour and kala namak salt can be purchased online if not available locally. Kala namak salt adds an eggy, sulfur taste to recipes.

  THICK BLACK PEPPER–MAPLE, SMOKED, RICE-PAPER BACON

  Rice-paper bacon rocks! This is a delicious, crispy bacon substitute that is peppery, smoky, and salty! It has all the classic flavors of a meat-based bacon but without the cholesterol. Serve it on your next Esther-Approved BLT sandwich, top avocado toast with it, or enjoy it with a chickpea or tofu breakfast scramble. Or just snack on it. Rice-paper sheets can be found in the international and Asian foods sections in your grocery store. They are also available online. The rice-paper bacon will stay crispy for up to 2 days if stored in a sealed container on the counter.