2024 Activities
Check out the wide variety of presentations, workshops, and other activities that were featured at the 2024 NEVF. Also view our Speaker Line-Up.
Presentations & Workshops
Chronic Disease Reversal Using Food as Medicine
This compelling talk will leave you thinking differently about food. Healthy food choices (unprocessed and mostly plant-based) are loaded with gifts for our cells and bodies to function most optimally. We will discuss how whole food plant-based nutrition can prevent, improve, and even reverse pre-diabetes, type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and high cholesterol.
Sandra Musial, MD
Sandy is a physician specializing in food as medicine who believes that the foundation of a healthy life starts with whole plant-based food. She earned a BS degree in Nutritional Sciences and an MD degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She has worked in a private practice and at Hasbro Children's Hospital teaching the pediatric residents and medical students. She is a Culinary Coach from Harvard’s CHEF Coaching program, has a certificate in Plant Based Nutrition from eCornell, and a Health Coaching certificate from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition®. Sandy is board certified in Pediatrics and Obesity Medicine and started an obesity clinic and the first vegetable garden at Hasbro. Though she has witnessed the healing power of conventional medicine, she has also seen its limitations, especially with regard to disease prevention through healthy nutrition. Sandy started the nonprofit Plant Docs as an avenue for people to learn about the power of plant based nutrition to preserve health and even reverse many chronic diseases.
Pathways to Progress
To create a better world for animals, we must change our laws and policies. But how exactly do we go about doing that? In this solutions-oriented talk, Bella O'Connor will bring you inside the complex and fascinating world of Animal Law, while addressing some of the movement’s largest challenges. If you want to know more about some of the incredible projects advancing animal rights nationally, then this talk is for you!
Bella O’Connor
Bella is a lawyer and activist who has dedicated her life to exploring the transformative solutions emerging at the intersection of animal and environmental law. She is an alumnus of Vermont Law & Graduate School where she served as an Environmental Mission Scholar and earned her J.D. with a formal concentration in Animal Law. As PETA’s 2024-2025 Legal Fellow, she has the unique ability to explore the interdisciplinary approaches used to effectively mitigate systemic animal exploitation within our legal system. Bella has worked on a wide variety of projects aimed to advance animal, human, and environmental welfare. However, most of her efforts are centered on improving the treatment and status of farmed animals specifically. Most notably, she has challenged bioenergy development permits that proliferated CAFO pollution in low-income communities, and currently has a petition sitting before the USDA that could help strengthen the enforcement of state anti-cruelty statutes.
In her personal life, she is a passionate 350VT member, zero-waster, and home cook who dreams of one day operating her own ecovillage. She loves spending time with her wonderful family, friends, and loving partner. She is a loyal attendee of New England Veg Fest and is so excited to be joining in on the excitement this year!
Nurturing Wellness: The Symbiotic Relationship Between Healthy Plants and Human Health
Join us for an enlightening exploration into the vital connection between plant health and our own well-being. In this 45-minute presentation, we will delve into what constitutes a truly healthy plant and how growers can enhance nutrient density to benefit both plants and people. Learn practical tips for cultivating nutrient-rich gardens, understand the science behind plant nutrition, and discover how thriving gardens can contribute to a sustainable, climate-friendly lifestyle. Perfect for vegan enthusiasts, gardeners, and anyone passionate about sustainable living, this talk will equip you with knowledge to elevate both your health and your garden’s productivity.
Rubén Parrilla
Rubén Parrilla is the Soil Technical Coordinator and Education Director for NOFA/Mass and trained in microscopic soil microbial identification through the Soil Food Web School. He is a Certified Lab Tech and studied Environmental Design at the University of Puerto Rico. In addition he recently completed a Natural Farming intensive taught by Chris Trump with over 50 hours of theory and practice. Rubén has 15 years’ experience working at different capacities in the environmental laboratory industry. He has been performing soil carbon proxy testing, soil health assessments, soil chemical analysis, and soil microbiological evaluations for NOFA/Mass for over the past 3 years. Rubén performs soil health related outreach and education events for NOFA/Mass by leading monthly soil health calls, providing hands-on workshops and instruction at soil health education events, and networking with farmers and individuals in the agricultural industry. He is a fluent and native Spanish speaker and fully English/Spanish bilingual.
Fermentation and Your Good Health
Join best-selling cookbook author, Terry Walters, to learn the importance of fermented foods for gut and mental health. Program will include sauerkraut demo! Bring your questions and leave empowered and inspired to start your own fermentation practice.
Terry Walters
Terry Walters is the best-selling cookbook author of CLEAN FOOD, CLEAN START, EAT CLEAN LIVE WELL, and most recently, NOURISH: Plant-based Recipes to Feed Body Mind and Soul. She is a James Beard Foundation Award finalist, recipient of the Nautilus Gold and Silver Book Awards, and recipient of the World Gourmand “Second Best Vegetarian Cookbook in the World” and “Best Vegetarian Cookbook in the United States” Awards.
Terry is a highly sought-after educator, consultant, and speaker, and has been teaching plant-based cooking and wellness to audiences all over the world for over twenty years. She is a dedicated chef, coach, and advocate, sharing her knowledge and passion for making healthy change in the way we eat and live.
She is an avid runner, skier and hiker – living what she teaches; doing her best to embrace good health for herself, her family, her community and the environment. Follow her at terrywalters.net or on Instagram at @TerryWaltersCooks.
Hatha Yoga Class
Anita Perry
Yoga Anita (Anita Perry) has been providing health and fitness instruction since 1978. She is an award winning yoga and meditation instructor as well as an author, educator, podcaster, and host of the weekly radio show, Healthy Living with Yoga Anita on WLPZ 95.1 FM.
NEVF Kids Corner
Bring the kids over to learn, create, and celebrate vegan living - learn more.
Schedule
- 11:00AM - 5:00PM - kids scavenger hunt (grab & go)
- 1:00PM - guided animal headband craft
- 2:00PM - book readings of veg-friendly children's books
- 3:00PM - guided animal headband craft
- 4:00PM - book readings of veg-friendly children's books