Hi! I’m Jones LeFae and welcome to Vegerarchy!
I am an active, working mom and I have been eating a plant-based diet for 33 years! I started Vegerarchy because I wanted to share my delicious and healthy plant-based recipes with the world and help people to be their healthiest, happies selves!
In addition to cooking delicious plant-based meals and taking care of my family, I also work full-time as an archaeologist. I have an MA in Anthropology and my area of interest is in ancient Mesoamerican cultures such as the Maya and Aztec. This stems from my Mexican-American heritage. And you can probably guess that I love Mexican food too!
In archaeology we learn about all kinds of “archys”….hierarchy, heterarchy (bet you’ve never heard of that one!), anarchy….you get the idea. And since I am a vegan, good health and good food, including lots of vegetables, are at the top of my priority hierarchy. I hope you will put them at the top of your hierarchy too.
What I Have to Offer
I will provide you with lots of tasty, easy, and affordable plant-based recipes for living a healthy lifestyle, transitioning to a plant-based diet, and losing weight (if that’s what you want to do!), as well as tips for sustainable living and advice for going back to college and achieving your dreams!
I will be here to help you every step of the way. In fact, I am hoping that we will all be in this together, helping each other along with lots of support and encouragement!
!How did I become an archaeologist?
With lots of passion, dedication, and hard work!
After having two children and a divorce, I went back to school to get my Bachelor’s degree at age 40. Now, at age 51, I have an MA in Anthropology and have begun a great career in archaeology! I finally have a job that not only pays all my bills, but allows me to save money for other things too….like a vacation for my family!
Why plant-based?
When I was 17 years old I was having some serious health issues such as horrible migraine headaches and stomachaches. I was diagnosed with high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and high triglycerides. The doctor also told me I could have a heart attack any day! My father died of pancreatic cancer when he was 46 and I was just 12. So this was a huge wake-up call that I needed to take better care of my health!
I followed the doctors orders to stop eating eggs, and to cut back on meat, dairy, and anything with saturated fat (meat, dairy, and hydrogenated oils). After only one month, my levels went down to normal and my symptoms went away…..except when I ate meat! Whenever I ate meat, I got just as sick again, so I decided to stop eating it! DUH!
Years later, I became vegan because of my love for animals. I found out how cruelly animals are treated, even in the dairy industry, and I did not want to take part in that. Besides, I have always cared deeply about our planet Earth and eating a plant-based, vegan diet is one way to really make a positive impact on the health of our planet – and our own health too!
So, why a blog?
The world of archaeology has its challenges! Many of the jobs available are contract based, meaning that once the contract is done, you might have to go out and find work elsewhere – perhaps in another town, another state, or even another country! That is one of the big motivators for me to start this blog. I want to ensure that I have a steady stream of income whether or not I am working in archaeology. I found blogging and it seemed like the perfect fit for me!
Yes, I am hoping to increase and stabilize my income with this blog, but honestly, I have been wanting to start a blog for years! This is because over the years I have a perfected a lot of tasty and healthy recipes that people were always asking for. I thought a blog would be the perfect way for me to share my recipes! I also have tips for feeding a hungry family on a budget, how to live more sustainably, and even some advice for going to college that I would love to share with you!
The Things That Interest Me (and hopefully you too!)
I have always tried to live as sustainably as possible by eating organic foods, growing my own food in my garden, recycling everything possible, shopping fair trade or second-hand, and promoting anything that would help the environment.
Archaeological and historical preservation fit into that vein too, because archaeological sites and the knowledge they hold are important for remembering and understanding our heritage…..where we came from and where we are going.
Many archaeological sites are in danger from rampant development and looting (that’s when people destroy sites looking for stuff they can sell on the internet or black market). It is an archaeologists job to gather what data they can, preserve what remains before it is lost forever, to teach others why it is important, and to care for and preserve these precious resources.
I am hoping to get more radical in the future by building an “Earthship” and living off-grid. This means getting all of my electricity needs met by way of solar and wind power, collecting and re-using rainwater, using recycled building products, and growing a lot of my own food. And I want to share everything about how it is done with you!
Please join me on my journey and learn how you too can make a difference in the world and in your own life and eat some pretty darn good food along the way! I look forward to having you along!
Peace and Love,
Jones LeFae
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