Synthesis

In this project looking at the intersection of food and religion in Burlington, we set out to understand the social and personal difficulties that followers of various faiths might face in maintaining their chosen food ways. We were able to explore some of the realities of foodways through our research, especially focusing on the practices of UVM students and Burlington-area residents.

Halal in the North End

After desperately trying to find Global Markets, the once halal certified grocery store in Burlington, which no longer exists, I pulled up in front of the Community Halal Store on North Avenue. When I asked the employee there about the Global Markets store, he told me that he had never heard of it, and when I asked him if his store was the only store that sold halal products in the area, he said that it was “one of two, I think.” Thus I began to wonder how easy it was to come across halal foods in Burlington, or maybe just as someone who does not normally seek these products, I just did not know where to look.

Image credit: http://www.7dvt.com/files/imagecache/articles-sidebar-image/food-halaalmarket-AD.jpg

Burlington Buddhist Practice

The conflicting sutra about eating meat and the variety of reasons for Buddhist vegetarian practice sparked my interest. I wanted inquire more about Burlington Buddhist dietary practices and beliefs, a how they are impacted by the local food-ways. I faced few obstacles finding Buddhists in the Burlington area. I was able to interview a Buddhist Priest named Dharman from the Vermont Zen Center.  To my luck I was also able to interview Stephanie Kaza, the author of an article I am using in my research, who also is a current professor at UVM in the Environment Program in the Rubenstein School and a practicing non-vegetarian Buddhist. But I struggled a little to find Buddhist students in the university community. In fact, I contacted seven different organizations and networks through six professors, to little avail. I did, although, come in contact, through UVM Students for True Animal Rights (STARS) club, with a sophomore named Allyson Drummond, a vegetarian studying and interested in taking the vows to become a Buddhist. In conducting these interviews I found similar as well as conflicting Buddhist dietary beliefs and practices. The follow is my consolidation of the three interviews:

A UVM student’s take on keeping kosher

In order to better understand the means by which Burlington and UVM as a community addresses the specific religious needs of a kosher diet, I spoke to a UVM junior that practices Judaism and follows a kosher-style diet. In doing so, I was able to better understand the particular obstacles faced by the Jewish community here in following their food tradition. Currently, students at our University that practice kosher are given options  at one dining hall (Simpson) and 6 ‘points’ dining options (Marche, Marketplace, Redstone Market, Northside Cafe, Waterman, and Given Atrium.)

 

(Courtesy of Jonathon Polson)

My informant for this interview was Jonathon Polson. A junior at the University of Vermont majoring in Film and minoring in Holocaust studies.

INTRODUCTION

courtesy of wikispace

On Thursday, September 26, Professor Paul Kindstedt spoke to University of Vermont students and the Burlington community in “Cheese and God: How Spirituality and Religion Shaped the History of Cheese”. While at first glance these subjects seem to be two divergent interests, in actuality, Professor Kindstedt’s talk proved they are intricately connected, shedding light on the undeniable connection between food and religion.

On an everyday basis for many members of the UVM and Burlington communities, a balance between food needs and religious beliefs is a fundamental lifestyle choice. This blog, Foodie Faith, was created by four UVM Anthropology students to explore these food experiences, from celebrations to challenges.