Swimming at Thanksgiving and
Christmas while visiting her mom near El
Centro, CA are Alyce Herrera's earliest memories
of the desert. .
In this
episode, Alyce will tell you she moved to Joshua Tree
for the vegan pie and carrot cake at what was then the Ricochet
Cafe in downtown Joshua Tree. The Ricochet is no longer there, but
Alyce is and she's making a big impact on her
community.
Alyce
became a vegetarian about five years ago while running a chicken
and rooster rescue on her own property. She began to feel
hypocritical, not being able to slaughter her own meat for
consumption. So, she attempted the slaughter and couldn't go
through with it, so her partner at the time did. Once the meal has
been prepared, Alyce says she took the first bite, spit it out and
hasn't eaten meat since. Alyce has since become vegan, thus
becoming an even more passionate animal rights advocate in the
process.
She is
the creator of The
Vegan Guide to Joshua Tree, is starting a blog,
Alyce the Vegan and is
co-creating a vegan photography tour to Iceland, which will include
a chef that will prepare fresh vegan meals for the
participants.
Until
recently Alyce played a role in organizing the local Food Not Bombs
meals at the Beatnik Lounge in downtown Joshua Tree - she is moving
on to take on another issue close to her heart: advocacy for
homeless persons, with mentor Peggy Lee Kennedy. Buddhist
meditation (6 pm) followed by vegetarian potluck (7 pm) will still
be available at the Beatnik on Tuesdays.
Inspired by community residents not being their best selves on
social media and original storytelling series like The Moth,
StoryCorps and Ted Talks, Alyce created 'Teddy Talks' a community
lecture series that happens the 3rd Saturday of every month at The
Beatnik Lounge in Joshua Tree. Named for the founder of the Joshua
Tree Cultural Preservation Society - base of operations the Beatnik
Lounge - and long-time Joshua Tree resident Teddy Quinn, Alyce
created the series as a way for people to get to know their
neighbors, the diverse people that call Joshua Tree
home.