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Daryl HannahMaking a “Splash” for The Environment

And the Animal Acres Bash

 By Melissa Maroff 

You can never accuse Daryl Hannah of doing anything half-hearted - and she’s willing to

sip diesel fuel and go to jail to prove it.

With memorable roles in film hits like  Blade Runner , Splash, Steel Magnolias and more

recently Kill Bill and her work with a Who’s Who of directors the likes of Brian De

Palma, Ridley Scott, Ron Howard and Quentin Tarrentino - Daryl Hannah is a genuine

Hollywood movie star.

But you can argue that Daryl Hannah’s biggest roles have been the work she’s done and

continues to do for animals and the earth.

Whereas other Americans are taking baby steps with fluorescent light bulbs and reusable

grocery bags, Daryl lives on a solar-powered farm in the Rockies, with an organic garden

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and vehicles that run on biodiesel (or for the layman: recycled vegetable oil from French

fries). “I want to be off petroleum completely,” she says.

And sharing her “green” life is an assortment of rescued horses, dogs, cats, chickens and

alpacas. Could be that she’s making up for lost time.

Daryl didn’t always have pets - and it’s not that she didn’t want them - she grew up on

the 42nd floor of a building in downtown Chicago that didn’t allow them. Nevertheless,

she found a turquoise parakeet in front of her building one day. “I put my hand out to him

and he jumped on, climbed onto my shoulder and I took him up in the elevator. I named

him Bluebell. He lived with me for the next 12 years. He learned to talk, took showers

with me, and flew around my room, which when I was young was quite useful in keeping

my mom out.”

Then it was a chance encounter with a cow that prompted her to become a vegetarian at

age 11. “On weekends my family would travel to Wisconsin and they’d always stop at

this restaurant that I didn’t like, so I’d wait in the car while everyone ate,” she recalls.

Well, one night I got bored, got out of the car and walked around the parking lot. I

noticed this large truck full of calves. Of course I bonded with one in particular who kept

kissing me. After about an hour the truck driver came out. I asked him what this

particular calf’s name was and he said ‘veal, tomorrow morning by 7:00.’ That was it for

me. Even though I loved the taste of meat I could no longer disassociate the creature from

what I was eating.”

“No one else in my family, or that I knew, was a vegetarian - they thought I would grow

out of it - they still do,” Daryl laughs.

So you see, becoming a vegetarian wasn’t a health-driven choice for her. “It was driven

by compassion and the simple fact that I could no longer gnaw on the flesh of another

creature,” she explains. Since her family was hoping she would grow out of it she says

they never prepared special meals for her.

“Somehow I managed to grow eating mostly candy bars and French fries. In the last few

years I have learned a lot more about nutrition,” she says. I’ve learned how to get protein

and to eat and actually like my vegetables. I can really taste a huge difference in flavor

between the vegetables grown in my garden and those non-organic veggies sold in

grocery stores.”

She has also learned that it’s not enough to just eat organic. “I try to grow as much food

as I can. I prefer to buy my produce from the farmers market so I know that it has been

locally produced and I can ask the farmer questions directly,” she says. She highly

recommends reading “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and other books by Michael Pollen for

insight into food, health, and the environment.

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Aside from vegetarianism, Daryl had other things on her mind as a little girl. “I became a

member of Greenpeace when I was 10 and I learned about the dangers of nuclear power

and its waste at a very early age.”

She attributes common sense and a fascination with cultures who lived simply and in

harmony with other species and the environment, namely Native Americans, that firstspurred her environmental awareness. Daryl was sent to a camp from the age of 7 to 17

where she lived in covered wagons for two months every summer with no electricity,

which she says also had a profound effect on her.

As part of her “green” mission, Daryl has also created her own video blog, dhlovelife.com, which

features weekly taped segments addressing environmental issues, as well as a website offering

green living tips and eco-friendly items for people and pets.

“Originally, I created dhlovelife.com to be a television program, but I was not comfortable with

the constraints they were wanting to put on the subject matters as well as some of their

advertising partners. I learned about video blogging and thought what a perfect outlet to get theinformation out without interference,” she explains. “My hope is that it becomes a trusted guide

for information and resources for mindful living.”

You might say it’s on its way. One of the segments can already be considered a classic. Daryl

takes a swig of biodiesel to prove that if it’s OK for you, how bad could it be for the

environment?

While shooting another episode for her blog, she was particularly moved by the plight of farmers

at LA’s South Central Farm, the largest urban farm in the United States. She ended up staying for

three weeks - until she got arrested. She joined others in chaining herself to a walnut tree to

protest the farmers’ eviction by the new property owner who wanted to clear the way for awarehouse.

“The South Central Farm was a perfect example of how an extremely poor community can

provide food for themselves, create a safe haven for children, bring to that deadened industrial

area biodiversity, and pass on traditional plants and gardening practices… and all of this at no

cost to the city or financial aid programs.”

Though the time commitment turned out to interfere with other work projects, she felt compelled

to stay and do all she could - which turned out to be laying her body on the line for the farm.

They did end up raising the money to buy the farm, but the developer decided to evict the farmers

and their supporters anyway.

“It was incredibly inspiring and seriously hard work. I was scared at first about getting arrested,

though once the time came I was very calm about it and confident it was the morally right thing

to do, to stand in solidarity with the farmers and lend them my voice,” she says. “I can honestly

say the experience has made me a more confident person and more driven in my mission.”

Daryl’s mission continues on September 6, when she will serve as Chair for the Animal Acres

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Gala. Animal Acres is a sanctuary for rescued farm animals situated on a 26-acre ranch in Acton,

which is located 45 minutes outside of LA.

The festivities will kick off at 5 p.m. with the "Cowtail Party,” where celebrity   hosts, award

recipients and guests meet and mingle with the resident cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens, sheep and

goats.

Daryl and Gala Emcee, Comedian Carol Leifer will be joined by celebrity hosts, including: Ed

Begley Jr., James Cromwell, Alicia Silverstone, Jorja Fox, Bill Maher, Kevin Nealon, Constance

Marie, Noah Wyle and Persia White.

Animal Acres Executive Director Lorri Bauston, who also co-founded Farm Sanctuary, the

nation’s first haven for rescued farm animals, expects attendance at the Gala to exceed last year’s,

and points out that this year’s will take on an added urgency.

According to Lorri, Animal Acres has already taken in over 400 animals this year, many due to

the foreclosure crisis, and are depending on the Gala to keep their doors open, as well as provide

lifelong, loving care for the new residents. In addition, proceeds from the Gala are helping kick off a funding drive to build a large, new 14-stall Rescue Center to enable them to come to the

rescue of thousands more.

“We are so touched by the support of Daryl Hannah and other special friends of farm animals -

their support is helping us reach many more people this year,” Lorri says.

Chairing the Gala comes naturally for Daryl who says she’s always been a fan of Lorri’s work 

starting with Farm Sanctuary. “Animal Acres is a beautiful, inspiring place, and she does so much

to help people understand that these farm animals are sentient beings.”

Daryl promises that the Gala, which lasts until 11 p.m., will be a night to remember. “There willbe amazing vegan food, great music, beautiful, adorable creatures to pet and kiss, entertaining fun

people, and a beautiful environment. You couldn’t ask for a better evening.”

The evening will also include an awards program honoring individuals and corporations that have

made outstanding contributions to protecting farmed animals and promoting compassionate living

choices.

Individual tickets are $150 and VIP tickets are $250, which include special seating. There are also

various sponsorship levels available. The deadline to purchase tickets and tables for the Gala is

Aug. 30. Space is limited, so it’s recommended that you purchase your tickets as soon as possible

to guarantee a reservation. For more information and to order tickets, visit animalacres.org. Forsponsorships, contact Lorri Bauston at (661) 269-5404.

Aside from Animal Acres and their very important work, Daryl has a lot of other animal issues

weighing heavily on her mind these days. She just filmed a segment for her blog on the wild

horse roundup that is currently taking place. “They have already gathered 32,000 thousand of 

them and are planning on rounding up 54,000 for potential ‘euthanasia,’” she says.

She worries about the illegal shark finning industry that is decimating the population of this

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essential predator, elephants that are still being illegally slaughtered for their ivory and the

mammals in our oceans - the manatees, whales and dolphins that are suffering great losses. “What

short-sighted creatures we are,” she reflects.

While animal activists and environmentalists are for the most part viewed as two distinct groups

with a strong allegiance to one or the other, Daryl remains equally committed to both, a concept

that many find hard to grasp.

“It is incredibly frustrating to me that everyone wants to fragment aspects of something that is

deeply and profoundly interconnected. It is impossible to be a humanitarian without being an

environmentalist. Impossible to be an environmentalist without having concerns for the welfare

of other species. They are all equally important for all life to thrive.”

Which leads to some advice for her fellow humans: “Consider a vegan diet; it’s healthier for you

and every other living thing. Speak up when you see an injustice; every voice counts.”

And in the true spirit of The Pet Press she urges, “If you plan on getting a pet or know anyone

who is - Please, Please, Please adopt!”

(Melissa Maroff is a Los Angeles-based writer/editor and animal advocate. She is also the Pet 

 Expert for eHow.com where you can read her “How To” articles on pet care, rescue and all

things dog and cat.)