About this episode

Abey Rae Scaglione discusses her journey from vegetarianism to ranching and the importance of animals in sustainable food systems.

In this Episode: Abey Rae Scaglione has cultivated a deep understanding of the need for animals in our food system, layered upon her decades-long fascination with nutrition and self-sufficiency. After earning her degree in psychology, Abey worked as Pilates instructor in Los Angeles, eventually owning her own studio. Long interested in where our food comes from, it was in Northern California that she fell in love with growing vegetables and raising chickens. In 2021, Abey moved with her husband and two sons to Ruckle Heritage Farm on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia, Canada, where they raise sheep, cattle, turkeys and chickens. As a former vegetarian turned rancher, she has an incredibly intimate relationship with the complex realities of raising animals for food and the deep conviction that more can be done for animal welfare by supporting good farming practices, than by rejecting all animal agriculture. Our Guest: Abey Rae Scaglione has cultivated a deep understanding of the need for animals in our food system, layered upon her decades-long fascination with nutrition and self-sufficiency. After earning her degree in psychology, Abey worked as Pilates instructor in Los…

People in this episode

Host: Greg Peterson

Guest: Abey Rae Scaglione

Topics covered

• food systems
• animal welfare
• nutrition
• self-sufficiency
• farming practices

Keywords

• vegetarian
• rancher
• food systems
• animal welfare
• sustainable farming

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ruckle Heritage Farm

Places: Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Los Angeles, Northern California

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• 986: Feeding Dogs Smarter with Ryan Cole · May 22, 2026 · 36 min
• 985: Chickens, Compost & Food Resilience - A Rosie Replay · May 19, 2026 · 35 min

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