Like many vegans, Nikki and Scott Medwell were previously vegetarian. After reading John Safran’s book ‘Eating Animals’ Nikki came to the realisation she was still contributing to animal cruelty by eating eggs and dairy.

That very day she cleared her kitchen of any goods containing animal by-products. When her husband Scott walked in at the end of the day, he looked quizzically at the sparse pantry. Nikki simply turned to him and said “We’re vegan now”, and that was that!

The idea for Bed and Broccoli was one born out of necessity. Nikki and Scott were planning a weekend away, and after some Googling discovered there was no purely vegan Bed & Breakfast in Australia. She does note there was one “vegan-friendly” retreat where at 6am a bell rang and everyone went outside and hugged a tree.

“Not that we have anything against that, we just wanted a simple weekend away,” Nikki says laughing. “We’re still looking for that weekend away”, she adds, “As there are still no other vegan B&Bs in Australia.”

So with that, they left their Cockatoo property in the Dandenong Ranges and headed for Katandra West, just outside of Shepparton in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley.

The B&B was converted from an old dairy, and primarily exists to fund the upkeep of the rescued animals, such as their feed and numerous veterinary visits. As most of the animals are former dairy cows and battery hens, most require much rehabilitation on the road to recovery.

80 per cent of people who visit are vegans, but the other 20 per cent are comprised of “Vegetarians, ethical eaters, or people who are just curious”, she says. They get to experience vegan delicacies, have a chat with Scott and Nikki, or can be simply left alone. Most importantly, people get to interact with the rescued animals and read about their stories. So it’s educational as well.

Bed and Broccoli’s biggest challenge is maintaining a steady stream of people visiting their property, as Nikki points out, “The animals don’t take a week off from eating and vet visits”. So word-of-mouth plays an integral role in promoting their business. Her advice to anyone starting a similar business is to come into it with passion, “as it’s a lifestyle, not a get rich scheme”, she says.

Nikki says the most rewarding aspect comes through people being amazed at animals behaving as they would in the wild: scratching and rolling around in the sun.

Or converting non-vegans! One satisfied couple wrote on their Facebook page they were celebrating their one year-anniversary of visiting B&B and becoming vegan.

Nikki and Scott stay in touch with a number of previous visitors who’ve adapted the vegan lifestyle, and thinks of them as “extended family”. The couple doesn’t take credit for this however, “it’s the animals who speak volumes when people take the time to get to know them”, she says.

The couple plan on expanding the property to include a fully-fledged animal sanctuary for ex-farm animals called the ‘Miss Dinks Foundation’, named in honour of an ex-battery hen who captured the public’s heart when her road to recovery was documented on their Facebook page.
Bed and Broccoli is building an international reputation, with bookings from as far as Russia and the U.S.

The couple also has a book on the way, with a working title of ‘Bed & Broccoli: The Food and the Lifestyle’. The release coincides with the World Vegan Day expo at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds on Sunday November 9th 2014.