vegans on BED, water kefir

i am a vegan and have been slowly moving the Body Ecology Diet. Kefir sounds interesting. The only cultures i have found are dairy grains. i know you can make kefir with soy or rice milk, do you have to use animal milk grains? And i hear they do not grow well in non-dairy milk. i have also read of water kefir but it calls for fruit and Sugar which is not on BED. any ideas? any tips from vegans or for vegans on this diet would be appericated.
thanks
casey