| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Jamanda |
Freeganshttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6933744.stmAnyone done this? |
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| Jonnyboy |
I haven't but it's been around for years, probably a decade at least. | ||
| alison |
On the same vane.
I haven't bought shampoo or shower gel for years, as so much gets left here. We also get a lot of sugar, tea, coffee and beer left in the camping barn! |
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| Frewen Feltmaker |
I once worked in a deli where there was an agreement that whatever food the day staff binned could be taken by the sandwich makers (who would be there at about 5 am the next day).
This was in 1988/89 ish |
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| Chez |
I'm not very comfortable with Freeganism, per se - I think that there are good things about it - using up things that would be otherwise thrown away has got to be good. However, I've got severe reservations about some of the more extreme Freegan ethos. There are a couple of essays on 'Tigers and Strawberries', that pretty much sums up my take on it:
Tigers and Strawberries 1 Tigers and Strawberries 2 |
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| Cho-ku-ri |
Forraging for Townies 
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| dornadair |
If only other retailers were more like Pret a Manger, at the end of the evening any sandwiches and food are automatically given to homeless hostels in the local area and distributed that way. Although I am all in favour of frugality, some of it does seem to be going a bit far. | ||
| hedgewitch |
When I worked in a wholefood co-op, we'd ring up when we had any stock about to go out of date and it was collected the same day to be used in homeless hostels. It was very easy to do and meant that we never threw food away. |
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| cab |
I certainly had some good meals from thrown away in-date or just out of date supermarket foods way, way back in the early nineties as a student. Wasn't called 'freeganism' back then, at least not that I was aware of. | ||
| growingafamily |
there is a church local to us where marks and spencer bring food going out that day (thursday here, other days are around the area) for free to low income families.
We had friends who have had to use their services when ill health and unemployment took hold. Nice idea. |
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| Azura Skye |
It's so sad that companies would rather bin their produce than give it to the needy - in fear of being sued or something.
Why? : -/ But I agree with that article - that wouldn't it be better to buy something that supports a positive, than step back and not spend money at all? hmm |
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| Andrea |
I've no problem with the concept of dumpster diving, but some of the philosophies of freeganism are questionable. | ||
| Slim |
Dumpster Diving is how I'm affording to live while I go to college. One quick trip to the bagel shop every three weeks or so and I get a garbage full of day old bagels (usually in their own clean bag). A quick bagel slicing party later and you've got a freezer full up with breakfast/sandwhich materials.
There's an incredibly wasteful, but swanky mostly organic store called Trader Joe's over here that throws out any dented cans, and lots of products and produce just a day or so before their expiration dates. I love the days where you find bags of floral bouquets (get to walk around and hand 'em out or do drive-by flowerings to strolling couples, a la Banksy). My Best find would have to be the ten pound bar of dark Ghiradelli chocolate. Normal foraging rules apply, use your noggin, don't take any package that's bulging, use your nose most importantly (it evolved for a reason) and don't even bother with anything questionable (it'll make lovely compost). I've started (very cautiously) going for dumpstered meat for the first time, but am being very careful, only now, becuase it's winter and it freezes as soon as it's put outside, and only if it's being thrown because it "expires" that day or the following day. |
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| Yarrow |
I'm an avid freegan- I have three stores to pick from- one management blessed (profit be praised! an empty bin!), one with a lil' help from my friends and one just because I'm worth it.
I agree with the point about spending to affect social change, but if it's going to waste...? I have the same thoughts about slices of meaty pizza. I've never met any 'hardcore' freegans, but not spending money in anything other than a local-producin', ethical-product-stockin' shop sounds like a great idea. Never a good idea to support ones enemies. And just for the shock-factor, I personally condone shop-lifting, from certain places. In fact I condone sabotage, in certain situations. But I very rarely condone war. 
I think the 'Tigers and Strawbs' chap (only read first page thus far) misses a valid point about wild food being unavailable in urban areas. His comments about freegans being parasites misses the idea that these techniques are open to everyone, and indeed the more it is practised the less viable throwing waste away will be, because the market for store-sold goods will decrease. Incidentally, please point out if I'm wrong, economic sensibilities are not my strong point. |
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| Brownbear |
I thought people who ate out of bins were called tramps. | ||
| Nick |
OTOH, people who throw perfectly good food into bins are called civilised. | ||
| Brownbear |
Not by me, not when there are tramps out there whose dogs could do with a square meal. |
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| Yarrow |
Oh, Brownbear. If only you knew... 
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| Slim |
or punks, or hippies, or crusties, or bike-punks, or I've even seen yuppy-hipsters. (that's right, it's trendy some places, gotta get your "crusty cred" )
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| AnnaD |
I'm all for freegans; I'm actually quite tempted to find the bins at our local Tesco. But the chances are there are security cameras and large fences to keep the neds out. | ||
| Brownbear |
There's a couple of dead squirrels stuck to the chassis of my truck, if anyone wants them. They're a bit baked on, I suppose, but a determined freegan ought to be able to get them off with some steam and a paint scraper. | ||
| Yarrow |
I try not to eat food with high levels of heavy metals like cadmium- that's why I stay away from supermarkets when I can.
And a tesco bin will probably have access, unless someones been taking the piss. Then it'll be inaccessible. |
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| cab |
Dagnammit, if only you'd thought to get them off when they were still fresh. What a waste. |
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| Yarrow |
are old squirrels any good for leather?
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| oldish chris |
Hello Yarrow!
This post was made out of pure curiosity. The previous post was made on 4th Feb, almost 6 weeks ago. What took you so long? I know that there is a very sensible, possibly obvious answer, but my curiosity is starting to affect my natural reservation. - Chris |
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| Simon |
Hello Yarrow! | ||
| dpack |
skip diving is fine by me ,i leave it for those in need at the mo
some hints avoid places where the management complain or bleach avoid entering locked compounds explain it is food if challenged as there are h/s and eh rules they cannot give out of date but they can avoid seeing you ask for stuff a few hours before expiry time rather than them paying to bin it be organised ps brie will usually need a bit more maturing from a skip |
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| Yarrow |
hello everyone!
what in blazes is going on? sorry but i haven't the foggiest... |
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| Brownbear |
Some things don't change... 
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