Okay. I will admit it. I joined a group of Freegans last week to investigate consumer waste in Manhattan. I was followed by cameras and reporters with the Associated Press. What I discovered was astonishing. Absolutely astonishing.
I joined a a group of about seven people, a Columbia grad student and others, some committed activists. We stopped at three different supermarkets at around 9:30 p.m. on the East Side of Manhattan. I guess grocery garbage is nicer there. We found fresh strawberries, bananas with barely a spot on them, 80 pounds (!) of same-day old bread from Tribeca Oven, Italian basil, buffala mozzarella, organic sugar plum grape tomatoes, and salads, all that still had days left before they were to "expire." I had honestly never seen such nice produce in trash bags.
A few folks in the group regularly cook a community meal out of the food found in the "trash."
If you have a dumpster diving group in your town, go out one night with your kids. Or organize one, and let your local paper know what your group will be doing. Note: dumpster diving alone is a *bad* idea.
I am both grateful to live in the bountiful country that I do, and embarassed that we take so much for granted.
2 comments:
Ok so I clicked on your Link for Freegans first and felt what I read confirmed my first opinion of the practice. But your take on it was interesting and practical. And didn't seem to have any bias beyond truth. Makes ya think. Thanks!
Please note: I had no idea that Freeganism was linked to anti-work philosophies, among other things. I clicked on this link: http://www.whywork.org/about/faq/question.html and found it both interesting and funny (to read). Yeah, I'm pro-leisure! I think Robert Kiyosaki would agree with a few things there. Now, why do we homeschool again? ; )
Post a Comment