Posted on 03/27/2008 8:39:01 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
(LifeWire) -- Madeline Nelson finds a bag of slightly bruised apples and day-old bread left in a supermarket's Dumpster too tempting to pass up.
"A lot of perfectly good food is thrown away," says Nelson, a spokeswoman for Freegan.info, a New York City group that promotes "freeganism," which eschews conventional commerce in favor of a lifestyle that uses minimal resources.
Freegans try not to buy things new -- not even food.
Jumping into a garbage bin may sound scary, but Nelson, 52, who lives in Brooklyn, says it's no big deal. Humans, she says, are "hardwired to be foragers."
For the thousands who search online for free merchandise, pick up roadside castoffs and even dig through Dumpsters, paying for everything they need is yesterday's news.
At a time when many Americans are on tighter budgets and worrying about environmental conservation, the practice may get more popular.
-- snip --
Here's how it works: As in the "free" section of Craigslist.org, users post what they're giving or seeking, then coordinate the details. On thousands of Freecycle message boards, the dialogue looks like this: OFFERED: Two Pez dispensers. TAKEN: Krups espresso machine. WANTED: Garden hose that works. OFFERED: Adult diapers, size small.
-- snip --
If you go, she advises, bring a friend (in case the lid closes on you) and wear gloves to protect your hands from glass and other sharp objects. Ask your local police department first whether it's OK -- some cities have criminalized Dumpster diving. Don't salvage things that need to be refrigerated or show traces of mold, and thoroughly wash any food you've taken from a Dumpster before consuming. It's also a good idea to conduct a smell test of any food you may take; if it smells bad, it probably is spoiled and should be avoided.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Sounds like she'd really be a big hit at your next house party.
Years ago I worked with old Swamp Yankees who used to be teased by other people.
The janitor would say, "Hey, Ed..Goin' to the dump; anythin you want?"
"Laugh all you want-Last week, I got a lawnmoweh..Nothin wrong withit."
As Snuffy Smith’s wife once sais “Poor folks has poor ways.”.
/blu misses Fairbanks...
Google “Second Harvest” for your answer.
There are also shops in our neighbourhood who will give away veggies and greens “for my rabbit” if you go in with your own bag and ask nicely.
LOL! Between the dumps and ValueVillage, Fairbanks decorating can be pretty cheap!
It’s not freganism. It’s called being a bum and a hobo.
There was a story about 10 years ago about people who did this for computers. They did it for the gold on the chips/boards in the computer. Not a whole lot in one computer, but get a few dozen and it added up.
And that was before the price of gold hit 4 digits!
Should have asked:
“Are you voting for Clinton or Obama?”
Gotta love how CNN has the URL. The story is under “Living” “Way of Life” and “Free Commerce”.
Pretty much sums it all up about CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/03/27/free.commerce/index.html
Maybe we can put this person in contact with Lisa Nowak. I hear she has a few diapers left from her cross country treck.
You got that right!
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