Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Re-new
So have you heard of the rising underground community who refer to themselves as "Freegans"(Free+vegan)? A Freegan is a person who has decided to boycott capitalist society by severely curtailing consumption of resources through resuing recycling and dumpster diving. Freegans try not to purchase anything, which even includes food. (newsweek Oct.1,2007)Basically, Freegans will find everything they need to live from discards of fellow Americans. They survive by knowing other Freegans (networking), digging though the trash (finding the GOOD stuff), bartering, growing there own food if they can and using Internet sites. (Craigslist, and Freecycle.com)
I realize we live in a very commercial and consumer driven community. But is this really the answer? I just want to grab these people and say, "There is a Middle ground! You don't have to dig through the trash after farmers markets, or search the parks for random mushrooms to eat"
On the other hand, they have some good things going. I agree that the world needs to think more green. On the radio they were talking about the amount of plastic we are discarding daily. Plastic is filling up landfills and it takes forever to breakdown.(My weekly scare courtesy of NPR). There isn't a doubt in my mind i can be more green minded and less consumer driven.
So, this is my idea. How about all those people using up 8+ bottles waters a day, driving SUV's, getting take-out in Styrofoam containers, and buying buying buying, cut down some. Don't totally discard your ungreen, consumer supporting ways. Just, tweak your week, to lean towards the "Green" Team, and "Greenys" do the same.
No need for anyone to be at either end of the spectrum when there is a huge middle ground that is warm, fuzzy and room for everyone.
P.S. I just decided to keep an herb garden, get energy saving light bulbs, and Recycle my water bottles. I'm starting to lean, and it feels good!
Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Re-new
4 comments:
Sounds interesting...and somewhat disturbing.
Plenty of people have lived for thousands of years, with dignity, by growing/raising their own food supplies, remaining totally independent of "consumerism" as we know it.
Really, I think "freeloader" or "beggar" is just as appropriate a term for this lifestyle.
Personally, I don't think they are freeloaders or beggars. I've been thinking about freegans for a while actually. The past year I've been making choices to try and be less of a consumer. I've had my own garden for 3 or 4 years, I have a reusable grocery bag etc, I use a reusable water bottle rather than buy water bottles.
I met this guy a few weeks ago who does the dumpster diving. So weird. It's an interesting idea, but you're right that there should be some middle ground. Hey, can you come visit and bring me some Navajo tacos?
Thanks to Sherpa I re-read the post and I think I totally missed somethings.
I read that they:
"will find everything they need to live from discards of fellow Americans"
and totally missed the part where they are:
"growing there own food if they can and using Internet sites. (Craigslist, and Freecycle.com)"
I guess that makes ME a freegan to some extent...
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