Are You A Friggin' "Freegan?!" (from the Frugal...

New York Times has posted a great article on 'Freeganism'-

Not Buying It . Some excerpts:

"Freegans are scavengers of the developed world,

living off consumer waste in an effort to minimize

their support of corporations and their impact on

the planet, and to distance themselves from what they see as out-of-control consumerism. "

This isn't just about going through the trash or dumpster diving,

it is also about using the freecycle sites or craigslist (the free section)

or, a book/clothing swap to keep the costs down. The freegan movement

is not just about 'punks' not wanting to work, it is an attitude that goes

through all generations.

There are also older freegans, like Ms. Kalish, who hold jobs and appear in some

ways to lead middle-class lives. A high school Spanish teacher, Ms. Kalish owns

a car and a two-family house in Queens, renting half of it as a "capitalist landlord,"

she joked. Still, like most freegans, she seems attuned to the ecological effects

of her actions. In her house, for example, she has laid down a mosaic of freegan

carpet parcels instead of replacing her aging wooden floor because, she said, "I'd

have to take trees from the forest."

I think the article conveys that we already have a lot to go around.

With patience, continued searching and maybe a bit of luck, we can

find those things that will not only reduce our costs, use what already

exists in a gently used manner, but also bring the amount of waste

down to a smaller level.

Dumpster diving is a counterculture to many people and one they may choose not to

participate in. Dumpster diving even has it's own sub-culture, it's called being a Freegan.

Wikipedia has definition of a Freegan:

The practice of minimizing one's impact on the environmentby means of consuming
food that has been or is about to be thrown away by someone else.....Many people
exerting this practice have been forced into it simply by lacking the income necessary
to purchase food normally, rather than making a conscious decision to sustain
themselves by scavenging when other choices are available.

But, is "freeganism" only about FOOD?! Not At All!!!

I also found freegan.info takes the definition a step further to include not just people

searching for food but also "People who are concerned so deeply with the social and

ecological impact of economic over-consumption that they choose to buy and work

as little as possible and, instead, to live directly off the massive waste created by our

modern society."

I am in total support of this and I think it is great that people are a able to "live" off of

our throw-away society with their creativity. As the article states, some people

include in this freegan life transportation and housing. Squatting in an empty building

is fine, in my opinion, as long as no laws are broken and the places is left as you found

it. The same rules used when dumpster diving, make it look like you weren't there.

Check out the above links and let me know what you think of this whole idea. I would think

it can be done for a single person, and minimally with a family. Then again, if you think of

some "3rd world" countries, singles AND families do this as their means of survival.

Who knows, maybe someone right in your town... but could you?

Labels: Dumpster Diving, Freegan, Waste, article

About the ACTUAL Author:

Name:
~Dawn

Why Live Frugally
Frugal Living Is
What is Being Frugal?
Joys of Frugal Living

Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things.
~Elise Boulding

Comments: 18

Elisha E. Jun 28, 2007, 3:14am EDT

Thanks for your comments...?!

reply to this comment

Linda C. Jun 28, 2007, 1:04pm EDT

I use freecycle and craigslist.. for the most part it has been a good experience..
But very frustrating when people want stuff and then NEVER show up or call and cancel the pick up ..
We use downed trees for firewood. I use canvas shopping bags when grocery shopping,, Just our little bit to try and help mother earth.

Kathy S. Jun 29, 2007, 12:36pm EDT

very interesting...thanks for posting!

April H. Jun 29, 2007, 12:46pm EDT

Loved this

DJ B. Jul 1, 2007, 12:42am EDT

Free is GOOD! ;o)

Bhumika Ghimire Jul 2, 2007, 9:11pm EDT

i am a freegan too..all my furniture are second or third hand..dragged them to my apartment when i saw them lonely by the side of dumpster..

John Coonen Jul 3, 2007, 8:47am EDT

I had never heard of the term. Love it.

Elizabeth D. Jul 3, 2007, 1:00pm EDT

Great, a new phrase

Sandy F. Jul 3, 2007, 1:20pm EDT

I had a chair from the dump in my living room before I combined homes with another person. We didn't have room so I used freecycle to give it away. It had two magic marker marks on it and someone had thrown it away. They washed off easily so what was the problem.. Maybe laziness, or looking for an excuse for new furniture?

I draw the line at food from the dump though. Most food now is so contaminated it could "appear" safe to eat for months... but it wouldn't be. I do grow a lot of my own.

Glenna H. Jul 8, 2007, 10:59am EDT

This is a new term for me, also. ALthough I have participated in many of the activities. I call it being frugal or a good steward of the earth. When something can be used again, why buy a new one. I draw the line at food, but that is because I can afford to buy food. If I couldn't it would be another story. Thanks for sharing. Very interesting.

Connie O. Jul 10, 2007, 4:34am EDT

Great article. We recycle, or find a way to reuse, everything we can. Whenever I can I buy at resale shops yard sales and the like. I actually prefer them because I'm more into wearing what I like and feel comfortable in than in the latest fashion. I've found real gems along the roadside too - found a desk once that only had a few scratches on it, I used some scratch filler and it was perfect. People are always tossing out stuff that is still good, just keep your eyes open. I do draw the line at dumpster diving, especially for food. I hear they are making $5000.00 a month at the intersections in Houston just for holding up their signs, "Will work for food," no experience necessary ;-)

Elisha E. Jul 11, 2007, 4:44pm EDT

I also have lots of "second & third-hand" clothing & furniture, and I give it to Goodwill or sell it at a garage sale when I'm done with it, provided it's in decent condition. If not, then I try to reduce it to it's components & use them for other things.

I also don't advise dumpster-diving for FOOD. It could be dangerous (like, if it's spoiled or has been recalled due to contaminants)!

Thanks for all of your comments & sorry I took so long to respond- I was on vacation!

Dana H. Feb 29, 2008, 1:13am EST

I don't think I could dumpster dive for food - but I've only recently started really focussing on being more frugal - check with me in a year or two and I might have a totally different attitude.

Austin Cushing Apr 4, 2008, 2:07pm EDT

This comment is to let you know that this content has reached ten comments, and as such has been removed from Comment Speedway! Congratulations!

Melinda ~choosing happiness~ S. Apr 4, 2008, 9:59pm EDT

I like being frugal in all the ways that I can.

Peter C. Frank Apr 14, 2008, 3:44am EDT

Given the economic climate that we have going for us today, it's hard not to be a freegan to some extent. Personally, being on disability, I try to get as many free things as possible. My only issue with craigslist/freecycle/freeshare is that sometimes it's hard for me to get to people to pick the items up!