The idea behind freeganism is that you get as much of your food as you can from stuff that has been thrown out by supermarkets, restaurants and street markets. Though the practice is also known as voluntary simplicity and monetary minimalism it’s only partly about living cheaply. It’s more a political philosophy, a statement of defiance against what freegans regard as the wasteful consumerist culture of the developed world, which is why it has also been called ethical eating and the ultimate boycott.
The name is usually said to be a blend of free and vegan, since early practitioners were either vegetarian or vegan (not least because it is much more dangerous to eat discarded meat or fish than vegetables and grains). But it has also been argued from a political perspective that it’s short for free gain. The evidence is that some normally vegan freegans will take animal products, since there’s another term, meagan, for vegans who will eat meat if they can get it for nothing.
The culture lives on the edge of illegality, since many firms regard taking food from skips or dumpsters as theft. Some extreme freegan practices would be considered unacceptable by most people, such as table diving, in which freegans hover in a restaurant and grab discarded food from diners’ plates after they leave.
Freegans come from a larger community of young, do-it-yourself punks. Many are anarchists, opposing all forms of government and embracing ideals such as individual freedom and cooperation. Some, though, don’t identify as anarchists—or as punks—or they resent being labeled. But all of them despise the American-style consumerism they call destructive.
[The Sacramento Bee, 27 May 2003]
An unwritten rule of freeganism is that you leave enough for people who genuinely need the food. So when I found discarded boxes of carrots, I only took a few handfuls.
[The Observer, 23 Nov. 2003]
Source: [x]
I wonder about this term’s usage. Is it also applied to those who take discarded food because they have no other options for food sources? If so, the definitian that is written here is obviously flawed and biased.
Even as a movement of choice it seems quite interesting to me. Is there really anything wrong with choosing to use what would otherwise go to waste? I certainly don’t believe so, especially if the “freegan” in question does not disrupt the lives of others to attain their meals. Though a dangerous way to aquire nourishment, this seems to be a mostly positive philosophy. Surely there are fanatics in the movement, like any other, but it seems to be a noble exposure of our collective waste and ignorance, and I certainly respect that.
8 comments on “Freeganism?”
I had never heard of freeganism (eating out of the garbage as a form of rebellion). I had noticed how much food is wasted, though, especially by fast food chains. It’s sad that the homeless have to fish food out of the dumpster when anyone with half a heart would just hand it to them. The McDonald’s in my town (our only fast food place; we are a small town indeed) actually does give the leftovers to the homeless if they come around just before closing. Most of them are too proud to go up to the door and ask, though. It’s odd that they are too proud to ask, but not too proud to go fish in a dumpster…
I think that the difference is that the dumpster is not a personal interaction. Pride seems to be mostly a public thing.
My friend also commented saying that her local resturants do the same as yours do, so it seems like more common practice than I thought.
Around here, the pizza place, the MacDonalds and one of the Tim Hortons will give left over food away for free at closing if people wait outside.
I think that a lot of stuff like that should be donated to the food bank… especially stuff from grocery stores and the like.
I think there are laws that restrict what can be done with that food, so I think that’s why it isn’t donated to food banks.
I was referring to the non-parishables. A lot of grocery stores throw away dented cans and such, and that could easily be donated to food banks.
Yeah, for sure. There’s plenty of waste to be found, and it’s a terrible shame.
I miss you, but I guess you don’t miss me much.
I miss you very much Ashley, and I love you with all my heart.
I’m very sad and hurt by what you wrote in your journal and I hope we can talk about it soon.