bobbert
Well-known member
Anyone ever dumpster-dive before (particularly for FOOD)?<br /><br />give me some experiences you have had in doing so-<br /><br />I need some advice on what to do & what not to do-<br />-thanks in advance-
Anyone dumpster-dive before?
- Thread starter bobbert
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bobbert
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why not?<br />Would you care to expound???<br /><br />if people are disgusted over dumpster diving, you should see how they harvest commercial beef, peanuts & even the potatoes that go into your frenchfries, peanut butter & more-<br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; background-color: #edeff4;"><br /></span>
bobbert
Well-known member
<a href="http://www.emoware.org/dumpster-diving/dumpster-diving-guide.asp">here's a good website</a> that is a good primer for dumpster-diving-<br /><br />just in case someone is interested-
plain and simple we van-dwellers are able to live on our own which includes feeding ourselves... dumpster diving is below this status as a natter of fact and reflects seriously upon our already tarnished reputation... you seem to find some kind of badge of accomplishment in dumpster diving... When the opposite is true... van dwellers can feed themselves... take care of our needs and are law abiding non conflict people just wanting to be left alone... dumpster diving is in direct conflict with what we believe...<br /><br />just me... just saying...
all have an opinion as do i... in my opinion if you dumpster dive you are a homeless vagrent and no natter how you slice it a vagrant you will always be looked upon... i just cahe off the mountain today to go shopping and did my best to clean up and put on my cleanest clothes and at best blend in to get all i needed to be done done... we fight every day to be as invisible as possible to extend our tihe in a choice camp area and would be very down on anyone who did this...
peacetara
Well-known member
<p>I think we all get into Van Dwelling for different reasons. Bob talks about in his book, when he first started van dwelling, it wasn't because he wanted to.<br /><br />I think, people look down on van dwellers with the same attitude that SoulRaven has for people that dumpster dive.</p><p>Myself, I think each person needs to make their own decision about if it's right for them. Van Dwelling isn't for everyone, but that doesn't make ALL van dwellers bad horrible people (well at least not me! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/tongue.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> LOL). I think the same can be said for people that dumpster dive. Sure, some are 'homeless vagrant's, but you know what I used to be one of those homeless vagrants when I was younger. Just because you are literally living ON the street doesn't make you a bad person. Sure there are bad people out there on the street, but there are bad people in EVERY place in the world, from Super Uber Rich to the poorest souls on the planet.</p><p>As for me, I've dumpster dived. It's not the most pleasant way to find a meal, but it works for those that need it. There are also other ways to find a meal (food stamps, soup kitchens, begging, etc) Myself, I learned a long time ago, you don't HAVE to be starving in the USA.</p><p>With Love,<br />Tara</p>
I am thinking of the term: Kool Aid drinkers, as applying to those who rationalize their use of dumpsters as a respectable activity. Those same folks can peruse the services of community based weekly food giveaway establishments and hopefully give back by volunteering to help out those in need, after their own' have been taken care of. Darrell.<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />
I've never dumpster dived for food, however here in Alaska, furniture, tools, etc are left outside the dump containers for someone else to take home. I've known people who've built more than 50% of their home from dumpster diving. My friend in Michigan is an artist and she literally furnished her entire 3 bedroom home from the dumpster and it was beautiful. I think the saying goes, "one man's trash is another man's treasure. I don't think looking down one's nose at another's choice in way of life that doesn't adversly affect anyone else creates a good repoire. Dumpster diving hurts no one, decreases garbage in the landfill, and isn't for everyone. I will add though...please don't invite me over for a meal that was obtained from the dumpster as I'm not a diner of that cuisine.<br />Rae
Pikachu711
Well-known member
You do find a few things you least expect when you "dumpster dive." In the past I've worked security and have found a variety of items that still had alternative uses. This was all done while I was walking doing my job.<br /><br />These items were put outside the dumpsters. I've found typewriter tables, dresser mirrors, boom boxes, furniture, cable modems, cameras, music cassettes, etc. But the majority of the dumpsters were located in business parks and residential areas. You need to do some research if you want to look for "reusable" items. You need to know what day the trash pickup is any given area. The same applies in the case of residential neighborhoods. There are items that are "reusable" but you need to know certain information first.<br /><br />As a matter of fact, the computer desk I'm currently seated at was sitting by a dumpster behind a business. They had bought new office furniture and had disposed of the old office furniture. I put the computer desk in the back of my pickup truck and drove it home after work.
Sure! Diving is a great way to get great food. My favorites are doughnut shops just because they're so reliable.<br /><br />It's become quite popular in the last few years so much that I hear purist freegans complaining about all the good dumpsters getting raided by part-timers. lol<br /><br />Of course if you're "supporting yourself" with welfare checks or something you might have a bizarrely hostile reaction to the notion....<img src="/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif" alt="" align="absMiddle" border="0" />
G
Guest
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Hahaha,,,,wow, got an opinion??????<br /><br />I have dumpster dove for food, for all kinds of good stuff and in fact with my dumpster right across the alley...we put anything remotely useful on top or beside the dumpster due to the constant stream of divers or "recyclers" as we call them that cruise the alleys for goodies. <br /><br />At one point I hung with a group of folks in Eugene, OR who had a route according to the right days, to the various supermarkets and would bring home tons of dairy and produce and have big feast...like gorging on cantaloupe....or avocados..once someone showed up with 40 pounds of tomatoes...we canned....<br />Certain days were the best and the produce managers would put the produce beside the dumpster so we didn't have to get in them to get the chow.<br /><br />As long as we are a throwaway, wasteful society there will be people thriving on the waste-stream. Since as a society we freak out when asked to feed or house people, I see nothing wrong with living off the waste-stream.<br /><br />I have a neighbor couple who live on "Holy Scrap Hot Springs", an old defunct rv park they bought with their IRA funds and blog about it. <br /><br />She just wrote a book on waste-stream living and it will be out soon. They utilize the waste-stream and almost never buy new stuff. He is an inventor and electronic wizard and consults and builds equipment for things like algae farms and sells many products he manufactures...like controllers for converting a chest freezer into a totally controllable refrigerator, saving tons of energy.<br /><br />She is a forager and herbalist who sells tinctures and oils she makes...a yoga teacher and writer.<br /><br />They garden extensively and take great pride in using waste rather than throwing stuff out.<br /><br />They are entirely off grid, produce their own energy, make their own grease fuel....they are a couple with more energy and productivity than anyone I know...and no, they don't get free cash from the system...<br /><br />They have an enormous amount of knowledge of self-sufficiency including all the desert plants that grow here and can be eaten or used for a spectrum of things.<br /><br />So, I try not to be quick to criticize and love to see people making a life using WHATEVER is available to them....they are the true survivors...<br />Bri
offroad
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seems we have a dichotomy of extreme differences here. Just keep yourselves clean folks. and be stealthy. dont want to know you are doing it. not a badge of honor in many camps. But respect that it should be done.<br /><br />If the dumpster is locked up, stear clear. read on what can be used for food, and what will sicken and kill you.
G
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Seems there are some folks who either have an extraordinary interest in what someone else thinks of them and/or an extraordinary interest in what others do.<br /><br />If it were me, I would ask myself, "what is it in me that makes me care about that so much?" Expectations like that are sure to create huge disappointment in yourself or others.<br /><br />As they say in an outfit I belong to..."count yourself, you're not so many!" <br /><br />Take a deep breath, go for a walk and think about "how important is it?"<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Bri
Stillwater
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I'm not really concerned about what anyone else does, assuming it doesn't impact anyone else without their consent. The only thing I would ask from comrades/neighbors is the same consideration extended to me.<br /><br />I've never dumpster dived for food but have reuse/recycled "waste" material from dumpsters and any number of sources. Logically, food is no different.
bobbert
Well-known member
Since I would be breaking away from the domesticated life, I would consider myself to be a feral being. I am a part of nature-<br /><br />Nonetheless, if a crow or raccoon dumpster-dives, are they considered "vagrants"?<br /><br />Alas, dumpster-diving is my way (of again, being a feral animal) of "recycling"- I'm only doing what is "natural" (by scavenging)...<br /><br /> & if society has an opinion that differs than MINE- then TOO BAD!!!<br /><br />After all, it's one man for himself these days!
bobbert
Well-known member
-also, thanks "punkhippie" for the website! very useful information!!! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">
