Okay, I must be living in the dark ages. I just watched a segment on the Today's show about freeganism. I had never heard of this. Here is a linky...

http://www.freegan.info/

I believe this is a great idea. I have been questioning the "American dream" for a while now. I don't care for the materalism the plagues our society. My only hold about freeganism is the dumpster-diving. I was the manager of a flower department in a grocery store before I became disabled. I know about all the things that get thrown out. I lost it when I saw my store director throwing out all of the plastic bags that shoppers put into the recycle bin. And I soon learned this was a "regular practice" at most of the stores. It seems it was too much of a hassel for the store to actually send them off to a recycling center.

Instead of the dumpster-diving, why not plant a vegetable garden??? Our family started a garden a few years back. It is awesome for my kids, they seem to appreciate things more. It has made them think of things in a new light. Not to mention they seem to enjoy going out back to "pick" their snacks. Having a produce department in our backyard has really incouraged eating healthy.

Moved to a section more suited to this discussion

Some people don't have room for a vegetable garden.

I used to dumpster dive - its tons of fun. I mostly picked up stuff to sell on eBay and at the flea market, but grabbed some food if there was something good. (And everyone yells Ewwwww!) - Stuff only in packages - non-perishables - that type of stuff. One memorable night I scored 74 cans of Coke whose boxes were slit on the side. Why not take it for free if it's just going to end up in a landfill anyway?

I have to agree, dumpster-diving it bit well overboard.

planting a garden and tending to it an reaping from it is such a great way live and so much healthier for you. people need to return back to the ol ways of living.

america is so wasteful, its very disturbing. iv been to my local landfill and was amazed at what was being turned into trash, from the Salvation army none the less . stuff that could be utilized and in very good condition. such as books. toys, clothing, furniture.

Okay, I have been know to be a "scavenger", meaning to drive around and look for this people place on their curbs for heavy trash day. We found a fire extingusher once, not 3 weeks later our heater caught fire in the attic. As for the food, I eat from my garden.

I hear ya, I had the American Dream at one point in my life. I hated it. The song Life in the Fast Lane comes to mind with the line "They threw outrageous parties and paid heavenly bills" ... No thank you.

I do own my own house, but it's very small and very economical and it was falling down when I bought it at a steal. I don't buy anything unless I need it, and anything that I don't need, goes to charity if it's in good condition. I have very few posessions.

I don't dumpster dive, if only because that will get you arrested around here. I do buy clothing at consignment stores, and in fact, have one favorite store where one woman consigns her clothes and the owner calls me to come see them because whoever this woman is is exactly my size and has my taste. haha. it's a great way to get nice clothes for cheap cheap cheap.

I couldn't do freeganism totally.... but I am super careful and frugal and think the "American Dream" is crap. I've been there, it ain't all it's cracked up to be. We've been sold a bill of goods.. literally.

Sometime I drive around the wealthy neighborhoods around here and look and see if they are throwing away anything good. I have gotten nice coffee tables, lamps, chairs, pictures frames, and other nice stuff. One time I was looking at a chest of draws, I opened it up and found a ring in it. I took it up to the house and the lady was really glad to get it back, it was her mother's. I never got food dumpster diving. I do go to the dented can store, the discount bakery and thrift stores to make my money go farther. I also like going yard sales, but I have had to kind of stop that I was getting to much stuff. I am planning on starting a garden this fall in pots. (In Florida we plant in the fall cause heat in the summer kills a lot of plants.)

When I saw the story about freeganism on tv, I thought of my daughter, Nova. I love talking with her, she is so imaginative and deep. She asked me the other day why we have money. She told me that thinks would be so much better if we could live in little villages and just help each other out with building houses and growing food. I had to explain to her that even in ancient times, people would trade items. I understand her way of thinking, it is a shame that things have to be that way.