How To Be a Freegan
- October 12, 2008
- 5,992 Views
Writer
Rosemarie_Lennon
Music
Jonathan Roberts
Voice Over Artist
Peter Coleman
So you recycle your newspapers and plastics. Big deal. “Freegans” are trying to save the environment by living exclusively on stuff in your trash. Here’s how to join them.
You Will Need
- A willingness to get dirty
- A tolerance for eating food from the garbage
- A commitment never to buy anything new
Step 1: Dumpster dive
Learn to love dumpster diving – that is, literally climbing into dumpsters to forage for food and other goods. Just be discreet. Dumpster diving is illegal, and can lead to a fine.
Sometimes it pays to take a direct approach and ask a store or restaurant manager if you can be given the food being thrown out anyway.
Step 2: Learn how to forage
Learn how to forage in your neighborhood for edible plants. Your local horticultural center or library can help you.
Whenever you have a particularly good food haul, share it with others so nothing goes to waste.
Step 3: Pick up furnishings
Pick up house furnishings by cruising the streets on days that people are allowed to discard large items.
May is a good time to go through the garbage near universities because students are clearing out their dorms.
Step 4: Get rid of your car
Get rid of your car – even if it’s a hybrid – and rely on walking, bike riding, skating, and hitchhiking for most of your transportation needs.
Step 5: Frequent thrift shops
Frequent thrift shops for used clothes, appliances, and furniture.
Step 6: Become a squatter
Find an abandoned building you can make your home. That’s what serious freegans do, even though squatting is illegal.
Nearly half of all food produced in the United States goes to waste, according to a University of Arizona study.
Something wrong? Report this How-To
Video is in Environment (23 videos)
How To Become a Fruitarian
- 5,401 views
- carocam
How To Reuse Everyday Items
- 9,122 views
- shahb
How To Use Less Water on Your Yard
- 6,096 views
- Jordana_Giorgio
Comments (19)
This video is freegan awesome!!
over 3 years ago by Jeff_K
hahahahahahaah
over 3 years ago by HeatherM
On the other side of things – why not try to reuse all the trash (that's not trash) that gets tossed out and fills up our landfills?
over 3 years ago by HeatherMenicucci
Ok im a dumpster diver not necessarily freegan although ive gotten food out of the dump it's actually not illegal in the US but sometimes it can be considered trespassing and forgivness is easier to earn than permission and also squating is llegal in some states so you should prob check 1st here in FL if u set up house on abandoned property for so many years it will legally become yours
about 1 year ago by Tyler_Ryan_Carroll
I dont agree with all freegans believes about collecting stuff and eatting others waste or expired items, since this country loves to throw almost everytihing to the garbage, i'd take some of my time to thank them for their labor..., but dont u people still wanna get a job?; i'd heard some acme and shoprite store are putting padlocks to their dumpsters just to be assholes to freegans.
over 2 years ago by Aaron_Picoaga
Here's a tip for you: Freegan = Bum.
over 3 years ago by got_a_life
That is true. But... does Bum = Freegan?
over 3 years ago by KeithMcKellar
look like a bag lady when she got done!!!
over 3 years ago by lucas
I litterally gasped when they said you need to dive in the dumpsters....
I mean dont take it TOO bad that you smell so bad people around you go into comas. I believe in green, for sure I think staying with a friend instead of staying in a abandoned house (HELLO? Have you seem those documentries where they blow up old homes??) But the best idea in this entire video is to ask the managers to have food scraps..
But......; I guess if you just pick up something in the rubbish its OK...(FURNITURE)
My estate is pretty good in green, residents can give in their old furniture then people either get it for free! :D Or it goes to charity, good idea
over 2 years ago by Magaroonie
I would rather cook bugs!
over 2 years ago by Mrknowitall
bum = freegan.... makes you think huh? it is smart to re-use materials...after all most times one mans trash is another mans treasure! now im not going to jump into a trash can, but this video shows you the extreme so you realize how much waste is actually out there...just be more mindful and try not to judge!
over 2 years ago by mgenevievey
you could get in jaill for doing thes things
over 3 years ago by saraangel
";Freegans"; and/or so-called contemporary ";Anarchists"; are actually lazy, filthy, undependable people (usually from priviledged backgrounds) who don't want to work and are just looking for a hand-out. They are dirty, tactless people who live in squalor (usually 10 to an apartment, 15 to a house). They will steal anything they can sell or barter for expensive, upscale coffee or designer, over-priced bicycles. They tend to flock to college areas and often mingle with younger, ";punk rock"; crowds since somewhere along the way ";punk rock"; became the new ";Hippie"; (i.e. dirty, whiney, vegetarian/vegan, commune-abiding, et cetera).
over 3 years ago by uhm_seriously
I get the feeling that someone is changing their username around so they can post their opinion as if it is everyone's opinion. That's cool, but its just a video. It sounds like you have had bad interactions with so called ";freegans."; I know of a lot of people who affiliate with that scene, and I agree that some of them can be self-righeous, undependable, hypocritical, and think they are better than everyone because they have a fancy fixed gear bike. But that has nothing to do with being a freegan and many of them don't ride bikes and wear used clothes to be cool. Many of them just would rather take something that is going to waste than spend money and resources on the same thing. The point of the video is not to promote full blown freeganism, it is just suggesting some ideas of how to reduce wastefulness. That's all. Personally, I am neither freegan, nor hippie, nor anarchist, but if someone is throwing out something I could use or fix, then I will probably take it. Everyne wins.
over 3 years ago by KeithMcKellar
You forgot HOLIER THAN THOU. Which is funny considering they all look homeless and smell like rotting tofu...
over 3 years ago by Naw
Did I really just watch a video on how to be a hobo?
over 3 years ago by WTF
i agre i dont wanna learn how to be a hobo i wanna learn how to be fucken green
over 3 years ago by saraangel
Dumpster diving is illegal because of HEPATITIS outbreaks. Foraging for your own plants and mushrooms is dangerous because A LOT OF THEM ARE POISONOUS. Squatting is illegal because YOU CAN'T LIVE SOMEWHERE YOU DON'T PAY FOR. What was the name of that movie about the rich kid who became a bum and was squatting in Alaska and died because he was eating poison plants?
This was lame. These people are bums.
over 3 years ago by Dawn
The name of that movie was 'Into The Wild' and that kid was friggin idiot. I can't believe they made him out to be so cool. Stupid, rich dumbass. I totally agree with you, these people are losers.
over 3 years ago by JohnNeal
Sign in or create an account to post a comment. Or, sign in using your Facebook to comment
and share your activity with your friends