Freegans today (Wed Feb 27th) on Oprah.

What Are Freegans?

Is this going too far?

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Wow, that's an episode I can't wait to watch. Getting my food out of a dumpster is too out-there for me. In the synopsis it says that most of it was in its original packaging, etc., but still you never know why it was thrown out. I agree with the concept that we need to be re-using what people throw out (Freecycle, etc.) but I think moderation is the key. With anything, you can take it too far.

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I agree with Kim!! I also think that with as much effort as some people spend on not spending any money, they could get a job easier and just buy things!!!

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~Happiness is a large family~

I see nothing wrong with it, but honestly it sounds like just plain boredom to me.

I've been really interested to watch this... I love Freecycle as well (although the stuff is way better in New England than here in rural PA), and wonder just how our outlook as a country/culture would change if we went back to the 1920's way of thinking....

"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without..."

Couple of websites:

Freegan.info

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/21/garden/21freegan.html

Extreme Personal Finance: One Month as a Freegan ∞ Get Rich Slowly

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Amethyst72

I am really looking forward to watching this!

i can't wait to watch this i think i will be grossed out...but at the same time think about wasting things... dh even wants me to record this so he can watch it..

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Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.

I don't see anything wrong with it. Alot of times the stores aren't allowed to give things away, so they throw it away. I am not sure if I would go to that extreme but if I was struggling to feed my family well than I would probably have to do it.

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Mom to Kellan 12-16-2000
Brooklyn 12-27-2005
Nolan 10-15-2007
Wife to Russell 10-14-2005

Dh and I used to have friends (before moving and losing contact) whose family (extended) owned a garbage company and he drove the big trucks that picked up the big garbage bins behind stores - ya know, the trucks that lift the bins up and into the truck. Anyway, he used to find GREAT stuff. Like tile (behind the tile store), luggage - just tons of stuff. Even stuff behind Bed Bath and Beyond!! He would take it use it, give us some and then garage sale the rest!! Talk about pure profit!!

I would do that in a heart beat! But I never remember to go do that kind of thing. I have been known to pick up "stuff" that someone else is throwing away on the curb. Right now in our basement is a cool lamp that was left out for the garbage by my parents neighbor. He was moving and it didn't sell in his garage sale. It works great!

Now, food- it would have to be laying on top in its original packaging. If I had animals to feed....

I remember being at my local food store and while standing at the deli counter waiting for my meats to be sliced, I noticed the huge amount of salads and prepared foods; like macaroni salad, potato salad, etc. It was about 8:00 at night and I had asked the lady behind the counter what they do with the stuff at the end of the day. She told me that even though it's perfectly good, they throw it out. I asked why they didn't donate to a local food pantry and she said it's because of lawsuit possibly.

It really is such a shame the amount of perfectly good food the stores throw away when the only thing keeping them from sharing is the possibility of a lawsuit.

Personally, I wouldn't dumpster dive perfectly good food because if I got caught I would be soooooo embarassed. However, if I'd be guaranteed no one would find out, the food was in original packaging and I'd save tons of money on my grocery bill, I may be able to be persuaded to do it. The loss of so much perfectly good food saddens me; especially when there are so many hungry people.