Eco-friendly, sustainable and ethical are terms that most of
us are familiar with when it comes to purchasing “green” products. Basically they all reflect ways to help
safeguard the environment, it’s resources and to do so in a way that is cruelty-free
for both humans and animals. Recently, a
new movement has taken hold among the most eco-conscious called freeganism. Read on to learn about this new extreme
eco-conscious movement.
A person practicing freeganism is called a freegan. The word freegan is comprised of “free” and
“vegan.” The most basic definition of a
freegan is someone who tries to buy as little as possible, utilizing as many
“free” things they find, and a “vegan,” a person who is a vegetarian and eats
no animal products, including meat or eggs.
Consumerism is a never ending cycle. People work long hours in order to buy new
things, then throw many things away when they are still useful, only to work
more to make more money to buy even more.
Consumerism has an overall effect on the environment. Not only does it fill up our already
overflowing landfills, where it takes years for materials to break down, it is
also depleting our natural resources.
Freegans are extremely anti-consumerism. Many freegans avoid working since they have
very few expenses due to their lifestyle and believe volunteering is a better
way to spend their time. They do
everything they can to avoid buying anything.
Freegans will work to repair items they already own or trade items with
other freegans. They will also search
for items other people are throwing away that are still useful via freecycling
or even dumpster diving if necessary, including clothing, furniture, household
products and even food.
Since many freegans don’t work, the natural conclusion would
be that they are homeless. Actually,
many freegans do have money to lead a “normal” lifestyle. However, many freegans choose to squat in
abandoned homes and properties rather than pay for a mortgage or rent.
Food is obviously one thing that even freegan need, but
freegans have found creative ways to get this most basic life staple. Many freegans forage and scavenge for what
they need in the woods eating fruit, herbs and various plants. In urban areas, freegans will often dumpster
dive outside of stores where they have thrown away food due to expiration or
bruising, or restaurants where leftovers are often tossed away. Restaurants and stores try to discourage this
practice because freegans could potentially get sick from eating rotten or
expired food. Some freegans plant
gardens on their own property or even resort to “guerilla gardening” by
planting gardens in empty lots. Freegans
are very community oriented and will often share the fruits and vegetables they
grow with other members of their freegan community.
While most freegans are vegans, there are those who will eat
meat and eggs. The thought is that they
would much rather have free food and not let it go to waste rather than stick
to their vegan beliefs.
Transportation is another issue. Since oil is a natural resource that cannot
be sustained indefinitely, many freegans will use bicycles to get around. Some have even converted their automobiles to
cleaner bio-fuels. Freegan websites even
recommend hitchhiking and train hopping as a means of transportation, despite
the obvious safety, as well as legal concerns.
Embracing the extreme lifestyle of a freegan isn’t for
everyone but it certainly has its place in a world full of over consumption and
waste. Every little bit each person can
do will help to preserve and sustain our earth and environment for many
generations to come.
Yvone Kon is a freelance writer, blogger and mom. She often writes about green weddings,
recycling and freecycling for Environmental Data Resources, Inc. She is the author of the blog EventSpiration, providing inspiration
and ideas for weddings, parties and holidays.
For information on freelance writing projects, please contact her via
her blog.
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