Alternatives for Making Changes in the Food System and our Society as a Whole

Sometimes it is shocking to see so much food being wasted in the United States these days, or at least to see how food is being so misused by consumers on a daily basis.  Millions of Americans are hungry and struggling in the midst of poverty while others have more food than they can consume, trashing their products at the first sign of decay.  With increased knowledge of the generalized food system and more awareness of our individual impacts on the planet and well-being of others, we can reduce our food waste and live more sustainably.  Though it may seem hard to change the way all of us Americans live, if we make change as local communities initially, it will be easier for this trend to spread outwardly.  One way to learn how to reduce waste and become more environmentally/socially conscious is to read up on HOW others have done just that, such as environmental organizations or local farmers.

Food Not Bombs
The Food Not Bombs organization recovers and shares free vegan and vegetarian food with the public around the world to protest war, poverty, and the destruction of the environment.  For over 30 years, the movement has worked to end hunger and has supported actions to stop the globalization of the economy.

Take a look at their webpage below!

http://www.foodnotbombs.net/index.shtml

"Freeganism"
What is a freegan?  Freegans are people who employ alternative strategies for living based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources.  Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed.  Freegans avoid purchasing products from one bad company only to support another, which I think is an awesome philosophy but something that is hard to live by without getting in trouble with the law.

What are some of the strategies for practical living that freegans use?
1. Waste reclamation.
2. Eco-friendly transporation
3. Rent-free housing
4. Going green
5. Working less

Their webpage is super inspiring.

http://freegan.info/

Charles Eisenstein, "degrowth activist"
Charles Eisenstein is one of the most inspiring individuals I look up to.  He has written several books on the state of our economy and how we can live more sustainably, including his most popular book Sacred Economics.  He believes that for humanity to take the next step towards a more community-based, environmentally sustainable, and loving world, we are going to have to violate what is politically practical, socially practical, and even technologically practical.  If you're interested in what he has to say, he has some talks coming up in the near future that are open to the public.

http://charleseisenstein.net/

My goal for the next few months is to see what kind of an impact I can make on the world around me by just being ME and advocating for what I think is important.  Also, in the process, I look forward to learning more about myself and what I'm capable of achieving.

If you have any interesting comments, links, suggestions, etc. to add please do so!  

Thanks!
MacKenzie

Consumer-Level Sustainability

I'm super excited to get this blog going!  The purpose of this site is to increase overall awareness of what's going on within the United States and abroad, in terms of food sustainability, health and well-being, activism, community, etc.  This site also serves as an inspiration for you to follow your dreams and aspire to do what you love, despite all of the pressure and expectations that society has placed on your achievements.  I hope you enjoy!  

I'd first like to post this really awesome article that just hit the news about a grocery store that is set to open in the Boston-area.  It is unlike any other in that it focuses on reducing food waste by selling products that have passed their "best-by" date.  Countless supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, and even families dispose of food that has so-called "expired" but is still edible.  Each year, 40% of the food that is produced within the United States is WASTED.  And yet, we still continue to produce an excess of food, which has led this statistic to remain the same for the past few years.  Recently, the ever-inspiring Doug Rauch, the former president of the Trader Joe's supermarket chain, got to thinking that we should really do something to change this.  And we can't wait around forever, so he's made his move and has been very proactive.

Here is the article if you would like to give it a look.  You'll be impressed.  Just imagine how much waste we could save by having these types of grocery stores all over the country.

http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/09/23/expired-food-store-set-to-open-next-year/

Also, the following article is great, too, for some more information on food waste in America.  Check it out below.

http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/09/23/expired-food-store-set-to-open-next-year/

Thanks so much!
MacKenzie