Meet the Freegans

"Dumpster diving for the socially conscious. Who knew?" -- Kenneth Turan, L.A. Times film critic.

Documentary directed by Travis Shields. Winner of a 2009 Telly Award and the 2008 International Documentary Challenge "Best Use of Political/Social Issue" award. Judge's Award Winner at the 36th Northwest Film and Video Festival.

Spotlighting the freegan movement in Portland Oregon, Meet the Freegans aired on Oregon Public Broadcasting's series Oregon Lens and has screened locally at Portland's Hollywood Theater, at the 2008 Dokufest in Kosovo, 2008 Hot Docs in Toronto, and at the 2009 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.

http://www.ShieldsFilms.com

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• freegans
• meet the freegans
• dumpster diver
• Portland
• Oregon
• documentary
• green movement
• freeganism
• Dumpster Diving
• Documentary Film
• portlandia
• NW
• Shields Films

[jagerduster]

Hi,This is Steve from the video, I have a few points to clarify. 1st, it is technically stealing, but while it is "illegal," its far from unethical. 2nd, the different wines are fantastic. 3rd, I still buy food. 4th, the light is in fact left on. You got me...absolute shame upon me. 5th, the box of beans came home strapped to a rack, in a bag or on a basket. Not sure what it was, but probably pretty ghetto. Finally, a plug: our wines are avail at the dumpster dive bar in Black Rock City.

[shieldsfilms]

@jagerduster Hi Steve! Thanks for making this documentary possible.

[shannonkalfas]

Thank you for this Video! I am new to freeganism. We live in a very poor area and my daughter has been taking things to school to give away. I always find a home for everything I LOVE it!! I was wondering how you make your wine. We don't have any heath food shops or organic places where I live but I am sure I could figure something out. It would def help with not wasting some of the juices and fruits I find. Thanks again!

[NeedsMoreWater]

Neat video. Who took home the $300 paper shredder I saw at 1:10?

[foxman212]

@dsazer25 Your completely right sir. If we had say a government funded way to distribute food to those who need it like the homeless we could make more jobs and help those in need. Stores do throw out food its inevitable due to health code regulations and due to the fact that you cant know for sure how many people will buy x number of a good. If the freegans bought the food there would be less left over and what is left over (there will always be some) could go to those in need.

[dsazer25]

@foxman212 It's true that they're not supporting the economy by doing this. However, if these stores didn't throw out edible food in the first place then there wouldn't be the temptation. Instead of focusing on how dumpster diving hurts the economy, we should focus on giving this food to the homeless and the hungry. People with no food or home take priority over people with food on the table who are upset with the economy.

[lovelovinghorses]

I think that it is totally immoral for stores to throw this food away when there are poor and hungry people around. This food should be made available to those that need it or want it.

I agree with freeganism at least it saves waste and energy. If I had the balls to do it I would x x

[halation777]

@foxman212 BULLSHIT. this is not stealing.

[teamforcedjudgement]

@darkmatterdark ya know, it's people like you, that just need to STFU. :)