The first time Elora Adamson sourced food from a waste bin it was an ordeal.
含羞草研究社淚 remember vaguely the first time my roommate took me out dumpster diving,含羞草研究社� Adamson said. 含羞草研究社淚t was a big thing. We were wearing rubber boots and gloves and headlamps. It was an expedition. Now it含羞草研究社檚 like I含羞草研究社檓 on the way home, I含羞草研究社檒l pass a dumpster or a grocery store I know and I含羞草研究社檓 think 含羞草研究社榦h, better take a look in here,含羞草研究社� and you pull out a couple loaves of bread and go home.含羞草研究社�
Adamson and her friend Riley Yakabuski are sourcing all of their meals from foods wasted by grocery stores until January 18. The concept isn含羞草研究社檛 new to them 含羞草研究社� they say there含羞草研究社檚 a relatively large dumpster diver community in Victoria, notably in student circles. They含羞草研究社檙e doing this to both raise awareness about food waste, but also to raise money for Feeding Canada, an indigenous-led organization based in Toronto that helps combat food insecurity in northern communities.
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Through GoFundMe, the two initially aimed to raise $1,000. After shooting through $1,500 they含羞草研究社檝e now extended their goal to $2,000, and the crowd funding platform has listed their drive as a 含羞草研究社渢rending含羞草研究社� item.
含羞草研究社淎 lot of the food that we take is just coming from organics bins,含羞草研究社� said Yakabuski. 含羞草研究社淪o it含羞草研究社檚 not like there含羞草研究社檚 anything that would be toxic in there.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淧eople will have varied reactions,含羞草研究社� Adamson acknowledged. 含羞草研究社淚n Victoria there含羞草研究社檚 a pretty big dumpster diving scene, especially in our circles and at the university it含羞草研究社檚 quite common. When I first told my parents and people back home and my broader circle, people imagine you eating scraps and rotting food, and that含羞草研究社檚 really not at all what it is.含羞草研究社�
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Although they含羞草研究社檝e primarily fed themselves through vegetables, they have managed to find protein sources. They say they haven含羞草研究社檛 noticed any decreased energy or ill affects from their new food sources. They say most food is discarded because it hits arbitrary best-before dates, or simply doesn含羞草研究社檛 look right to shoppers 含羞草研究社� like a discoloured pepper, for example. The pair would like to see increased education on best before dates and efficient food preparation, both inside and outside of grocery stores.
含羞草研究社淚n France, all grocery stores are not allowed to throw out food, they have to donate it,含羞草研究社� Yakabuski said. 含羞草研究社淭hen the people that receive the donations will sort through it - like soup kitchens, redistribution networks and stuff like that. I think that by implementing a policy it might be shocking at first, but I think that it含羞草研究社檚 something that can easily be adjusted to have a huge overall impact.含羞草研究社�
Those interested in support their cause can do so .
jesse.laufer@oakbaynews.com
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