Portland Activists Take Pragmatic Approach
By Olivia Ash
PORTLAND, Ore., March 24, 2014 – Spring Break is anything but a break for MediaLab’s
“Waste Not” documentary team.
We departed the campus of Pacific Lutheran University on Sunday, March 25, and looked forward to the busy week ahead.
Our three days full of interviews in Portland started with a local chapter of an international activist organization called Food Not Bombs, which collects would-be-wasted food and redistributes to those in need around Portland.
For background, we began the morning with James Clifford, a Food Not Bombs volunteer who not only collects food and redistributes it, but also opens up his small apartment in Southeast Portland twice a week for use as a kitchen for preparing and cooking dozens of meals.
The group commits itself to running its operations entirely by bicycle, meaning that as the team packed into our car, James strapped on his helmet and rode by bike to his first destination, food distributor Organics to You, which annually donates thousands of dollars in produce to Food Not Bombs.
It was amazing to see boxes of produce -- food that otherwise would’ve been wasted – piled high on the back of James’ bike. Food Not Bombs takes this produce, cooks with it, and serves free meals, picnic-style, at various spots around the city.
Volunteers serve from 30 to 100 people or more, three times a week.
The Food Not Bombs approach to food waste is very pragmatic, said Clifford. The would-be waste is diverted directly to people who want and need it.
Our first day back in Portland proved to be exciting and eventful. After learning about one group’s approach to tackling the issue of food waste, we’re ready to learn even more in the week to come!
By Olivia Ash
PORTLAND, Ore., March 24, 2014 – Spring Break is anything but a break for MediaLab’s
“Waste Not” documentary team.
We departed the campus of Pacific Lutheran University on Sunday, March 25, and looked forward to the busy week ahead.
Our three days full of interviews in Portland started with a local chapter of an international activist organization called Food Not Bombs, which collects would-be-wasted food and redistributes to those in need around Portland.
For background, we began the morning with James Clifford, a Food Not Bombs volunteer who not only collects food and redistributes it, but also opens up his small apartment in Southeast Portland twice a week for use as a kitchen for preparing and cooking dozens of meals.
The group commits itself to running its operations entirely by bicycle, meaning that as the team packed into our car, James strapped on his helmet and rode by bike to his first destination, food distributor Organics to You, which annually donates thousands of dollars in produce to Food Not Bombs.
It was amazing to see boxes of produce -- food that otherwise would’ve been wasted – piled high on the back of James’ bike. Food Not Bombs takes this produce, cooks with it, and serves free meals, picnic-style, at various spots around the city.
Volunteers serve from 30 to 100 people or more, three times a week.
The Food Not Bombs approach to food waste is very pragmatic, said Clifford. The would-be waste is diverted directly to people who want and need it.
Our first day back in Portland proved to be exciting and eventful. After learning about one group’s approach to tackling the issue of food waste, we’re ready to learn even more in the week to come!
