Dumpster dive event. Annual University of VA dumpster dive extravaganza. Something we've done with gusto several times over the years.

Photo by Joan Mazza

Dumpster dive event. Oakers gather to jump on all the UVa student dumpster treasures brought home by valiant divers.
Photo by Joan Mazza

Dumpster finds. Well, this is some of the more basic take. Some of us have gotten nice packs, new shoes, even a working computer.
Photo by Joan Mazza

Dumpster dive. Some members find all kinds of great stuff in dumpsters, including good food, as well as copious junk food. For example, we often get dozens of loaves of Arnold bread in visits to a bread store. And there's the famous local bagel place that tosses hundreds of bagels made same day in one large nicely wrapped plastic bag.

Make compost. We compost nearly all food and plant waste, soyfoods processing remainders (okara in particular), and animal manures. A small tractor is used to turn and move the piles.

Finished compost. This rich dark compost will be spread by hand to fertilize our extensive vegetable gardens.

Recycling barn. We recycle paper and cardboard, some plastics, glass, and metals. The downstairs of this old dairy barn is used for recyclables (except there's another outbuilding for cardboard.) The local refuse drop accepts some of this material; some has to be dropped in a nearby city on one of our town trips.

Reuse clothing. We have a huge communal clothing area, affectionately known as Commie Clothes. Clothes provided there are rarely bought new. Many of us use clothing mostly or entirely obtained from thrift stores and yard sales.