Robin Greenfield has made a name for herself with high-profile initiatives such as wearing an entire trash can for 30 days and riding a bamboo bicycle across America. He does this in the name of serving the Earth.
Greenfield is currently in the midst of her latest adventure in sustainability. We have all the food and medicine for the year. Now, about a third of the way through the project, the activists are returning to Florida for in-person events (previously they grew and foraged all their food there for a year).
In Orlando, Greenfield will speak at Audubon Park Covenant Church on Saturday at 6 p.m. and lead a foraging walk at Dixon Azalea Park on Sunday at 4 p.m.
As for what he eats, Greenfield’s current pantry includes wild rice from Wisconsin, fish, venison, nettles, applesauce, fermented wild onions, sea salt from the ocean, mushrooms, elderberries, blueberries, and herbal tea.
Then why not go to the store like everyone else?
“This is a deep exploration of belonging to this earth…I know I’m from this earth, but I want to feel it and know it with every cell of my body,” he said. “Being immersed in foraging 100% of your food and medicine for a year is just doing that. It’s a test of my philosophy, and a year spent gardening and foraging all your food really takes things to another level.”
This project comes at a time when Greenfield is refocusing his outward energy while leaning into his community and working to find inner peace.
“I can’t control politicians or corporations, but I can make sure my actions are consistent with my beliefs,” he said. “As Gandhi would say, I am committed to creating the change I want in the world and making my life my message. I continue to deepen that is my strategy for influencing positive change.”
Some of his 1.3 million Facebook followers and those he has met personally are inspired by Greenfield’s radically different way of life, which in turn motivates him to continue his journey in environmental activism and stewardship. A woman in the Florida Keys was inspired to forage one item a day for food.
“We’ve heard from thousands of people about how they’re making positive changes in their lives. For some, it’s small things like starting to waste less, starting to grow a little more food, starting to forage a little more,” he says. “Others choose to quit their corporate jobs and volunteer with organizations, start their own organizations, or simply live more simply and spend their time growing food and living sustainably.”
Greenfield arrived in Florida in early January and embarked on a journey of reflection and solitude, paddling in the Florida Everglades for nearly two weeks. He brought some staple food with him, but he also caught fish and harvested purslane and coconuts along the way.
Since returning to central Florida, Greenfield has spent time digging up the invasive winged yam at the Oakland Conservation Area and finding yams in abundance in the state’s mild winter climate.
“It’s truly life-changing to walk out your front door and find out that there are dozens of different foods and medicines that are some of the most nutritious and delicious foods on the planet,” he said. “They grow for free in our front yards, backyards, churchyards and public parks.”
Whether people choose to embark on their own foraging experiments or find ways to reduce their footprint, Greenfield hopes to inspire people wherever he goes.
“What I really want to instill in people is a sense of connection,” he said. “We really want people to feel a sense of oneness, comfort, belonging and interconnectedness with this beautiful land we live in.”
Find @PConnPie on Instagram or email pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. Stay up to date on travel, arts and events by subscribing to our newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.
If you go
Robin Greenfield will speak at Audubon Park Covenant Church, 3219 Chelsea Street, Orlando, on February 7th from 6 to 8 p.m. Pre-registration through Eventbrite is recommended. He will host a foraging walk on Feb. 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Dixon Azalea Park, 100 Rotherden Drive in Orlando (meeting point is in the Mac Jordan Avenue parking lot). At both events, Greenfield will be publishing his book, “Food Freedom,” about a year in which he grew and foraged 100% of his own food. For more information, visit robingreenfield.org/foragingyear.
