Pine Ridge residents, who live far from city supermarkets, have little access to fresh healthy fruits and vegetables. Available food in their small stores at an affordable price is high in carbohydrates, and a high carb diet leads to obesity, diabetes, and other health problems common on the rez.

Shannon Freed, who moved to Pine Ridge in 2009, observed firsthand the health and nutrition problems there and set out to change things. She applied for and got a grant that will allow her to plant a vegetable garden and teach residents how to cook and preserve the food that comes from that garden.

Thinking beyond the garden Freed is planning an orchard and hives for honeybees, all intended to make Pine Ridge more self sufficient in fresh healthy food. You can read more of her story here.

Food Share is a Rapid City program that sends volunteers to local farmers markets at the end of market day to purchase at a discount unsold produce. That produce—mostly fresh vegetables and some fruit—is delivered to an agency that serves low-income people. This year the program began on June 4 and ended on October 29.

The success of the 2011 Food Share program far exceeded the expectations of those who created it. We raised more money, purchased more food, and received more donated food than we ever expected, and every cooperating agency we approached wanted to work with us.

Food Share raised $2908.60 in donations. $1867.80 came from Democracy in Action, $500 came from the 9^th District Medical Alliance, individual contributors wrote checks for $440, and $104.98 was collected in the donation jar at the Black Hills Farmers Market.

Members of the Black Hills Farmers Market were strong supporters of the program. Most produce farmers participated, and many gave us very good deals. Three Rapid City volunteers did the shopping: Jeanette Keck, Barbara Cromwell, and Shirley Frederick. These people donated their vehicles and gas for the transportation. The original plan called for shopping on Saturdays only, but there was so much unsold produce on Tuesdays and Thursdays that we went to shopping three days a week. In order to keep going we had to do continued fundraising through the summer.

The two agencies that were given the most food are Feeding South Dakota (the Food Bank) and Church Response, an association of local churches that assists the needy. Smaller amounts went to Cornerstone Mission, Western South Dakota Community Action, and two groups that cook food for the homeless and serve it in a Rapid City park. The total amount of food delivered was 7826 pounds.

We plan to continue the program next year, raise more money, and include Western South Dakota Community Action in a more active way.

A few days ago I met a person who dumpster dives on a regular basis. I was curious, and sent this person (who wishes to remain anonymous) a list of questions. Here’s the reply:

SF: What is dumpster diving?

DD: Dumpster diving is what it sounds like: you roll up to a dumpster at a grocery store or restaurant and look inside to see if there is anything good in there. If so, you hop in and grab it. Easy as that.

SF: How would you rate your dumpster diving skills?

DD: Ah, well it’s pretty much just the willingness to pass through the social boundary of “You just don’t do that.” I’d say I’m a novice.

SF: How long have you been dumpster diving?

DD: About 3 months

SF: The legality of dumpster diving varies. Some countries consider the contents of a dumpster the property of the owner until it goes into the landfill or incinerator. In Italy DD is legal. In Germany it generally is not prosecuted. What is your experience with DD laws in various cities/states/countries?

DD: Thankfully I haven’t had the cops grill me on it, but if they did I would just be myself: I’m free and healthy and I’m not doing anything wrong so my conscience is clear.

SF: In how many cities/states/countries have you done dumpster diving?

DD: 2 countries, 3 states.

SF: Why do you dumpster dive?

DD: Because there is lots of good food thrown away every day and I’m not too proud to pass it by.

SF: Are there certain times of the day or night that are best for dumpster diving?

DD: Depends on the dumpster.

SF: How do you find a good dumpster and do you keep going back?

DD: Just keep an eye out. And yeah, if it’s good I’ll go back for sure.

SF: What kinds of foods have you found in dumpsters?

DD: Lots of fruit and veggies. Lots of everything really, but I’m a picky eater. I don’t eat wheat, soy, refined sugar…and much more. So I just take the good stuff.

SF: How is your health affected by dumpster diving?

DD: My health is affected by every decision I make. DD has been a good effect on my health because it’s free and I feel good about saving food from being wasted.

SF: Are there DD ethics, such as when you find something good don’t take it all? Or if you are throwing away good food leave it beside, not in the dumpster?

DD: Nah come on, it’s a dumpster. And if you’re in a position of throwing away food that you think might still be good, I would say you should re-evaluate what it is you are doing with your resources.

SF: What has been your experience of attitudes toward DD in different parts of the country?

DD: People mostly think I’m brave for doing it, or they think I’m misled and that I’m a danger somehow. It’s interesting, really. People have issues with it. I forget that a lot of people don’t feel like I do about life, that if you’re not doing harm then you are free to do what you like. Some people I talk with are just so dense with it. It’s like I’m a danger to their ideology and they feel threatened so they act nasty to me.

SF: Anything else?

DD: Love each other, respect the land, and be free!

Those of you who are regular readers of our posts know that we consistently advocate for consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, grass fed beef and buffalo, milk and cheese, fish, poultry, eggs from pastured chickens, beans, nuts and seeds. It’s easy to promote these foods. It’s not so easy to create meals of these foods when you are on a limited budget.

Harold Storsve, in the August newsletter of Western South Dakota Community Action addresses this disconnect. Specifically he writes about the conflict between the new USDA nutrition guidelines and the cost of  healthy food. For the article he created a menu for four with a mix of fresh vegetables, quality breads, low-fat milk, fruit, fish, (tuna sandwiches), chicken and yams. It cost $32.23 per day, or $11,731 a year. This is twice what a family of four on Food Stamps is eligible for.

Other studies reach similar conclusions. You can read about them here and here.

This is a fundamental problem with no easy answers, a problem we at DLFN think about every day. Our Food Share program is a start, but it is not enough. We must find ways to restructure our local economy so that everyone in our community can eat well, be well, and have healthy children.

We will address this again in future posts. Meanwhile, those of you concerned about this quandary, send us your thoughts.

A few days ago the boys and girls at Youth and Family Services in Rapid City had a big treat: they got to shuck corn after breakfast, and at noon they got to eat it.

Darcie Decker, nutrition director of  YFS, contacted Ron Keil, a corn grower near Belle Fourche, and a few days later a truckload of corn was delivered to the agency that provides food, activities and other services for youth.

Darcie sent us this message: “We had a great time shucking and eating the most delicious sweet corn.” The activity and the eating were in response to Dakota Rural Action’s commitment to promoting local food in schools, hospitals, and other institutions. YFS was the first institution to sign up, and they are glad they did.