Robin Greenfield has made a name for himself with attention-grabbing endeavors like wearing all of his trash for 30 days or biking across the United States on a bamboo bicycle. He does things like this in the name of serving the Earth.
Greenfield is currently in the midst of his latest sustainability adventure: foraging all of his food and medicine for one year. Now about a third of the way through his project, the activist is back in Florida — where he previously grew and foraged all of his food for a year — for in-person events.
In Orlando, Greenfield will lead a talk at Audubon Park Covenant Church at 6 p.m. Saturday and a foraging walk at Dickson Azalea Park at 4 p.m. Sunday.
As for what he’s been eating, Greenfield’s current pantry includes wild rice foraged from Wisconsin, fish, venison, stinging nettle, applesauce, fermented wild onion, sea salt from the ocean, mushrooms, elderberries, blueberries and herbal teas.
So why not just go to the store like everyone else?
“This is a deep exploration of belonging on this earth … I know that I’m from this earth, but I want to feel that and know that with every cell of my body,” he said. “This immersion in foraging 100% of my food and medicine for a year is a practice of just that. It’s a test of my philosophy, and it really is taking things to another level from a year of gardening and foraging all my food.”
Activist and conservationist Robin Greenfield is foraging for all of his food for one year, including large bolete mushrooms. (Courtesy Robin Greenfield)
This project comes at a time when Greenfield is leaning into community and refocusing his outward energy while working on finding inner peace.
“I’m not able to control the politicians and the corporations, but I can make sure that my actions are in alignment with my beliefs,” he said. “As Gandhi would say, I’m working on being the change that I wish to see in the world and then letting my life be my message. I’ve continued to deepen into that being my strategy for affecting positive change.”
Some of his 1.3 million Facebook followers and people he’s met personally have been inspired by Greenfield’s radically different way of living — in turn creating fuel for him to continue on his journey of environmental activism and stewardship. One woman living in the Florida Keys was inspired to forage for one food item each day.
“I’ve heard from thousands of people about how they’re positively changing their lives. For some people, it’s small things like starting to reduce their waste, starting to grow a little bit more food or starting to forage a little bit more,” he said. “For other people, they quit their corporate job to volunteer at an organization or start their own organization, or just to live more simply, to spend their time growing food and living sustainably.”
Activist and conservationist Robin Greenfield is foraging for all of his food for one year, including pears. (Courtesy Robin Greenfield)
Greenfield arrived in Florida in early January, then embarked on a voyage of reflection and solitude while paddling for nearly two weeks in the Florida Everglades. He brought some staples along, but caught fish and harvested sea purslane and coconuts along the way.
Since returning to Central Florida, Greenfield has spent time digging up invasive winged yams in Oakland Nature Preserve and finding abundance in the state’s mild winter climate.
“It really is life-changing to know that when we walk out our door, there are dozens of different foods and medicines that are some of the most nutritious and delicious foods on Earth,” he said. “They’re growing for free, right in our front yards, in our backyards, our church yards and in our public parks.”
Activist and conservationist Robin Greenfield is foraging for all of his food for one year. (Courtesy Robin Greenfield)
Whether people choose to embark on foraging experiments of their own 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. “I really want people to feel that sense of oneness, of comfort, belonging and interconnectedness with this beautiful land that we live on.”
Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. Stay up to date with our latest travel, arts and events coverage by subscribing to our newsletters at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.
If you go
Robin Greenfield is speaking from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 7 at Audubon Park Covenant Church, 3219 Chelsea St. in Orlando. Pre-registration is recommended through Eventbrite. He will host a foraging walk from 4-6 p.m. Feb. 8 at Dickson Azalea Park, 100 Rosearden Drive in Orlando (meet at the parking lot on Mc Jordan Avenue). At both events, Greenfield will have his “Food Freedom” book about his year of growing and foraging 100% of his food. For more information, visit robingreenfield.org/foragingyear.