Compost juice

Looks yummy, edible? yeah i thought so but couldn't bring myself to, I shall return with the right mindset. Why? perfectly good looking fruit, who needs a mindset to eat fresh fruit, well these close ups are misleading but show this food shouldn't be in compost bins. I guess it is better than going to landfill like most of the organic waste generated in New york. The only reason many of the recycling projects have begun is economic and I feel that is the case here, cheaper than sending it to landfill. Time to write to wholefoods with their business model in mind as i can think of many profitable uses for this waste. Control costs, reduce waste, maximize profits, that's what it is all about. So the strawberries could become; jam, coulis, ice-cream, sorbet, shortcake, parfait, mousse, ok i have laboured my point. Yes all these uses require a labour input and different equipment, surely compost is worst case scenario even pig food is probably a small step up. The energy and resoucres wasted is ridiculous even before transprotation. So give it away, well they kind of are. Anyone can go rummage through these bins on Chrysite close to Houston and i intend to after seeing someone else save lettuce and
tomatoes before discovering fruit. Wholefoods is mad this fruit could be juiced and sold fresh at a premium, here inlies my plan, compost bin fruit juice for sale, nah probably free giveaways outside. Should be more interesting than the apples trees that dissappeared so fast that only two out of 15 apple remained for my photos. I dont know whether that makes it a success or animals ate them, hopefully hungry people but i really got to figure out a way to see how people interact with my trees.

East houston

Scoped out some trees and if i can bear the cold, -4C i am going to do three trees with 5 apples each 2 of which are in black plastic, represents rubbish (trash for all you yanks) bags and the 40% of food that consumers waste. Incredible figure i think almost half of what we buy may as well be donated to the inefficiencies of capitalism. Shows the world has no shortage of food just big problems with over production and transportation logistics. I am targeting Wholefoods bowery as i am interested in their waste stream, they are involved with Action waste a company with a good compost service and i have noticed there bins on the street. I think with the image wholefoods like to portray it is a good candidate to strive for innovation in sustainable food systems.The positive publicity potential is huge so options i am putting forward are promoted public access to compost dispostal, buffet item fit for human consumption but not sale go to homeless shelters, non compostable food waste goe to pig farms and fish waste to local fish farming projects. Will see how it is recieved and who know maybe they are doing some good things, just not blowing their own trumpet for how good they are.

Moving into serious teritory

I have been scoping out options for the next hanging. East Houston is where it has to happen, I like the idea of putting one up outside wholefoods but the trees are far from ideal. I am pursuing the freegan aspect with the next two trees i plan to hang food from. Tonight if i can deal with the cold i am doing the apple in a rubbish bag tree, then the next one i am excited about. I am going to go recover some edible waste from out side supermarket and hang them. Fruits of the streets of New York City. Wondering if anyone will feel comfortable to pick this tree, think it might feel destructive. Dont want to include a sign but feel i need a way to get my concept across clearly.

bad locations

Some of my placement was poor, as my main goal is to get people to notice and invoke thought. Today i picked a tree, plenty of people saw, still no one has approached me, either in installing or picking. I picked because no one else was and it worried me they might get wasted. Also it happened I was asked to make a cake for a student baby shower so I think i will call it a hung apple cake and see how many people bite or maybe urban spiced apple.

Apple logo

I make the connection between our flawed food systems and consumer behavior. Produce is rejected for naturally occurring odd shapes. The apples I brought were all seconds going cheap at the green market. The consumer will not pay top dollar for imperfections but many are more than happy to take imperfections for a discount. Supermarkets strict specifications are required because the consumer will not buy the ugly fruit unless it is cheaper than the rest. My next mission is to find out about what happens to the produce a supermarket rejects. I assume animal feed and wasted.

A bite, well two bites

Was happy to see someone enjoyed my efforts outside the apple store. Laughed and felt stoked, can I now claim to have collaborated with another street artist. Off to take a photo, been raining since I saw it so hope it is surviving. Am conflicted as I am almost certain this apple will now be wasted.

apple store

The second installment went down in a much busier location last night. For fun I did a few trees outside the apple store. It added another element to the project. I have found the type of tree is important for the look and how many people notice. Many of the apples were already picked this morning but i have no idea who picks them or what happens to them. I have witnessed many people stop to notice but want to see a picker. I think I may have annoyed some street vendors with my placements and am concerned the apples may be getting wasted. I need to work on my reasoning, my most important one being creating awareness of the unnecessary still eadible food waste sitting on the street. So I am thinking of putting a apple in a mini rubbish bag and hanging it.

My other reasoning is I felt cool when I saw people stop to ponder my silly creation. Also I choose some of the newly planted one in a million trees, part of the cities "going green" plan, as I already said why doesn't New York plant a urban orchid. My final justification for decorating trees is reminding people about the process of eating.