Kern River Wildharvesting Cooperative seeks to “be the change we wish to see in the world“, as Mahatma Ghandi said, by really “walking the walk” when it comes to designing a business from the ground up which accounts for both ecological AND societal factors.  Every product we offer will only be made available via bulk sections OR planet-considerate packaging in order to help “eliminate waste on the consumer level“.

Before applying for a job with Kern River Wildharvesting Cooperative, each employee will sign a contract with the cooperative which explains that they agree to help uphold The Zero-Trash Commitment, meaning that this job is not of everyone.

What is The Zero-Trash Commitment?

Today, when most people go camping or come back from the store, nearly everything they purchased is wrapped in garbage:

   Whether bringing food into the forest OR offering the products we harvest to stores, as much as what we purchase (within reason) OR produce will be done via bulk sections (preferably) OR planet-considerate packaging (i.e. no disposable plastic or metallic packaging OR styrofoam, especially) so that we don’t have to bring a bunch of garbage-wrapped goods to the forest AND so that we re not adding to landfills via throwing the packaging “away” (there is no “away”).

Above:  A photo from Casa de Fruta; just west from I-5 on the 152 toward San Jose about 10 miles on the left.

By re-using durable bags in bulk sections, we can help eliminate waste on the consumer level!

   Paper packaging at least has the benefit of being able to be burned, & so its not as bad as disposable plastic or metallic packaging, or styrofoam.

HELPFUL TIP!  

    Sometimes, inside gas stations or restaurants, there is no “water button” on the soft drink dispenser (probably because they want us to purchase highly-wasteful bottled water);  IN THAT CASE, simply fill your container with ice & then use the hot water button on the coffee dispenser to get cold water.   

   “Package management jobs” (i.e. creation of packaging, mining of products to create packaging, garbage services, etc.) create an increased cost on products, & thus cause a negative-value on our economy, making American-made products less valuable on the international AND domestic market.  

     Here’s a wonderful video about the unique & inspiring Professor Frank Schiavo (1939-2010) in his legal battle of self-defense against The City of San Jose, who tried to force him to pay a garbage bill even though he was not producing garbage for over 20 years:

    …& here’s another great video from one of our favorite stores, Rainbow Grocery Cooperative in San Francisco, who has been a leading example for many years regarding Earth-conscious mindfulness, including their vast array of bulk sections which give customers the option to leave the store without having to take part worsening the landfill problem:

Kern River Wildharvesting Cooperative‘s 3rd commitment:

“To Use Encampment Preparation & Wildfire Prevention Techniques before harvesting”