Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Post by pambilaroo on Apr 13, 2004 16:44:42 GMT -5
Hi all... this is my first Bonnaroo... I can't wait for it and to meet you all! This question doesn't apply to Bonnaroo, just camping in general. I'm a fairly seasoned camper, but I have one issue that I need some ideas on how to solve.
Every year, a group of 20 of us go camping for 10-12 days in Maine. It's like our own little festival, except we make our own music! While we are fairly diligent about keeping the camp ground clean, about the 7th day the main living area of the campground becomes really rank. Its a combo of 20 people everyday living, rain/mud, beer spillage, humidity, inadvertent food dropping, and a constant roaring campfire. It just feels and smells stale.
Does anyone know a good, enviornmentally safe trick to "freshen up" a campsite and the soil around it? Maybe get rid of some flies that have discovered us?
This sounds like a silly question, but I'm serious. It makes it tough to be at the campsite on the last few days. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Post by BonnarooPaul on Apr 16, 2004 10:13:14 GMT -5
this probably won't be doable but i'd say hay or straw... it can soak up wetness a little better, is comfortable, and is cheap..as far as a portable way of doing something, i'd probably say "sweep" the area with a large, leafed branch.. then maybe throw some leaves down from around that area.. burn some insect repellent coils or throw some incense in your campfire...one good thing i do at my home sometimes is put out the campfire, dig and bury it and start anew.
When we would back country camp with 75 or more adults for about a month or more at a time we felt it was easier to have an kitchen/eating area, a fire/common area, tent area and bathroom area all separate from each other with some distance between each.
Each area was well organized - Kitchen/Eating: try using Dining shelter(s) picnic tables stoves wash station for dishes extra. Dish bins. All coolers should be stored here no where else. Always kept spotless before you go to bed. Hang food or store in car. Keep this area fairly big and heavily tarped when it's raining or hot it will be nice and dry or cool enough for everyone to sit and lounge.
Camping Area: All tents together makes it easy for those late night rendevous's one common clothes line for everyone.
Common Area: Fire pit always in the same spot open area. recycling bin (rubermaid), for empties. Make sure to crush them down seal lid at night. Burn burnable garbage as you go. Early next morning rake the fire down and start over with the leftover coals.
Even the bathroom area should be in one common spot including brushing teeth extra.
Each area cleaned on a daily basis i.e. pick up garbage refreshen the pivy air out tents and sleeping bags. If it's raining things might get messy but if you've been clean all the way it won't be that bad. Once the sun comes out air everything out!
Remember it is more than okay to have daily chores rotated between everyone or groups of people.
Putting some dry ceadar on the fire also enhances the site. Ceadar branches or pine in the bathroom also helps. Instead of incense do some outdoor cooking over the fire that with freshen up the camp including the people your with.
Do yourself a favour bring a few small items that will make you happy give yourself a treat on the 4th day soak your feet in a basin of epsom salt, wash your hair on the 6th day, etc. anything to uplift the spirits and makes you feel clean not stale. On the 7th day take some craft items to make or make some out of the nature around you to spruce up the campground. dream catchers, signs, racks,inukshuks etc.
Kainani is right in everything he says. Separating areas is a big deal. I often bring separate tent for food and supplies to keep them out of the way. This helps if you camp away from the vehicles.
I've also found bringing a leaf rake and raking the area tends to turn up fresh soil and collects the bits of waste that might otherwise be missed. Throw the raked up waste in a roaring fire or in a trash container. Keeping the waste collected and covered is also a must. The flies will follow the waste so keep the area clean and keep the waste and latreen away from communal areas.
Just a little work EVERY day can make a huge difference.
While we are fairly diligent about keeping the camp ground clean, about the 7th day the main living area of the campground becomes really rank. Its a combo of 20 people everyday living, rain/mud, beer spillage, humidity, inadvertent food dropping, and a constant roaring campfire. It just feels and smells stale.
