Provisions

Firefly camping guide

Food Waste policy Firefly is a leave no trace event. We must be respectful guests to the owners of the land as well as the land itself. This means that you should make every effort to go home with everything you take in to Firefly. While food is not the only potential source of waste, wrappings and containers can end up displaced.

It is recommended, where possible, to transfer food items from single use disposable containers to reusable containers before coming to Firefly. While this doesn’t necessarily solve the issue of waste, it does help reduce the amount of trash that Fireflies need to keep track of. Reusable containers also tend to be heavier and less likely to shred or blow away in the wind over the week of camping.

When preparing the food you are going to take to firefly, consider the three “macros”: protein, carbohydrates, and fats/oils. Your particular mix is up to you. Suggestions below are focused on providing tips and ideas.

Dry goods Dry food options, such as pasta, beans, chickpeas, lentils, rice can be excellent sources of nutrition while camping at Firefly, without requiring cold storage (until cooked).

Online vendors sell nutritionally complete meals that start as dried. These only require boiling water to rehydrate and eat.

There are also a variety of whole grains that only need to be boiled as preparation such as sorghum, barley, quinoa, and many others to try at home and bring to Firefly.

Plant Root vegetables are excellent sources of nutrition while typically not requiring cold storage. Don’t sleep on the potato! While french fries and chips are not exactly the healthiest means of cooking them, when prepared via boiling and baking they are healthy options, especially while camping.

Additionally, squash, and sweet potatoes all can provide nutrition while not taking up cooler space

Carrots and can stay at room temperature for 3-5 days

For other raw vegetables, they will likely need some space in a cooler. Consider buying frozen.

Finally, canned vegetables will stay reliably sealed and ready to consume in any weather. Just be sure to keep track of the cans.

Bars Granola and protein bars are a staple pick-me-up for campers and hikers alike. They are good for snacks or hold-overs. Just be mindful of the wrappers they generate.

Meats Precooked meats can be good options to bring to Firefly as long as there is sufficient cooler space and ice, typically lasting a few days. However, coolers are not as consistent as powered refrigerators, so expect that they will spoil faster camping than at home.

Raw meats will take the most care and effort to bring to Firefly and if you are experienced in keeping them cool enough you are welcome to bring them.

Consider having separate waste containers for any meat products as they tend to degrade and smell more intensely than other foods.

Ice Ice is delivered to Firefly daily, free for all, but please take only what is necessary for your cool storage. It is funded by donations that are collected online before Firefly. Please consider donating to the ice fund if you are able.

Keep in mind that warmer weather at Firefly will cause ice in coolers to melt faster. Keep coolers in the shade, and keep them closed as much as possible.

When keeping food in coolers, make sure it is in waterproof containers. It is best practice not to drain the water from ice unless it begins to warm.

Water A good rule of thumb for water is a gallon of wayer per person per day. It is a good idea to bring with you a few gallons per person, but there are reliable sources of water at Firefly.

The primary water source is a manual lever pump. It is located near the steam bath. If at the steam bath, and facing away from the woods to the field, the lath to the water pump is on the right. Operating the pump takes a little bit of learning to use as there is a bit of rhythm to pump a few gallons of water. If you can bring a water canister heavy enough to stand on its own with a wide opening to pour into, that will work best.

When pumping it is very important to be firm but gentle with the lever as it can break. There is a tendency to want to move quickly, but this can jar the mechanism and cause a breakage. The down motion will require you to use your muscle to push it down. On the return motion you should use your muscle to guide it back slowly. On the return use your muscle to guide the return but don’t try to force the return motion.

There is a backup electric pump in upper parking in the event that the manual pump goes down. This is a much simpler faucet, but will only be used as backup.

Containers

Electrolytes Hydration is very important while camping in the summer, and the possibility of dehydration at Firefly is significant. Be sure that you are consuming enough salts by any means you are comfortable. It is a very good idea to bring electrolyte packets either for everyday hydration, or consumed if your or someone around you is experiencing dehydration. The body needs salts in order to properly hydrate, so just water alone isn’t enough, especially if it is hot and you are not following the diet you normally would at home.

Cooking Heat sources All cooking requires some form of heat. The way to source that heat can vary depending on your preferences and budget. Propane based solutions will be reliable in most weather conditions as long as your camp brought enough propane.

There are also purchasable wood-fired stoves available from a variety of vendors. Bringing in campfire wood is forbidden as there is potential to bring in travelling insects and microbes. However, as the grounds are cleaned there are piles of wood that can be used for stoves (can firewood be purchased????). These can be small campfire metal stands up to stainless steel fire pits. Wood is more challenging to use as the heat is not as consistent as propane or our stoves at home. It can take some skill. In general, you do not need a large fire to cook, just hot coals. It can help to build up a fire and let it die down to coals and keep the coals alive by adding more wood. It will also deposit a lot of black soot on your cookware (which can be cleaned at home with baking soda and water). Please plan to carry out ash and charcoal as waste.

Charcoal is also an acceptable fuel source, but you will have to bring it in and bring the remnant ash back home.

As with all things at Firefly, please consider any byproducts of cooking and eating as waste, including organic materials. We have over a thousand campers and even if a waste product is biodegradable, it would litter the camps if left behind, as the timeline for degradable materials, including foods, can be over years.

Cookware The amount and types of cookware you bring will depend on your preferences for food at firefly. A means to heat water is useful for every camp.

Camping teapots are fairly inexpensive and easy to use. As they are enclosed, it is a fuel-efficient way to heat water.

Next in terms of ease-of-use is some form of pot. They can be used to cook any of your dry goods. Searching online for one-pot camping meals should return plenty of recipes to write down.

Shelter Tent Bedroll Sleeping bag

Hygiene Products Steam bath