Provisions
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. There are many sources of waste and it is the responsibility of every Firefly to manage their waste. Be sure to pack with you receptacles for anything that needs to be thrown out after the event.
Food
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 while 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.
Dry goods
When camping, dry goods should make up the majority of the food that you pack as it will not be at risk of spoiling and does not require cold storage. Remember to bring a strainer, or larger wired spoon to separate the water from the cooked food!
Pasta - Easy to prepare, palatable, and versatile. Good source of fiber, but should be paired with a protein and some vegetables.
Beans - Excellent source of fiber and protein. Takes longer to cook and sometimes requires soaking depending on the bean. Can buy canned.
Chickpeas - Healthy option similar to beans, and can also be bought canned. Great with rice or pasta.
Lentils - Another healthy option. Often requires spices, salt, and oil to be palatable. Not all lentils behave the same way when cooked. Generally, red lentils are used for soups or to create a mash. Brown lentils can retain shape if cooked to the right point, but can also be turned into a mash. Green lentils often are used because they hold their shape well.
Rice - Versatile like pasta. Brown or wild rice will be the most nutritious since they are whole grains and do not require water for washing.
Barley, sorghum, quinoa - Whole grains that are most similar to brown rice
Online vendors sell nutritionally complete dry meals. These only require boiling water to re-hydrate and eat.
Plant
Potato - 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. Just make sure to pack some salt or soy sauce.
Squash, and sweet potatoes also provide nutrition while not taking up cooler space
Carrots can stay at room temperature for 3-5 days
For other raw vegetables, they will likely need some space in a cooler.
Canned vegetables will stay reliably sealed and ready to consume in any weather.
Bars
Granola and protein bars are a staple pick-me-up for campers and hikers alike. They are good for snacks or in-between meals, but often are not sufficient to replace a meal you would otherwise eat on your usual schedule. 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, precooked meats will last a few days. Keep in mind that 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. If you are experienced in their storage and preparation outdoors, 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 water 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 for you to refill your containers.
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 path 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 required 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 process is:
- Press down on the lever the full length of it's travel with a firm hand
- On the return, guide the lever back smoothly
- Repeat, trying to avoid yanking on the lever at either end of the travel. Smooth and steady will work better than fast and hurried.
There is a backup electric pump in upper parking in the event that the manual pump goes down. This is a much simpler to operate as it is a normal faucet, but will only be used as backup.
Electrolytes
Hydration is very important while camping in the summer, and the possibility of dehydration at Firefly is significant as you will be outside walking likely more than usual. The body needs salts in order to properly hydrate. When hydrating, be sure that you are consuming enough daily salts by any means you are comfortable. It is a very good idea to bring electrolyte packets either for everyday hydration, or at least as a backup if you or someone around you is experiencing dehydration.
Cooking
Heat sources
Read and understand the Fire Policy
Heat sources 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.
Wood-fired stoves are available from a variety of vendors. These stoves must be fully contained, and should burn wood completely, leaving little ash. Small amounts of leftover ash can be spread around, as per the fire policy, but large amounts of leftover charcoal or ash must be collected and taken back home with you for disposal.
Bringing in campfire wood is forbidden as there is potential to bring in travelling insects and microbes. However, as volunteers clean the grounds before firefly, there are piles of wood that can be used for stoves.
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 a bit, leaving a low flame that can be maintained by adding small amounts of fresh wood. This method will also deposit a lot of black soot on your cookware, but this can be cleaned at home with baking soda and water.
Charcoal is also an acceptable fuel source, although not recommended as you must collect the remnant ash and take it back home for disposal.
As with all things at Firefly, please consider any byproducts of cooking and eating as waste, including organic materials. We have over a thousand fireflies 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.
Camping pots 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.
Grills are also a good option provided that you are prepared to transport them in and out
Skillets will be best with propane heat sources as any fire-based heat source is likely to deposit soot on your food
Shelter
Tent - When purchasing a tent make sure it has a rain cover. There are a large variety of vendors for tents, so check reviews on their durability. Be mindful of your fellow fireflies and purchase a reasonably sized tent for the number of people who will be sleeping in the tent.
Bedroll - Having some kind of pad underneath your sleeping bag is highly recommended. Not all camp locations will have even ground, and this layer of padding will help you sleep comfortably. This can be anything from camping-specific pads up to full air mattresses. Don't forget to bring a patch kit just in case.
Sleeping bag - Average lows for New Hampshire in July are in the low 50's, so there is a small chance that the temperature could be in the 40's for a short time overnight. However, it could also stay in the 70's. You likely wont need a heavy-duty sleeping bag for Firefly but you should at least be prepared for chilly nights.
Tarp - While not required, having an extra tarp and a means to stand it up, either by string to trees or tarp poles can help if rain occurs for an extended period of time.