It's that time of year, & all around the 'hood I can tell people are counting tent pegs and organising friends to water their veggies.
I recently remembered something I learnt when I was doing my Camper's Badge in the Girl Guides sometime in the early (19)70's...
Disposing of Dishwater in the Bush
Take a large tin like the instant coffee ones from work and punch holes in the bottom, but a 20cmish plant pot should work too, but it doesn't have a lid and the flies would love that.
At your campsite, fill the receptacle with leaves and twigs, leaving enough space that you can tip your dishwater in reasonably quickly, but there is sufficient fill to filter out fats and solids. Put it somwhere a little away from the campsite and prop it up on some stones so it will drain. If you are going for your Camper's Badge it would probably be better if you lash together some sticks to make a frame to stand it on. Maybe rough the ground up underneath to aid absortion.
When its truly gunky with fats, oils and food particles the leaves can be burnt if you are having a fire, or bagged to take home for the chooks.
Back then it was just an everyday bush tip to reduce flies I suppose, and now it's and environmentally responsible strategy!
Have lovely camping over the summer all you luckies, and don't forget to try toothpaste on those persistently itchy insect bites.
PS: Lashing you say? You bet. Girl Guides liked a bit of neat lashing. Given a long enough camp we'd have tripods for wash basins, shelves for stuff, & hey we practically put together couches!
Summer joy to all, xxxMez
No comments:
Post a Comment