Camping!

[RowanC]

Ok.. I'm going camping for a week and a half for Beltaine.

I need some GOOD ideas for camping food besides just fresh veggies and fruits. I'll take all of those. But anybody have any LONG lasting recipes I could take along?

I really don't want to take a large (or any, really) icebox.

Help?

[RowanC]

By the way, any pagan folk in Oregon or Washington want info on Anarchist's Beltaine, let me know. It's always a blast! It's a free festival, primitive camping by the Klickitat River.

[sport]

You can take sprouts with you in sproutbags and water them there. You will have fresh greens everyday.

[rawpriestess]

Well, RowanC, you could invest in a foodsaver system, (I call them the SUCK AND SERVE) and take everything in those sucked in baggies, it should make them last longer, and I guess you would want to dehydrate alot of stuff.


the marinara sauce leather is a great idea, I saw you had in another thread, so you might do a few sauces like that, and of course, nuts, you could soak there, and fruit leather, and crackers.

there are a couple of non electric gadgets that could come in handy, depending on your idea of food prep, there are hand crank blenders and food processors, and also food mills, (one is a baby tiny one about 3" tall) and it works reall well.

so if you wish to take these items too, you could.

and there are battery operated things as well, and then there are propane items too, so it depends on how much roughing it, you wish to do.

I love gadgets but I have camped my entire life, so it is fun, no matter how rough or how cosmopolitan you go.

I KNOW you'll have a good time too.

Beltaine is always fun, are you doing it traditonal, with masks and all?

[RowanC]

Each year, the MayQueen is chosen by lot. The process is decided upon by the current year's Queen. Past years the Queen has been chosen by choosing a clay egg (with a tiny goddess figure in the winner egg), or by burning down candles, or by contest, or by choosing ribbons. Just whatever the current Queen decides. Then THAT Queen can choose her King at whimsy. It can get pretty interesting and entertaining, as you can imagine! lol

After the New Queen is chosen, the women take her off to bathe, oil, massage, and council her. The men take the King off for the same. Then later in the afternoon, everyone comes back together.

In the meantime, the men go out to find the new Maypole tree. Depending on the tradition of the current Queen/King either a live or a dead tree is chosen. (I'm in the live tree group) Then men cut the tree and carry it through the village in a procession of drumming, singing, dancing, and fun.

While the men are getting the tree, the women are digging the hole and placing offerings into it. This is a wonderful time for the youngsters, who are always involved.

They deliver the tree to the site. There is ritual drumming and dancing when the pole is placed. Then the people decorate it.. and later, we dance it.

It's a blast and it's different every year depending on who is May Queen. One thing you must agree to if you go out for Queen is that you will be in charge of the following year's festival. It's always a surprise.. with some years being better than others.

The entire weekend is fun. Lots of drumming, dancing, eating, bonfires, singing, firespinning.. just lots of fun with people from all different traditions coming together to celebrate Beltaine, the river, and the forest.

We are more of a traditionalist group, and do not encourage Circling with other groups. But we break tradition for Anarchist's Beltaine .....I wouldn't miss it!

[tvillemom]

My family is going camping this weekend, and even though we are only going for a few days, I thought I would tell you what I'm taking, just in case I trigger an idea for you.
I am taking Alissa's fudge balls, chili, garden burger pate (from Victoria Bou.'s "12 step" book) Alissa's pizza bread.....a small container of nut milk (maybe you could make some and freeze it in cubes and let it thaw over the week) I'm taking deh. buckwheaties with raisins and bananas (and the nutmilk) for breakfast....honey for a sweetner...let me think....I think that about does it, except for a large fresh salad with sprouts, and some fresh fruits....I sure hope that helps.
Have a great trip.
Wendi

[rawpriestess]

RowanC sounds pretty fun to me

How cool

In all the Beltaine festivals I've seen the people wear masks, like in the old way and old days to conceal their identity

[RowanC]

::laughing:: Like in The Wicker Man!?

Yeah, some people wear masks. Often, someone does a mask workshop.

Thanks Tvillmom.. those are some great ideas! I wish I had one of those handcranked blenders to make nutmilk for my buckwheaties! :rolleyes:

[rawpriestess]

YEAH!, I saw that movie once, I thought that was an interesting movie, but I hat it when animals get hurt, so I can't watch stuff like that, I cry for days on end, justing thinking of that.

[RowanC]

More likely, you'll see me looking like this than wearing a mask!

[rawpriestess]

coooooooooooool pic

[JenniferSeed]

Check out this website for raw camping ideas....

http://www.rawhike.com/

[RowanC]

Thanks Jennifer, some great ideas there!