Green Campsite Challenge

[ilovethelorax]

We will not be providing compost buckets to each campground...not sure where that one started. Not a bad idea...but not happening this year.

Compost will once again be available, however, in Town Park. Each person/camp will be responsible for getting their stuff to the bins. Make sure the bins you bring have a lid that is able to stay on pretty well. The town park critters like that kind of stuff, you know.

You got the email about the sustainability things, right Auntie Hope?

Ilovethelorax - There are many things you can do while at TBF to reduce your carbon footprint. Turn off all your lights at home...cut the AC...heck, shut the breaker to everything but the fridge. That way you aren't using any energy while you are camping with us. We've calculated your travel (on average, and as close as we could figure it) into our carbon offset...so your flights, etc...are covered.

In fact...by taking the right steps to make sure you aren't unnecessarily using energy at home while you are away, and with our offsets for your travel, your trip to Telluride could...in theory...be Carbon POSITIVE!

So glad to hear they'll be compost again and those are good suggestions about unplugging everything while away. We try to unplug everything we don't use everyday or that sits on an easy to insert plug anyway. It was an adjustment at first but now we just look at it as another step in turning the switch. And I know the Planet buys offset credits and I think it rocks but still, even purchasing offsets, I have been looking at my love of travel a little differently.

I also think it's great that the planet has decided not to have bottled water in the venue (I did read that didn't I?). It can be so easy when you're thirsty to reach for them, corn and degradable or not. A couple months ago after watching a documentary film about some kick-ass forest activists I decided two simple things I could do would be to not buy another plastic bottle of water or use another disposible coffee cup again if I could help it. My SIGG and I have become very, very close and I try to have a reusable coffee cup with me most of the time (usually in my car  ). It hasn't been as hard as I thought actually. Water fountains abound but going without coffee if without cup has been a bit tough at moments. Then the thought of a grand old tree standing upright instead of pulped into some cup makes the choice pretty easy.

Dustin, please pass along my thanks to rest of the Planet folks too for all the awesome work you all do to make this festival as green as you have! It's really appreciated!     

[Debbiefromtucson]

[Ilovethelorax - There are many things you can do while at TBF to reduce your carbon footprint. Turn off all your lights at home...cut the AC...heck, shut the

Great ideas!! I think we will leave the AC on a bit though here ( maybe put thermostat to 85 or so)... Don't want to come home to "cooked kitty."  But, I will try and remember to unplug everything else...

[BluegrassDustin]

I thikn I just mis-read the e-mail! Bring your own buckets!

"We'll be doing our part by providing compost containers at all our campgrounds this year. We're thrilled to announce that this compost can now be processed locally in Telluride!" 

Auntie Hope 

Gotcha.

"....providing compost containers..." = the giant compost roll-off dumpsters.

"...at all our campgrounds..." = the various campgrounds, not sites.

...but I'm sure you figured that out. 

[Auntie Hope]

Thanks for squaring that away, Dustin. 

Auntie Hope 

 Listening to: the bathroom fan

[Hurricane M]

Last year Camp Flamingo bought compostable bagasse plates (sugar cane fiber after the sugar is all removed) and corn beer cups from a place in Boulder.  We sold some to other camps, including all the small plates Hippie used for the oysters... and we used some of the cups at the homebrew fest.  We got interviewed by the local media about it.  We have enuf left from last year to bring them again this year...Jerry, plenty of the small plates are left for this year if you need them.

[Hippie]

Last year Camp Flamingo bought compostable bagasse plates (sugar cane fiber after the sugar is all removed) and corn beer cups from a place in Boulder.  We sold some to other camps, including all the small plates Hippie used for the oysters... and we used some of the cups at the homebrew fest.  We got interviewed by the local media about it.  We have enuf left from last year to bring them again this year...Jerry, plenty of the small plates are left for this year if you need them.

Great - I'll not purchase any of those...
I will be making a large bulk purchase from my west coast supplier next week. Please PM me with your needs and I can tack it on to the Run a Muck order.

The plates are unbleached sugar cane, the utensils are high temp corn, the cold cups are corn, and the hot cups are  unbleached sugar cane, completely compostable.

I already have an order frm the bloody mary folks for 100 glasses - right?

 

[LuAnna]

Everyone in Town Park will have a cup of their own that they  can bring with them for a Bloody Mary.  I would suggest that first.

 All of the years that Mike and Lynne and I did that, plenty of folks brought their own cup and I am sure that many more would be willing to do that.

how ' bout it?
LuAnna

[Tiki Bar Lara]

Everyone in Town Park will have a cup of their own that they  can bring with them for a Bloody Mary.  I would suggest that first.

 All of the years that Mike and Lynne and I did that, plenty of folks brought their own cup and I am sure that many more would be willing to do that.

how ' bout it?
LuAnna

Hi Luanna!  That sounds like a great idea!  Everyone can find a cup!

[Debbiefromtucson]

Yes, Luanna I am going to encourage that everyone bring their own cup... BUT, the order stands Jerry.. I like having some of those cups around for use with the kids there, at home and for our cross-country road trip during the summer.

[Hippie]

Maybe I should clarify our philosophy about the disposable aspects of our camp. We encourage all the folks camping with Run a Muck to bring their own plates, utensils, and cups. That's why we have the magic kitchen witches working over at the sink, what they do up on the hill with those cauldrons is a whole nother issue. Unfortunately the men haven't been invited to those sessions  Every once in a while we simply run out of plates, cups, and the like, or our guests also simply forget to bring em.

We aim to be all inclusive in Run a Muck - no one is turned away for lack of dishes 

 

[Auntie Hope]

Maybe I should clarify our philosophy about the disposable aspects of our camp. We encourage all the folks camping with Run a Muck to bring their own plates, utensils, and cups. That's why we have the magic kitchen witches working over at the sink, what they do up on the hill with those cauldrons is a whole nother issue. Unfortunately the men haven't been invited to those sessions  Every once in a while we simply run out of plates, cups, and the like, or our guests also simply forget to bring em.

We aim to be all inclusive in Run a Muck - no one is turned away for lack of dishes 

 

We also bring extra dishes & silverware, but sometimes we just have soooo many guests, take ummm, TUESADY for example. 

Auntie Hope
(a.k.a Head kitchen witch  )

 Listening to: General Conversation: Profit vs. Non-Profit lodging in the World of Backpackers, two hours now.......

[LuAnna]

Thanks for pointing that out, Hope. Let's just all be committed to spreading the word to bring your own service. Seems to work for the potluck. I bet we can at least make a dent!

LuAnna

[amandalynne]

Now if we could just get the message out to the rest of the folks... I couldn't believe the condition of the dumpsters on move-out day last year. There are unfortunately some among us who bring furniture, rugs, tarps, and even tents that they seem to just dispose of at the end of the weekend 

Jerry's so sweet to be all-inclusive, but I have trouble being so nice. I wish we could require all non-compostable and non-recyclable waste to be packed-out. That way they have to live with the error of their ways all the way home  Tee heee heee.

Thanks, planet bluegrass, for setting such a great example for the rest of the planet!




 Listening to: the worms slither through the compost

[amandalynne]

Now here's a challenge...

What's a good way to put to use the chemical-laden nalgene bottles we won last year from new belgium (and the other 10 we all have)?

Ready, set, go...

Amanda

 Listening to: the chemicals seeping through my brain

[ilovethelorax]

Amanda,
Nice to see you back!

For your nalgene, check out http://sustainablethinking.wordpress.com/2008/05/11/recycle-or-repurpose-your-nalgene/ for some ideas.

peace,
kym

 Listening to: impromtu baseball game in the front yard