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"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery"
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"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery"
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Camp Kitchen Camping Gear Feast Baskets First Aid Kit Personal Gear Vehicle Check List
Greetings to you all!
After many years of camping, I developed a memorized routine of packing everything I need for an event or war. However, after this same number of years, I have also come to the realization that I will still forget something ranging from semi-important to very important.
Like armor, or the center pole. Once I hooked up the lights of my carefully loaded trailer but forgot to put it on the hitch. The trailer did not move an inch, but for the most part, these oversights can be reduced by creating a packing list.
Check off each item as it is gathered in a 'staging area' for packing. Then you know you are finished packing the car, truck, AND trailer when this staging area is empty.
Unfortunately, there is one flaw in this method. The packing is done by we society folk. Society members seem to pack for events as if careful planning and organization seem to be out of society period and therefore not needed in general practice in these Current Middle Ages.
In spite of this and other traditions, I've cobbled together years of hard-won, and lost, experiences of my own and a number of others for the benefit of anyone who cares to read them.
There are lists and strategies of use to all, from the greenest novice to the most senior camp steward. You will note that some items are deliberately noted on more than one list: these redundancies are a safeguard so that what might be inadvertently be left off in one place, will be accounted for in another.
The simplest of events to prepare for is a one day event and feast. Simply said but making sure you take all the items you want is not as easy. It is good to have a basket always stocked, ready to grab-and go. Use a large wicker basket with a good lid. Line the inside to keep out dirt and insects. When fully loaded, the basket will weigh about the same as a medium sized javelina or wild boar so be sure the handles or straps are pretty heavy duty and well attached to the frame. When selecting your dinnerware keep in mind the feast environment and clean-up facilities when selecting your choice of materials. Metal doesn’t insulate at all but doesn’t break. Wood is a fair insulator and far more durable than ceramics, glass or china. Some plastic ware (often melamine ware) has a society appearance and avoids embarrassment when sitting across from Their Graces and their exquisite place settings.
You might consider keeping two feast baskets: one larger one stocked with all your regular sturdy gear, and a smaller one with nice, perhaps more fragile, plates, glasses and napkins for civilized indoor feasts. So! What to keep in a feast basket? Some items are obvious, some not. You may think of more.
Of course, you will want a complete place setting for each member of your household. You also may want to keep a couple of extra settings for guests or other unexpected uses.
| ___ Plates/platters | ___ Dinner knives | ___ Extra napkins (stored in a Zip-loc) |
| ___ Bowls | ___ Soup spoons | ___ Tablespoons for serving |
| ___ Cups/mugs/tankards | ___ Forks | ___Tablecloth(s) |
Other items:
| ___ Salt & Pepper | ___ Sugar (water tight) | ___ Instant Coffee | ___ Tea bags(herbal, etc.) |
| ___ Candle holders | ___ Candles | ___ Lighter/matches | ___ Good Can opener |
| ___ Bottle opener | ___ Good Cork screw | ___ Steak knives | ___ Tongs (for serving) |
| ___ Paper towels | ___ Cloth dish towel | ___ Handy/baby wipes (great for clean-up) | |
| ___ Small flashlight | ___ Pain Reliever | ||
| ___'Mundanity' covers | ___ Handi-wipes/Baby wipes |
___ Antacid and pink bismuth tablets (for after those ‘special’ feasts)
___ Alcohol based 'waterless' cleaner. (Kills bacteria on contact. Bacterial
soaps need much more time for effect.)
___ Kitchen garbage bags. (For trash, dirty dishes. Great liner in a basket for a
make-shift wash tub or water bucket.)
___ Sealable storage bags. (Several quart and gallon sized for left-overs, etc.)
Put your society name on the bottom of your drinking vessels. These items get lost more than any other. Another tip is to fill 2-liter bottles to about an inch shy of full, squeeze the air out a bit, freeze and put the frozen bottle in your cooler to keep your items cool and dry.
This is for FIRST and minor aid. Always seek the advice of a Chirurgeon on any injury.
| ___ Finger Bandages (assorted) | ___ Large bandage pads |
| ___ Calamine Lotion | ___ Aloe Vera gel or lotion for minor burns. |
| ___ Antiseptic wipes | ___ Pain Reliever (Aspirin and Acetaminophen) |
| ___ Eye Wash and cup | ___ Scissors |
| ___ Tweezers | ___ Cotton swabs |
| ___ Ace bandages | ___ Gauze wrap |
| ___ Bandage tape | ___ Sterile gauze pad packs |
| ___ Small knife |
Now you are ready to really camp and set up your very own kitchen. As with the feast basket, you may find it helpful to keep a stocked camp kitchen ready to go. A useful container is a large plastic tub. Most of the gear can be acquired inexpensively from second-hand or surplus stores or your local discount outlet.
(The following items fit into a 24"x18"x18" plastic tub with a high lid. 'Tetris' experience is a plus.)
| ___ Griddle / Lg Fry Pan (10") | ___ Deep pan (5qt) |
| ___ Handled pot (3qt) | ___ Teapot |
| ___ Coffee pot | ___ Large metal spoons (slotted & regular) |
| ___ Wok-style ladles with & w/o holes | ___ Wood mixing spoons |
| ___ Long metal tongs | ___ Whisk |
| ___ BBQ fork | ___ BBQ Spatula |
| ___ BBQ skewers | ___ Regular spatula |
| ___ Pot holders (2-3) | ___ Dish towels / Rags |
| ___ Chef's knife (I have a Ginsui type) | ___ Long blade knife |
| ___ Paring knives (2) | |
| ___ Large plastic mixing bowl, 5qt min. | ___ Cutting board (plastic preferred over wood) |
| ___ Large strainer or colander | ___ Fabric or material covers to hide water jugs & coolers |
| ___ Large plastic funnel | ___ Lighter & wood matches w/ striker in waterproof container |
| ___ Plastic measuring cup (16oz) | ___ Large plastic pitcher |
| ___ Plastic wrap roll | ___ Long kitchen aprons (keeps the garb clean) |
| ___ Tin foil roll | ___ Large trash bags (roll) |
| ___ Large ZipLocks (1 & 2 gal.) | ___ Dish washing liquid |
| ___ Scrubber brush | ___ Steel wool pads |
| ___ Paper towels | ___ Can opener (in Feast Basket) |
| ___ Bottle opener (in Feast Basket) | ___ Two stackable 10x14 plastic storage boxes as wash tubs |
| ___ Small bottle bleach (surface - sanitation standard is 1 part bleach per 24 parts of water) | |
| ___ Cafeteria style tray (12x18 size is great for general food prep on unsanitary work surfaces.) |
Suggested items that do not fit in the kitchen tub
___ Large 2' diameter wash & rinse tubs. (Optional)
___ 7-10 quart stew pot and lid
___ Collapsible soft-sided trash barrel (found in home store garden sections!)
___ 6-8 clothes pins to hold trash bag in place.
Pack a 3lb coffee can. The gallon sized sealable bags fills the can and folds-back nicely over the top. This holds the bag wide open for filling. Make sure there are no burrs on the lip of the can. Try to keep all your food stuff in sealable water-resistant tubs. This can be a life saver after a major storm.
| ___ Sleeping Tent w/ poles | ___ Supply Tent & poles |
| ___ Kitchen pavilion w/ poles | ___ Guy ropes |
| ___ Stakes (10" nails best. Forget plastic) | ___ Tent rugs |
Wrap large washers in duct tape then push the nail through and the washer won’t doesn’t slide off.
| ___ Canopy for tent (Keeps tent much cooler) | ___ Tarps |
| ___ Water proofing spray | ___ Grommet repair kit |
| ___ Ground cover tarp(s) | ___Tie down rope (100' or more of nylon or cotton) |
| ___ Portable holes | ___ Banners & poles |
| ___ Lantern(s) (kerosene /propane /electric) | ___ Hurricane Lamps |
| ___ Extra Lantern mantles /bulbs. | ___ Lamp oil (Quart should fuel a lamp for a week) |
| ___ Candle lantern & candles | ___ Camp knife (Large survival type suggested) |
| ___ Sledge hammer (5-10 lb mini-sledge) | ___ Fire axe |
| ___ Lighter /matches | ___ Camp stove(s) |
| ___ Lantern hooks | ___ Fire wood |
| ___ Fire pit / brazier | ___ Hot water bottle |
| ___ Sleeping Bag(s) (20 degree rated) | ___ Blankets /bedding |
| ___ Pillows | ___ Foam/air mattress |
| ___ Folding tables (kitchen work & general | ___ Folding Chairs |
| ___ Disposable table coverings | ___ Water cooler(s) |
| ___ Flashlights | ___ Portable radio (for weather & emergencies) |
| ___ Spare bulbs | ___ Batteries (for lights & radio) |
| ___ Duct tape (2-3 rolls) | ___ Sleeping futons, cots, pads, beds |
___ Shepards hooks or other lantern hangers
___ FIRE EXTINGUISHER (1for each tent and kitchen)
___ Temporary tarp clamps with grommet holes (These clamps are usually found in
hardware stores)
___ Tent heater (Avoid leaving large BTU heaters on while sleeping.!)
___ Camp Fuel (Plan on at least a gallon of fuel for every 3 days.
1 10oz. propane bottle per day for each lantern and heater.)
The propane 'trees' that mount on the large tanks are relatively inexpensive but are much cheaper in the long run for propane lanterns. I set the 5 gallon (20lb.) tank on a table or stand so the top of the tree sits above head height to provide good lighting.
'SECOND CHANCE' is the name of a brass adapter that I have that screws onto the tree with the large propane tank threads on the other end for connecting large grills and other stuff.
Keep stakes, tie down ropes, repair kits, etc. in a 5 gallon bucket with lid.
NOTE: drill a few holes in the side of the tub just below the lid to avoid condensation.
| ___ Spare tire, INFLATED! | ___ Jumper cables |
| ___ Radiator water (3 gal. min) | ___ Power steering fluid |
| ___ Spare oil | ___ Radiator tape / duct tape |
| ___ 12v Air compressor (Damn near essential) | ___ Transmission fluid |
| ___ Flashlight (Check batteries) | ___ Road flares or flasher |
___ TOOLS! (Hammer, adjustable wrench, vise grips, screwdrivers, pliers, hose
clamps, etc.)
___ Heavy duty portable power pack for jumping dead batteries. There is no need
to depend on another vehicle being around and most come with built in air
compressor
Pack as much as I can into stacking plastic tubs with lids that seal well. They keep your stuff clean, dry and pretty bug free even in the worst weather. Put your shoes on top at night.
| ___ Address book/EMERGENCY NUMBERS | ___ Wallet and ID and credit/debit cards |
| ___ Newsletter with event directions.(Stick in sun visor) | |
| ___ Map (In sun visor) | ___ Money (sounds dumb but I’ve forgotten) |
| ___ Notepad | ___ Pen/pencil/Calligraphy set |
| ___ Watch | ___ Alarm Clock |
| ___ SCA membership & fighting waiver | ___ Camera |
| ___ Cell phone AND the charger | ___ Film and batteries |
| ___ Toilet paper | ___ Tissues |
| ___ Hair Brush / Combs | ___ Tooth Brush |
| ___ Tooth paste | ___ Shampoo/Conditioner |
| ___ Bar/liquid soap | ___ Deodorant (fighter optional) |
| ___ PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION | ___ Sun Screen |
| ___ Shaving Cream | ___ Razor(s) |
| ___ Hair Ties | ___ Wash cloths |
| ___ Bath towels | ___ Insect repellant |
| ___ Safety pins | ___ Spare eye glasses |
| ___ Handy wipes / baby wipes (Large container) | ___ Alcohol based “waterless” handcleaner |
| ___ Feminine Hygiene supplies | ___ Co-habitation supplies |
| ___ Contact lens solution | ___ Contact lens case |
| ___ Sewing repair kit | ___ Sun glasses |
| ___ Stapler (great for quick-fix on hems) | ___ Walking cane /staff |
| ___ Carry basket | ___ Makeup |
| ___ Large metal camp mirror (no glass) | ___ Umbrella(s) |
| ___ Glass repair kit (mini-driver and screws) |
| ___ Spare MODERN CLOTHES (2 sets min.) | ___ Under garments (fighter optional) |
| ___ Socks (heavy & light) | ___ VERY comfortable footwear |
| ___ Work Boots (insulated & water proof) | ___ Cloak(s) |
| ___ SCA boots | ___ Head coverings |
| ___ Slip on foot wear (for the privy dash) | ___ Sweat pants / leggings |
| ___ Belts | ___ Scarves |
| ___ GARB (Court, field, warm & light styles) | ___ Rain ponchos |
| ___ Favors / medallions | ___ Shower tunic or robe |
| ___ Hats | ___ Belts |
___ Cloth Laundry bags. (Old pillowcases work well.) Avoid plastic bags as they hold in dampness and mold.
With regards and safe travels,
Yehudah of Nuremberg,
Barony of SunDragon, Atenveldt
Posted with permission from Rivka bat Yehudah who answered my request with: "Absolutely! Please do! He made it for everyone to use as reference and to update whenever needed."