one more...

Another gift left for cleanup crew. Dog poop in a plastic bag tied in a tree. This is not where dog poop goes family!

Winner of the WORST PERSONAL FIREPIT 2010!

This personal firepit was about 60 feet up hill and behind the Shut Up and Eat It kitchen.  The last picture is of this how I cleaned up and disappeared this mess ~ in the magic rainbow way it should be! These pictures speak for themselves but it became more obvious to me as I cleaned up this space that these folks really did not care or have a clue.  Not only was this personal firepit in opposition to rainbow spirit, they were also defecating on the ground about 5-10 feet behind them over a log, and they left behind their feminine hygiene supplies as well.  Thanks sister!

more photos

Before and After: Community Firepit cleanup. This is an example of what a firepit should look like after it is cleaned up.  The huge blacken spot is not natural and will leave a visual and biological scar in the forest for a long time.  The fire/heat kills microbes that live in the soil, the recovery time is longer if charred soil is left in one place. The blacken areas need to be flooded with water to be sure that the fire is out.  The ash can be put into a shitter or spread around the forest (be certain it is cold and out!).  The soil then needs to be aerated (disturbed) around the pit where people danced, drummed, and prayed for Mother Earth for the last week- soil must be mounded about 8 inches to fill the hole (if a hole was dug).  If there was hole dug, use the soil that was removed to fill the hole (it is probably right there, compacted where the people danced).  If grass or plants were removed they can be replaced and watered (many people actually set this aside and cleanup crew finds it and does this).  The roots will sent out new plant materials and recovery will be fast!  The rocks need to be spread around the forest, and leave litter/duff needs to cover the firepit as to match the other areas of the forest.  Then sticks are spread out to look as if they have fallen from the trees (not left in a pile) and any wood chips need to be spread from the wood pile. This is the art of disappearing a fire pit!  Learn it, do it!  Ask at Info if you need advice!  Welcome home!

Some 2010 cleanup photos: These photos show a camp and personal firepit that someone failed to disappear after they left the PA Rainbow Gathering (2010).  This is only one of HUNDREDS of personal firepits and camps that need to be disappeared every year!  The majority of gatherers have lost the art of disappearing their camps.   Did you maybe leave your camp like this?  If so, please think about this for next year, and plan accordingly.  Clean up and disappear your camp. All art work and human made structures, pits and trails need to be disappeared and the whole area where there was any impact needs to be naturalized. This includes  hiding any artwork in chalk on stones, hiding burnt logs, hiding the burnt sides of stones used in fire ring, loosening the compacted soil around the fire ring and any other compacted areas, filling in holes with an 8-inch mound of soil and leaf litter, and spreading out piles of sticks that have been left behind.  (Sticks do not look natural in piles!) This is all too often the case, people do not understand that they need to take a look around at the place they are going to camp, and remember what it looks like.  They need to return it back to what it was before they came.  That is the magic and it is a lost art.  Although cleanup is a wonderful part of the event, it is very discouraging to wander through the woods and find hundreds of camps left like this.  It takes a lot of energy to clean up after everyone! Hopefully sharing these photos will have an impact on peoples' behavior next year.

Trash

to clarify, there's likely only one trash run remaining, all the other trash runs were paid for out of an individual's pocket and arrangements are being made for reimbursement to be made at a later time. as stated, despite these facts, cleanup continues.

Cleanup Update

back from cleanup, again. Will post pics and updates later today. There are still people on site, and despite the lack of bankers and money to take trash to the dump, cleanup continues. Ignore rumors of cancellation and send rakes.

July 23 Cleanup Update

The F S got the Totem pole for their office. All is out only some
bitch hill trail work and touch ups are expected to be done. We are
now about 10.

Cleanup Crew Pulling Out Thursday or Friday

Only 20 people left at cleanup. Most work is done. Goshawk babies
flying around in the meadow.

Main Circle All these fotos were taken July 19

Main Circle All these fotos were taken July 19

Cleanup Report

Record time clean up nearly done. One more trash load then micro
trash the 2 pile areas. Rehab 95% done thanks to many as well as the
Fat Kids. We are under 30 people and 10 or so cars. The F.S. Are very
very happy and want the totem pole for their main office bldg. But
its first come first serve on that.. We could duff more trails and
kitchens but it is sooo humid here we may be out soon. A few people
will need stay till the 27th for a ride. But we beat last years
record and last year beat Wyo. And Wyo at the time was the fastest
GOOD clean up that I remember since 91. Main meadow is green. And now
time for the final clean sweep and re duff the supply trail. Main
trail was completed yesterday.

Grass is 2 to 3 inches tall in the meadow