[Sca-cooks] things they dont explain about Pennsic

[Kirsten Houseknecht]

Things no one told me about Pennsic until I was there.....


1. blocks of land are assigned to each group/household/clump of folks who
want to camp together based on pre-registration ONLY.

You can, in theory, show up at the day of Pennsic, pay at the door, and go
find camp space.... BUT you will be in "singles camping" otherwise known as
"wherever there is room".

The big groups get square footage based only on the pre-registrations.....
which means every person they take in that DIDN't pre reg to camp with them,
is that much less space everyone has for elbow room.

if a group takes you in after pre-reg, then be very nice to them, bring your
smallest tent, and remember that you are taking footage from everyone else.

A group did this for me my first year at Pennsic.... I had no idea what I
was doing <sigh>

2. WHY might you want to camp with a group?

well they have the first pick of land, many of them have been getting the
same spot for YEARS, and you are likely to have a better campsite.   other
than that?  groups bring things like "dining hall tents" and SHOWERS and
other little things that the entire group shares.  This is why you may be
asked to pay a "group fee" on top of your Pennsic fee.  it helps pay for
your hot showers, your extra tents, and in some groups. dinner (yes, some
groups prepare a group dinner for everyone in the camp.)

3.  Classes at Pennsic are often pre-reg.
this means you sign up the day before or so at the sign up tent.  high
demand classes can fill up within *minutes* of sign up opening.  sign up
opens usually at some really inconvenient hour of the morning.  find out
when sign up opens as soon as possible, and be prepared to get there RIGHT
at opening if you want a high demand class.

4. take a battery or wind up alarm clock.
see number three above for why. also.. lines for the main showers and the
laundry are usually shortest at  frightening hours of the AM.

5. laundry
there are something like two washers and dryers for *everyone* at Pennsic.
Sane people drive into town and use the Laundromat there.  people without
cars, and people who don't know any better, wait hours and hours for laundry
in camp...... laundry is best done at about 430 in the am.

this is why you want enough underwear and chemises that you do not have to
do laundry very often.  outerwear can be ignored unless you spill really
icky stuff on it.  (in period outer clothing was RARELY washed.... it was
the chemises and undergarb that got washed often)

Those portable camping laundry things? the ones that look like mini cement
mixers or salad spinners? they are your FRIENDS.

pack laundry supplies, or buy them early on at the camp store.  they run out
by mid pre-war.

see also "mud" number 9

6. Drainage
this is a myth.  there is no drainage at Pennsic.

showers at the campsites must have long drainage ditches dug, and smart
people also dig drainage ditches around their tents.  shower drainage often
fills up after the third shower.. it can take all day to be absorbed into
the ground.

if it rains at Pennsic (if?) then the ground becomes saturated FAST! do not
put any extra water into it (showers, laundry, whatever) unless you HAVE to.

7. weather
yes, have some.

Pennsic weather ranges from 118 degrees in the shade to below freezing.  I
have seen it do this in one week.

THIS YEARS WEATHER:
Assume it will pour rain, soaking all your clothes, and then turn cold.  as
soon as you have gotten your warm socks dried out, it will turn hot.  It
will stay hot, dry, and sunny until it is  time to pack, at which point it
will rain.

your tent will try to blow away, unless you stake it down for monsoons and
tornados, at which point it will be dead calm, humid and muggy.

8. clothes choices
see number 5; laundry, and number 7: weather

take lots of linen undergarments (coolest fabric out there, trust me) and
lots of wool overgarments (warmest stuff out there, except for silk maybe)
I suggest very light weight (summer weight) wool that can be layered.

take at least one bog dress, or fabric that can be pinned around you for
emergencies.

pack a hat.  veils and hats are PERIOD and they can save your life from the
worst heat stroke and sunburn.  take several "veils" that can be soaked with
water.

pack several pairs of socks in water proof bags!  you can survive a lot of
weather if you have dry socks!  also pack at least one towel in a plastic
bag.

if you are allergic to wool (or whatever) you can still wear a wool outer
tunic, or surcoat.  just line and cuff the sleeves and collar with a neutral
fabric (silk? silk is good) and wear it OVER something tightly woven.  you
never need to touch the wool.

if you are worried about the kosher rule against mixing wool and linen, take
a cotton or silk layer you can wear between any wool and linen, and pack
them in separate trunks.

all your clothing should be pre-washed! (you did pre wash your fabric before
you made any clothing, right?)

9. Mud
Pennsic is famous for its mud.

Pennsic mud is red.  it is an Iron Oxide compound (rust).  it STAINS,
permanently, if not washed out properly.

do NOT , ever, apply chlorine bleach to a Pennsic mud stain.  it will react
chemically with the rust and you get a brownish grey stain that will never
come out. (same thing with blood stains, by the by)  you want either
Hydrogen Peroxide, or some other rust /blood stain remover.

your best bet is to brush off the dry dirt, then rinse in cool clear water
until it is almost all out, then rinse/wash in detergent and cool or warm
water until no more comes out.  keep this up until you get it all out
do not use hot water or put it in the dryer.. heat sets the color.

If you take clothing to a dry cleaner make sure you tell them the muddy
stuff is a rust stain, too.

10. food storage and eating

ice, lots of ice.  replace/add  ice frequently.  buy the best cooler you can
get.  even if you do not plan on cooking store at least drinks in there....

wash your hands.  not just the alcohol goo.. soap and water.

use a light amount of bleach on the rinse water of your dishes. dry dishes
thoroughly

bring gateraid or similar drinks, and CUT THEM by half with water.

freeze all meats solid before leaving home.  use them as they thaw out in
the cooler.

if the heat makes you lose your appetite, at least eat something salty and
drink water. you MUST eat some salt in hot weather.  this does not have to
be a lot, but some!





land grab and pre reg <sigh>
I never understood this until I WENT to Pennsic. (I have helped people to
prep for Pennsic a lot longer than I have been going..)
Kirsten Houseknecht
Fabric Dragon
kirsten at fabricdragon.com
www.fabricdragon.com
Philadelphia, PA     USA
Trims, Amber, Jet, Jewelry, and more...

I worry about you, wear a reflective sweater...