Getting Started

You don't need money. You need to be aligned.

This is a real question people ask before their first gathering: "What do I need to buy?" The honest answer is almost nothing. Here's our philosophy, and the bare-minimum, borrow-first way we actually set things up.

Our philosophy: reuse before you buy

We're trying to promote regenerative, reusable habits — and to make this community accessible to everyone, not just people who can afford new gear. Someone with real financial constraints is just as welcome here as anyone else. If chipping in with food or gear isn't possible for your family, chip in with more hands instead — help with setup, cleanup, or running part of the program. No one is turned away for not having money.

Before buying anything, ask in that order:

Can I borrow this from a friend or neighbor?
Can I find it used — Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, a local swap?
Does the community already provide this? (Check "What We Provide" below.)
Only if none of the above: is there something simple and inexpensive that works?

We'll never lead with "go buy this." If a link to something is ever shared, it's a last resort — not a first step.

The Bare Minimum

What "roughing it well" actually looks like

Washing up — no sink needed

Think of how a fancy wedding hall handles washing when there's no sink nearby: a bowl, a jug of water, and a washing cup. That's it. We do the same — a stainless steel or copper washing cup instead of plastic, a bucket to catch the water, and jugs of water to start. A few stacking buckets cover a group. No plumbing, no fiberglass sink required.

Light after dark

You likely already own a flashlight — that's plenty. We also set up strong, good-quality lanterns around the shared areas so most people don't need to bring their own lighting at all.

Shelter

Bring your own tent if you have one. If you don't, ask around — someone likely has a spare, or check our tent-lending option below.

Food

Everyone brings or contributes food potluck-style. Simple, home-cooked, and shared — not a catered event.

Borrow a tent from us

As we grow, our community truck will carry a set of high-quality tents made of natural materials (not flimsy plastic ones). Sign up, take a tent, set it up, and return it to the truck at the end — it goes right back out for the next family at the next gathering.

Want the full list?

Curious what the community truck actually carries, and what your future donations go toward? We keep that fully transparent.

See What We Provide