Cooking at Burning Man isn’t always the easiest thing to do amidst the dry, dusty environment, lack of refrigeration, and inability to run to the corner store for a key ingredient you may have forgotten.

In the video below, two culinary enthusiasts who have attended Burning Man give a 37-minute presentation of useful tips for cooking on the playa. Although it’s not exactly the most exciting video you’ll ever see, it’s a decent primer for those of you who have limited experience cooking in Black Rock City.

For those of you planning to build a kitchen for your camp, Organizing a Communal Kitchen also contains many good facts about what you’ll need to cook on the playa for a small or large group of people.

Every year, I have at least a few moments of crisis or annoyance that I failed to bring an item I really should have remembered to bring.
Yesterday, we discussed important things like lip balm, baby wipes, ear plugs, sun shower and wide-brimmed hats.

Today, we’ve got 5 more random items your future self at Burning Man will be happy your current self remembers to bring.

Batteries – Get more batteries than you think you’ll need. Trust me on this one. I’ve had discussions with my friends about this and we’ve concluded that, for some unknown reason, batteries tend to wear out faster on the playa. Maybe it’s due to overuse? Maybe the heat or dust affects them in some way. Who knows? The point is to bring along at least 2-3 spare sets of batteries for every item than requires batteries. Most importantly, we’re talking about blinky lights, a bike light, boom box, flashlight, megaphone, vibrator or anything else you absolutely must have with you on the playa. Don’t forget to dispose of your batteries properly post-playa!

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Every year, I have at least a few moments of crisis or annoyance when I realize I failed to bring an item I really should have remembered to bring. So here are 5 random items my future self at Burning Man will be happy my current self remembers to bring. Tomorrow we’ll list 5 more items!

Sun Shower – These little babies will save your crusty, dried-out skin and they’re pretty cheap. Just fill it up with water, leave it out in the sun all day and around dusk, hang it up a bit of distance from your camp and get to washing that stinky body of yours. Don’t forget, you need to have some sort of system that will capture that grey water you’re creating. Don’t let that crap seep into the playa. For more on that, check this. Read more »

Are you attending Burning Man with a significant other or close friend?

How long have you known this person?

More importantly, how well do you know this person?

Truth be told, by week’s end you’ll know that person much more than you did when you arrived.

Anyone attending Burning Man with his or her significant other or close friend should know the potential for stress and frustration the event can have on relationships -especially if this is the first time you’re going to the playa together.

I personally know of several relationships (both romantic and platonic) that were dissolved after a bit of drama erupted into full-blown arguments and, to this day, have never been completely resolved.

It’s hard to say what exactly is the cause: the intense daytime heat and stress of being in the desert; the intensity and over-stimulation of the event; the pervasive spontaneity; lack of sleep; decreased appetite; potential dehydration; or, if this is your first time, your inexperience with the combination of all the above.

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Did you know that excessive volunteering guarantees you a spot in heaven? At least, that’s what we’ve heard from people that know stuff about this sort of thing.

OK, so maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but volunteering in whatever capacity you can is still a great way to participate and play a part in making Black Rock City the marvelous place that it is.

Plus you’ll be creating some good karma for both you and your fellow citizens. So you’ve got that going for you. Which is nice.

I do realize that Burning Man is mere weeks away and you may be saying to yourself, “But Timmmii, how can I possibly volunteer now? Isn’t it too late?”

Well, no, it’s not too late. It’s never too late for you to volunteer!

Yes, it’s true! You can still volunteer at Burning Man after you arrive, and No, it doesn’t matter that you didn’t sign up in advance.

Here’s what you do:

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