I've been experimenting with similar methods. My only tip for you is to switch out your scrubby sponge. The standard yellow/green ones shed green microplastics. You'll taste them in your gray water and see them on the ground when you spread the water. I've switched to a segment of scrubber made from coconut husks. They break down faster but are compostable.
We have a few sample recipes on our website (click on the Recipes tab) and sprinkled within our blog posts. backcountryfoodie.com. If you like those, we have over 175 within our membership site.
I was going to mention wood ask as a cleaner but also GSI has a long and short silicone spoon, and they are great at getting almost everything out of a pot or bag. much less clean up.
Thanks for the wood ash suggestion but fire bans are almost always in place where we backpack. I was aware of the GSI scraper, but never considered it as an UL backpacker. Looks like the spoon only weighs an ounce. I'll order one. Thanks!
I got the wide top Nalgene and I find that the oil seeps out a little. I do prefer the wide top because I am using coconut oil which quite often hardens and I need the wider opening to get it out (once hardened)
@@backcountryfoodie Great! Thank you so much for getting back to me. I will look into it as it does sound like a great option. I am surprised that they can powder oil. Can you share a link?
@@Alien2799 Sorry it took me so long to reply. I started a backpacking food business last Fall and it took up every bit of my time. Good news is I’m shutting it down and will get back to producing backpacking nutrition content. Managing inventory isn’t for me. lol! Here’s the MCT oil powder I use : amzn.to/3SYqJyh Works great with cold water, too. It doesn’t produce the “creamy” mouthfeel like oil does. Things like hot fruit compote are better with oil.
I'm appalled at the amount of plastic it takes to camp now. Have you considered making a switch to a reusable silicone bag to rehydrate meals instead of one-and-done ziploc bags? I use ziplocs for storage and a Stasher silicone bag to put boiling water in
Yes, I've tried using silicone bags and am not sold on them just yet. The bags I've used retained the color and smell of the food. The last bag smelled so bad that I had to throw it away. It made our entire van stink! :( I've also found the silicone bags hard to clean because of the nooks and crannies. I also prefer to use the bags with the slider so that the zipper doesn't pop open when cold soaking meals in my pack. The slider can get gunked up with food if I'm not careful. I am taking a new brand of silicone bag with me on my upcoming trip to give it another go. Thanks for the suggestion. They do work well for some folks.
Great video! Not sure if you know about TerraCycle? You can recycle your sports nutrition packaging. Maybe a good option for your stinger waffle wrappers :)
Yes, I am aware and thanks for sharing. 👍 I used to submit energy bar wrappers to a local school that in turn submitted them to Terracycle as a fundraiser. Unfortunately, the school no longer takes them and the last time I checked Terracycle doesn’t accept less than 5 lbs of wrappers at a time. It would take a LONG time for me to eat that many bars. Lol! So, I now make homemade trail mix to reduce the number of wrappers.
Thanks for the posts. I would love to hear your thoughts on the Zwilling fresh and save vacuum - storage system. I just bought on from Costco and think it will help reduce food spoilage, plastic single use, and be great for back packing (keep food fresher without refrigeration... the bags are very reusable. I was very impressed with strawberries they sealed vs in zip lock bag... no comparison Please post up or send me a note. :-)
I've not tried the Zwilling system but it looks like a great product. I'm in the process of transitioning to a similar vacuum seal system by using my Foodsaver and mason jars. I'd be interested in hearing how well the Zwilling bags hold up after multiple uses.
a small sprinkling of wood ash will do the same thing as your dish soap and you don't have to buy/ship/carry it, the lye reacts with fatty deposits and removes them from your cooking utensils. With modern recycling/disposal practices there's no point to carrying out consumer plastic garbage, burn it after use and bury the ash. Whatever you pack out is going to be put in a landfill or exported by the ton and burned in place (typically among impoverished communities trying to live off what they can find). Burying a couple ounces of ash in a US wilderness area is prob better for people and the environment than shipping it to africa and burning tons of the waste next to a refugee camp
Fire bans are almost always in place where we backpack. So, it wouldn't be a reliable option for us. We do camp our van near fire pits quite often. I'll give it a try using the ash we find there. Thanks for the suggestion.
I love the produce bag tip! I will try that next time I go out. I have started to use reusable silicone bags for snacks, oatmeal, etc.
I've been experimenting with similar methods. My only tip for you is to switch out your scrubby sponge. The standard yellow/green ones shed green microplastics. You'll taste them in your gray water and see them on the ground when you spread the water. I've switched to a segment of scrubber made from coconut husks. They break down faster but are compostable.
Great tip! Thanks.
Love the reuse of the dried fruit and nut bags! Will definitely try that.
Nice, would love to see more recipes! Need inspiration for meals I can pack at home for backpacking
We have a few sample recipes on our website (click on the Recipes tab) and sprinkled within our blog posts. backcountryfoodie.com. If you like those, we have over 175 within our membership site.
Consider a shop rag for cleaning: Soaks up wet well and doubles for wiping down tent dew before stuff sacking.
Most of the youngins need to see this.
Great ideas! Good for you!
Thank you! 😊
Good ideas -- thanks !!!
Glad you found them helpful. :)
I was going to mention wood ask as a cleaner but also GSI has a long and short silicone spoon, and they are great at getting almost everything out of a pot or bag. much less clean up.
Thanks for the wood ash suggestion but fire bans are almost always in place where we backpack. I was aware of the GSI scraper, but never considered it as an UL backpacker. Looks like the spoon only weighs an ounce. I'll order one. Thanks!
@@backcountryfoodie I don't use a fire but on the east coast most campsite have a fire pit. I just take some ash
I got the wide top Nalgene and I find that the oil seeps out a little. I do prefer the wide top because I am using coconut oil which quite often hardens and I need the wider opening to get it out (once hardened)
Here's an option for the coconut oil issue. I've recently switched to using MCT oil powder in place of coconut oil. Works great!
@@backcountryfoodie Great! Thank you so much for getting back to me. I will look into it as it does sound like a great option.
I am surprised that they can powder oil. Can you share a link?
@@Alien2799 Sorry it took me so long to reply. I started a backpacking food business last Fall and it took up every bit of my time. Good news is I’m shutting it down and will get back to producing backpacking nutrition content. Managing inventory isn’t for me. lol! Here’s the MCT oil powder I use : amzn.to/3SYqJyh Works great with cold water, too. It doesn’t produce the “creamy” mouthfeel like oil does. Things like hot fruit compote are better with oil.
I'm appalled at the amount of plastic it takes to camp now. Have you considered making a switch to a reusable silicone bag to rehydrate meals instead of one-and-done ziploc bags? I use ziplocs for storage and a Stasher silicone bag to put boiling water in
Yes, I've tried using silicone bags and am not sold on them just yet. The bags I've used retained the color and smell of the food. The last bag smelled so bad that I had to throw it away. It made our entire van stink! :( I've also found the silicone bags hard to clean because of the nooks and crannies. I also prefer to use the bags with the slider so that the zipper doesn't pop open when cold soaking meals in my pack. The slider can get gunked up with food if I'm not careful. I am taking a new brand of silicone bag with me on my upcoming trip to give it another go. Thanks for the suggestion. They do work well for some folks.
I will be very interested in how recycling bags will work on a throughhike
On previous hikes, I included a manila envelope in my resupply boxes and mailed them home with my journal pages and maps. Worked pretty well.
Great video! Not sure if you know about TerraCycle? You can recycle your sports nutrition packaging. Maybe a good option for your stinger waffle wrappers :)
Yes, I am aware and thanks for sharing. 👍 I used to submit energy bar wrappers to a local school that in turn submitted them to Terracycle as a fundraiser. Unfortunately, the school no longer takes them and the last time I checked Terracycle doesn’t accept less than 5 lbs of wrappers at a time. It would take a LONG time for me to eat that many bars. Lol! So, I now make homemade trail mix to reduce the number of wrappers.
Great video, thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it. 😊
I’m interested in knowing what brand are your composting bags, there are too many to choose from that I’m overwhelmed.
TekPak Solutions: tekpaksolutions.com/ and Elevate Packaging: elevatepackaging.com/
Would you please share where you got the tip on tying a bear bag around a tree with carabiners instead of the figure 8 knot?
Here's the video: th-cam.com/video/m2MGM--FEXU/w-d-xo.html
Thanks so much for sharing!! I'm totally using this technique!
Thanks for the posts. I would love to hear your thoughts on the Zwilling fresh and save vacuum - storage system. I just bought on from Costco and think it will help reduce food spoilage, plastic single use, and be great for back packing (keep food fresher without refrigeration... the bags are very reusable. I was very impressed with strawberries they sealed vs in zip lock bag... no comparison Please post up or send me a note. :-)
I've not tried the Zwilling system but it looks like a great product. I'm in the process of transitioning to a similar vacuum seal system by using my Foodsaver and mason jars. I'd be interested in hearing how well the Zwilling bags hold up after multiple uses.
I’m thinking of a better way to do this without plastic petroleum based products
Also, without aluminum
a small sprinkling of wood ash will do the same thing as your dish soap and you don't have to buy/ship/carry it, the lye reacts with fatty deposits and removes them from your cooking utensils. With modern recycling/disposal practices there's no point to carrying out consumer plastic garbage, burn it after use and bury the ash. Whatever you pack out is going to be put in a landfill or exported by the ton and burned in place (typically among impoverished communities trying to live off what they can find). Burying a couple ounces of ash in a US wilderness area is prob better for people and the environment than shipping it to africa and burning tons of the waste next to a refugee camp
Fire bans are almost always in place where we backpack. So, it wouldn't be a reliable option for us. We do camp our van near fire pits quite often. I'll give it a try using the ash we find there. Thanks for the suggestion.