Category: News

The FINAL 2104 map (V3) is now available. There is also a grid version

These are interesting times, because the ORG was very kind and give us our camp dimensions beforehand, but, as you can see, we are oddly shaped this year.

This is further compounded by the fact that none of the large camps want to be in the quiet area and could make use of that really nice tail in the middle of the block. So we got creative.

This is the FINAL draft, there will be no more. Once we get the playa we will see what the real situation is and if you want to make any changes we will finesse what we can onsite.

This is a link to the more readable PDF version

And if you want one with a grid, here it is

So sorry I had lost the email from someone who asked about the Velcro that we used on our green OSB yurt.

Purchased WBC brand 6″ wide by 25 yard rolls.  You need to order a roll of HOOK and a roll of LOOP at ~$43/roll.  Comes in all sort of widths incase this does not work for you.

Yurt was built with 1/2″ OSB with foil laminated on one side. We painted the wood with two coats to seal it .

Used 6″ wide LOOP folded in half over the panel edges and stapled in place.   On the 6 walls we only put LOOP tape on 3 edges.  Roof triangles have LOOP tape on all three edges.  Have since added washer and bolted it in place.

Cut 6 pieces of 2″ by 45″ HOOK tape, folded in half (HOOKs out)  and top stitched.   Use these to hold the bottom of the roof panels on the top of the walls so they don’t slide off.

Use 4″ wide HOOK for put the roof panels together and 6″‘ HOOK for the side wall/ roof to wall tops.  4″ and 6″ strips are cut the length of your walls (remember to mark them for easy of assemb.). Cut 12 or 15 pieces 6″ by 4″ at the least to use on the inside to hold things in place while you adjust your yurt.

Green Froggy Camp

I would like to introduce myself. I am Katie, a mosaic & mural artist and this will be my fourth year camping with the AEZ (8th year attending Burning Man). I’ve been in talks with Clay, the new Mayor about creating an Art Gallery for the AEZ. Our goal is to show the people of the playa the diversity of the AEZ and that we are more than a great example of how to live off the grid.
We are currently working on a layout for the gallery which will be part of the Mayor’s Camp and close to the tower. I’ve checked into getting on the ARTery tour, but for a few reasons we wouldn’t qualify. However, I would like to sign up in the WhoWhatWhereWhen book and give daily tours, maybe at 11am after the AEZ solar tour (depending on if that is when they will do their tour). I will head those up but would also welcome volunteers that may want to take a shift here and there.
Please contact me if you are interested in displaying your art. We are looking for all kinds of art- painting, photography, mixed media, sculpture, you name it, the more variety the better! I don’t want this to be daunting- the artwork doesn’t have to be big or extravagant. Think of the artwork in center camp. Ideally it would be inspired by this year’s them Cargo Cult.
Spread the word to your camp mates and message me with any ideas or suggestions you may have. I’d like to get an idea in the next month or so of how many participants we will have and what kind of art you plan to bring. We have a design of how we will display 2D art and will be working on infrastructure of how to display other pieces. Any and all suggestions are welcome!

Well it’s official, Roger has confirmed me as the new Mayor to the Org. Right off the bat, I registered our camps for the Directed Ticket Sales. If you didn’t get registered, don’t worry, there will be plenty of tickets to go around in the upcoming general sales, and no more higher prices for the same tickets! Things are moving forward for 2013.

Hi Village,
I wanted to both announce my retirement and introduce the new Alternative Energy Zone village Mayor.  CLAY!

I feel rather parental about the AEZ.  I think we have some wonderful, honest, thoughtful, caring, creative, WILD folks here.  My years in the AEZ have been filled with wonderful times, astounding experiences, and delightful people.

But I do not feel that way about some people in the BMorg.  That feeling, coupled with the ticket nastiness and the increased police presence on the playa have pushed me to the point where the “bad” outweighs the “good”.  I felt this way back in April but did not feel it appropriate to abandon you (by leaving you without a new Mayor in place.)

Clay has been in our village for years, his name was suggested, he volunteered to step up; AND was acclaimed by many in the village as a great choice.  That last one is an essential quality of the AEZ.  (I like that we actually do things that the village asks for.)

I promised Clay I will be there for him (if he ASKS); but I don’t expect him to need much help from me.  He’s a building contractor in Reno, and (from the short time he had to follow me around and see how I did it) will be able to handle everything smoothly.  I feel that Clay HAS both the tech skills AND the people skills that running our village requires.  I am especially happy that his name was tossed around, and I heard NO remarks of, “I don’t want him”.  Not from ANY corners.

Villagers, my apologies, but I am treating this village  like a 12 yr old kid.  I have done a lot, guided, suggested, bullied, teased, fed, dressed, drove, fixed, and taught all I could.  Now it is time for me to step back, sit on my hands and see what this wonderful child will do on it’s own.   It will be nice (for me) if it goes in a direction I pushed; but it is now time for YOU to decide for yourself.   As parent, I am quite proud of what the AEZ has become; and I expect to be even more proud of wherever it goes next.

have fun, write if you need anything. (or to report special successes.)

jolly “yes, permanently this time” roger,  ex-mayor – the Alternative Energy Zone village

PS; yes, I will be on the email list
no, Neither Anna nor I will be back on the playa this year. (maybe never again.)
And, YES, Clay will be running all the details that you have gone to me for in the past.

Started using Jill’s list and it evolved into this.  We use this for ourselves and give it to our newby campmates.

#1 Don’t forget your Burning Man Tickets!

Personal Gear

1. Gear carries and keeps well on the playa in plastic bins (preferable the kind that will shed water if it rains) Also, you can just sit them outside your tent and keep dust off. One for food, another for clothing, etc.
2. Flashlights, headlamps
3. Batteries (rechargeable) -Battery rechargers
4. Camera
5. Ice cooler (Stock it with frozen water bottles instead of loose ice)
6. Water! 2 gallons a day per person (Drinking and cooking/cleaning and misting yourself)
7. 1-2 gallons for each shower (just figure out how many showers you are going to take.)

Wearables

1. Hat
2. Headlamp
3. Sunglasses
4. Contacts, extra contacts
5. Extra contact solution, etc
6. Prescription glasses (you will need a break from your contacts)
7. Hair ties and clips
8. Jewelry
9. Really light loose fun stuff for the day.
10. Warm stuff for at night. A big FoFur is ideal.
11. Sandals
12. Covered shoes
13. Socks
14. Bandanas/handkerchiefs

Hygiene

1. Solar Camp shower bag
2. Bio-soap (Dr. Bronner’s)
3. Toothbrush
4. Toothpaste
5. Lotions, oils
6. Body scents
7. Small mirror
8. Hair brush, comb (HA! goodluck)
9. Tweezers
10. Nail clippers
11. Bath towel
12. Wash cloths
13. Moist towelettes/WIPES
14. WIPES or Paper towels-Good substitute for using a lot of water for personal hygiene and for cleaning DISHES. You can dry them and burn them before you leave.
15. Tissues, toilet paper
16. Plastic bags for unused and used tampons
17. Tampons, pads, grrrl supplies

NOTE: Do not throw used tampons in the port-a-
potties! Nothing goes into the potties unless it has
gone through your digestive track first. Except
single ply TP. Bring small ziploc bags and dispose
in your own garbage in your own camp.

Sleeping

1. Tent
2. Rebar instead of regular tent stakes
3. Tarp for under tent
4. Shade for your tent
5. Sleeping bag and/or Blankets, sheets
6. Pillow(Nice to have a few extra pillow cases)
7. Air-mattress + Repair kit OR poly camp pad
8. Ear plugs
9. Eye cover mask

Health

1. Condoms, lubricants
2. Your prescription meds (bring extra)
3. Headache meds
4. FirstAid-Kit (Band-aids and antibacterial cream)
5. There is a medical camp with doctors if needed.
6. Vitamins

TOTE —-DAY AND NIGHT
(never leave camp without it Kinda stuff)
Bring a bag to carry this stuff

Daytime TOTE

1. Sunglasses
2. Sunscreen
3. Dust mask, goggles
4. Lip balm
5. Plastic baggies with tampons and wipes
6. Camera
7. Handkerchief
8. Water bottle
9. Drinking cup (Bring your own in case you want a drink at someone’s camp)
10. Don’t forget your condoms
11. Moop collecting bags (plastic grocery bags)

 Night-time TOTE

1. Flashlight
2. Dust mask, goggles
3. Lip balm
4. Plastic baggies with tampons and wipes
5. Camera
6. Handkerchief
7. Waterbottle
8. Drinking cup (Bring your own in case you want a
9. drink at someone’s camp)
10. Condoms (yep I listed it again)
11. Moop collecting bags (plastic grocery bags)

Bike (Bring a crappy one if you can.)

1. Give it a checkup and test ride the week before you go
2. Bike lights,(bike lights are so you don’t get run over or into at night!!!!!)
3. Bike bell or ringer thingy ( really good to chime out when you are in a white out!!!)
4. Extra padding for the seat (or your bum will hurt after riding)
5. Bike lock (yes, bikes will get stolen or just borrowed and not returned, even in your camp)
6. Baskets, milk crate, rack for carrying ice to camp (Can use a back pack too)
7. Bike tool kit and repair book
8. Bike pump
9. Spare tires and tubes (another must)
10. Tire repair kit
11. Other spare parts
12. Bike decorations (This will help prevent your bike from being stolen)

General Camp Stuff

1. Lawn chairs
2. Old rugs, small pieces of carpet
3. Table
4. Solar path lights
5. Trash Bags
6. Zip Lock bags of all sizes
7. Moop collecting bags (plastic grocery bags)

Shade Structures (this is our list -your will depend on what you make)

1. Tarps, poles (electrical conduit works)
2. Aluminet Shade Cloth
3. Shade cloth grommets
4. Rebar
5. Rope, variety of weights/sizes (bring lots)
6. Something to cover rebar and stake ends such as plastic soda bottles, tennis balls, small stuffed animals etc (protect our feet!)

Tools, fasteners, fixits, etc.

1. Bungee cords
2. Zip ties
3. Duct tape
4. Super Glue
5. Regular hammer
6. Small sledge hammer
7. Leather work gloves (important!)
8. Safety pins
9. Rubber Bands
10. Clothes Pins
11. Velcro fasteners
12. Exacto Knife

Automobile (and driving to the playa)

1. Give the auto a checkup a week before
2. Bring spare keys!
3. Jumper cables if you have them.
4. Directions to the Playa.
5. Map
6. GAs -make sure you have enough gas to leave the playa and get to a gas station

WATCH FOR SPEED LIMITS! After you exit freeway at
Wadsworth the police are just waiting for you to go
over speed limit. They make a LOT of money
ticketing Burners! if it says 25MPH then go 25
NOT 27! I’m not kidding.

Food prep
How much you need of this depends on how much
prep your food needs.

1. Ice Cooler (cover it in Reflectix and your ice will keep twice as long)
2. Camp cook stove
3. Stove Fuel
4. Lighters (long one for stove)
5. Paper Plates and bowls
6. Tea Kettle
7. Coffee filters
8. Cups and/or coffee mugs with lids
9. Compost-able plastic wear
10. Small wash tub for dishes, Pump sprayer for washing dishes OR WIPES!
11. Dr. Bronners soap
12. Paper Towels
13. Dish towels
14. Ziploc bags in several sizes
15. Garbage bags (large and small)
16. Mesh bag like an old onion bag for drying wet garbage/or composting
17. Paper bags for burnable trash
18. Large pot w/lid
19. Small pot w/lid
20. Griddle
21. Spatula
22. Wooden spoon
23. Sharp knife
24. Can Opener
25. Bottle Opener
26. Cork Screw
27. Cutting Board
28. Coffee Pot
29. Sugar, Honey
30. Salt & Pepper
31. Water Cooler (just because we have one)

Food Ideas
Most of these are vegetarian:

1. Juice (canned juices like Kern’s freeze very well and can be used to help keep your cooler cold. -But we don’t take them anymore because we don’t eat corn syrup) also, Vegetable juices like V8
2. Cold cereal, instant Oatmeal
3. Coffee, Tea, herbal teas
4. Coffee creamer
5. Sugar, honey
6. EmergenC or vitamin C powder for drinks
7. Canned and dried soup
8. Bagels , breads (Bread drys out quickly and molds)
9. Crackers (they keep very fresh in the dry desert)
10. Powerbars, granola bars
11. Dried fruit
12. Nuts
13. Beets
14. Cream Cheese
15. Fig Newtons (Cause Laura likes ‘em)
16. Licorice bites (Cause Greg likes ‘em)
17. Granola
18. Peanut butter
19. Jams
20. Yogurt
21. Olives
22. Canned foods
23. Soups
24. Miso
25. Boiled eggs
26. Potatoes
27. Onions
28. Carrots
29. Cucumbers
30. Fresh fruit (Oranges, lemons and apples)
31. Melons (Taste great but be aware of all the left
32. over skins etc. that you will need to carry home)
33. Pancake mix (Add water only kind works great)
34. Maple Syrup
35. Veggie Dogs, sausages
36. Veggie Burgers
37. Marinated Tofu
38. Mustard
39. Relish
40. Pickles
41. Powdered Hummus (or prepped- just keep cool)
42. Dried soups (lentils, split peas -mix some miso with them)
43. Pesto
44. Pasta (Easy to prepare, messy to clean up)
45. Butter, Margarine and olive oil
46. Bag of salad (keeps maybe 2 days)
47. Instant Thai or Indian
48. Trader Joes has lots of nearly no prep foods

Some foods keep well in cooler longer if you wait
to open them. Once opened they will spoil
quickly.So, open it when your ready to eat it all!

Fun stuff

1. iPod with portable speakers
2. Portable FM Radios (for listening to Burningman radio stations)
3. Walky-talky radios
4. Frisbee, football, softball and gloves etc.
5. Playing Cards
6. Gifts (something you would like to give people)
7. Art project items
8. Scissors
9. Glue, paste, clear tape
10. Markers, pens, paper
11. Paints, body paints
12. Musical instruments, drums, flutes
13. Umbrella (for sun or rain) Not really practical
14. Face paint
15. Glow sticks ( the kind with batteries rather than disposable)
16. El wire projects, etc
17. Incense
18. Books
19. Notebook
20. Nail Polish
21. Scrabble or other games

Ice, Water, Dry Ice
How much water you need is dependent on how much you will drink, cook with and clean with. Minimum suggestion is 1 1/2 gallons per person per day. If you plan on doing camp showers then that could easily add gallons to your count. If you do showers then you need to consider grey water evaporation systems or filter your shower water and treat if before dumping it on the playa. Same goes for food clean up. No dumping anything but water on the playa.

Freezing water in bottles (make sure you don’t fill them completely because they will expand) and filling your coolers with them will keep your coolers more dry. Also, canned juices freeze well too. Dry ice is a good alternative too. Read up on it.

If you don’t want to haul water all the way from home, you can stop in Fernly and get all the water, ice and dry ice you need at Scolari’s grocery. They also have dispensers for large 5 gallon bottles. Scolari’s is the 2nd exit past Wadsworth in Fernley.
You can purchase ice at the event startingMonday.

 

Last but not least.  Bring your open mind and heart.  Don’t bring your expectations.  You are going to have an adventure, watch for it!

Yes folks,

Troy has knocked himself out and the map is completed.

 

You want a change.  email me, but I doubt if we can do much before we get onto the Playa.

And rest assumed, once we are out there, we can do a lot to make your space work.  (We do it every year.)

 

Don’t forget your ticket.

Hi visitors.

We are packed and heading out to setup the AEZ village.  If you wanted to camp with us.  Come by on the playa and ask.

If you are already registered, swell; we’ll see you soon!

And bring sunblock, it’s going to be HOT for the first few days, then drop to the mid-90′s by next wed.

Have fun!

Hello villagers & friendly visitors.

Welcome to the AEZ website.

If you are exploring for lots of tips, info, and being generator free on the playa, you’ll find it all OVER this website. Look at the tabs at the top of the page.  Or search for what you are interested in.

Camping in the AEZ

If you are interested in doing Burning Man with friendly folk (mostly), and without generators (ever); then you have come to a good place.

We are now at 320 (in 53 camps).
Not bad for April 16th.

If you want to camp in the AEZ, go to the Village Camping page.

You are always welcome to send me a message.

We have struggled (as MANY of you have) with the ticketing problems.  Sadly, we do NOT have any more direct ticket links.  And you are welcome to register to camp with us even if you do not yet have your tickets.

I’m done with changes. I love you all, but I need to get the final surveys organised.

The latest map has been posted to the camping section of the site. As well as PDF’s and a gridded version for layout.

If there is anything missing, I can make try to make changes, but won’t be posting any new maps. Any other changes will have to be sorted out on the playa.