BURNING SEED 2016 Survival Guide

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A Burn is all about YOU. Both the individual and collective experience depends on your participation and radical self-reliance. You are responsible for all your needs: food, shelter, water, fuel, and basic first aid supplies. And we are all responsible for our collective survival and the success of Burning Seed by creating and maintaining a community and city together. Everyone is expected to read and abide by the standards set out in this guide. Violation of these guidelines could result in ejection from the event.

Index The Ten Principles

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What is Burning Seed?

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Radical self-reliance – what do I bring?

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Getting there and away

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Red Earth City – making yourself at home

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Community crew – who does what?

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Community in action – being a good burner

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Fire guidelines

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Health and wellbeing

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Security & road safety

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Environment and Leave No Trace

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BURNING SEED 2016 Survival Guide

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THE TEN PRINCIPLES Burning Seed is Australia’s biggest regional Burning Man event. It is an experiment in creative, collaborative and cash-free community and its culture is guided by the following ten principles.

Radical Inclusion

Communal effort

Anyone may be a part of Burning Seed. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community.

Our community values creative cooperation and collaboration. We strive to produce, promote and protect social networks, public spaces, works of art, and methods of communication that support such interaction.

Gifting Burning Seed is devoted to acts of gift giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value.

Decommodification In order to preserve the spirit of gifting, our community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising. We stand ready to protect our culture from such exploitation. We resist the substitution of consumption for participatory experience.

Radical Self-reliance We encourage the individual to discover, exercise and rely on his or her inner resources.

Radical Self-expression Radical self-expression arises from the unique gifts of the individual. No one other than the individual or a collaborating group can determine its content. It is offered as a gift to others. In this spirit, the giver should respect the rights and liberties of the recipient.

BURNING SEED 2016 Survival Guide

Civic responsibility We value civil society. Community members who organise events should assume responsibility for public welfare and endeavour to communicate civic responsibilities to participants. They must also assume responsibility for conducting events in accordance with Australian laws.

Leaving No Trace Our community respects the environment. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up after ourselves and endeavour, whenever possible, to leave such places in a better state than when we found them.

Participation Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through the medium of deeply personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work. Everyone is invited to play. We make the world real through actions that open the heart.

Immediacy Immediate experience is, in many ways, the most important touchstone of value in our culture. We seek to overcome barriers that stand between us and a recognition of our inner selves, the reality of those around us, participation in society, and contact with a natural world exceeding human powers. No idea can substitute for this experience.

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WHAT IS BURNING SEED?

What is Burning Seed? A party? A festival? Nup - a Burn. Burning Seed is an experimental gathering dedicated to creativity, collaboration and a gifting community – conceived, built, run and returned to nothing again by YOU. Ten principles guide this special something we call a Burn. People new to Burning Seed often assume that a Burn is like a festival: a mostly passive experience where event producers organise everything and you just need to pay and rock up. Instead, a Burn is created by its participants, not for them. Together, we pool our resources, skills, ideas and imagination to create the funding, the city, the entertainment and the experience itself. It’s a week filled with art, Theme Camps, gifting, performances, crewing, music, fire and more. We also take care of our day-to-day needs and the environment while we’re there and when we leave. It is this very act of collaboration and participation that makes Burning Seed special, and our week culminates with the burning of the E gy and the Temple before the city returns once more to forest. As Australia’s biggest regional Burn, we follow in the footsteps of Burning Man, which began life on a San Francisco beach in 1986 and has been taking place in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert since 1991. You can find out more (and ooh over the pictures) at www.burningman.com But while we are part of the greater global family called Burning Man, we still call Australia home – and we’re looking to build our own world here.

What happens at Burning Seed?

The Temple

Anything and everything. There are no booked bands or main stages. Everything you see, touch, taste, smell and experience at a Burn is dreamed up, created and gifted by participants

Based on a Burning Man tradition, The Temple is a place for people to commemorate their deepest sorrows and greatest joys.

It can include music, art, theatre, workshops, healing spaces, tea houses, discussions, fire art: whatever creative space YOU want to make. Burning Seed is a place where you can be yourself, embrace your inner child, create and play. You can find out who is doing what in our What Where When guide, which is given to each participant on arrival. Once published, it will also be available at: www.burningseed.com/guides-forms

The Effigy Burn night is the climax of Burning Seed. The Effigy, which has kept watch over Red Earth City all week, is set alight on Saturday night as people gather to watch and phwoarrrr! There’s fire spinning, performances — and for some a little nudie run around the fire. Others choose to shake their butts in the many sound camps that throw their biggest celebrations of the week.

Poems, photos, shrines, letters and mementos are pinned, posted and penned all over the temple walls. Our dedicated team of Temple Guardians stand watch, ensuring that The Temple is a place that is treated with respect. It stands until Sunday of the event, when it is burned, allowing participants to bear witness to the release and renewal that fire brings. The Temple burn is a quiet moment of reflection that has a different vibe to the Effigy burn.

Participation Burning Seed is created by dedicated volunteers and there are many ways you can participate. Joining the crew is one of the best ways to participate before, during and after the event. Create art for the Paddock and apply for an art grant to share your gift with Burning Seed. Theme camps are the interactive core of Burning Seed. Join a camp or create your own! Gifting is about what you can share with the Paddock. Gifting does not need to hold any monetary value. See burningseed.com for more info.

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RADICAL SELF-RELIANCE What do I bring?

You must bring everything you need to survive for six days in an area that can be prone to cold, wet and wind at this time of year. This means enough water, food, adequate shelter, tickets and clothing. You should plan to stay on site for the duration of the event and prepare supplies accordingly in advance. Everyone in your vehicle must meet these conditions of entry. Portaloos and ice sales are the ONLY thing that the event provides – see below. Your survival depends on you reading and following these lists:

What you must bring

We strongly suggest you bring

• Your ticket and photo ID. • Enough water for drinking, showering, washing and food preparation for each person

•A  cup with a carabiner or other attachment method so you can carry it wherever you go – it’s BYO here

• Enough food and beverages for yourself and any dependents

•Y  our own plates, bowls and cutlery •S  hade, wind and rain structures

• Rainproof clothing and shelter. Extra changes of dry clothes in waterproof storage. Be prepared for rain

•A  raincoat and/or umbrella

• Warm jacket and hat for the cool nights • Bedding and shelter. A good camp tent is recommended along with warm sleeping bags • Rubbish bags, crates or boxes for packing out when it’s time to go • Torches and spare batteries (head lamps are useful) to be sure you can see and be seen at night. EL wire and LEDs are good for making yourself visible. They’re also an opportunity to be creative at night! • Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat, as days can be warm and the midday sun can still be strong enough to burn • Insect repellent

•A  cooking stove if you expect to heat food or liquid •A  n esky to keep food and drinks cold •E  arplugs! (Not everyone is going to want to sleep when you do) •W  atertight protective bags for clothing, cameras or electronic gear •S  mokers: portable ashtrays (eg: mint tin that doesn’t leak ashes, or film canister) •C  ostumes, musical instruments, props, banners, signs and anything else you can think of that might make the experience more fun for you and your neighbours •C  amp marker (flag, flasher, distinctive marking) •E  xtra set of car keys (keys are easily lost!).

• First aid kit • Any required prescriptions, contact lens supplies and whatever else you need to maintain your personal health, hygiene and comfort.

Things NOT to bring

Helpful things to bring:

•E  xcess packaging from foods (eg: remove outer box from cereals and just bring inner bag)

• A bike: a great way to get around but make sure it’s lit at night.

• Glass containers of any kind, if at all avoidable •F  eathers of any kind (eg: boas, they shed, no matter what you do – try marabou instead)

•L  OOSE GLITTER

• Sewing kit

•A  nything that will break up and make a mess

• Rope and/or string

•S  tyrofoam eskies (they don’t hold up and will break into a million bits)

• Ribbons, coloured material, etc, to mark tent ropes/guy lines • Baby wipes • Gaffer tape • Gifts to give to new friends

BURNING SEED 2016 Survival Guide

•E  xplosives, aerial flares, firearms of any kind – air rifles, paint ball guns, etc. •H  and-held lasers, which can cause blindness •D  ogs or other pets

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GETTING THERE AND AWAY

How Do I Get There? Directions to the site are available on the website: burningseed.com/about/location Check for signs as you approach the event. We also suggest car-pooling where possible to minimise cars travelling to the burn. Search ‘Burning Seed Rideshare’ on Facebook.

Early arrivals Burning Seed opens at midday on Wednesday 28 September. PRE APPROVED community crew, Theme Camps, and art installations may arrive from midday Sunday 25 September. You MUST receive permission to arrive early from the appropriate team lead. If you do not have an early entry pass and a ticket for every person in your vehicle, you will be turned away. We are not ready to receive participants before the event begins because we haven’t finished building the infrastructure, and the site is effectively a construction site.

Tickets & entry Please plan your travel as we expect significant queues on Wednesday afternoon for a number of hours after the event opens. DO NOT arrive before midday as we are not permitted to have cars queue on Deepwater Rd. You are required to produce your ticket along with photo ID that matches the name on the ticket. Whilst you don’t need to print your ticket, priority may be given at Gate for those who do. Tickets may only be purchased beforehand online. There will again be no gate sales this year.

When you arrive at the Gate, stay in your vehicle. The Gate crew will process your ticket and ensure the following: • t hat you get a wristband • t hat you have enough water and food • t hat you don’t have any prohibited items (Pets, fire arms, air rifles, flares, fireworks, etc) • t hat you understand our Leave No Trace policy and other relevant principles The Greeters will then do their thing - hug the shit out of you, serenade you, or perform any manner of strange (aka welcoming) rituals. Relax and go with it!

Wristbands •W  ristbands can and will be checked at any time, and we ask for your cooperation in displaying them to any event crew that ask to see them. I • If your wristband becomes frayed, loosened or is at risk of coming off, get a new one from Gate or Rangers HQ immediately. If it does come off, hold onto it - you may not be issued a new one without proof of ticket purchase (ie your original wristband or ticket).

• Kids tickets will be linked to their parent or guardian. Parents should record their intended camping location with the Gate Team to assist Rangers should kids become separated.

In-and-out policy

Please note these important requirements:

We encourage you to remain on site for the duration of the event to fully immerse yourself in the community and enhance the experience for everybody. To encourage this, there is a $20 pass-out fee per vehicle, which can be purchased at the Gate. Locals within a certain radius and people in key organising roles will be exempt .

• A ticket-holding parent or legal guardian must accompany kids under the age of 18 to the site.

Leaving the burn

• A ticket-holding parent or legal guardian must accompany kids under the age of 16 at all times when on site – see Children section under “Community in action” below.

The event finishes at midday on Monday 3 October and we require that you leave the site by this time so our pack down crew can do their thing. Please make sure that you are well rested for yur journey home and take this into account when planning activities for Sunday night. There may be breathalysers on the way out. Speed limits are strictly enforced on highways, and both fixed and handheld speed cameras are in operation.

Kids aged 16 and over are required to have a full priced ticket for entry. Tickets for kids aged under 16 must also be purchased online.

• Violation of our community’s basic rules or any antisocial behaviour can result in ejection from Burning Seed without refund.

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RED EARTH CITY Making yourself at home

Bicycles

The freedom of two wheels is a great way to get around Burning Seed. If you bring a bike, please: • Don’t hoon! Red Earth City is a pedestrian-centric city, and wheeled vehicles must yield to foot-goers. • Use lights! As well as being a means of selfexpression, lights on bikes and pedestrians at night are critical to avoiding collisions.

Campervans & cars You are welcome to bring a campervan. Be aware, however, that there are no electricity hook-ups or dumping stations on-site, and you will not be allowed to dump on the ground. You can also take your car into the camping area and park it next to your camp - space permitting. You do not need an extra pass for your car. This is included in your Burning Seed ticket.

Generators Thinking of bringing a generator to Burning Seed? While the womp womp of parties in the night is something we can all adapt to, the relentless brraaapp of a noisy generator is another. The exhaust is also like sleeping inside a garage with the car running. Investigate other power sources first, such as solar, human or 12V batteries. If you must bring a generator, please follow these guidelines: • Bring the quietest you can afford and the smallest that will meet your needs. Larger generators are more difficult to transport, use more fuel and create more pollution. • Don’t run your generator late at night or early in the morning.

•M  ake sure people can’t trip over any power cords.

Ice sales Ice is the one exception to the no-commerce rule at Burning Seed, out of obvious necessity. It will be on sale between 10-11am and 4-5pm each day at Centre Camp for $4 bag or three bags for $10.

Information and lost & found

Red Earth Information can be found at Centre Camp and will be staffed between 11am-3pm every day during the event. Anything found on the ground should be turned in to Red Earth Info, Rangers HQ or the Greeters station. Important info can also be heard on Red Earth Radio, Burning Seed’s very own station, frequency 92.3FM, more info available at: redearthradio.com

Telephone Service Mobile phones service at the site is minimal. In any case, we strongly encourage you to turn off your phone for the duration of the event. You’re at Seed. Switch off and plug into the experience that’s happening all around you.

Toilets Who loves composting Portaloos?!? WE DO!!! Why do we love our dunnies so much? • They come with single-ply toilet paper provided! •T  hey get serviced DAILY!

• Place the generator as far from other camps as possible.

•T  hey LOVE gobbling the solid and liquid gifts of our nether fuel-refinement systems.

• Cover your generator with a sound shield or baffle. Do NOT bury it to shield the noise. No matter how well it is filled afterwards, the hole leaves a gouge in the ground.

•S  aid goodness then gets composted into delicious, nutritious fertiliser!

BURNING SEED 2016 Survival Guide

See page 25 for more info and guidelines on what should and shouldn’t go into the loo!

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COMMUNITY CREW Who does what

Burning Seed has a dedicated group of community crew: participants who have gifted their time to help with the smooth running of things and deal with emergencies and issues as they arise. They can be seen around Red Earth City, on the Gate or at the Greeters station, handing out cups of tea, banging in nails and on tutu Tuesday watch. There are many ways in which you can crew too. If you are interested in helping out, please contact our Crew Wrangling Team via the website www.burningseed.com/communitycrew or drop them a line at [email protected] to register your interest. The more the merrier!

Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DPI) The Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DPI) is the team that plans, surveys, builds and takes down the basic infrastructure of our temporary community. DPI works hand-in-hand with other departments to ensure that Red Earth City is prepared and ready to receive the participants on arrival, as well as ensuring the maintenance of Burning Seed facilities throughout the burn. This includes: • surveying campsite boundaries, Theme Camp and artwork locations, signage and border fencing • marking and maintaining access roads, walkways and signage • building Centre Camp, the gate, the entrance to Red Earth City, medical and Ranger stations and other community structures • communicating with outside agency facilities • directing portaloo placement • overseeing the construction of the Effigy and Temple builds If you have questions about the building and maintenance of structures onsite, contact [email protected] or if you want to know more about the DPI’s community crew needs, please contact [email protected]

conflicts and situations that they can't handle themselves. The Rangers manage safety during key Seed events like the Effigy and Temple burns and are the first point-of-contact in the event of any emergency, fire or medical situations Rangers operate around the clock for the duration of the event. Rangers and medical services can always be found at Rangers HQ, located next to Centre Camp. Interested in giving back to the community and becoming a Ranger? Email [email protected] to register your interest and come along to one of their training sessions. These will be held both pre-event in Sydney and Melbourne as well as in Centre Camp at 10am on Wednesday and Thursday of the event – bring a friend and do a shift together!

Peer Rangers Psychological and Emotional Emergency Response (PEER) Rangers are a specially trained volunteer team that provide support on the Paddock for participants who are having an emotional, mental or psychological crisis that goes beyond the capacity of their local Burner community and Red Earth City Rangers to manage. This may involve helping someone who is experiencing an intense emotional response from:

The Red Earth Rangers

• a violation of their personal space

Rangers are participants just like you, but with a radio and training that helps them know who to call and what to do when there is a problem.

• significant interpersonal issues

They roam in pairs in high-vis attire, and serve as the eyes and ears of the community, helping to keep participants safe.

PEER Rangers can be found next to the Medical Tent at Centre Camp.

They also sometimes serve as the objective voice of reason to help people resolve

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Gate TEAM

Theme Camp Team

The Gate Team is the business end of the event. Think mullet - they are the crew with the party out the back.

The Theme Camp Team is dedicated to nurturing and growing the interactive experience at Burning Seed through Theme Camps.

They are there to check your tickets, do the wristband thang, give out the What Where When guide and generally manage the entry process.

They help build a city dedicated to communal effort, gifting, participation and self-expression through the support of these immersive spaces (and they’re a wee bit obsessed with unicorns).

They also work closely with Rangers and Security to ensure that there are no unwelcome guests or missing children. They like to talk tough but they’re all a big bunch of pussycats, really.

Greeters Greeters are the grinning faces of Burning Seed, and the bridge between the outside world and the transformational space of Red Earth City. Their mission is to welcome and provide civic orientation and cultural education for every Red Earth City citizen once they have passed through the Gate and ticketing process. Armed with wit, wisdom and infectious exuberance, they hug, dance, prance and conduct helpful fun-shops to each carload of people, including important safety and survival info, education about the Ten principles, and tips on participation.

ARTery At the heART of Burning Seed is the ARTery. Drop by our on site ARTedia booth to find out about the incredible artists making the art you can see and interact with during the event. You can even join an art tour or listen to artists talks! Year round we work to: • provide information and resources about the art of Burning Seed • review and dispense art grants • register all artworks & collate information for the What, Where, When guide and info displays • work with artists to make their art safe, well lit and MOOP free • map out and place all registered installations

They do this by: • providing information and resources for Theme Camp organisers • reviewing Theme Camp applications and guiding organisers through the planning and preparation process • planning Theme Camp zoning and placement across the site • promoting the Burning Man principles and importance of ‘leave no trace’

Leave No Trace Team Our trusty Sweep crews seek out any remaining Matter Out Of Place post event and aim to return the land to as close to its natural state as possible. They perform detailed line sweeps of areas that include Theme Camp, casual camping areas and organisational infrastructure. They record this information for the MOOP map, which is published and shared with the c ommunity after the event You’ll also find them spreading the leave-notrace word via the captive audience of portapotties and other outreach endeavours. But they are not there to pick up after you during the Burn! YOU are the only person responsible for picking up after you.

Crew Wrangling Team The Crew Wrangling Team matches willing community members with the roles that make Burning Seed tick, on site and during the year. They’re here to help you find your crew by chatting about your skills and preferences, guiding you through the registration process, providing all the relevant information and supporting you on site, when needed.

They also know how to throw a good meet ‘n greet shindig and are the doyennes of schwag – those feel-good mementos of the time you helped bring Burning Seed to life.

Comms Team The Comms Team has the finger on Burning Seed’s information pulse. They’re here to educate, engage, inform and inspire you about all things Burning Seed - and the culture beyond. On site they take care of the Red Earth Info centre where you can go for your daily dose of ‘where’s this?’ and ‘how can I do this’ and ‘have you found a lost merkin?’ They also manage media registration on site, handle inquiries by outside media, and manage the media centre. In case of any emergencies, comms will keep the community and public in the loop, in conjunction with Red Earth Radio and Rangers. The What Where When guide is their baby, as is this Survival Guide and the First Timer’s Guide. Pre and post event, they will also keep you in the loop via the website, Seed blog, Flaming Galah, Facebook, videos, infographics and the like.

Effigy Team

Event Coordination and Site Management This is the crew responsible for safety on site with the authority for making the call to evacuate or evict. Our site management and event coordination team is on call 24/7 for any issues that put participants in danger - what they say goes. Please respect the decisions of this amazing team but also remember that the safety and sustainability of the event is in your hands too - this is about participation people! You make it what it is!

Sanctuary Things don’t always go to plan at Seed - even for veteran burners; and for those times where you can’t find your flow - you’re tired, anxious and overwhelmed or you’re partying a bit too hard, there is Sanctuary. Sanctuary is all about helping you get back on your feet, drawing on your inner strengths and encouraging you to find your own unique way to Burn. Sanctuary will operate around the clock durin Seed working alongside Rangers, Peer and Medics.

These lads and lasses sure know how to swing a hammer, and by the time you meet them they’ve probably been on site for at least a couple of weeks, building our community’s iconic structure: the Effigy. When it’s time to light that effer up, they also make sure that our burn is safe, effective and creative, and that the leave-no-trace plan is followed after the burn is finished.

Fire Art Response Team (FART) The FART Team is the Burning Seed fire department. They patrol the site - responding to any emergency outbreaks of fire until local fire services arrive - and assist permitted fires and burns with an extra level of safety should things not go so right. In the event of a fire emergency please respect and comply with any direction they give you such as evacuation and rescue. They can be identified by their fire fighting suits and general air of awesomeness.

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COMMUNITY IN ACTION Being a good burner

Participation At a Burn, there’s no fancy pants production company orchestrating the event from up on high or digging our ditches down below. You + me + participation = we. And WE make Burning Seed happen – from its creative juice and experimental expression to the facilities and infrastructure that keep our city rolling along. We are a do-ocracy: when we see a job that needs to be done, we roll up our sleeves and pitch in. If you want to broaden your participation in the event, please visit Centre Camp where they can hook you up with our Crew Wranglers. But there are always some still stuck in the festival mentality of “I’ve paid for my ticket, now feed me, entertain me and clean up after me.” Help us educate them about the wonders of participation and creating Seed together. If you see someone acting irresponsibly, introduce yourself and speak up. But don’t be a “participation snob”. Just because someone isn’t costumed or visibly participating doesn’t mean they aren’t contributing.

Consent: Respect it. We expect it. Communication is the best form of lubrication. Knowing your boundaries and respecting others is the safest way to enjoy many interactions at Seed. Not obtaining consent is also against the law. Consent is required to protect and nurture Seed as a radically expressive space where our community can play securely. ALWAYS ask before initiating physical contact such as touching, hugging, spanking or entering someone’s personal space. If in doubt ASK. Wanna take a photo? Ask for consent first or check immediately after. If asked to delete a photo, do it immediately. Asking for consent eliminates confusion and fosters a tighter, safer and more open community. Consent is not a ‘maybe’ or ‘not now’ or ‘maybe later’...it is a clear expression of YES! Consent can be withdrawn at any time and

BURNING SEED 2016 Survival Guide

if this occurs you must stop what you are doing immediately. Our community is serious about respecting each other. If you are observed to act in a disrespectful or non-consensual manner towards others, you may be approached by your fellow burners to change your behaviour immediately. Issues can be reported to an on-duty Ranger. For more serious assaults, our PEER (Psychological and Emotional Emergency Response) Ranger Team can be contacted upon request. Violators and repeat offenders can be ejected and banned from future events.

Children Children are welcome at Burning Seed! If you are planning to bring your kids, you need to provide for all of their needs as well – there is no childcare at Burning Seed! A ticket-holding parent or legal guardian must accompany all children under 16 years of age. It is your responsibility to ensure supervision for your child at all times during the event. Make sure to accommodate enough water and provisions for ALL of your combined needs cooking and cleaning, as well as hydration. Gate will register all children on arrival. This information will include their name, responsible adult, mobile number and camping location. This will help Rangers reconnect parents with children if they become separated or lost. If you do not know where you will be camping upon entry, you can update this information at Rangers HQ throughout the course of the event. Please take care to educate your kids about fire safety and be extra vigilant around the permitted fire areas and burn barrels. If you’d like to contribute to arranging kid-friendly activities at Seed, contact Kids Camp either at the event or beforehand on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ groups/385657318202203/ If you encounter a lost child, stay with the child and have someone inform a Ranger.

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Media, photography & filming This encapsulates our approach to filming and photography at Burning Seed, for participants, professional and amateur media alike.

Professionals & semi-professionals (aka pics and flicks for wider distribution) If you are taking photographs or film for anything beyond sharing with friends and family – and that includes websites, gallery exhibitions, traditional and digital media – then you need to seek and be granted permission before you arrive. You will also need to sign usage agreements. If you’re publishing an article, you will also need to register with us. A ticket does not automatically give you the right to film or take pictures for publication or broadcast, regardless of commercial intent. Those that have applied and been granted permission to photograph or film, will have tags on their camera demarcating them as media (professional and amateur). If you are found taking photos or filming around the event without the tags you may be asked to stop. Please go to Red Earth Info and ask for the Comms Team lead to register your camera. At Burning Seed, we are seeking to create a shared, safe space where you can openly be or do anything. There is therefore a greater need to maintain the integrity and safety of the space - and for participants to know and trust that this is happening. And that means we need to keep an eye on the media – professional, semi-professional and amateur - and the images they distribute. The number of film or media crews will be limited and they are pledged not to interfere with your experience. Should you feel that someone toting a camera is creating a nuisance, contact the Rangers.

Personal use (aka pics and flicks for me and my friends) If you are just sharing with friends and family, then we just have three words for you: consent, consent, consent. Whether you’re a newcomer or not, you might not know what is acceptable until you ask. By asking, you’ll eliminate confusion and foster a tighter, safer community where people know their boundaries are protected and respected. In a world where people are pushing the envelope of their own self-expression (or perhaps wanting to explore somebody else’s :)), such freedom is only assured by knowing you are safe to do so. Remember: photographs might seem like a good idea at the time but radical self-expression can look quite different out of its natural habitat and splashed all round Facebook for employers, family members and others to see.

ART Interacting with art Interactivity is a hallmark of burner art, and many pieces invite the subject (ie YOU) to participate and play with them. However, as with romance on the Paddock, safety and consent are critical to play.

Climbing art

DO NOT CLIMB ON ARTWORKS. Structures may not be designed to hold your weight, and Burning Seed’s insurance covers neither the participant nor the artist in the event of a fall or injury due to structural failure.

Tagging As much fun as it might seem to draw a dick and balls on the Temple, or graffiti your name on a sculpture, we all know that this is really just wrecking someone else’s creation they spent months making - for a quick laugh. Don’t be the person who ruins somone else’s art or the experience of other participants who want to see the original art and not your tag. We do think graffiti is art, why not register and make it a project for next year?

Fire

Our neighbours

Fire poses a very real danger and there are necessary precautions that must be taken.

We will be camped in a clearing in the middle of a state forest. However, there are properties bordering the forest on all sides and entry to these properties is strictly prohibited.

Please heed requests from artists and safety personnel around fire of any sort – art piece burns, fire spinning, flame effects, burn barrels, etc.

Camping safely Use your common sense when pitching your tent or parking your vehicle - it’s a firest with trees that have branches that can break - don’t be under them when they do. We want you to be safe and so if we see you camping in an area of potential tree/branch fall or other risk, we’ll politely ask you to move along. Please work with us to keep Seed safe for everyone.

Commerce and corporate logos This is not a consumer event. The sale of products and services is prohibited within our community. That includes the sale of hand-made items and food items “in order to cover costs of the trip”. Bring what you need. Ask your neighbours should you need a specific item. Confront your own survival. Corporate advertising is also not allowed at Burning Seed. Participants with rental trucks are encouraged to cover or decorate prominent logos. The display or distribution of corporate banners, corporate logos, giveaway items, samples and other such promotional paraphernalia is also prohibited.

Please be considerate of these neighbours and respect the boundaries of Red Earth City.

Sound Burning Seed is dedicated to radical self-expression, but it is also dedicated to creating community. This means we all must find a way to get along with our neighbours – having a good time at the expense of ruining someone else’s experience ain’t cool. The following guidelines make up our basic sound policy: •N  eighbours should talk to one another when sound becomes a problem and try to resolve the issue through direct communication. If your neighbour feels your sound is too loud, you must work with them to find an acceptable volume. •L  arge-scale sound installations MUST be located on the western side of the Paddock. They may freely express themselves there unless community complaints persist. •A  ny unresolved complaints about excessive sound will become the concern of the Red Earth Rangers. Not everyone will want to sleep when you do. Be advised that the most reliable way to get a quiet, uninterrupted night’s sleep is to camp as far east in the city as possible (farthest corner from the Gate). There are no noise-free zones at Burning Seed, only less-loud areas; light sleepers are advised to bring earplugs. If you intend to use a loud amplified audio system at your camp, we request that you contact [email protected]

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FIRE GUIDELINES

Fire is the biggest risk to Burning Seed – and to our crop-growing neighbours at the peak of their harvest season. We take fire very seriously, and we ask for your understanding and cooperation with respect to all the following guidelines.

Open fires Per our site permit conditions, there can be NO SOLID FUEL FIRES except in registered art fire pits/events or Theme Camp burn barrels. Solid fuel fires include cooking stoves, pizza ovens and anything using wood, BBQ coals or with an open flame. Don't have a registered burn barrel? Don't fire up - it's that simple. Violators of this will be ejected from the event. Yes, we are that serious.

Gas stoves, BBQs and heaters Gas-fired stoves and BBQs are permitted providing you are using certified gas cylinders/ bottles that are in good condition and show no signs of visible rust. Show pride in all aspects of your BBQ’ing prowess! Clear the ground of leaves, sticks and branches in case something goes not so right. Do not place your BBQ directly under any trees or tarps. BBQ’s must be supervised at all times when in use - do not leave them unnattended under any circumstances. Switch off the valve at the bottle/ supply on completion of each use. Do give your BBQ a ripping good clean before you pack it (including grease traps). Gas heaters, camp fires or braziers are strictly prohibited. Fire Art Response Team (FART) may partially or FULLY drench any area/structure where non-permitted fires are lit. This could be your whole theme camp, malfunctioning flame effects, DJ booth or non-permitted camp fire. Bush fire is no joke in Australia, so please let’s be responsible.

Total fire ban There is the limited possibilty of total fire ban days. At this time no flame can be lit and the utmost care must be taken with cigarettes, pipes and cigars

Fire spinning

The Fire Enclave, which can be found at the Mint Country Club Theme Camp, will coordinate all fireplay, which can only occur in designated play areas. Fire Enclave performances are planned for Friday night and Saturday night before the Effigy. Plan on spinning? YAY!!! You need to first register on our website. Once on site, you need to bring your own safety gear, sign our register of attendance and attend a fire meeting. You can also connect with the Fire Enclave on Facebook pre-event: www.facebook. com/groups/1401764663373186/

Flame effects If you are incorporating flame effects or pyrotechnics into your art, art car or Theme Camp, you must be registered with the Fire Art Response Team to ensure that you comply with Burning Seed’s safety standards. Once you’re on site, you will be required to pass a compliance assessment before being issue with your burn permit.

Burn Perimeters The Effigy and Temple burns will have safety perimeters coordinated by the Red Earth Rangers. In light of past tragedies at regional burns, we ask for your full cooperation in respecting the Rangers' guidance and not approaching the fire until clearly permitted to do so. The Ranger coordinating the perimeter before the burn will communicate expectations to participants.

We request that no flammable materials (trees, tents, tarps fabric, etc) be within a three-metre radius or twice the height of any gas-fired appliance when in use.

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Emergency Medical Services

General Health and Safety Tips

If you or someone else requires medical assistance beyond what you can provide yourself, find a Ranger or visit the First Aid tent located next to Centre Camp. Trained medical crew are on duty 24 hours a day.

•P  ersonal hygiene: Use the hand sanitiser after using the loos. Apply it faithfully and liberally.

First Aid Basic first aid is everyone’s responsibility. Below is a list of things that everyone should have in their first aid kit. If an injury is serious or requires more advanced care, the First Aid crew at Centre Camp are there to help. • Aspirin, Ibuprofen, • Antacid Panadol or Nurofen • Tweezers & scissors • Band-aids of assorted • Eye wash solution sizes • Safety pins • Crepe bandages • Hand sanitiser • Absorbent dressings •S  ilicone or Latex • Triangular bandages gloves • Tape Micropore/ • Tampons/sanitary Transpore 2.5cm pads • Sunscreen & Insect • Condoms/Lubricant repellent •A  ntihistamine – • Savlon ointment insect bites/dust/ (or similar) smoke etc • Aloe vera or Paw Paw • A  ll of your regular ointment medications/inhalers • Tea Tree oil Common issues to manage yourself: • Insect bites and sun/wind burn, chapped lips •C  uts, scratches •S  prains and strains •S  mall superficial burns

• Allergic reactions •N  ausea, vomiting, diarrhea •U  TI’s, Thrush •M  enstrual pain, headaches, hangovers

Ambulance cover If you don’t have a concession card or health insurance, we suggest obtaining ambulance membership. These services can be expensive in a rural setting. If you have health insurance, check you are covered outside your home state.

BURNING SEED 2016 Survival Guide

•W  ater: There is no water available at Burning Seed. Bring a minimum of four litres per person per day, and sip frequently throughout the day and night. The cool days can be deceiving – high exertion levels at Burning Seed can quickly lead to dehydration if you’re not mindful, and nobody likes a thirsty crankypants. • Food: Keep the refrigerated food in your camp colder than 10 degrees at all times. Restock the ice frequently. If you experience nausea, vomiting or high fever, seek medical attention immediately, and do not prepare or handle food as you may be carrying a viral pathogen that can easily pass onto others. •W  ashing dishes: Wash your dishes in soapy water and rinse them in water. Use biodegradable washing detergent. •C  amp cleanliness: Keep the food surfaces in your camp as clean as you can. Wash your dishes in soapy water and rinse them in water. Dirty dishes can breed bacteria and make you ill. • Insects: There may be a few mosquitoes and other common insects on site. Standard repellent should be applied to exposed or accessible areas. If they become a problem, long sleeves and pants tucked into socks is helpful. •B  urns: First aid management for burns is to cool with clean water for 10-15 minutes then cover with wet dressing/towel until the medical team can take a look at it. Put nothing but clean water on a burn, NO ice, NO ointments NO fats/oils!

Psychological and emotional support PEER Rangers are a specially trained volunteer team that provide support on the Paddock for participants who are having an emotional, mental or psychological crisis that goes beyond the capacity of the Burner community and Red Earth City Rangers to manage. This may involve a violation of their personal space and significant interpersonal issues. They are found next to the medical tent at Centre Camp.

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SECURITY & ROAD SAFETY

Security In order to ensure the safety of our community, there will be security personnel monitoring the Gate, grounds and boundaries throughout the event. If you require the security team’s services, ask for assistance from a Ranger.

Public and private – your right to privacy Burning Seed is a state of mind, an extremely interactive environment. Many distinctions between what is private and what is public tend to soften and disappear. We do, however, remain subject to local and state laws.

Road safety Red Earth City is a bicycle and pedestrian-friendly city. Once you have entered the event and driven to your campsite, there is no driving allowed unless you are a registered Mutant Vehicle. The following road rules apply in Red Earth City: • All powered vehicles must be registered with REDMV. REDMV will only issue permits to radically mutated vehicles. • You must drive at 5 km/h or less in hazardous situations such as tight crowds. • Give right of way to pedestrians, bicycles, and emergency services vehicles. • Stop immediately when hailed by a Ranger, REDMV official or law enforcement officer. • Do not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. • Do not drive on wet or freshly­watered roads.

Mutant vehicles All Mutant Vehicles must seek a permit by contacting [email protected] before the event.

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ENVIRONMENT & LEAVE NO TRACE

Climate

Be prepared for all weather. In October we can experience cool nights, some rain and/or beautiful sunny days. Bring sunscreen. Check out monthly averages for Matong State Forest here: www.bom.gov.au/climate/ averages/tables/cw_074072.shtml

Leave No Trace and MOOP! (Matter-Out-Of-Place) Leave No Trace (LNT) is one of the Ten Principles that guide Burning Seed, so every time we say goodbye, we aim to leave the site exactly as we found it, or even better. Newsflash: THERE ARE NO GARBAGE BINS OR CLEAN-UP CREWS AT BURNING SEED. This means that you are responsible for your individual and camp waste – during the event and when you leave. And we're all responsible for keeping our city free of MOOP (Matter Out of Place). Key ways to prevent MOOP: •

carry portable ashtrays for cigarette butts

•

bring your own cup and attach it to your belt with a carabiner

•

bring garbage bags & ziplock bags for c ollecting rubbish at camp and while you travel around the site

•

carry a backpack when you go out at night for your empty drink cans and bottles.

MOOP Troupe and MOOP map Our MOOP Troupers are the face of our LNT Team during the event. They patrol the site, looking for hazards, providing Leave No Trace education, and working with Theme Camps to control and contain MOOP. At the end of the event, the LNT Team will perform a detailed sweep of the site and highlight the MOOP performance of Theme Camps and casual camping areas on a map.

Grey Water Grey water is produced from cooking, dishwashing and body washing. Minimise grey water with baby-wipes, and limit meals that need water. Always use phosphate-free biodegradable soap in showers, and that water runs away from where people are walking or driving. It’s okay to dump non-toxic grey water on the grass, but NOT IN THE DAM. Toxic grey water includes anything with solvents or chemicals, such as paint. Package any toxic grey water up in the same containers you bring your water in. UNDER NO CIRUMSTANCES is anyone to dump toxic grey water in the toilets.

Toilets The better you treat your toilet, the better it treats you! Keeping the portaloos clean and tidy helps maintain our shared facilities. We encourage participants to think of the toilets as if they were your own home toilets. Because these portaloos are composting toilets, it is especially important that only human waste and toilet paper go into them – NO food, tampons/sanitary products, diapers or any other refuse. If it didn’t come out of your body, don’t put it in the potty. Use the toilets provided instead of defecating and urinating in the forest as this helps protect the natural balance of the Red Earth forest’s low-nutrient ecosystem. Too much fertiliser promotes weeds, which choke the local indigenous plants, and poop on the ground brings flies.

The dam There is a dam located on the site, which will be cordoned off. No bathing, swimming or washing of any items is permitted in the dam. It’s bad for you and bad for the ecosystem. The dam is strictly OFF LIMITS.

The map will then be shared with the community on the website and via social media.

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Recycling & waste minimisation

Rubbish and recycling

Leave No Trace begins at home. Plan and prepare ahead by thinking about how you’re going to deal with the items you bring to Red Earth City. There are no garbage bins on site and taking all of your rubbish away (and all the way home) to leave no trace is your responsibility.

Don’t dump rubbish in neighbouring towns, roadside bins or service stations on your way out.

Make the six R’s a personal motto: Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Restore and Respect. • Get rid of the excess packaging on your food/ water/toys/camping gear/batteries before you leave your house. • Store your things in crates, ready to pack in and pack out. • Bring plenty of extra garbage bags. • Bring bulk water containers, preferably reusable. Minimise the use of little disposable drink containers and opt for a ‘camel back’ or re-usable bottle to replenish your daily water supplies. • Find a fabulous mug or solid plastic re-useable cup for alcohol or mixed drinks and take them with you as you wander around. • Avoid glass bottles wherever possible. De-package all your food items before you leave home for Burning Seed to minimise your trash. • Make an advance plan of how you will ‘pack out’ when it’s time to go. Begin your weekend with a recycling or waste program at your camp. Bring garbage bags to sort your rubbish.

YOU MUST TAKE YOUR TRASH ALL THE WAY HOME. Remember to secure your load. We suggest using heavy-duty bags or double bagging – heck, if you put it on top of your vehicle, triple bag it! Remember that the event finishes on Labour Day Monday which is a public holiday. Council refuse and recycling centres will be closed, so again, plan to take your MOOP all the way home.