Saving Your Campsite Grass
Saving your campsite grass – and other sustainable camping tips
Mother Nature gives us the most spectacular settings to make memories while camping and we need to know how to save the grass at our campsites. Here are some ways to respect her goodness by protecting your patch – and leaving it in even better condition than you found it.
Home turf
Lush grass is going to see you through many a totem tennis and cricket game. Ensure your site isn’t spoiled for future matches by investing in protective camping mats. Mats make it a breeze to keep your campsite clean while allowing the grass to continue thriving underneath. There’s multi-layered knitted technology now that allows sand and dirt to fall through the mat, is environmentally friendly on the ground underneath, doesn’t kill grass like tarpaulins and is easy to wipe clean or hose down after any spills. CGear has a great range at cgear-outdoor.com.au
Natural instinct
Immerse yourself in nature using natural products that won’t harm your surroundings and saving your campsite grass. There’s an impressive range of organic insect repellents, beauty items and cleaning products popping up on the market, and you can usually find at least one natural product in the supermarket or pharmacy. Natural soaps, sunscreens and shampoos don’t contain synthetics like silicones and sulphates, which are non-biodegradable ingredients that can cause significant harm to river ecosystems over time. An added bonus is organic ingredients are generally more nurturing for the skin – in particular little bodies.
Local love
Appreciating your new community shouldn’t stop at your campsite. Show the local makers and growers support by buying their produce and wares. Head into town for a souvenir from our beautiful boutiques, load up on fresh produce at the Kiama Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays from 3-6pm at Surf Beach and drop into the the Kiama Art Gallery for fresh artistic inspiration. Not only will you be met with an abundance of gourmet and creative goodies, you’ll likely score some in-the-know fishing, surfing or whale watching tips from the locals.
Explore mindfully
Opt for activities that are not invasive to the environment. Think totem tennis, beach cricket and surfing. Stick to the trails when you’re discovering local parks, and never touch or feed wildlife because it can create a dependence on humans. Leave what you find, including stones, sticks and plant life. And when you’re ready to go home, organise your group to do a mini working bee so your campsite is in pristine condition for the next family to enjoy.