I have this idea for a gathering...

[Motrukdriver]

and right now it is only an idea.  I can't act on it or do any organizing for at least another year.  I have another rental house remodel in front of me and then I have to build my Vardo.  But, if someone else thinks this is a good idea and can run with it they yayyyy...  So, what we do is call the various BLM ranger offices and ask them where is the most littered up area that needs cleaning up and tell them we want to have a clean up gathering there.  We go there and set up camp, do a big clean up and have a big party possibly with some building projects tossed in for good measure.  Then the rangers come out to visit, smile at what we've done and everyone is happy and better for it.  Maybe we can call it the Boon-Cleaner Gathering or something catchy like that.  A couple of them a year and we'll be the golden children in the ranger's eyes.  Just thinking here......   Thoughts?  Yay or Nay?

 

[waldenbound]

Excellent idea. As soon as I unload my place and get out of here, I'm game.

 

[Annie W]

Hey that sounds good  Motrukdriver.

Any particular state ?
((please, NOT in a icky death-valley desert )) .

How about a FORESTed.... meadow, And something that a little  girlie like me can actually help with, okay

 

[DLTooley]

Good idea. One tangential observation, I do believe heavy handed forest service enforcement is in part inspired by the corporate legal malfeasance of private campground host operations.

Coming back to the topic your form of organization is key. One big benefit we have is maturity. Some of us have the ability to volunteer due retirement or disability income. I do this formally with both USFS and BLM in Utah and have started in CO, most notably developing relationships with rec staff.

I have a trash picker and also will spend a half hour or so picking up trash.

One benefit of BLM land is rhat is most often dry camping without garbage or facilities.

The BLM in AZ would be a great place to start. Ideally this could grow enough to justify a paid coordinator answering to a whole bunch of mature old farts. The RTR would be a great place to develop that further and you have my support in that next step.

 

[Suanne]

You might consider partnering up with Boondockers United.  Your missions and many of your strategies are very similar.  

See this thread, https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=29890&highlight=Boondockers+United  
Bob did a video on them recently as well.

Great ideas!

 

[Motrukdriver]

You might consider partnering up with Boondockers United.  Your missions and many of your strategies are very similar. 

Maybe so, other than the non-profit organization and $20 membership.  This would be just be an unstructured fun gathering where the gathering/party/build part is first and the clean-up is secondary.  We'd be cleaning up our own mess of course so we just include the rest of the location that was littered up as well.  I don't see making a huge deal out of it other than the BLM suggesting a location and the need to get a permit if the attendees are over the magic number.  If you get a permit then of course the rangers will come and visit.  With everything bagged for haul out they'd probably be pretty happy and be quick to suggest and permit the next one.  Two or three of these smaller gatherings a year would be great in addition to the larger ones already geared up.   Eventually, hopefully, we'd run out of places to clean up and that would be a good thing.  No bumper stickers or publicity needed.

 

[Annie W]

My thoughts exactly, Motrukdriver. Thank you for speaking out. 

How does "Boondockers United" think some of us can pay $20 MORE ?, on top of
the Illegal vehicle License & Registration & Insurance the govt. steals, already.
so
are the "Boondockers United" going to make up those funds so people can EAT , or do they think FASTing for a month is okay ??
Some here do not appear to have a grip on reality.

You are right: No bumper stickers, not further publicity needed.


Post edited for unecessary quoting

 

[Almost There]

Some here do not appear to have a grip on reality.

Actually, the reality is that everyone is different...some have trouble putting food on the table and others are able to help provide food for those that aren't able!

Reality is that every one of us is in different circumstances and that no one should judge the rest of the people by THEIR reality!

On Topic: As long as it's within driving distance and during the winter, I'm in!!

It's something I do as a matter of course but have never bothered to point out to the rangers that it's being done...I just go ahead and do it to the best of my ability anyways. But a little recognition doesn't hurt! And a chance to meet some other nomads isn't a bad thing either.

 

[DesertRose]

I have a question: I saw the video where Ausia (Pandamonium) and her tribe cleaned up a site near Ehrenberg. They hauled 4 truck loads at least. Who pays for the dump fee? Can it be somehow offset by the BLM or? Maybe split or something? I guess everyone pitched in on the dump fee in that instance. I'm sure it was hefty considering the crap that was hauled out of there that day. This was after the 2018 RTR.

 

[Almost There]

When four of us did a similar clean up last winter the Ehrenberg transfer station operator waived any fees for us.

We went in in advance and asked because cleaning up is one thing, having to pay to drop off the trash is another...  

When we explained that we were all snowbirds and wanted to clean up a mess that had obviously been left by locals down on the river there was no problem with waiving residency or fees. All we had to do was have it sorted when we arrived so that everything went where it was supposed to go.

It took 4 very large very full pick up truck runs to get rid of all the crap that had been left on one campsiite...

 

[Motrukdriver]

That was a great thing they did. Dunno if Freecampsites.net footed the dump bill but they were involved as well. I'd be more than willing to pitch in some bucks for the dump fee. Maybe part of the initial conversation with the BLM is to ask them if they have a cleanup budget where a ranger can meet folks at a dump and kick in the fee. If they can save some money by not having to pay a clean up crew I'm sure they'd be happy about it. Of course the ultimate goal would be to just get the trash picked up and make our land beautiful and have some fun in the process...

 

[DesertRose]

I like both ideas (Boondockers United) and Motruckdriver's idea. I don't think we'll ever run out of site to clean up though from what I've seen on YouTube and read online. I think the dumping will actually get worse as the economy will inevitably worsen (inflation for starters).

 

[jacks18614]

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the state of New Jersey the DOC (Dept. of Corrections) picks up trash along the right of ways of all the major highways, the taxpaying citizens are already footing the bill for the convicts food, clothing and housing.

 

[cyndi]

Some Q residents worked with the BLM in a clean up effort. The BLM footed the bill for dumpsters and trash bags and dumping

 

[akrvbob]

The BLM has been great to work with and they bend over backwards to help us out. But, getting a Permit is a beaurocratic process and someone has to be responsible for it. So staying under 75 people would be pretty important. But, that should be doable.

I actually offered to turn the RTR into just exactly this. I suggested they tell us where they needed a clean-up and wanted us to hold it and we would make cleaning it up part of the RTR.

They loved that idea! However, there was a problem with it. Most of those sites are treated as hazardous waste because they often contain glass, needles and condoms. If someone gets a needle-stick cleaning it up, that’s dangerous and expensive to somebody. Ask a nurse how seriously needle-sticks are taken in the medical profession—they literally are life and death issues.

But, hopefully on a small scale it can be handled informally and the problems can all be worked out.

It’s a great idea and I wish you all the best with it.

 

[Annie W]

oh dear , I am a former nurse, of no less decades experience, &
I never even gave NEEDLES any thought, before I volunteered to help with this. Why ? - Mention volunteering & I just sign UP automatically...
Also
I have given up many paychecks too, because I thought it was the right thing to do. I've volunteered in countless contexts where others said "Are you crazy!!"

I suppose I am, crazy that is.

 

[Wabbit]

^^Welcome to the club, come on in! It's potatoes in here...

 

[Motrukdriver]

Well like any good organization or even the lack of a good organization there is always a need for some sort of graphic that represents what we do.  So without further ado I introduce Trashycan the official mascot of the Boon-Cleaner Gathering or what ever catchy name is.. well catchy.

 

[Annie W]

Cute !, obviously you made that, as lookie: the cacti are saluting, lol

so are you supplying? 9 pitchForks Motrukdriver
And what thickness/mil - would hold all that crap?
And how do we get a county-size Garbage-truck ? to haul the crap away...

 

[waldenbound]

I’m ordering a trash grabber and I have leather gloves. I did think of syringes and biohazards, aka used condoms.