Homeless Individuals Living in the woods, and first time camping, hacks.
Living in the woods can be a challenging experience, especially for those who have recently become homeless. However, with some practical hacks and shortcuts you can make your situation a bit more manageable and safer. Here are some tips to help you navigate life in the woods on Long Island, New York.
1. Find a Safe Spot:
Location Matters: Choose a campsite that is hidden from main trails and roads to avoid detection. Look for areas with natural cover like bushes or trees.
Stay Dry: Set up camp on higher ground to avoid flooding. Ensure your site is not in a low-lying area where water can accumulate.
2. Shelter and Warmth: Tarp and Rope: A tarp can be a lifesaver. Use it to create a makeshift shelter. Rope can help secure your tarp and other belongings.
Sleeping Bag: Invest in a good sleeping bag that can withstand cold temperatures. Layer up with blankets for extra warmth.
3. Food and Water: Portable Stove: A small, portable stove is great for cooking and boiling water. It’s safer than an open fire and less likely to attract attention.
Water Sources: Make sure you have access to water, Bottled water can get expensive, if you do not have the money to buy the water you can get dehydrated, especially if you are drinking alcohol.
4. Hygiene: Wet Wipes: These are essential for maintaining personal hygiene when you don’t have access to showers.
Portable Toilet: Consider a portable toilet solution to manage waste discreetly and hygienically. You can get a 5 gallon plastic bucket, and you can buy a special toilet seat for it. You can find woods close to fast food restaurants that are open most of the time, or camp by a planet fitness gym, of which is open 24 hours a day except Sunday, for $10 a month, even if you don't work out you have a bathroom and shower available to you
5. Safety: Stay Alert: Always be aware of your surroundings. Avoid isolated areas where you might be vulnerable. If you choose to live alone do not let anyone know where your tent is, there is jealousy, among the homeless, we have replaced many tents to vandalism, and one was burned down.
First Aid Kit: Keep a basic first aid kit with you to handle minor injuries.
6. Discreet Living: Leave No Trace: Clean up all trash and minimize your environmental impact. This will help you stay unnoticed and preserve the area. By cleaning up you keep rodents, and bugs to a minimal.
Low-Profile: If your by a trail or residential housing you should set up camp late and pack up early to avoid detection. Keep noise to a minimum.
7. Community and Support: Local Resources: Connect with local homeless advocacy groups or churches. They can offer food, supplies, and spiritual support.
Stay Connected: If possible, keep a mobile phone with you to stay in touch with family or support networks like www.homelesslongisland.org we will help you stay comfortable in your encampment, until your ready to get off te streets.
8 Bugs: I do not know anyone that likes the cockroach When you’re in the woods, there is a cockroach that flies. Ideally when your Homeless, you wanna set up a site close to stores unfortunately the closest you are to food stores the more likely you are too encounter flying cockroaches. Unlike the buggers in the house, these guys are attracted to light.
On Long Island the only risk to your health is from a tick you can't even see, you must learn and be aware of the symptoms of Lyme's disease.
The best natural mosquito repellent is burning termite riddled wood, and then let the wood smolder. There is something in the termite excrement in the wood. That is a major mosquito deterrent.
Mosquito’s are becoming more of a concern west Nile is showing up in samples on Long Island click here
9 Raccoons: Racoons will sniff out the smallest amount of food in your tent, and destroy your tent to get to it. However Racoons can be your friends out in the woods.
Learn more about living with Racoons by clicking here
10 Some essentials needed when living in the woods, Multi purpose tool, axe, saw, rope, fire starter, tarp, tent. emergency bivy bag. if you have access to four cinder blocks the rocket stove is the best solution for a fire, not only is it good for cooking, it is the most stealthily fire you can make, you only use twigs and thin branches in the rocket it also produces enough heat and smoke to deter bugs, the god part is the smoke is at a minimum. To learn how to make a Rocket Stove with cinder blocks, click here. No cinder blocks here is a cool rocket stove you can make in the dirt. Learn how by clicking here. Aka Dakota stove.
Conclusion
Living in the woods is not ideal, but with these hacks and shortcuts, you can manage your situation more effectively. Remember, your safety and well-being are paramount. Utilize local resources and support systems whenever possible.
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