6. Use biodegradable soap for cleaning yourself and your dishes. If you only have a body of water to clean in, lather up and rinse a good distance from it so the soap can be filtered by soil. You can find biodegradable soap at camping goods stores, health food stores and many larger department and drug stores. Cult fave Dr. Bronner's (www.drbronner.com) liquid soaps are a great choice because they can be used on hair, body, dishes and clothing.
7. Bring reusables. Washable camping dishes, cutlery and food-storage containers are always preferable to disposables, as they eliminate a ton of waste. Check your local camping store or Mountain Equipment Coop's for easy-to-tote lightweight, collapsible and nesting products. They take up little room in your pack.
8. Follow bathroom etiquette. If nature calls while you're far from a portable or restroom facility, use biodegradable bathroom tissue and bury wipes and, um, anything else, at least six-inches under soil.
Coghlan's Tissue On The Go is biodegradable and also comes in compact mini-rolls so every camper can tote their own tissue.
9. Fish smart. Catching dinner is fun and can save you money, too! But improperly handling fish you do not plan to keep can result in their death from either trauma or secondary infections.
When fishing, be sure to:
• Observe catch limits
• Observe any other posted rules (ie. not fishing next to a fish ladder, etc)
• Practice proper catch-and-release form for fish you're not keeping (see tips below)
• Invasive species can endanger an ecosystem, so be aware of your province's bait regulations. In New Brunswick, for instance, it's illegal to use live bait in most waters.
Catch-and-release tips:
• Handle fish as little as possible
• Never lift fish out of the water by the embedded fishing line or by the fish's gills
• Wet your hands with water before handling fish
• Use pliers to quickly remove the hook
• Gently move the fish forward and back through the water by its tail if it needs time to recover before swimming off
• When taking a photo, either shoot with the fish in the water, or when the camera is ready, lift the fish just barely out of the water (with wet hands) supporting its weight evenly, before quickly releasing it
• Always use barbless hooks if there's a chance you will be releasing fish
10. Eat local. While there's something to be said for easy-peasy, reconstitute-and-heat camping cuisine, if you're only heading out for a few days make time to shop at some farmer's markets or roadside stands. Enjoy some fresh locally grown veggies and fruit, artisanal cured meats, yummy cheeses and fresh-baked bread. And don't forget the fresh-baked pie!
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