Never been to an Earth First! summer gathering before? Want to know a bit more about what to expect before you decide to come? You’re probably not the only one!
Every year, dozens of people come for the first time, and usually like it and have a lovely time. Still its always daunting to turn up to something not knowing what it’ll be like. We’ve compiled these key points from our longer access statement (which will be released shortly), to give you a rough idea of how different things will work!
Other useful articles:
Save the date
Travel Guide
What is an EF! gathering?
Earth First! Gatherings are a place for our movements and people to come together, meet one another, learn from one another, eat together, dance together, share ideas, knowledge and resources, and practice building the world we’d like to bring forth. They happen twice a year, although the Winter Moot tends to be calmer and more intimate.
We operate under an umbrella of shared values and understandings related to green anarchism. Largely, this means that we work to disrupt and overturn hierarchies of power, envisioning and building ways that we can exist together beyond hierarchical structures, and that we are committed to an ecological revolution. We are anti-capitalist, against all forms of oppression, and believe that the earth and all its beings exist in their own right, outside of their value to us as humans.
This year, the Animal Liberation Gathering will be happening alongside Earth First!, bringing anti-speciesism directly into conversations at EF!. We will share the site and learn together how to bring into practice a new world in which we are all free.
We are all Crew
Earth First! and its gatherings belong to all those of us who feel aligned to its principles. No one is paid to be here; no one is ‘in charge’. All of the work which goes into the gatherings are done by people just like you!
During the gathering itself, there are many jobs to be done! Whether that’s helping out in the kitchen, cleaning or tidying the site or facilities, timekeeping, fixing something or just generally helping things run smoothly; everyone is needed to help the gatherings come together. If you see a job that needs doing, do it! If you’re not sure how, grab a friend or chat to someone who might know (such as someone on the Welcome Desk).
There will be a board with a list of tasks that need doing that you can sign up to at the welcome desk too. We know some folks find it easier to socialise and settle in if theres a task to do!
How do sign-up? What do I do when I arrive?
There’s no need to pre-register or tell us that you’re coming – just show up!
Upon your arrival, please head to the welcome desk where you’ll be greeted by the lovely people who’ll give you key information like where to camp, where the toilets are, what time you’ll be fed and also answer any questions you might have. Importantly, it’s the welcome desk who count numbers for food, so if you don’t go via the welcome desk and let them know how long you’re staying, you won’t be counted into numbers for meals!
There will be printed programmes containing lots of the information in this document as well as other important things like the anti-oppression statement and a blank timetable. Because the schedule of workshops is subject to change, these will be written up on a board, so you can fill in your own schedule in your programme.
Earth First! runs on donations and we ask those who can to give towards running costs. We’d love to be living in a post-money society, but at the moment we rely on these donations to cover food at the gathering, and other costs such as buying and transporting kit. There is a suggested donation of £5/day for food, plus a sliding scale of £10-50 to go towards site costs. Having said that, no-one will be turned away for lack of funds.
What will be site be like?
The gathering will be held across two large adjoining fields. Both fields are gently sloped, with some flatter ground towards one end. One of the fields is quite uneven / bumpy. There will large marquees in the fields, which is where we’ll hold the workshops. We will be camping and you will need to bring a tent, sleeping bag, roll mat and whatever else you may need to be comfy.
The site’s water is spring-fed, and there are two plumbed-in sinks with taps on site. We will be bring some compost toilets and an accessible toilet of our own. All facilities are gender neutral and we are all responsible for keeping them clean and tidy.
What about meals?
There’ll be a camp kitchen which will make 3 vegan meals a day, with at least lunch and dinner being hot. There will be coordinators looking after them, but any attendee can volunteer to help with meal prep. You can bring your own snacks and meals if you want, but please no nuts, and all food eaten in communal areas should be vegan. Make sure to wash your hands before eating and tell the welcome desk if you have any allergies so we can make sure you have something you can eat
Because we won’t know how many people are attending the gathering, mealtimes might vary, but the aim is to serve breakfast between 8am and 9am (morning meeting will be at 9am), lunch between 1pm and 2pm, and dinner between 6pm and 8pm.
There will be a vegan tuck shop run by Veggies and there will be teas and coffees available throughout the gathering. There will be alcoholic drinks available for cheap some evenings, and the money will go towards supporting the gathering. Please bring cash to pay for snacks and drinks!
But will it be a nice and caring space?
We hope so! People having a good time is really important, so we encourage everyone to look out for each other and be friendly & welcoming, especially if someone hasn’t come with people they know.
We will have a designated quiet tent on site, which everyone is welcome to use for quiet reflection, prayer or to take some time away from the parts of the gathering which can be loud or overwhelming.
There will be a tent or marquee space held by the wellbeing collective. Anyone is welcome to use this space if they are feeling overwhelmed, struggling, or just need a quiet space to talk. The wellbeing team can help you if you are feeling unwell, struggling to make friends, or need someone to talk to. They can support people to set boundaries or communicate needs to each other. If you would like to contact the wellbeing collective before the gathering then please email us on earthfirstuk@riseup.net to be put in touch.
There will be a kid’s space at the gathering with activities for kids including fire starting, wide games, singing, crafts, (though young people are welcome at most other workshops!) The kids’ space is not a creche and we encourage parents and caregivers to take responsibility for their kids and check in with them regularly. The kids space is facilitated by a mixed gender group and is run by teachers, parents and non-parents. If you want to hang out with kids at the gathering, please email us or go to the kids space to sign up on the rota.
Earth First! has an anti-oppression statement which we ask everyone coming to the gathering to read and follow. You can read the anti-oppression statement here: earthfirst.uk/solidarity-statement/
Can I bring my phone?
There is no WiFi at the gathering, and we encourage everyone to leave their phone switched off and in their tent during workshops. We also ask people not to take photos or film. This is for privacy & security reasons, as well as to enable us to connect more directly with others at the gathering. We won’t have mains power and therefore will not be able to offer charging facilities except for necessary devices (e.g. assistive technology, electric wheelchairs).
Okay, so what should I bring?
- Tent, sleeping bag, roll mat
- A cup
- Toiletries and medication
- Eye mask and earplugs
- Spare jumpers and blankets for cooler evenings
- Spare clothes for however long you’re staying
- Waterproofs
- Sun cream and insect repellant (e.g. cintronella essential oils)
- Cash for snacks, donations, teas/coffees, food, booze, merch & zines
- Charged battery pack
- Notebook & pen for workshop notes
- Firewood
- Crafts
- Musical instruments
- Water bottle
This list is incomplete, everyone’s needs and carrying capacity are different, hopefully it’s helpful…
See you soon!! <3