BURNING SEED

Survival Guide 2023

Updated 30th January 2023

What is a Burn?

The Ten Principles

Radical Inclusion

Gifting

Decommodification

Radical Self-reliance

Radical Self-expression

Communal Effort

Civic Responsibility

Leaving No Trace

Participation

Immediacy

Getting There And Away

How Do I Get There?

Early Entry WAPs

Tickets & Entry

Wristbands

Camping

In-and-out policy

Leaving the Burn

A Safe Trip Home

Packing For Red Earth City

You must bring

You must NOT bring

We strongly suggest you bring

Helpful things to bring

Climate

Bicycles

Campervans & Cars

Generators

Centre Camp

Ice Sales

Info & Part!c!pat!on Station and Lost & Found

Telephone Service

Toilets

Camping safely

Commercial and corporate logos

Our neighbours

Sound

Fire Guidelines

BURN and Burn Perimeters

Open Fires

Gas heaters, campfires or braziers are strictly prohibited.

Flame Effects

Fire Spinning

Total Fire Ban

Gas Stoves and BBQs

Participation

Consent

Drugs, Alcohol and Law Enforcement

Children

Media, photography & filming

Professionals & semi-professionals

(pictures and videos for wider distribution)

Photography for Personal use

Photographing Children

What is a Burn?

A Burn is a participatory community event where everyone contributes. It is organised, built, run, made amazing, and then returned again to nothing - all by YOU!

People new to Burning Seed often assume that a Burn is like a festival — a mostly passive experience where event producers organise everything, and you just need to rock up for the show. Instead, a Burn is co-created by its participants. There is no production company curating the event. There are no sugar-daddy sponsors, advertisers or stalls either. There is only you + me and a gifting economy. A Burn is as great as we make it, together.

The success of the event depends as much on the community as it does on your self-reliance. You must be responsible for everything you need during the event: food, shelter, water, fuel, and basic first-aid.

We pool our resources, skills, ideas and imagination to create Red Earth City, including the entertainment, the art, and the experiences. It's a week filled with creativity, immersive Theme Camps, gifting, performances, crewing, music, fire and more. Each individual  takes care of their day-to-day needs and the environment, while we're there and when we leave.

Everyone is expected to read and abide by the standards set out in this guide.

Violation of these guidelines could result in eviction from the event.

THE TEN PRINCIPLES

Burning Seed is one of Australia’s official regional Burning Man events. It is an experiment in creative, collaborative and cash-free community building and its culture is guided by the following Ten Principles.

Radical Inclusion

Anyone may be a part of Burning Seed. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community. If you’re here, you’re a participant!

Gifting

Burning Seed is devoted to acts of gift giving. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value. In fact a true gift requires nothing in return whatsoever, not even a “thank you”.

It can be tempting to think of physical objects as gifts but the best gifts are those of time and energy. Would you rather receive the ingredients or the freshly cooked meal?

Decommodification

In order to preserve the spirit of gifting, our community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising. We stand ready to protect our culture from such exploitation. We resist consumption as a substitute for participatory experience.

Radical Self-reliance

We encourage the individual to discover, exercise and rely on their inner (and outer) resources. There is no shop to buy supplies from (other than ice), no tap to refill at. The nights can get extremely cold, and the sun burns. More detail below.

Radical Self-expression

Radical self-expression arises from the unique gifts of the individual. No one other than the individual or a collaborating group can determine its content. It is offered as a gift to others. In this spirit, the giver should respect the rights and liberties of the recipient.

Communal Effort

Our community values and relies on creative cooperation and collaboration. We strive to produce, promote and protect social networks, public spaces, works of art, and methods of communication that support such interaction. There are no superstars, VIPs, or classes between you and what you want to contribute.

Civic Responsibility

We are all responsible for learning and demonstrating the Principles together, and supporting each other as we do so. Community members who organise events should assume responsibility for public welfare and endeavour to communicate civic responsibilities to participants. In addition to the principles, they assume responsibility for conducting events in accordance with Australian laws. 

Any gifting of alcoholic beverages should be in line with NSW Responsible Service of Alcohol guidelines. MINORS will be wearing a magenta wristband as opposed to dark purple in 2023 and MUST NOT be served alcohol. It is an offence under NSW law to provide alcohol to minors.

Leaving No Trace

Our community respects the environment. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up after ourselves and endeavour, whenever possible, to leave such places in a better state than when we found them. All MOOP is my MOOP (matter out of place).

Participation

Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through the medium of deeply personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work. Everyone is invited to play. We make the world real through actions that open the heart. Hit up the crew coordinator (pre-event) and part!c!pat!on station (during event) to find out how to get involved.

Immediacy

Immediate experience is, in many ways, the most important touchstone of value in our culture. We seek to overcome barriers that stand between us and a recognition of our inner selves, the reality of those around us, participation in society, and contact with a natural world exceeding human powers. No idea can substitute for this experience.

GETTING THERE AND AWAY

How Do I Get There?

Entry to the event is from Deepwater Road, Matong NSW. The turnoff is marked on Google Maps as Red Earth City. The event is inside Matong State Forest, NSW.

Check for signs as you approach the event. Carpooling is a great way to split travel costs and decrease our impact on the environment; search ‘Burning Seed Rideshare’ on Facebook and if it doesn’t exist - get it started!

Early Entry WAPs

Build Crew are on site for a few weeks before the event. Pre-approved Crew, Theme Camps and Art Installers may arrive from midday 23rd February, 2023 for Early Entry if you have a Work Access Pass (WAP). WAPs are issued to ticketed individuals who need to do setup work, they are issued by Crew Team Leads, Theme Camp Leads and Art Installer Leads. The whole site consists of individually managed build and construction sites during this period, so to keep everyone safe only the areas you are working on should be visited unless you have permission to visit another build site. Rangers, Greeters, Gate and other crew with a shift scheduled for Wednesday 22rd March 2023 can get a WAP for Early Entry from Tuesday 21st March 2023, the day before gates officially open. You must receive permission to arrive early to work on setup, if you don’t have a WAP you’ll be turned away until gates open on Wednesday, 22nd March 2023. This is designed to keep everyone safe during the heavy construction period.

Tickets & Entry

Burning Seed gates open at midday on Wednesday, 22nd March 2023, which is a designated set-up day for ticket holders. The event officially starts on Thursday 23rd March, at midday. The gate is open at different times each day. Gate closing times are strictly enforced - if you arrive late, you will need to stay outside the event in a safe location that is well clear of any roads or other hazards. Security is in place when the gate is closed. For detailed opening and closing times, see http://burningseed.com/location

Please plan your travel as we expect significant queues on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons for a number of hours. DO NOT arrive before midday on Wednesday or out of Gate opening hours, as we are not permitted to have cars queue on Deepwater Rd. Kangaroos are often found on the roads in this area, to reduce your chance of hitting one, avoid driving at twilight (dawn or dusk). If you must drive at these times, consider going slower. Hitting a roo would be a shit start to your burn.

On arrival, tune into Red Earth Radio to get updates on the gate queue. You are required to produce your ticket along with a photo ID that matches the name on the ticket. There is no phone service at Red Earth City, so we strongly recommend you save your ticket to your device or print it in advance. Priority may be given at Gate for those who print their tickets. Tickets may only be purchased beforehand online. Tickets WILL sell out a few months before the event, so buy as early as possible to avoid disappointment. There are no Gate sales. 

Burning Seed is subject to all national and NSW state laws, and there will be a police presence at the entry to Burning Seed. Please be patient and polite. Burning Seed organisers work closely with all emergency services in the lead-up to the event, and their continued support is crucial to our long term sustainability. It is also important to know your rights and seek independent legal advice if required.

Participants aged 16 and 17 are required to have a youth ticket for entry, which must be purchased online. Tickets for kids aged under 16 must also be purchased online. Please note that parents and/or legal guardians of children under the age of 16 are responsible for those children and must provide adequate supervision at all times. See Children section under “Community in action” below. 

When you arrive at the Gate, stay in your vehicle. The Gate crew will process your ticket and check that you: 

• get a wristband

• are not currently experiencing flu/Covid-19 like symptoms  

• have enough water and food 

• don’t have any prohibited items (Pets, firearms, air rifles, flares, fireworks, etc.) 

• understand our Leave No Trace policy and other relevant principles.

Once you have moved on from the Gate, you will see the Traffic team members with their shiny light sabres showing you where to park safely for your Welcome Ceremony with the Greeters. With your consent, the Greeters will serenade you, dance, or perform any manner of strange welcoming rituals. After your welcoming, the Traffic Team will be available to help you find and safely move to your campsite.

Wristbands

Wristbands can and will be checked at any time, and we ask for your cooperation in displaying them to any event crew that ask to see them-- they are proof that you are a participant who has paid to be at Seed. Wristbands MUST be worn on your wrist, wearing on other parts of your body such as ankles is not allowed.

If your wristband becomes frayed, loosened or is at risk of coming off, get a new one from Gate. If it does come off, hold onto it - you may not be issued a new one without ID and proof of ticket purchase (i.e. your original wristband or ticket).

Kids’ tickets will be linked to their parent or guardian. Parents should record their camping location, noting any distinguishing details to assist Rangers should kids become separated.

Minors wearing magenta wristbands in 2023 must not be served alcoholic beverages.

Camping

Due to high water levels, the site is different this year. In 2023, camping is quieter around Family Camp and the Gate and louder the closer to the Paddock and Magic Garden. Renegade sound camps should set up in the west and point their speakers to the west towards Deepwater Road, not into camping areas. As usual, once gates open everyone is free to camp wherever they fit in, this includes areas around where theme camps are shown on the map (if you are respectful and fit in) but excludes theme camp front-of-house areas, on the central Paddock which is reserved for art, in the 2023 out-of-bounds areas, in event infrastructure areas, in build crew construction areas and on fire trails. The Traffic Team with their shiny lightsabres will be able to assist you to find your place on arrival if you’re unsure.

In-and-out policy

We strongly encourage you to remain on site for the duration of the event to fully immerse yourself in the community and enhance the experience for everybody, we also discourage vehicle movements to keep everyone safe. To encourage this, there is a $20 pass-out fee per vehicle (donated to Red Earth Ecology), which can be purchased at the Gate. Locals within a certain radius and people in key organising roles will be exempt. Each registered theme camp will receive 1 pass-out in case they need it for their operations. While inside the event, drive at walking speed only.

Leaving the Burn

The Burning Seed closing ceremony will be held at 12pm on Monday 27th March and conclude around 2pm. After this time the Regional Burn has concluded and there will be no scheduled events, all theme camp areas become individually managed construction sites, and amplified music or other potentially noisy activities should not be heard outside of any theme camp areas. Take the time to pack up your camp, hang out with your new best friends, and catch up on some well needed sleep so that you're ready for the drive home. Do not enter theme camp areas where pack down is happening, other than your own camp, as doing so may endanger others. All participants need to leave Matong State Forest by midday on Tuesday 28th March so our Leave No Trace and pack-down crews can do their thing.

A Safe Trip Home

• Make sure you are well-rested for your journey home. Keep this in mind when you plan your quiet Monday night activities.

• Police will be conducting roadside alcohol and drug testing on the way out. Factor this into your choices and activities the night before, your blood alcohol level can remain too high even if you have slept.

• Speed limits are strictly enforced on highways with speed cameras in operation. 

• Do not dump garbage in or near public park bins on the way out. If you can’t get your refuse to a tip or recycling centre, take it all the way home and dispose of it there.

PACKING FOR RED EARTH CITY

You must bring everything you need to survive for six days in an area that can be prone to cold, wet and wind at this time of year. This means enough water, food, adequate shelter, tickets and clothing. You should plan to stay on site for the duration of the event and prepare supplies accordingly in advance.

Everyone in your vehicle must meet these conditions of entry. Portaloos and ice sales are the only thing that the event provides - see below.

You must bring:

• Your ticket and photo ID. You will be turned away without a photo ID that matches the name on your ticket. Have these ready before you reach the gate or lose phone signal if needed. We highly recommend printed tickets as they work better with our scanners.

• Enough water for drinking, bathing, washing and food preparation for each person for the entire event and trip home. The recommended amount of water per person is 4L per day.

• Enough food and beverages for yourself and any dependants.

• Rainproof clothing and shelter. Extra changes of dry clothes in waterproof storage. Be prepared for rain.

• Clothing for all weather - particularly the cold nights. Site temperatures at this time of year have been known to range from over 40 degrees by day and sub-zero overnight!

• Bedding and shelter. A good camp tent is recommended along with warm sleeping bags.

• A Burner never leaves home without their cup! Add a carabiner or other attachment so you can carry it wherever you go – it’s BYO here. No cup, no play.

• Your own plates, bowls and cutlery.

• Rubbish bags, crates or boxes for packing out when it’s time to go. You are expected to take your rubbish all the way home, so plan for this in your vehicle.

• Torches and spare batteries (headlamps are essential) to be sure you can see and be seen at night. EL wire and LEDs are good for making yourself visible. They’re also an opportunity to be creative in the dark!

• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat, as days can be warm, and the midday sun can still be strong enough to burn.

• Insect repellent.

• First aid kit.

• Any required prescription medications, contact lens supplies and whatever else you need to maintain your personal health, hygiene and comfort.

You must NOT bring:

• Glass containers of any kind

• Feathers of any kind (e.g.: boas, they shed, no matter what you do to secure/fix them – try marabou instead).

• Excess packaging from foods (e.g.: take food out of disposable packaging and bring in Tupperware).

• Glitter. Of any kind. Even if it’s glued to something! Even if it’s ‘biodegradable’! Glitter is extremely prone to breaking up and becoming major MOOP (matter out of place).

• Anything that will break up and make a mess.

• Thoughtless, cheap ‘gifts’ that may break and/or are likely to be thrown away. It’s potentially more MOOP! A gift that ends up in landfill is not a gift to the Earth.

• Styrofoam eskies (they don’t hold up and will break into a million bits).

• Explosives, aerial flares, firearms of any kind – air rifles, paintball guns, etc.

• Hand-held lasers, which can cause blindness.

• Dogs, cats or other pets.

We strongly suggest you bring:

• Covid-19 prevention items: mask, hand sanitiser.

• Shade, wind and rain structures.

• A raincoat and/or umbrella.

• A cooking stove - please see Fire safety section for guidelines.

• An esky.

• One Rapid Antigen Test kit per person per day of the event (please don’t let a Covid-19 outbreak shut us down!)

• A portable battery/solar radio to tune into Red Earth Radio.

• Earplugs! (Not everyone is going to want to sleep when you do, if at all).

• Watertight bags for clothing, cameras or electronic gear.

• Smokers should bring portable ashtrays (e.g. sealable mint tin or film canister). Cigarette butts are one of the largest sources of MOOP.

• Costumes, musical instruments, props, banners, signs and anything else that might make the experience more fun for you and your neighbours.

• Camp marker (flag, flasher, distinctive marking).

• Extra set of car keys (keys are easily lost!).

• Cash for ice sales.

• Lighting elements on yourself (and your bike etc) for nighttime - the Paddock is DARK and art cars, bicycles and other pedestrians won’t see you.

Helpful things to bring:

• A bike: a great way to get around, but make sure it’s lit at night.

• Sewing kit.

• Rope and/or string.

• Ribbons, coloured material, etc, to mark tent ropes/guy lines.

• Gaffer tape.

• Gifts to give to new friends (but be very mindful about things ending up in landfill).

Climate

Be prepared for all weather. In TBA, we can experience cool nights, some rain and/or beautiful sunny days. Bring sunscreen. Check out monthly averages for Matong State Forest here: www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_074072.shtml

Bicycles

The freedom of two wheels is a great way to get around Burning Seed. If you bring a bike, please:

• Don’t hoon; Red Earth City is pedestrian-centric. Wheeled vehicles yield to foot-goers.

• Use lights; As well as being a means of self-expression, lights on bikes and pedestrians at night are critical to avoiding collisions.

• Bring tyre repair kits and spare tubes, as you are sure to need them.

Campervans & Cars

You are welcome to bring a campervan. Be aware, however, that there are no electricity hook-ups, taps for water refills or dumping stations on-site, and you will not be allowed to dump on the ground. You can also take your car into the camping area and park it next to your camp - space permitting, but the map also shows designated car parking zones if you prefer to keep the aesthetic of your camp clear of vehicles. You do not need an extra pass for your car. This is included in your Burning Seed ticket. Be personally aware of the pollution caused by burning petrol to get your vehicle to Burning Seed and offer others a ride where you can, to reduce your personal carbon footprint.

Generators

Thinking of bringing a generator to Burning Seed? While the womp womp of parties in the night is something we can all adapt to, the relentless brrraaappp of a noisy generator is quite another. The exhaust is also like sleeping inside a garage with the car running, which is a safety risk to others. Investigate other power sources first, such as solar, human or 12V batteries. If you must bring a generator, please follow these guidelines:

• Bring the quietest generator you can afford, and the smallest that will meet your actual needs. Larger generators are more difficult to transport, use more fuel and create more pollution.

• Don’t run your generator late at night or early in the morning.

• Place the generator as far from other camps as possible.

• Construct a sound shield or baffle around your generator, leaving adequate room for airflow. Be aware of flammability of some materials near heat sources.

• Do not cover your generator unless allowed in the operation manual. 

• Do NOT bury it to shield the noise. No matter how well it is filled afterwards, the hole leaves a gouge in the ground. We Leave No Trace.

• Make sure people can’t trip over any power cables.

• Generators can be a fire hazard, so provide appropriate extinguishers or fire suppression where necessary. 

Centre Camp

Centre Camp is the heart of the Burning Seed community. It is a playful, safe space that allows the community to connect and help facilitate the beautiful transformational process of the Burning Seed experience. It’s a platform to bring new and fresh perspectives to burners, and a space to share and give to the community. Centre Camp celebrates individual contributions to the burner community as a whole.

Centre Camp is a communal space to meet and engage with each other and the Seed community. It’s designed to be a neutral, nurturing space co-created for the people by the people to facilitate communal effort, collaboration, and the exchange of information. Centre Camp provides and manages space for burners to run community events. In addition, Centre Camp runs their own events to connect burners within the community, provide information about the Seed Principles and facilitate connections of burners with the community.  Participants can register to run events at Centre Camp. To do so, check the Burning Seed website closer to the event.

Ice Sales

Ice is the one exception to the no-commerce rule at Burning Seed, out of obvious necessity to reduce the potential for wasted food or warm beer. It will be on sale between 10-11am and 4-5pm each day at Centre Camp for $5 a bag. EFTPOS might be available, but we recommend bringing cash to be safe.

Info & Part!c!pat!on Station and Lost & Found

The Info & Part!c!pat!on Stat!on (there’s no “I” in Part!c!pat!on!) can be found at Centre Camp. This is where you can find all the information you need, claim or hand in lost property, and learn how to get more involved. Please bring only found items of monetary or potentially sentimental value to the Info & Part!c!pat!on Stat!on.

Telephone Service

Mobile phone service at the site is minimal and should not be relied upon. In any case, we strongly encourage you to turn off your phone for the duration of the event. You’re at Burning Seed. Switch off and plug into the experience that’s happening all around you. If taking photos on your phone, you must get consent before taking the shot - also look out for the bracelets that indicate a person does not want to be photographed at all.

Toilets

Does a bear shit in the woods? Not at Burning Seed!

The best way to take care of the delicate environment in the forest is by leaving no trace; and that includes POOP (Poop Out Of Place). Please don’t use the forest as your toilet. One of your friends on the Leave No Trace team will literally pick it up and no one wants to deal with your poop. LNT scour every square metre of the site, so you are not saving them the effort by going deeper into the forest. Always use the loos provided.We provide plenty of portaloos that we LOVE to use. Why do we love our dunnies so much? 

1. They come with recycled toilet paper provided!

2. They get serviced TWICE DAILY!

3. They LOVE gobbling the solid and liquid gifts of our nether fuel-refinement systems.

4. Said goodness then gets turned into delicious, nutritious fertiliser!

Always take wet wipes, tampons/sanitary products, nappies, or any other items not generated by your body with you (we suggest keeping a snap lock bag in your go-bag) as they can clog the pump truck.

Camping safely

Use your common sense when pitching your tent or parking your vehicle - it’s a forest with trees that have branches that can break - don’t be under them when they do. Drop bears live in eucalyptus trees so never camp under a gum tree that has a branch which could fall on you.  Please work with us to keep Seed safe for everyone; if you don’t see the risk but someone else does and you are asked to move, please do.

Commercial and corporate logos

This is strictly not a consumer event. The sale of products and services is prohibited within our community. That includes the sale of handmade items and food items “in order to cover costs of the trip”. Bring what you need. Ask your neighbours should you need a specific item. Confront your own survival.

Corporate advertising is also not allowed at Burning Seed. Participants with rental trucks or structures are encouraged to cover or decorate prominent logos. The display or distribution of corporate banners, corporate logos, giveaway items, samples and other such promotional paraphernalia is also prohibited. Find a better way to stay in touch with your new friends, handing out business cards is not cool unless they are contact only and do not promote your profession/business.

Our neighbours

We will be camped in a clearing in the middle of a state forest. However, there are properties bordering the forest on all sides and entry to these properties is strictly prohibited. Please be considerate of these neighbours and respect the boundaries of Red Earth City and the neighbours who constitute part of our community.

Sound

Burning Seed is dedicated to radical self-expression, but it is also dedicated to creating community. This means we all must find a way to get along with our neighbours – having a good time at the expense of ruining someone else’s experience ain’t cool.

The following guidelines make up our basic sound policy:

• You are free to have amplified or non-amplified sound at any time of day except for:

  • Prior to gates opening

  • During the Welcome to Country ceremony 

  • During the Temple Burn event and scheduled time prior to it

  • During (and after) the Closing Ceremony on Monday. 

• If you have a large sound system it must be approved by the Site Design Team and must face in the direction approved. There is a Renegade Sound Camp area in Open Camping, anyone can set up here but must face their speakers west towards Deepwater Road, not into other camping areas.

Check the WWW event listing for all these times.

• The layout in 2023 is different from previous years due to the water levels on the floodplain and the capacity of the event this year.

  • In 2023 quieter camping is around Family Camp and the Gate.

  • In 2023 louder camping is closer to the central Paddock and the Magic Garden.

  • In 2023 renegade sound camps should be set up in the west with speakers facing west towards the sunset and Deepwater Road, not directed into camping areas.

  • Registered theme camps must face their sound systems in the direction approved by the Site Design Team during their application process.

  • In 2023, the Temple is in the middle of the central Paddock where it was in 2011, the first Burning Seed at Matong State Forest - Note that this is not in a designated quieter area this year but due to the high water levels and fire safety requirements this is the location it needs to be in.

• Neighbours should talk to one another in a friendly manner when sound becomes a problem, and try to resolve the issue through direct and respectful communication.

• Sound from open camping and art areas should not bleed into any theme camp front-of-house areas. Communal effort is encouraged as much radical self-expression. 

• Any unresolved complaints about excessive sound will become the concern of the Red Earth Rangers during the event and the Theme Camps Team before or after the event.

• Not everyone will want to sleep when you do. The further north you camp into the forest away from the Paddock to quieter it will be for you if required, other quiet locations are around Family Camping and right out near the Gate. Light sleepers are advised to bring ear plugs.

• If you intend to use a loud amplified audio system at your camp, we request that you contact themecamps@burningseed.com, so we can ensure you are set up in the best place for you to enjoy your burn, along with everyone else.

Fire Guidelines

To ensure the safety of all attendees throughout Burning Seed, it is important to understand what is expected of a ticket holder during the event. Fire is one of the biggest risks to attendees and our neighbouring properties. In the event of an emergency, safety is paramount. We take fire very seriously as a community, and we ask for your understanding and cooperation with respect to the following guidelines.

BURN and Burn Perimeters 

The Art Burn is our peak taste of community in action, where we gather to celebrate our creations. This year the Effigy remains a great spectacle, and we will be embracing more sustainable principles by not burning it down.

The sacred Temple Burn is a site-wide SILENT event where we allow release and renewal through fire, and a symbolic rebirth from the ashes of our Temple.

Once the burn perimeter is in place, access to each piece will be closed as we approach ignition. This means your final chance to visit the structures will be before the Ranger perimeter is established, so make your offerings and say farewell BEFORE midday on each day.

Each of these burns will have safety perimeters coordinated by the Red Earth Rangers. Rangers working together with Forestry, the relevant build teams, FART, artists and Coordinators in facilitating the operation of these events. As each Burn commences, Rangers will hold the perimeter gradually and slowly move it closer until it is safe to drop it. Only once it is dropped can you approach the fire. Please be aware that there may still be hot embers and coals on the ground, and wear enclosed shoes. People have burned their feet in years past.

In light of past tragedies at regional burns, we ask for your full cooperation in respecting the Rangers’ guidance by not approaching the fire until clearly permitted to do so. They’re people too, and carry the pressure of responsibility for safety and compliance that allows us to come back and do it again the next year.

Open Fires

Only registered art, fire pits, events or Theme Camp burn barrels are permitted throughout the event. No exceptions! No permit = no burning! This ensures Burning Seed complies with local authorities’ permit conditions and safety requirements for all attendees are met.

No solid fuel fires are permitted within the site as per the outlined perimeter shown on the site map. Solid fuel fires include the following:

• Cooking stoves and pizza ovens that use solid fuel,

• Anything requiring the use of wood as a source of fuel, 

• BBQ coals or any open flame besides the use of cigarette lighters,

• Candles and /or sparkles.

Gas heaters, campfires or braziers are strictly prohibited.

If you see other fires please inform a Ranger in orange immediately. Personal fireworks and firearms are also prohibited.

Flame Effects

Whether it’s part of your art, mutant vehicle or Theme Camp, all flame effects or pyrotechnics must be registered with the Fire Art Response Team. If you haven’t already done this, then sorry folks, it’s no go with that wacky flamethrower you brought along for kicks. Make sure to register for it next year!

Fire Spinning

The Fire Enclave will coordinate all fire play at Seed. The Fire Enclave’s Noticeboard can be found near Centre Camp, and all meetings and Inductions will be held there. Anyone wishing to play with fire must first attend an Induction with our Fire Enclave, details of which can be found in the What Where When Guide!

Total Fire Ban

It is unlikely but possible that there may be total fire ban days. If this happens, then all attendees must comply with NSW State laws which stipulate no naked flames. Extend the utmost care even to cigarettes, pipes and cigars as well - you should never, ever drop a butt on the ground under any circumstances. Please keep an eye out for any indication of fire and inform crew/Rangers if you discover a fire during total fire bans

Gas Stoves and BBQ’s

Gas-fired stoves and BBQs are permitted during Burning Seed providing you comply with the following:

• Safety directions from the manufacturer are adhered to

• Gas cylinders / bottles must comply with Australian standards - they must be in date, showing NO rust and/or visible damage

• Ensure there is a three (3) metre clearance horizontally and vertically within the area you intend to utilise a gas-fired stove or BBQ

• Clear the immediate area of leaves, sticks and branches. Do not place your BBQs directly under trees, tarps, or structures

• Do not place gas cookers on the ground

• Lit gas-fired stoves and BBQs must not be left unattended under any circumstances

• Turn off the gas bottle on completion of every use. No exceptions!

• Keep a fire blanket and/or extinguisher nearby

In the event of non-permitted fires, the Fire Art Response Team (FART) may partially or fully suppress the immediate area. This may include your whole theme camp, malfunctioning flame effects, DJ booth or non-permitted camp fires. In the event of a non-permitted fire, any damage due to suppression is at the cost of the violator. If you have further questions about fire safety at Seed, please email fart@burningseed.com 

Participation

At a Burn, there’s no fancy pants production company orchestrating the event from up on high or digging our ditches down below. You + me + part!c!pat!on = we. And WE are Burning Seed – from its creative juice and experimental expression to the facilities and infrastructure that keep our city rolling along.

We are a do-ocracy: when we see a job that needs to be done, we roll up our sleeves and pitch in. If you want to broaden your participation in the event, please visit the Part!c!pat!on Station near Centre Camp to see how you can get involved.

There are always some people still stuck in the festival mentality of “I’ve paid for my ticket, now feed me, entertain me, and clean up after me.” Help us educate them about the wonders of participation and creating Seed together. If you see someone acting irresponsibly, introduce yourself and speak up with love and patience. We all had a first time.

But don’t be a “participation snob”. Just because someone isn’t costumed or visibly participating doesn’t mean they aren’t contributing - they might be stumbling back to bed after a 12 hr shift. Positivity is always a great starting point! Could you offer them some support? How about a compliment?

Consent

Communication is the best form of lubrication. Knowing your boundaries and respecting others is the safest way to enjoy many interactions at Seed. Not obtaining consent is also against the law. Consent is required to protect and nurture Seed as a radically expressive space where our community can play securely. 

The default world can have some pretty poor standards about what consent looks like and what it means. We’ve come to Red Earth City to imagine new ways of being, and consent is a really important part of this. If you’ve felt shy, or awkward, about expressing your boundaries in the past, hopefully Burning Seed is a time when you feel able to say what you do & don’t want. 

Always ask before initiating physical contact. Remember that this includes touching, hugging, spanking or entering someone’s personal space. If in doubt, ASK. Wanna take a photo? Ask for consent first or check immediately after if someone has wandered into your frame. If asked to delete a photo, do it immediately.

Asking for consent eliminates confusion and fosters a tighter, safer and more open

community. If it’s not an enthusiastic “Yes!”, treat it as a no.  Consent does not look like:

• a reluctant “maybe”

• “mmmmmmmmm”

• “not now” (this does not mean, “yes, later”)

• “no… no…. No…. okay, fine…”

Consent is a clear expression of YES! Consent can be withdrawn at any time and if this occurs you must stop what you are doing immediately.

Our community is serious about respecting each other. If you are observed to act in a disrespectful or non-consensual manner towards others, you may be approached by your fellow Burners to change your behaviour immediately. Take this advice on, and don’t take it personally. We actively build a positive culture together and you’ve been offered a better way to burn. Celebrate that! Issues can be reported to an on-duty Ranger. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your neighbours too - we are all Burning Seed.

For sexual assaults, a team of qualified, specialist first responders can be contacted through the Rangers. 

If a person decides to make a report to NSW Police, they will be supported without judgement or influence of Burning Seed. There is also the independent RECspect program for community complaints to be heard and the provider, Core Integrity, will write a report with recommendations. 

Violation of any of our community’s basic rules or any antisocial behaviour can result in ejection from Burning Seed without refund.

Drugs, Alcohol and Law Enforcement

Red Earth City is a magical place but it is not so magical that State and Federal laws don’t apply.

Those laws apply as much inside the gate as they do outside it and you can and should expect those laws to be enforced. This includes laws relating to drugs and illicit substances as well as alcohol.

In relation to alcohol, while the event is unlicensed it is still an offence to provide alcohol to minors unless you are their parent or legal guardian AND do so responsibly. On the spot fines of $1100 apply or a court can impose penalties up to $11,000 in fines and/or 12 months in prison.

To be clear, this applies to ANY provision of alcohol to minors including gifting. So don’t do it.

The only exception is if you are the minor's parent or legal guardian and even then it must be done responsibly.

Again, and to be clear, being a “responsible adult” is not an exception. You must be the minor’s parent or legal guardian.

Minors can be identified by magenta wristbands while adults have dark purple ones.

Children

A burn is Radically Inclusive and children are welcome at Burning Seed! If you are planning to bring kids, you need to provide for all of their needs as well – there is no childcare at Burning Seed! Parents and/or legal guardians of children under the age of 16 are responsible for those children and must provide adequate supervision at all times.

Make sure to accommodate enough water and provisions for ALL of your combined needs - cooking and cleaning, as well as hydration.

Organise and make meeting points and times when you can check in with one another should you become separated. Burning Seed is a child-friendly event, and all participants are invited to practise Civic Responsibility and Radical Self-Reliance.

In order to assist with reuniting lost children and their parents, we encourage all families to register their details at Ranger HQ upon arrival at Burning Seed. Bring along a photo of your campsite when you register, if possible. If you do become separated and cannot find one another, the Red Earth Rangers can help - when your self-reliance runs out, which is normal! Find a Ranger in orange - they are trained to help you find each other again.

Please take care to educate your kids with this guide and be extra vigilant around the permitted fire areas and burn barrels.

If you encounter a lost child, stay with the child and have someone inform a Ranger as soon as possible.

Media, photography & filming

Photography and film is allowed at Burning Seed; however, we have strict rules in place which say what you can do and when you can do it.

At Burning Seed, we are seeking to create a radically self-expressive space where people can openly be or do anything. As a result, there is a greater need to maintain the integrity and safety of the space and its people. That means that camera operators must abide by a higher standard than they may be used to.

Professionals & semi-professionals

(pictures and videos for wider distribution)

If you are planning to take photographs or film for anything beyond sharing with friends and family – including websites, gallery showings, traditional and digital media –  then you need to seek and be granted written permission via media registration. If you are planning to write and publish an article, you’ll need to register with us too. Photographers and videographers who are successful in the media registration process will be contacted and required to sign usage agreements before they are issued with a media pass.

A ticket does not automatically give you the right to film, take pictures or write for publication or broadcast, regardless of commercial intent. Even if you obtain a media pass, this doesn’t mean that you can photograph or film whatever you want. Consent ALWAYS applies.

To register as a professional media person at Seed:

1. Keep an eye out for a call for Media Crew registrations on the Burning Seed website.

2. Once registrations are open, head to http://burningseed.com/photography-film-media to complete the paperwork.

3. If registered AND approved, you will be given instructions on what to do next. This will include attending a session on consent (on-site) and picking up a media pass.

The number of film or media crews will be limited, and they are pledged not to interfere with your experience. Should you feel that someone toting a camera is creating a nuisance, please let a Ranger know.

A media pass does not come with a ticket, you must purchase a ticket in the main sales.

Photography for Personal use

(pictures and videos for me and my friends)

While our core media crew are held to rigorous ethical agreements, what are your responsibilities when it comes to taking pictures? Here’s the low down:

CONSENT!!!!!

You will need to ask for explicit permission whenever you are taking pictures of others. This means that anybody in your lens’s field of vision needs to enthusiastically agree to having their photo taken. All the time, every time. If you want to upload those pictures to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, your blog or any other social media platform, you need to communicate that intent and ask every single person in the photo or video if that is ok.

Your request will need to sound something like this: “Hey, is everybody okay with me taking a picture right now and maybe putting this on Facebook?” This gives people the chance to opt out, say no or add conditions (like no tags etc;) which you will need to honour. If someone is not ok with it - do not post it. If someone says yes, but then changes their mind and asks you to remove the image - remove it.

Lots of people come to Seed to shake off the digital world and to express themselves in ways that may look different to those on the outside, and while they may choose to share those moments with you and the people around you, they aren’t necessarily agreeing to share that with your Instagram followers or Facebook friends. People's right to exist outside the digital space is more important than anybody’s need to take a photograph.

Whether you’re a newcomer or veteran, you might not know what is acceptable until you ask. By asking, you’ll eliminate confusion and foster a tighter, safer community where people know their boundaries are protected and respected.

Photographs might seem fine at the time but radical self-expression can look quite different out of its natural habitat and splashed all round Facebook for employers, family members and others to see.

Look out for people wearing pink or yellow rubber bracelets that say “no consent to photograph”. These bracelets can be requested at Gate but we have limited stock.

Photographing Children

You must not photograph any child without the explicit permission of their parent or guardian. No exceptions.

Art

Interactivity is a hallmark of burner art, and many pieces invite the subject (i.e. YOU) to participate and play with them. However, as with romance on the Paddock, safety and consent are critical to play.

Climbing art

Do not climb on artworks, ever. Structures may not be designed to hold your weight, and Burning Seed’s insurance covers neither the participant nor the artist in the event of a fall or injury due to structural failure caused by climbing.

Tagging

As much fun as it might seem to draw a dick and balls on the Temple, or graffiti your name on a sculpture, we all know that this is really just wrecking someone else’s creation they spent months making - for a quick laugh. Don’t be the person who ruins someone else’s art or the experience of other participants, who want to see the original art and not your tag. Graffiti can be art, so why not register and make it a project?

Health & Wellbeing

Emergency Medical Services

If you or someone else requires medical assistance beyond what you can provide yourself, find a Ranger or visit the First Aid tent at Event Services indicated on the map. Trained medical crew are on duty 24 hours a day.

First Aid

If an injury is serious or requires advanced care, the First Aid crew located at Event Services are there to help. But, basic first aid is everyone’s responsibility. 

Things that everyone should have in their first aid kit:

• Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Panadol or Nurofen

• Plasters & band-aids of assorted sizes

• Bandages and dressings

• Sterile Tape (Microspore/Transpore 2.5cm)

• Sunscreen & Insect repellent

• Savlon ointment (or similar)

• Aloe vera or Paw Paw ointment

• Tea Tree oil

• Antacid

• Tweezers, scissors & safety pins

• Eye wash solution

• Hand sanitiser

• Silicone or Latex gloves

• Tampons or sanitary pads

• Condoms/Lubricant

• Antihistamine – insect bites/dust/smoke etc

• All of your regular medications/inhalers

Common issues to manage yourself:

• Insect bites and sun/wind burn, chapped lips

• Cuts, scratches

• Sprains and strains

• Small superficial burns and mild allergic reactions

• UTI’s, Thrush

• Menstrual pain, headaches, hangovers

• Condoms, birth control and morning-after pills

Ambulance Cover

If you don’t have a concession card or health insurance, we suggest obtaining ambulance membership. These services can be expensive in a rural setting. If you have health insurance, check you are covered outside your home state.

COVID-19 Health and Safety

Staying COVID-19-safe on the Paddock

Burning Seed is committed to protecting the health and safety of all attendees, volunteers, outside service providers and the broader community, and the event activities will be guided by NSW Government and Dept of Health recommendations as at the time of the event (note, these may be changed at any time prior to the event).

Please follow COVID-19 safety precautions when you come to Burning Seed.

• Check with others before making close physical contact (like hugging) - comfort levels of physical distancing may be different in a post-COVID-19 world than before so please be considerate and mindful. 

• Sanitise your hands regularly.

• Practise cough etiquette (coughing or sneezing into your elbow or tissue).

• Take personal responsibility and show care for our community by exercising caution and bringing several Rapid Antigen Test kits per person, to use during the event if you develop any symptoms. 

 Do not enter the paddock if you:

• Are feeling unwell with any COVID-19 symptoms (all arrivals will be asked if they are experiencing any flu-like symptoms before being permitted onto the paddock).

• Have recently tested positive to COVID-19 within the prior 10 days. For more information refer to NSW Health guidance and the Burning Seed Covid-19 Communications (to be released on the Burning Seed website prior to the event).

If you experience COVID-19 symptoms during the event, immediately maintain physical distancing, conduct a Rapid Antigen Test and immediately have someone inform a crew member (e.g. Ranger or Medical) then await further instructions. 

Note: we request everyone bring sufficient RATs for the event - if you run out please contact the Medical Station for how to obtain one. 

For detailed information about Covid-19 planning and Burning Seed, please go to the Appendix : Covid-19 which will be regularly updated.

Psychological and Emotional Health

With activities often happening around the clock, a Burn is a place that offers a lot of potentially new activities and stimulation which can sometimes be a little overwhelming, especially if combined with a lack of sleep or other disrupted routines. It is important then to manage one’s own mental health through the duration of the event.

Tips for staying in a good psychological and emotional state during Burning Seed include:

• Ensuring you get adequate sleep in any 24-hour period

• Eating regularly and getting good nutrition

• Staying hydrated throughout your waking hours

• Balancing high intensity activity with regular recharging downtimes

• Letting a friend know early if you experience signs of overwhelm, e.g. feelings of anxiety, disorientation, confusion or inability to perform regular tasks with the usual ease.

• Reaching out to on-site psychological and peer support services (see Sanctuary).

General Health and Safety Tips

Personal hygiene

Use the hand sanitiser after using the loos. Apply it faithfully and liberally.

Water 

There is no water available at Burning Seed. Bring a minimum of four litres per person per day, and sip frequently throughout the day and night. The cool days can be deceiving – high exertion levels at Burning Seed can quickly lead to dehydration if you’re not mindful, and nobody likes a thirsty crankypants. Plus, dehydration is dangerous - especially when combined with substances.  Do not drink from the truck that water the roads. This water is untreated and could make you very, very ill.

Food 

Keep refrigerated food in your camp colder than 10 degrees at all times. Restock ice frequently. If you experience nausea, vomiting or high fever, seek medical attention immediately, and do not prepare or handle food as you may be carrying a viral pathogen that can easily pass onto others.

Washing dishes

Wash your dishes in soapy water and rinse them in water. Use biodegradable washing detergent. Contain gray water with LNT in mind.

Camp cleanliness 

Keep the food surfaces in your camp as clean as you can. Wash your dishes in soapy water and rinse them in water. Dirty dishes can breed bacteria and make you ill.

Insects 

There may be a few mosquitoes and other common insects on site. Standard repellent should be applied to exposed or accessible areas. If they become a problem, long sleeves and pants tucked into socks is helpful.

Skin burns

First aid management for burns is to cool with clean water for 10-15 minutes, then cover with wet dressing/towel until the medical team can take a look at it. Put nothing but clean water on a burn, no ice, no ointments, no fats/oils!

Security & Road Safety

Security

In order to ensure the safety of our community, there will be security personnel monitoring

the Gate, grounds and boundaries throughout the event. If you require the security team’s services, ask for assistance from a Ranger.

Site Map

Visit the Info & Part!c!pat!on Station for a site map that shows important places that you should familiarise yourself with, like the event boundaries, Emergency Exits, Ranger HQ, and the Medical Tent.

Road Safety

Red Earth City is a bicycle and pedestrian-friendly city. Once you have entered the event and driven to your campsite, there is no driving allowed unless you are a registered mutant vehicle.

The following road rules apply in Red Earth City:

• All powered vehicles must be registered with RedMV. RedMV only issues permits to radically mutated vehicles.

• You must drive at 8 km/h or less in hazardous situations such as tight crowds. People should be able to overtake you while walking at a brisk pace.

• Give right of way to pedestrians, bicycles, and emergency services vehicles.

• Stop immediately when hailed by a Traffic Team member, Ranger, RedMV official, or law enforcement officer.

• Do not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Normal road rules apply and have been enforced on the Paddock in the past.

• Do not drive on wet or freshly­ watered roads.

Mutant vehicles

All Mutant Vehicles must seek a permit by contacting redmv@burningseed.com at least 6 weeks before the event.

Leave No Trace (LNT)

MOOP

Leave No Trace (LNT) is one of the Ten Principles that guide Burning Seed, so every time we say goodbye, we aim to leave the site exactly as we found it, or even better.

Newsflash: THERE ARE NO GARBAGE BINS OR CLEAN-UP CREWS AT BURNING SEED. 

This means that you are responsible for your individual and camp waste – during the event and when you leave. And we’re all responsible for keeping our city free of MOOP (Matter Out of Place).

Key ways to prevent MOOP:

• Don’t bring unnecessary packaging, wrapping, plastic, anything. Leave it at home!

• Carry portable ashtrays for cigarette butts (e.g. a metal mints can),

• Bring your own cup and attach it to your belt with a carabiner to avoid using single-use cups,

• Take garbage bags & ziplock bags for collecting rubbish at camp and while you travel around the site,

• Don’t use glitter or other small plastic decorations – microplastics mess up the ecosystem! This includes so called “bio-glitter”,

• Carry a backpack when you go out at night for your empty drink cans and bottles.

Rubbish and recycling

Don’t dump rubbish in neighbouring towns, roadside bins, parks, or service stations on your way out. You must take your rubbish home, or to an official waste management centre. Remember to secure your load. We suggest using heavy-duty bags in a tub with a lid or double bagging. 

If you leave on a weekend or public holiday then council refuse and recycling centres may be closed, so again, plan to take your MOOP all the way home.

Recycling & Waste Minimisation

Leave No Trace begins at home. Plan and prepare ahead by thinking about how you’re going to deal with the items you bring to Red Earth City. There are no garbage bins on site, and taking all of your rubbish away (and all the way home) to leave no trace is your responsibility.

Make the six R’s your personal motto: Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Restore and Respect.

• Get rid of the excess packaging on your food/water/toys/camping gear/batteries before you leave your house,

• Store your things in crates, ready to pack in and pack out,

• Bring plenty of extra garbage bags,

• Bring bulk water containers, preferably reusable. Minimise the use of little disposable drink containers and opt for a ‘camel back’ or reusable bottle to replenish your daily water supplies,

• Find a fabulous mug or solid plastic reusable cup for alcohol or mixed drinks and take them with you as you wander around,

• Avoid glass bottles wherever possible. Depackage all your food items before you leave home for Burning Seed to minimise your trash, and,

• Make an advance plan of how you will ‘pack out’ when it’s time to go. Begin your weekend with a recycling or waste program at your camp. Bring garbage bags to sort your rubbish.

Sweep Crew and MOOP map

Our LNT Sweep Crew are the face of our LNT Team during the event. They teach us how to avoid generating MOOP, patrol the site looking for hazards, and work with Theme Camps to control and contain MOOP. At the end of the event, the LNT Team will perform a detailed sweep of the site, collecting data about the MOOP performance of Theme Camps and public camping areas on a map. The map will then be shared with the community on the website and via social media.

Grey Water

Grey water is produced from cooking, dishwashing and body washing. Minimise grey water with baby-wipes, and limit meals that require water (like pasta). Always use phosphate-free biodegradable soap in showers (such as Castile soap or camp soap), and that water runs away from where people are walking or driving. It’s okay to pour non-toxic grey water on the grass, but not in the dam. Toxic grey water would include anything with solvents or chemicals, such as paint. Package any toxic grey water up in the same containers you bring your water in. Under no circumstances is anyone to dump toxic grey water in the toilets. Nothing that didn’t come out of a body should be put in the portaloos except toilet paper.

Toilets

The better you treat your toilet, the better it treats you! Keeping the portaloos clean and tidy helps maintain our shared facilities. We encourage participants to think of the toilets as if they were your own home toilets. It is important that only human waste and toilet paper go into them.

No wet wipes, tampons/sanitary products, diapers, food or any other refuse can go into the toilets.

Use the toilets provided instead of the forest as this helps protect the natural balance of the Red Earth forest’s low-nutrient ecosystem. Too much fertiliser promotes weeds, which choke the local indigenous plants, and poop on the ground brings flies.

There are  special accessibility toilets on-site which are marked on the map.

Dams and Wet Areas

There are a number of dams located on the site. No bathing, swimming or washing of any items is permitted in the dams or wet areas. They are full of cow poo and poisons from farm runoff. It’s bad for your health and the local ecosystem.

Community Crews

Burning Seed is run by community crew: participants who have gifted their time to help with the smooth running of things. They can be seen around Red Earth City, on the gate or at the greeters station, handing out cups of tea, banging in nails and dealing with various emergency situations that arise.

Crew Team

The Crew Team matches willing community members with the roles that make Burning Seed tick, on site and during the year. They’re here to help you find your crew by chatting about your skills and preferences, guiding you through the registration process, providing all the relevant information and supporting you on site, when needed.

No matter your skills and talents, there are many ways in which you can participate, and you may find crewing is the best part of your experience! If you are interested in helping out, please check out the roles available on the website https://burningseed.com/volunteer or contact Crew Team at crew@burningseed.com for advice or guidance on choosing the best team for you. You can also sign up for shifts onsite and find out more about crewing at the Part!c!pat!on Station near Centre Camp.

Most roles begin preparation well ahead of the event, so make contact ASAP so that you can get oriented, pumped up, and contributing!

Build

Build is the team that plans, builds and takes down the basic infrastructure of our temporary community. Build works hand-in-hand with other departments to ensure that Red Earth City is prepared and ready to receive the participants on arrival, as well as ensuring the maintenance of Burning Seed facilities throughout the burn. 

This includes:

• Marking and maintaining access roads, walkways and signage 

• Building Centre Camp, the Gate, the entrance to Red Earth City, Medical and Ranger stations and other community structures

• Communicating with outside agency facilities

• Directing portaloo placement along with the Site Design team

• Assisting with the construction of the Effigy and Temple builds

Build maintains a worksite throughout the event at Build HQ. This space is strictly off limits. The Build crew spends six weeks camping onsite to set the space up before the event, you don’t want to see (or smell) them anyway.

If you have questions about the building and maintenance of structures onsite, contact build@burningseed.com

Effigy Team

These lads and lasses sure know how to swing a hammer, and by the time you meet them they’ve probably been on site for at least a couple of weeks, building our community’s iconic structure: the Effigy.

Temple Team

The incredible artists and builders who create our most important space to reflect and release. 

Temple Guardians

Burning Seed is about creativity and celebration, but it’s also an opportunity to make deeper connections - with each other and with our innermost selves.  The space that embodies this opportunity is the Temple.  It is a secular space for contemplation, ritual, a place to say farewell to lost loved ones, or let go of anything holding us back.  It is a place to allow Immediacy into our hearts, find our inner teacher and heal. The Temple Guardian team is a group of burners dedicated to holding space at the Temple. They seek to promote a warm, open, welcoming atmosphere at the Temple to invite participants to take advantage of this opportunity for healing and growth. Please do not interfere with or remove anybody’s offerings in the Temple.

Site Design

Site Design is the team that plans, surveys and marks out the placements of roads, infrastructure, burn sites, toilets, camping areas and wayfinding signage. The Site Design team works with all departments to ensure that everyone is placed where they want to be at Red Earth City with respect for the whole town plan. A lot of mad skill goes into our town plan! 

Fire Art Response Team (FART)

The FART Team is the Burning Seed fire department. They patrol the site - responding to any emergency outbreaks of fire until local fire services arrive and assist with permitted fires and burns with planning and management.

In the event of a fire emergency, please respect and comply with any direction they give you straight away. They are able to see impending hazards and risks that aren’t obvious to those of us without the training and experience. They can be identified by their firefighting suits and general air of awesomeness.

Red Earth Rangers (RER)

RER are highly visible members of the Burning Seed community that work to mediate conflicts and promote the BURNER ETHOS, as well as overseeing hired security, fire and medical teams. A Ranger acts in a community support role whilst donning hi-visibility clothing. Rangers are citizens of RED EARTH CITY who encourage self-reliance, individual accountability, and shared responsibility. RANGERS are not the police or event security, but are there voluntarily to make sure that everyone has a good time and does not get hurt. Rangers are active participants in the community, who promote awareness of what Burning Seed is all about and point out potential hazards. Rangers walk around the site, engaging with the community and mediating when necessary.

Rangers are participants with training and a radio. They roam in pairs for 4-hour shifts and operate 24 hours each day (if possible) in highly visible orange attire. Serving as the eyes and ears of the community, Rangers help to keep participants safe. They also sometimes serve as the objective voice of reason to help people resolve conflicts and situations that they can’t handle themselves. Rangers are there for support if your Radical Self-reliance runs out.

Rangers are trained in de-escalation, non-violent communication, dispute resolution and observation. Rangers also manage safety during key Seed events like the Art, Effigy and Temple burns. Engaging their Ranger Fu and unique skills, Rangers are the first point-of-contact in the event of any emergency, fire, or medical situations. Rangers and medical services can always be found at Rangers HQ, located near Event Services.

Junior Rangers

Burning Seed is both a family friendly and radically inclusive event. The Rangers program is designed to include participants who volunteer a portion of their time at Burning Seed in service of the safety and well-being of the Burning Seed Community. Rangers act as non-confrontational community mediators, providers of reliable information, facilitators of public safety, and navigators at the edge of chaos. As our community includes children, so too should our Rangers program, if a little further from the edge of chaos!  

It is intended that the participants involved in the program will gain a deeper understanding of the principles of our community and actively participate in civic duty, communal effort, self-reliance, and support the community’s commitment to leave no trace, all whilst building a resilient and functional network amongst their peers. Their participation in the program and other contributions on the paddock allow them to participate in a gifting economy which is within their means. We are educating the under 18’s about the 10 principles and building a beautiful base for our future!

Sanctuary

Things don’t always go to plan at Seed, even for veteran burners, and that's okay. For those times you can’t find your flow - maybe you’re tired, anxious, overwhelmed or have pushed your partying past your personal limits - we have created Sanctuary. 

Sanctuary is focused on helping you re-centre; grounding your energy if needed, drawing on your inner strengths, giving a pause amidst the activity and encouraging you to find your own unique way to Burn. The Sanctuary also gifts resources about harm minimisation and how to look after yourself while you party.

Sanctuary operates around the clock during Seed, working alongside Rangers and Medics to give participants an ever present opportunity to step into a welcoming, safe space whenever required.

RedMV

Red Earth City is a bicycle and pedestrian-oriented city, and no powered vehicles are allowed to drive around the event. An exception is made for approved mutant vehicles, which are vehicles radically and safely modified, so they no longer resemble mass-produced vehicles.RedMV is responsible for registering and inspecting mutant vehicles, please get in touch at least 6 weeks before the event if you have a mutant vehicle by emailing redmv@burningseed.com.

An authorised vehicle can be identified by a coloured plastic token fixed to the front of the vehicle.

Site Safety Management

This is the crew responsible for safety on site, with the authority for making the call to evacuate or evict. Our site managers are on call 24/7 for any issues that put participants in danger. What they say goes. Please respect the decisions of this amazing team, but also remember that the safety and sustainability of the event is in your hands too - this is about participation, people! We are all Burning Seed!

Indigenous Liaison

The Indigenous Liaisons work with the local Wiradjuri communities upon whose land we hold our event. These local communities are invited to Burning Seed and many stay through the event at First Camp and tend the event long Yindyamarra fire. Our Indigenous Liaisons host the Opening Ceremony event, which kicks off the start of our event. The Indigenous Liaison also supports the involvement of Indigenous artists and culture-sharing at Seed. The Opening Ceremony will occur at 3:30 pm on Thursday 23 March. All are welcome at this event. During this time, participants are asked to turn off all amplified music. The Closing Ceremony will be held on 12pm on Monday 27th March and conclude around 2pm after which no amplified sound will be permitted. Please see the What, Where, When Guide for updates.

For more information, email indigenousliaison@burningseed.com 

Gate TEAM

The Gate Team is the business end of the event. Think mullet - they are the crew with the party out the back. They are there to check your tickets, do the wristband thang, give out the What Where When guide and generally manage the entry process. They also work closely with Rangers and Security to ensure that there are no unwelcome guests or missing children. They like to talk tough, but they’re all a big bunch of pussycats, really.

Make their day by rocking up with the tickets and ID for all people in your vehicle ready to view. Know how much water and food you’ve brought (and make sure it’s enough for the whole event), and read this guide cover to cover. You’re gonna nail it!

Traffic Team

We are the last serious faces you will see on the road before and after your welcome ceremony. The Traffic Team ensures you have a streamlined navigation to your camp. Our job is to keep everyone safe on the journey into and around the Paddock at all times. The Traffic Team have magical light sabres and once you believe it, signs are everywhere.

Then, when everyone is safe and sound, we all party!

Greeters

Greeters are the grinning faces of Burning Seed, and the bridge between the outside world and the transformational space of Red Earth City. Their mission is to welcome and provide civic orientation and cultural education for every Red Earth City citizen once they have passed through the Gate and ticketing process. Armed with wit, wisdom and infectious exuberance, they hug, dance, prance and conduct helpful fun-shops to each carload of people, including important safety and survival info, education about the Ten principles, and tips on participation.

ARTery

At the heART of Burning Seed is the ARTery. Drop by Artedia, our on-site ARTery HQ to find out about the incredible artists making the art you can see and interact with during the event. You can even join an art tour or listen to artist talks! Have a project that you want to install on the open paddock? Register your project first either https://www.burningseed.com/artery before August 11th 2022 or on site at Artedia.

Year round the ARTery work to:

• provide information and resources about the art of Burning Seed,

• review and dispense art grants,

• register all artworks & collate information for the What, Where, When guide and info displays,

• work with artists to make their art safe, well-lit and MOOP free, and

• map and place all registered installations.

Theme Camp Team

The Theme Camp Team is dedicated to nurturing and growing the interactive experiences created at Burning Seed by Theme Camps. They help plan and build a city dedicated to communal effort, gifting, participation and self-expression through the support of these immersive spaces.

They do this by:

• providing information and resources for Theme Camp organisers,

• encouraging collaboration between Theme Camps,

• reviewing Theme Camp applications and guiding organisers through the planning and preparation process,

• planning Theme Camp zoning and placement across the site, and

• promoting the Burning Man principles and importance of ‘leave no trace’

Leave No Trace (LNT) Team

Our trusty Sweep Crews seek out any remaining MOOP (Matter Out Of Place) post-event and aim to return the land to as close to its natural state as possible. They perform detailed line sweeps of areas that include Theme Camp, casual camping areas, and organisational infrastructure. They record this information for the MOOP map, which is published and shared with the community after the event. You’ll also find them spreading the leave no trace word via the captive audience of portaloos and other outreach endeavours.

They are not there to pick up after you during the Burn! YOU are the only person responsible for picking up after you!

Comms Team

The Comms Team is your first stop for Burning Seed information. They’re here to educate, engage, inform and inspire you about all things Seed - and the Burner culture beyond.  On site, they continue to take care of messages and announcements on social media and emails to ticket holders (it really never stops) and generally wander around being annoying.

They also manage the registration of media on site – amateur and professional – handle enquiries by outside media, and manage the media centre. For more information and to register, head to: http://burningseed.com/photography-film-media/ 

The What Where When guide is their baby, as is this Survival Guide.

Pre- and post-event, they will keep you up to date via the website, Facebook posts, videos, blogs, infographics, interpretive dance … you get the picture.

Glossary

MOOP

Matter Out Of Place - anything that wasn’t there before Burning Seed. This includes every individual piece of glitter, and grey water which can mess with the PH level of the soil or can be seen on the day we depart the site. Leave no trace means leave no trace.

POOP

Poop Out Of Place - bodily wastes belong in one of two places: inside the portaloo or taken home with you.

Paddock

Burning Man is located on the Playa, meaning beach in Spanish. Burning Seed burns are located on the Paddock. The Paddock is the central art paddock area at Red Earth City where the burns take place. No camping or parking allowed on the Paddock. See you on the Paddock!

Darkwad

A sentient being (usually human) that isn’t emitting light after sunset. Even if not riding a bike, a Darkwad is at risk of being hit by people who are due to their invisibility in the dark.

Participant

You! Every person on the Paddock is a participant. There are no “punters” or “customers”. 

Build

Restricted area for storing infrastructure. This is a construction site for approved crew only. PPE and safety induction is required. Do not enter! 

Mutant Vehicle

A vehicle that has been rendered unrecognisable through creative transformation.

Theme Camp

A creative collective that is placed on the map and gifts a wild array of activities. There are no “main stages” at a Burn and theme camps are the lifeblood of Part!c!pat!on. 

Burgin

A first time Burner

APPENDIX 1 : COVID-19 : JULY 26th 2022

COVID-19 and the Burning Seed Community: Living and Working Together on the Paddock in 2022-borrowed with thanks from Burning Man.

As we reunite after a long pause, we’re faced with new challenges, as well as many opportunities to care for ourselves and each other. We haven’t done this beautiful thing in a few years, and many of us are still figuring out how to be social with others on this scale.

Burning Seed will not require proof of vaccination or a negative test as a condition of entry. This decision was made after careful consideration and ongoing conversations over the last year, following the guidance of medical experts, and observing how other events and gatherings have operated safely.

However, if you have COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms you should not come to the event and may be turned away at the Gate.

If you cannot attend because you have COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, ticket refunds will be provided with appropriate proof.

In addition to this, we are sharing some cultural parameters that we hope will create a healthy and safe event. We’re all in this together!

Here are some common sense guidelines we’ve come up with to help us better enjoy our experience at Burning Seed this year:

• Contemplate ahead of your arrival how you’ll navigate the health, safety, and social aspects of the event. Re-acquainting ourselves with being in close proximity to so many people provides a powerful opportunity to practice patience, compassion, kindness, and strong communication.

• Encourage your campmates, friends and other attendees to read the Survival Guide more than once before they pack – not after they’re already on the road! It’s chock full of info that’ll help you plan for a safe, healthy, and happy return to event life and reading it is one of the terms of the ticket purchase.

• Do whatever you can to engage safely with your community! For some that might mean getting a COVID-19 vaccine before the event. For others it could be COVID-19 testing before you arrive, and at the event if you feel sick or think you’ve been exposed. Perhaps wearing a mask and/or social distancing is right for you. 

• Consent is queen! And it’s not just about sex. Ask permission before offering a hug or touching someone else, whether you know them or not. Respect the fact that others may want more space than usual this year. There could be a wide range of comfort levels on the Paddock in 2023. 

• Healthy boundaries are cool! When you’re with your fellow Burners, express what you are comfortable with and what you’re not comfortable with.

• Participants of all ages come to Burning Seed. Keep in mind that our city welcomes everyone, and that includes the more vulnerable in our community such as young children, the elderly and immune-compromised. 

• Vaccination status, health status, concern about safety precautions, or COVID-19-related disagreements are not justification to treat others with disrespect. Lead every interaction with kindness and care. 

Finally, here are a few additional tips for all participants to help minimize the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 at the event, what to do if you suspect you have COVID-19 while at the event, and how to access related support services. 

• If you are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster and haven’t received one yet, consider doing so at least two weeks prior to arriving to optimize immunity against the virus.

• The week prior to arrival and the week after departure, avoid indoor gatherings in poorly ventilated settings or densely packed outdoor gatherings. If this is not possible, consider wearing a mask in these situations.

• Take a RAT before driving to and after leaving the event. Please do not enter Burning Seed if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive within 10 days. We will gladly refund your ticket if this happens and you have appropriate proof.

• Bring enough RATs for yourself, and extras for others in your camp. If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19 or if you have any symptoms, please test! 

• Bring N95 or KN95 masks with you (and some to share if you have extras!). Some staff spaces and some camps may require participants to wear a mask before interacting, so you may not be permitted in some areas without a mask. Please respect these decisions.

• Practise good hand hygiene. We will have sanitisation stations available and in particular in areas where people gather and food and water is available

• If you suspect you have COVID-19 while at Burning Seed, or you are experiencing symptoms, consider how to best help protect others*. Please isolate yourself for five days. If you must be around others, keep 1.5m of distance and wear a mask. Following your isolation, continue to mask up in social settings with a well-fitting N-95 for the duration of the event.

• If you are sick with COVID-19 and need emergency care for symptoms you cannot control on your own at camp, go to Medics while wearing a well-fitting N-95 mask. Please let the volunteers and/or staff there know you tested positive so they can initiate safety measures. This is both for your own wellbeing and the protection of everyone around you. 

• We understand that for many people the pandemic has been extremely impactful. There are mental health support services available at Burning Seed if you or someone in your camp needs them. Please go to either a Ranger or Sanctuary to connect with these services.

Share this with your camp mates! We’ve made it together this far — let’s have 2023 be the year of respect, resilience, and love.

*All persons diagnosed with COVID-19 should isolate themselves for 5 days and wear a well-fitting mask when around others for 10 days. Recommendations for ending isolation after infections with SARS-COV2 vary depending on disease severity and immune status. Recommendations for quarantine and subsequent testing after exposure to SARS-COV2 vary depending on your vaccination status or recent diagnosis of COVID-19. More specific details can be found on the NSW Health Website