Cheerful Valley Campground

Come Camping in New York’s Finger Lakes Region

1412 Route 14, Phelps, NY 14532, 315.781.1222    Email Us

Growing an RV Herb Garden

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RV herb gardenIf you have managed to master the skills needed to cook in your RV, why not incorporate fresh flavors into your meals with your own herbs grown inside your RV. Herb gardens are compact and very easy to maintain and care for which makes them an ideal option for just about any type of mobile home.

Choosing Your Herbs

Avoid the types of herbs that may grow too large to keep in small containers. Some of the preferred smaller options will include marjoram, basil, chives, thyme, oregano and rosemary.

Planting

Choose deeper pots that come with drainage holes situated at the bottom so that any excess water can easily drain away. Use a thin layer of tiny pebbles at the bottom and then add a good quality potting soil. From seeds to the point that they are ready to use in meals, growing herbs in your RV can take as little as 3 to 4 weeks.

You must make sure that you give your herbs enough water and that they are able to receive adequate sunlight in order to enhance the growing processes. From time to time you can consider organic fertilizer to make sure the herbs are receiving all the nutrients that they need for growth.

Pruning

When you regularly prune the herbs you are growing you offer the plant with the best way to grow vigorously into hardy specimens. Remember that the more that you are able to prune the more your herbs will grow.

To enjoy the most out of your herb garden make sure you frequently check on the soil and to ensure it does not dry out. Also try to ensure that your herbs are exposed to a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight every day.

One of the benefits of a RV herb garden is that it can easily be transported between your normal residence and the RV home between camping trips. Fresh herbs are a fantastic way to enhance your cooking skills especially when you are away from home.

Clothing to Protect You From the Sun

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sun protection clothing at campClothing is the very “first line” of defense against harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun that protects our bodies from blocking or absorbing this radiation. When outdoors on a camping trip the more you are able to cover your skin the better.

What Is UPF?

UPF is short for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and is an indication of the fraction of the UV rays is able to penetrate a fabric. For example, a shirt that has a UPF of 50 will allow only 1/50th of UV radiation from the sun to absorb into the skin.

Fabric Factors

Even when you wear clothing that covers every inch of the body, if the sun is able to get through, the clothing is not very useful. The fabrics are designed with many tiny fibers that are knitted or woven together. When looking through a microscope there are spaces between these fiber and this is where the UV rays can pass through the holes and reach your skin. The tighter weaves and knits mean smaller holes which mean less UV is able to pass through. The twill used in making denim or tweeds is examples of tightly woven fabrics.

When thinking about the clothes to wear for a camping trip keep in mind that synthetic fibers like acrylic, nylon, lycra and polyester are more protective options than lustrous or shiny semi-synthetic fabrics such as rayon or bleached cotton that reflect more of the UV rays than matte fabrics such as linen that absorb. Finally consider the density and weight of the fabric. Sheer and light silk gauze provides a lot less protection when compared to a cotton, heavier denim. Look out for the clothing items that have a minimum of UPF 30 and rather choose items of clothing that cover more of your skin.

Light and Tasty Camping Salads

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summer saladSummer will be back before we know it, so there’s no wonder many people are already planning their camping trips. Having a nice meal in the wilderness is among the favorite activities of most people. Whether you love hamburgers or you’d rather have some hot dogs, a light summer salad is always going to complement your outdoor meals. You can find here, below, two favorites to try on your next camping holiday.

Summertime Strawberry Jello Salad With Walnuts

Ingredients:
1 15 oz pineapple (canned, crushed)
1 pack of strawberry jello
1 small Cool Whip
1/2 cup walnuts (raw, chopped)
16 oz cottage cheese

Drain the crushed pineapple in a colander as much as you can.
Put the cottage cheese in a large bowl and mix it with the jello.
Add the Cool Whip and the pineapple, and mix everything very well.
Add the walnuts, stir some more, and then let the bowl set in the refrigerator for one hour.
You can either put your salad in a covered bowl or in several individual containers. Keep it in a cooler. you can serve this salad as a meal course or as dessert.

 

Ingredients:
1 pack rainbow rotini pasta, cooked as instructed on the label
1 pack broccoli (drained and cooked)
1/4 pound of salami (diced)
1/4 pound of provolone cheese (diced)
1/4 cup black olives (pitted, sliced)
1/2 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
1 pack Zesty Italian Dressing, prepared as per the instructions on the pack.

Put all ingredients in a large bowl, and mix them thoroughly. Add the dressing, and stir it in carefully, until you obtain a homogenous mix. You’ll obtain a light and delicious pasta salad that goes very well with any dish.

These are only two summer salad ideas. Try them, you’re going to love them! Your family and friends are going to love you, as well!

You Can Make Your Own Insect Repellent

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make your own mosquito repellentAny outdoors activity will expose you and guests to insects. This includes your camping trips, drinks out on the patio, parties at the beach and barbecues. Most of these insects have germs that can cause illnesses. For this reason, you’ll want to have plenty of insect repellent on hand during your outdoor activities. Most of the over the counter remedies have strong chemicals that aren’t good for your health or your body over the course of time. For this reason, you’ll want to make your own healthier versions of insect repellent. Here you’ll learn some very effective homemade insect repellent recipes.

There are some ideal essential oils out there that are very effective at repelling those vicious insects. Tea tree oil is one that works well against deer flies, ticks, and chiggers. If you’re out to alleviate black flies or mosquitos you’ll want to try some eucalyptus and lemon. Both of these work very well to help eliminate them. Another great remedy is peppermint oil and geranium oil blended together.

Never apply full-strength essential oil on your skin, it may burn your skin and cause a serious allergic reaction. Always mix it with a carrier oil prior to putting it on your skin. It’s far better to use one essential oil at a time as you prepare an insect repellent. If you’re going to mix the scents always choose essential oils that are from the same family. Lemon and lemongrass go well together as do lavender and eucalyptus. Tea tree oil and clove oil should always be used alone.

Another way to use lavender oil is to mix it with rosemary and peppermint oil to form your own version of an insect repellent. These are vital things to remember when you’re preparing your own versions of insect repellent.

Thus, your camping trips, barbecues and your parties on the beach or patio will be far more enjoyable when you employ these techniques to avoid insect bites. You’ll learn to mix and match your own preferred versions of these as you go. Just mix them in a spray bottle for best results.

Staying Cool in Warm Weather

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hot weather campingIt can be a challenge to stay cool when the weather is hot. Too much heat, during warmer weather, can lead to exhaustion, dehydration, heat stress, and even heat stroke. Here are some helpful tips that can be used to help you stay cool when the weather is hot.

Stay Hydrated – Water is essential for staying cool in warm or hot weather. It can help to cool your body and keep your tissues hydrated. Drink water on hot days, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid sugary drinks and soda, as well as alcohol and coffee, because they can have a diuretic effect. Water is best for cooling off on hot days.

Consume Foods That Are Cooling – Foods can help keep you cool. Choose foods like fresh raw vegetables, fruits, and salads. Make an effort to eat smaller meals which can help keep your core temperature down. When you eat a large meal, your body has a hard time breaking it down, which can raise your body temperature. So, eat small means filled with cooling, fresh foods.

Plan Your Time in the Sun – Avoid doing outside activities during the peak time of the mid-day sun. That means you should limit your sun exposure between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm when the weather is warm or hot. If you must be outside at these times, limit your sun exposure, as much as possible. Children, the elderly, and people with sensitive skin should consider staying a cool area and limiting the amount of time they spend in the sun.

Here are some additional tips. Get to know your body and look for signs of overheating or heat exhaustion. Wear light-colored, protective clothes. And, make sure to drink lots of fluids, especially water. Following these tips will help keep your body healthy, happy, and cool, even on the hottest days of the year.

Easy Energy Bars for Camping Treats

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camping energy barsHave you recently been to a grocery store and priced out a box of energy bars? If you are outraged at the high price that is required for a few energy bars then you may want to consider making your own energy bars at home. In fact, not only will this save you money but it will be a great opportunity to spend some time with your children as they help you put together a variety of energy bar recipes.

One energy bar recipe that your kids will truly love is a peanut energy bar. A peanut energy bar is delicious and nutritious because it is packed full of seeds, nuts, fruit, and peanuts. It is a great grab-and-go breakfast alternative for parents and children who are on a busy schedule. The recipe requires peanuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, rolled oats, rice cereal, and wheat germ.

Another no bake energy bar that has delicious wholesome ingredients is the Mediterranean no bake energy bar. This energy bar is made with almonds, dried dates, spicy cinnamon, and flaxseeds. All you need for this amazing treat is a food processor. After you have mixed all of the ingredients in a food processor you can pour the mixture into a pan of your choice that is lined with wax paper. Press the mixture down into the pan, cover it with Saran wrap, and chill in the refrigerator until the mixture is hard.

A unique energy bar that will be a big sensation in your home is the pear and ginger energy bar. This energy bar requires one pear, fresh ginger, flour, dried dates, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and ground flaxseed. Once again you will need only a food processor. Do the same process as you would with the Mediterranean no bake energy bar. All of the above recipes can be made easily at home but you can also make an energy bar of your own design by simply using your imagination.

How To Protect Your Pets’ Paws When You’re Traveling In Your RV

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protect pets' pawsIf you have a pet, it’s very likely that he or she is a part of your family and often goes with you in your RV. However, your pet isn’t at home and can be at a higher risk for injury if you’re not being mindful of their paws.

To protect your pet’s paws ensure that you have some special paw pads available for those times that your pet may have to go outside but you’re not in an area that has softer grass or pavement.

Keep in mind, too, that pavement can get hot and burn your pet’s paws. Help your pet before you ever leave home by working with them to get used to paw protectors before the trip. This way, when you put them on during the trip your pet won’t mind wearing them.

Keep your pet on a leash at all times to ensure that they don’t run off into an area that could be potentially dangerous for their paws. Even the most well-behaved pet will sometimes run off in an unfamiliar area. Be sure to stay with your pet at all times when they are outside of your RV.

Always do a sweep of the campsite area before letting your pet out of the RV. Shards of glass and other sharp objects can seriously injure your pet’s paws. We work hard to make sure your site is clean as a whistle when you arrive but doing an extra look-around can’t hurt.

Keep a ground cover available for your RV so that when your pet emerges he or she will have something familiar to walk on.

Remove pet paw covers when your pet is inside of the RV and make sure that you teach your pet that these are for their safety and comfort. It will help you to protect them if they get into the habit of wearing these on their feet.

Healthy Treats for Little Campers

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fruit and veggie snacksThe kids are going to love camping and they will get their share of treats while they are here. If you want to try and balance their snack intake with some nutritious options, we have some suggestions we’ve found along the way.

Granola
A lot of people make their own and bring it from home. It’s a good way to control the amount of sugar that goes into the mix. You can add all your family’s favorites and they will enjoy it in place of other snacks you may be trying to curb. The blend of oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit in your granola will provide fiber and nutrients to keep the kids going strong.

Veggies and Dip
Kids will eat most veggies once they are cut and accompanied with a dip of some kind. You can offer low fat ranch dressing, hummis, yogurt with seasonings, or even peanut butter to go with them. There is just something about the dipping part of eating these that makes them more fun for the little ones.

Fresh Fruit
Fortunately, this is usually pretty easy to get the kids to eat and summer provides a bounty of choices. From sweet watermelon, apples, oranges, seasonal berries, kiwi, and pineapple, you have lots to choose from.

Nuts, Seeds, and Dried Fruit
Having a variety of these around to snack on will keep kids from getting restless before dinner. They are filling and delicious – exactly what you want to feed them when they are looking for a snack.

Kids will run and play all day when they are camping and that means they will be working up an appetite. You can keep the snacking healthy while still allowing for the treats they plan on during vacation time.

Tips for Fall Camping

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Fall Camping at its FinestIt’s a wonderful time of the year and we hope you’ll make the most of it. Fall can become your favorite time to camp once you’ve tried it. It does require a different approach so there are some things to keep in mind.

It gets dark a lot earlier than it did in the summer. Days can shorten by several hours alltogether so, when Fall camping, it is advisable to arrive earlier than usual. No one like setting up in the dark so arriving by at least mid-afternoon should have you unpacked and enjoying a toasty campfire by early evening.

Pack clothes that can be layered. Afternoon temperatures will be warm and inviting but evenings will really cool down. Be sure to bring along your favorite hoodies and cozy pjs. You will put them to good use.

Think about your favorite soups and stews when packing food for your trip. Fall is a time for watching the steam roll up out of your cup or bowl while sitting all snuggled in around the campfire. Your tummy will appreciate the warm feeling of a nice, hot bowl of chowder.

We love Fall, here at the campground, and we think you will, too. Give us a call to make a reservation and then prepare to fall in love with this particular camping season. We look forward to seeing you.

Delight Your Camping Family With Dutch Oven Bread

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Dutch Oven Bread Some of the best camping memories we have come from the smells of our favorite food cooking over the campfire. That morning coffee that wafts around the campsite as we wake up, fresh corn roasting on the grill, and fresh-baked bread can be one of those memories as well. It’s really not hard to make fresh bread when you’re camping and Dutch ovens make it so much easier to do. The family will love sitting down to a meal with fresh, warm, toasty bread all ready for them to slather in real butter and sink their teeth into.

Photo Source: Keyingredient.com

All you need is flour, yeast, salt, water, and a Dutch oven. You combine the ingredients just like you do with bread at home and let it rise. You can punch it down once and form it into a ball, then slash it two or three times on top with a sharp knife. You’ll drop it into an oiled Dutch oven or some people like to use parchment paper. It can take a while to cook using this method. You may leave it in the Dutch oven for up to an hour and a half, depending on the heat of your coals.

It’s a good opportunity to add things to the bread for a variety of flavor. You might like to try adding shredded cheese, garlic, rosemary, or even try new types of flour such as pumpernickel or rye. Another option is to flatten the dough and layer it with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon then roll it into a loaf. The results will be a tasty cinnamon bread that will disappear in a single meal. You can also make the dough ahead of time at home and pop it in the freezer. Then simply let it thaw when you’re ready to cook at the campsite.

You can find this recipe and details for cooking the bread in your Dutch oven at Campfire Dutch Oven Bread.

Camping meals provide time for families to catch up and enjoy time with each other. We hope all your camping meals are delicious and accompanied by the friendly faces of the people you love most. Give this bread to try it really is easy to do and very rewarding.