Victorian Encampment Expansion on a Budget

Our military group 'Adelaide Regiment of Volunteer Rifles' has been steadily growing over the last two years. While it is amazing to add to the ranks at events, it can also cause difficulties. Every year we attend multiple encampments. When we started it was just Nic and myself. This made things very easy for me to set up camp. We then had Danee join us. Two years later we had my father also join us. This year we now have 3 plus further members joining us. We also have friends staying in the modern encampment area. This will make it one of the best camps ever *fingers crossed*. 

Unfortunately, everything in life has a catch. We have been working hard over the last 5 years to be progressive and improve our encampment. With high numbers of new members who have never been on encampment before and are not sure if they will again, it creates work for me. I will need to preserve and prepare enough food for double the number of people. Thankfully, I was able to buy a huge boiler last year. This is something I am looking forward to. 

Keeping the camp free of obviously modern furniture is harder. We have had to make some compromises. The encampment is often wet and seating is required, so on top of my period folding chairs I have had to source 4 more chairs. Nic picked up canvas folding stools from the op shop for only a few dollars each. I removed the covers, linseed oiled the wood and then covered over the canvas. They are not perfect, but are a far nicer compromise than modern plastic folding chairs.

Next, I plan to sew some mattresses that they can stuff with straw.

Covering the canvas.

The finished chairs.