Festivals are all about music, dancing, and having a good time. But when the sun is blazing, keeping your drinks and food cool can be a challenge. That’s where this DIY in-ground cooler comes in handy. It’s easy to make, environmentally friendly, and a great conversation starter. This raver has had Ice Cold Beverages on day 4 of a very hot festival with this technique. Here’s how to do it, but before we start, don’t forget to check out our awesome shop for all your festival goodies!
Step 1: Choose Your Spot
Find a spot that’s close to your camp but not in a high-traffic area where people might trip over it. The ground should be relatively soft for easy digging. Make sure to choose a spot that’s in the shade to keep your cooler as cold as possible.
Step 2: Dig a Hole
Using a shovel or a trowel, dig a hole about two feet deep and one foot wide. The size can vary depending on how many items you want to keep cool. Remember, the deeper the hole, the more you can fit, and the cooler it will be.
Step 3: Line the Hole with a Plastic Bag
Take a large, sturdy plastic bag and line the hole you’ve dug. Make sure the bag is big enough that it can be folded over the top once the hole is filled. This will act as a liner to keep the earth from getting into your food and drinks.
Step 4: Fill the Bag with Ice
Fill about one-third of the bag with ice. You can use block ice, cube ice, or even reusable ice packs. Block ice tends to last longer, but cube ice will chill your items faster.
Step 5: Add Your Drinks and Food
Now it’s time to add your drinks and food. Try to group items together in a way that makes sense – drinks with drinks, fruits with fruits, etc. This will make it easier to find what you’re looking for later.
Step 6: Cover with More Ice
Once your items are in, cover them with more ice until the bag is filled to just below ground level.
Step 7: Fold and Cover
Fold the top of the bag over onto the ice, then cover the hole with a board or a piece of tarp. This will keep the cold air in and the warm air out, and prevent any critters from getting into your new in ground cooler.
Tips:
- Use a big black rubbish sack for the lining, and you can then empty the water out at the end of the festival and use it for a rubbish bag to clean up your campsite!
- Use one of the bag ties that usually come attached to the bottom of the big black rubbish sacks to tie the top of the bag to keep it closed and clear of the elements.
- If it’s a grassy area you’re camping in, you can use some grass that you carefully removed to make the cooler to cover it. So cut it out as a square and keep it aside when your making the hole, then put this over the closed bag which is full of ice, food, and drinks. This will help keep the top of the bag nice and cool.
- If you cant get any ice a piece of cardboard, maybe from one of the drinks boxes can be used to cover it, then maybe a tarp, you can also use a tarp to line the cooler, but it’s a little easier to use a big bag.
And there you have it – your very own in-ground cooler an Eco friendly chiller that’s way better than a chilly bin! Not only is this a fun and effective way to keep your food and drinks cool at a festival, but it’s also a great way to reduce the need for bulky coolers. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter. Enjoy your chilled beverages!
