tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post5095009654415718221..comments2024-03-27T07:59:25.142+02:00Comments on Eco Footprint ~ South Africa: Sunny times...Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-64900596685998941572013-03-13T15:14:00.318+02:002013-03-13T15:14:00.318+02:00Katie - Instead of going to the expense of buying ...Katie - Instead of going to the expense of buying a solar oven, why not try what I did:<br /><br />http://ecofootprintsa.blogspot.com/2011/02/solar-oven-questions-and-answers.html - the second pic down)<br /><br />I turned an old Coleman's cooler box into a basic solar oven, to see what temperature I could achieve - which was a max of 105 - 110oC). If you find that you can achieve a temp of Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-27932796169405393442013-03-13T14:58:49.517+02:002013-03-13T14:58:49.517+02:00I love your solar oven! I have wanted one for qui...I love your solar oven! I have wanted one for quite some time, but not sure if we would have enough sun other than in the summer. I guess it never hurts to try.<br /><br />Very inspirational post!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10666540690729586962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-39112722001012823192013-03-13T09:27:13.650+02:002013-03-13T09:27:13.650+02:00Thanks, Jane - have heard of IPM but haven't h...Thanks, Jane - have heard of IPM but haven't heard of buying ladybirds but haven't heard of them for sale in South Africa.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-40831814620986278562013-03-12T16:56:01.673+02:002013-03-12T16:56:01.673+02:00Dani,
The process is called Integrated Pest Mana...Dani,<br /> The process is called Integrated Pest Management or IPM. It differs place to place because of course, we all have different environments and ecosystems. In the American South, we can buy 10,000 ladybugs (look like British labybirds anyway) in a gauze bag. At dusk you cut open the bag, and hose the bag out which causes them to disperse. They will eat the tick eggs and the following JaneofVirginiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15320442534060401465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-52852077511877724332013-03-12T12:59:13.124+02:002013-03-12T12:59:13.124+02:00Sprig - LOL - no, not terribly pleasant - and I we...Sprig - LOL - no, not terribly pleasant - and I went and did the SAME to 1/2 of my 2.76 kg onion... <br /><br />All a learning curve - and NOW I really, really need that solar dryer!Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-1141617649653458872013-03-12T12:00:08.441+02:002013-03-12T12:00:08.441+02:00oh wow! that food looks awesome! sun-dried tomatoe...oh wow! that food looks awesome! sun-dried tomatoes less so.. :-p Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-7578892848843981092013-03-12T10:38:32.228+02:002013-03-12T10:38:32.228+02:00Quinn - And trust me, according to RMan, the food ...Quinn - And trust me, according to RMan, the food (meat) cooked in a solar oven acquires a completely different flavour to that which is cooked on a stove top / inside an electric oven, because the flavour doesn't escape through the excess steam produced during the cooking process. And tenderness - knives definitely aren't needed at a table which is loaded with solar cooked food :)Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-63501445436954813832013-03-12T10:35:56.015+02:002013-03-12T10:35:56.015+02:00Kris - We live in such a windy, fly ridden place t...Kris - We live in such a windy, fly ridden place that I would hesitate to dry anything in the open. Definitely covering anything with muslin wouldn't work - I'd spend all day just checking that the "tie-downs" hadn't been blown off their intended duty.<br /><br />With a solar dryer it is almost like putting food in one of those old-fashioned net door pantries - except this Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-22974157572411182802013-03-12T10:31:34.286+02:002013-03-12T10:31:34.286+02:00Mrs Mac - LOL - dunno about brushed - maybe drowne...Mrs Mac - LOL - dunno about brushed - maybe drowned is a better word...? ;)Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-12358217338690053852013-03-12T03:53:57.014+02:002013-03-12T03:53:57.014+02:00I love the colorful pictures of all your pots insi...I love the colorful pictures of all your pots inside the oven! And that juicy-looking chicken is making my mouth water. I priced organic chicken at the market on Saturday, and at $16./pound, I had to decline. When the Farmers' Markets start up again in a few months time, I'll be checking meat prices again. I've relied on a crockpot for my occasional meat-cooking adventures, but Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17292701509476856967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-52918302190812070902013-03-12T01:33:52.384+02:002013-03-12T01:33:52.384+02:00I'm wondering - can't you just dry your st...I'm wondering - can't you just dry your stuff on screens (with netting) during your hot season? I've dried stuff that way. My cousin (down south) used to lay the cut fruit on a tin roof with muslin cover and dried all the peaches each year. I've hung up herbs and peppers to dry in warm shade. What is the benefit of an actual solar dryer?Krishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17822528453563683772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-74278991965430236842013-03-11T18:24:35.476+02:002013-03-11T18:24:35.476+02:00Good job .. I'm so tempted to try such an oven...Good job .. I'm so tempted to try such an oven in our summer months .. winter .. forget it .. too many cloudy days and we live in such a low solar area. So the Christmas cakes .. are they brushed with brand/rum and left to 'ripen' til Christmas?Mrs. Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06644129213141875138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-59579976476270272702013-03-11T15:14:45.247+02:002013-03-11T15:14:45.247+02:00Jane - You're welcome :)
I PROMISE you will s...Jane - You're welcome :)<br /><br />I PROMISE you will sooooooooo enjoy using your solar oven :)<br /><br />Cats and birds - not a problem, remember, it gets hot like an oven. Bears - hmmmmmm...<br /><br />Please - could you let me have info on the ladybirds?Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-48977390693064820922013-03-11T13:35:51.392+02:002013-03-11T13:35:51.392+02:00Thank you for this. I bought this same model last ...Thank you for this. I bought this same model last year, just as North America headed for winter, and so I really haven't used it. I also have NOT yet found a place where cats, birds, and bears will stay out of such a thing and where I can get the food back in the house easily. When Spring finally comes here, I will try it.JaneofVirginiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15320442534060401465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-85040426020356786782013-03-11T12:56:53.068+02:002013-03-11T12:56:53.068+02:00Tami - You can always bake cookies / cakes in a so...Tami - You can always bake cookies / cakes in a solar oven - it produces no heat in the kitchen ;)<br /><br />If you're asking which solar oven I have - it is the SunCook solar oven (http://www.sunok.eu)?<br /><br />If it's to solar dryer - then I have the plans for the Solar Food Dryer by Eben Fodor - available on Amazon. Just need RMan to cut the wood to size - I'd be willing to Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-6966301677547372482013-03-11T12:41:14.665+02:002013-03-11T12:41:14.665+02:00Thanks for the reminder! I had just mentioned to ...Thanks for the reminder! I had just mentioned to SM that I wanted to buy a food dehydrator. This would actually be the better buy as I hate to cook in the oven during the summer. (No cookies or cakes at my house till Fall.) <br /><br />What brand/size do you have?Tamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06597093453934852571noreply@blogger.com