tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post5803214271278371753..comments2024-03-27T07:59:25.142+02:00Comments on Eco Footprint ~ South Africa: Sun drying...Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-66479727581413814362014-04-15T11:16:27.560+02:002014-04-15T11:16:27.560+02:00Or covering the top with wood, and making it into ...Or covering the top with wood, and making it into an owl box... :)Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-85325578234673226972014-04-15T11:15:56.496+02:002014-04-15T11:15:56.496+02:00Jayne - welcome, and that you for taking the time ...Jayne - welcome, and that you for taking the time to leave a comment.<br /><br />As I would be coating the entire unit with a foodsafe mixture, I'm not sure if leaving it out for a couple of months would suffice. I'd rather be safe than sorry...Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-58151500949222940112014-04-14T20:06:10.467+02:002014-04-14T20:06:10.467+02:00does it have some sort of craft possibilities?
Fi...does it have some sort of craft possibilities? <br />Firing clay beads or something??Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-85889935216009396272014-04-14T13:58:09.965+02:002014-04-14T13:58:09.965+02:00If you left the box outside in the sun for a few m...If you left the box outside in the sun for a few months would the formaldehyde leach from the wood enough to make it safe to use?Bag End Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06190496929132717769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-11483661123435161902014-04-13T21:42:10.583+02:002014-04-13T21:42:10.583+02:00dreamer - Once I get an idea in my head I worry it...dreamer - Once I get an idea in my head I worry it out and figure it out. I'm not giving up ;)Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-26342850736675032602014-04-13T21:26:56.013+02:002014-04-13T21:26:56.013+02:00That's really disappointing Dani, I hope you f...That's really disappointing Dani, I hope you find a workable solution. dreamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15569512066931951883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-44165614675999552902014-04-13T11:43:56.867+02:002014-04-13T11:43:56.867+02:00donna Leslie - Welcome, and thank you for taking t...donna Leslie - Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.<br /><br />My only concern with melamine is the production process - it also uses formaldahyde - and secondly, the fumes that the "plastic" will give off during heating. Repeated heating of melamine must surely encourage deterioration, and exposure to further chemicals within the product.<br /><br />I used aDanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-34491358359736113632014-04-13T11:35:06.117+02:002014-04-13T11:35:06.117+02:00How about melamine-covered wood? I had a snake cag...How about melamine-covered wood? I had a snake cage with a heater made from melamine and it stood up to the heat well.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04328459432969222029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-57671535447789162972014-04-13T06:37:10.949+02:002014-04-13T06:37:10.949+02:00nihal - Yes, a cardboard one with some protective ...nihal - Yes, a cardboard one with some protective netting would work, but I have bigger plans that spurs me on to a more substantial model.<br /><br />If you can afford the solar oven, you wont regret the purchase. They are brilliant for giving you the freedom and power saving to cook outdoors when the weather is suitable. I have even successfully canned tomatoes in mine Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-38586366583984632732014-04-13T06:24:38.683+02:002014-04-13T06:24:38.683+02:00You can always make one from cardboard. There are ...You can always make one from cardboard. There are some plans over here: http://solarcooking.org/plans/ And this one can be cut in an angle too if needed : http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/%22Minimum%22_Solar_Box_Cooker<br /><br />I want to make a solar oven and dehydrator for ages but like you my research never ends and I honestly don't trust the abilities of "fundi"s here... I nihalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03754535168970492697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-8277359971436034882014-04-13T06:11:22.067+02:002014-04-13T06:11:22.067+02:00P.S. the dusty wind is also a large motivating fac...P.S. the dusty wind is also a large motivating factor... :)Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-47416983834612703112014-04-13T06:09:45.980+02:002014-04-13T06:09:45.980+02:00Quinn - You are 100% correct - we can sun dry frui...Quinn - You are 100% correct - we can sun dry fruit & veg by just laying it in the sun. But, with the hordes of flies (and very cheeky field mice) we have here I would far prefer to enclose the food behind a screen of some kind ;)Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-36258349109724411792014-04-13T06:05:08.780+02:002014-04-13T06:05:08.780+02:00Harry - T&E is good, but can work out expensiv...Harry - T&E is good, but can work out expensive if there is too much of it LOL<br /><br />Thanks. I did write to you - to your "other" address.<br />Perhaps I'd better forward the mail to HF :)Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-72265242031920679912014-04-13T06:01:15.444+02:002014-04-13T06:01:15.444+02:00Linda - Spot on. Water security is right there at ...Linda - Spot on. Water security is right there at the very top of the list and should and must take precedence before anything else.<br /><br />Your solar dehydrator will happen I'm sure :)Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-79669223229411065582014-04-13T05:13:51.722+02:002014-04-13T05:13:51.722+02:00Oh, that IS frustrating, Dani!
I admit when I saw...Oh, that IS frustrating, Dani! <br />I admit when I saw the title of your post, I expected to read about how you can dehydrate just by spreading things in shallow baking pans and stirring the contents every hour or so. Looks like I'm overestimating the dryness and heat of your climate!<br />Good luck with the next iteration :) Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17292701509476856967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-44615426174834765972014-04-13T01:26:15.006+02:002014-04-13T01:26:15.006+02:00Well, trial and error is not a bad way to learn. ...Well, trial and error is not a bad way to learn. I'm trying to think who I know has a solar dehydrator that they built themselves. I know somebody did but I just can't remember who.<br /><br />Don't forget to let me know what you wanted to ask me about. I'd like to help with whatever it is if I can.<br /><br />Harry Flashmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05071021900005041592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-18107018549783405062014-04-12T23:38:42.938+02:002014-04-12T23:38:42.938+02:00What a shame Dani! You'd put so much thought i...What a shame Dani! You'd put so much thought into it. We would like to have a solar dehydrator one day but for me, it's more urgent that we solve our water problems. We would have had nothing to dehydrate this summer.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10975556587020883049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-82309114388260869792014-04-12T20:12:14.327+02:002014-04-12T20:12:14.327+02:00Mum - Where food (and especially it's preserva...Mum - Where food (and especially it's preservation) is concerned, research and confirmation of all aspects of that particular technique are vital to one's health and peace of mind :)<br /><br />Ah - freezing bread. Oh, for a decent sized freezer that works on our solar system... :). T'would make life easier.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-57679449834707235132014-04-12T20:04:28.274+02:002014-04-12T20:04:28.274+02:00It's a good job you have done such detailed re...It's a good job you have done such detailed research. I bet you were really disappointed after all your waiting. I hope you find a solution.<br />Love from Mum<br />xx<br />PS I've replied to your comment on my blog - basically I freeze my bread until I need to use it. I normally only make 2 loaves at one sitting so the second loaf is not sitting in the freezer for a long time but this Mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08442767679857541996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-41250938770134850402014-04-12T19:48:06.777+02:002014-04-12T19:48:06.777+02:00DFW - Trust me - so am I!! It's a peculiarity...DFW - Trust me - so am I!! It's a peculiarity of mine - my head starts working as soon as it hits the pillow. So either I lie there and sort it out mentally so that I can fall asleep, or I have to get up and write it down / do some research. It's normally productive when I get up - and it's quiet too ;)Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-33202716554468007442014-04-12T17:07:30.932+02:002014-04-12T17:07:30.932+02:00Oh my, I'm glad you got that niggling feeling ...Oh my, I'm glad you got that niggling feeling in the middle of the night. DFWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345712839702427280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-3435340827347926372014-04-12T17:03:22.244+02:002014-04-12T17:03:22.244+02:00Vicki - I do have an option I'm busy designing...Vicki - I do have an option I'm busy designing (on MS Paint LOL) right now. But, I need to keep the unit as light as possible to facilitate moving it in and outdoors according to the weather...<br /><br />Will and Way are good friends of mine :)Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-68974417697555201722014-04-12T17:00:17.724+02:002014-04-12T17:00:17.724+02:00Oh, how disappointing. At the risk of using a cli...Oh, how disappointing. At the risk of using a cliche, where there is a will there is also a way. My money is on you to find it. Good luck with your research.Vickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09409645438732452330noreply@blogger.com