tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post5562617925283124513..comments2024-03-27T22:01:59.919-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: An Experiment With Solar DehydratingLeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-14546950792129766282014-07-24T05:53:51.303-04:002014-07-24T05:53:51.303-04:00Dani, thank you for that! I found it worked best o...Dani, thank you for that! I found it worked best on overcast days, where the temps didn't get too high. And good point about the wood for building one's own.<br /><br />Lynda, well, I can't stand waste!<br /><br />Barb, I freeze gallons of blueberries. I did think about trying to dehydrate after defrosting, but they usually seem soggier, which would mean longer / harder to dry. I did discover this year that goats will eat them even frozen! I just finished making jam from the remaining frozen ones from last year.<br /><br />Sandy, that's a very good idea. I don't have to rotate with the Excalibur so it didn't occur to me. <br /><br />Renee, me too, LOL. I have had fairly good success drying herbs (chopped first) on the front porch with old window screens. Surely wish we had a basement!<br /><br />Harry, one of the hardest things about this lifestyle is having to find what works best for oneself. Still, an electric dehydrator is a good investment.<br /><br />Bettie, well, that's how it is! I've decided my solar oven is too busy to use for dehydrating, but it is very versitile.<br /><br />Nicole, I have one old, huge one! It produces gallons and gallons of berries, which I share with the birds. :)Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-54573010601598018532014-07-24T01:31:33.643-04:002014-07-24T01:31:33.643-04:00wow you must have quite a few blueberry bushes. i ...wow you must have quite a few blueberry bushes. i would be very interested in seeing your diy dehydrator, i have not put much thought in about solar ovens but i think i will be researching them as an alternative cooking source.Nicole and Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07463146316953697505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-62169332556855029732014-07-23T09:27:21.652-04:002014-07-23T09:27:21.652-04:00"Within the next decade or so" Lol You ..."Within the next decade or so" Lol You sound like me with my project lists. <br />Each post of yours about your solar oven intrigues me. I hadn't thought about being able to use it as a dehydrator. I think I'll be asking for one for my birthday next year. :-) ~Bettiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13614677622065540386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-50894783378361004492014-07-22T12:15:57.270-04:002014-07-22T12:15:57.270-04:00Living on a mountainside, with taller mountains al...Living on a mountainside, with taller mountains all around me, solar power isn't an option here. We just don't get direct sunlight long enough, even in summer. I bought an electric dehydrater some time back and it works well making jerky. Wish I could have a solar one though.Harry Flashmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05071021900005041592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-67191306416342794452014-07-22T10:53:53.610-04:002014-07-22T10:53:53.610-04:00can't wait to see your homemade solar dehydrat...can't wait to see your homemade solar dehydrater. I've seen them done with fans before.<br /><br />For my herbs we are lucky enough to just stash them in the basement for them to dry out. In fact I need to go put the parsley in a container to get ready for basil and thyme...oregano is taking it's long sweet time. ;) Renee Nefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08167893445846427824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-24281544535547450082014-07-22T09:12:01.830-04:002014-07-22T09:12:01.830-04:00Leigh,
Dehydrated blueberries YUM!!!!
Have you t...Leigh,<br /><br />Dehydrated blueberries YUM!!!!<br /><br />Have you tried rotating the racks every couple of hours to help balance the dehydration process?<br /><br />I've notice with certain vegetables and fruits, I had to rotate my racks this way everything processed about the same time frame.Sandy Livesayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06183449816586125720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-6181674080083807712014-07-22T05:48:57.316-04:002014-07-22T05:48:57.316-04:00Are you going to freeze some? Maybe you could do ...Are you going to freeze some? Maybe you could do that to hold them and then dehydrate them when you are back to baking indoors. Another thing is another thing and I am having a very hard time just keeping down the acquisition of more things. I know that a hot, humid summer is a force to be reckoned. Good luck!<br /><br />Farmer Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07596672416236302171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-1499204359383979042014-07-22T05:42:42.865-04:002014-07-22T05:42:42.865-04:00I love your "Suck it and See" attitude L...I love your "Suck it and See" attitude Leigh. If it doesnt work this time, then try try again, learning each time. Such a good example. <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12605358521258969537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-57633801260058393442014-07-22T05:06:57.718-04:002014-07-22T05:06:57.718-04:00Leigh - I've tried dhydrating in my solar oven...Leigh - I've tried dhydrating in my solar oven, and also find it gets far too hot. I've "singed" far too much to try that again, so am also making myself one. Unfortunately though, I CANNOT find formaldahyde / chemical free wood with which to clad the unit... :(Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-39447185755775062462014-07-22T04:59:37.038-04:002014-07-22T04:59:37.038-04:00Hi Becky! (I've already returned the blog visi...Hi Becky! (I've already returned the blog visit :) Thank you! I do believe there is a solar cooking group in the UK. At least someone teaches it, but I don't have a link. I know the Sun Oven is available from Amazon UK. I'm interesting in how well my solar oven does during winter, when it's said one can still cook with it! We'll see and I'll report results here.<br /><br />Dawn, berries are easy to dry. No, I don't prick them and probably would abandon the project if that were required. Too many, LOL. Mine dried rock hard, but I suspect they'll soften up a bot over time.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-75262959514722211562014-07-22T04:06:34.759-04:002014-07-22T04:06:34.759-04:00I havent tried dehydrating berries, did you prick ...I havent tried dehydrating berries, did you prick them first to help the moisture escape from them. Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05213759909336433460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-4245303134907985462014-07-22T01:35:55.741-04:002014-07-22T01:35:55.741-04:00This is a really interesting post (as are many of ...This is a really interesting post (as are many of your posts!) because it is the first time I've really seen an application for solar cookers for me. I live in the UK and I've always thought our weather was too unreliable to cook at safe temperatures in a solar oven even though I love the idea. But we might get temps that are good for dehydrating. <br /><br />Of course I say that just as we are in the middle of an unexpected heat wave... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com