Solar Dehydrator frames

The frames are done! Tomorrow I will go and buy the plastic mosquito net and the insultaion tape for the door.

Planting Willow

I planted 2 Goat Willow cuttings and 1 Weeping Willow. I cant plant them outdoors just yet because the soil is frozen. I placed the pots into our coldest room since these are growing outdoors.

Willow is great for basket making, feeding animals, providing bees with early pollen and nectar, creating wind break, fencing. Any household should have plenty of Willow especially since they are very easy to propagate by cuttings.

Solar Dehydrator - building process

shelf holders are attached

the door attached (there are small gaps between the dryer box and the door which must be sealed)

very simple roof

The next ste is building shelves in form of frames. Mosquito net will be stapled on top of the them.

DIY Solar Dehydrator

I can not imagine a self-sufficient household without a Solar Dehydrator to dry its own herbs, fruits and vegetables. And as it turns out it is not that difficult to make one especially if one has material laying around the garage as in my case :)

I have found an old cupboard, an old window, old door and some reused pallet wood

This is the solar heat generator, made as a box so air can circulate through it. The black background atracts the solar heat.

I've cut out a space in the cupboard where solar heat generator will be inserted.

I decided to make long legs so the dryer is on a convinient height. The heat generator is inserted into the dryer.

Tomorrow I will make a door and shelves. I will have to buy a plastic mosquito net for the shelves so hot air can pass through it.

Stay tuned ;)

Whay should we eat Free-range Organic chicken eggs

Mother Earth News recently finished their latest egg-testing project, confirming their 2005 test results that showed true free-range eggs are far more nutritious than commercially raised eggs.

Compared to official U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient data for commercial eggs, eggs from hens raised on pasture may contain:

• 1/3 less cholesterol
• 1/4 less saturated fat
• 2/3 more vitamin A
• 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
• 3 times more vitamin E
• 7 times more beta carotene
• 4-6 times more vitamin D

These dramatically differing nutrient levels are most likely the result of the differences in diet between free-range pastured hens, vs. commercially farmed hens.

Another reason to buy free-range organic eggs are the pesticides which are used in conventional chicken food production! Such pesticides damage the biodiversity, polute water ways, kills beneficial insects, etc ...

The Winter is back again

And just when I thought the Spring has come, Nature threw at us bunch of snow showing its harsh and ever changing spirit. I must say I am fed up with Winter and snow. The soil is frozen and one cant do much outdoors. The cold spell will last for at least 2 weeks here! I hope we have enough fire wood!

It is of the utmost importance for the seedlings to be kept warm indoors!

Planting Maple seeds

While walking my dog I passed a few Maple tress. I looked around the tree for seeds and found that many have germinated :) happy days! I collected a few and brought them home with me. My plan is to plant many bee friendly trees and bushes on our new farm (which we will buy this year). Maple is a great source of early pollen.

naturally sprouted Maple seeds

 I just placed the seeds on top of the soil (which I first saturated in water). This is how I found them in nature.

 Placed some leaf mulch on top of the seeds to keep the soil moist.

Lets see how this goes :)

Early season pre-cultivation update

Edible City - Grow the Revolution

More on http://ediblecitythemovie.com/about/

The miracles of Soil Food Web, Trees and Plants

This is one of the most important documentaries I have seen. Please take time to watch this and learn about how we can restore all ruined eco-system on the planet. If we do this, no one will be hungry any more :) how beautiful is that :)

"It's possible to rehabilitate large-scale damaged ecosystems." Environmental film maker John D. Liu documents large-scale ecosystem restoration projects in China, Africa, South America and the Middle East, highlighting the enormous benefits to people and planet of undertaking these efforts globally.