Solar Cooking

 Both of my solar ovens are at my summer home so I'm thinking about building one here at my winter home.

I've setup at swap meets using lightweight metal display cases with acrylic tops for jewelry. Whenever I used the cases on sunny days the jewelry would get too hot to handle so I would prop the tops open a few inches. Even vented the jewelry still got very, very hot. So possibly the start of a DIY solar oven.

I'll have to figure out how to attach reflective (heavy duty foil) to a backing of sorts. Then attach it to the display case. The acrylic will help to keep the heat in the case.

First test, cooking an egg. Nearly three hours, egg yoke mostly cooked but formed as a thick film on top of the uncooked egg white. Summary, very limited success.

Isses to resolve:

- No free standing oven thermometer to check interior of the closed display case, one on order. 

- No reflective panels to direct heat from sun to the egg, also on order. 

- The egg was in a plastic holder which would act as an insulator, will look for metal unit.

- Wind is a problem as it tends to collapse reflective sides, based on past experience 

And the beat goes on...

Food 4 Patriots Video

Food 4 Patriots Video - Interesting watching - rather long

https://secure.food4patriots.com/video/index.php?subid=rx2ntjoj_131_1169475&clcsr=1&source=day0PS&t4p=123&AFID=LTV

Research References
1. Bloomberg, Bjerga, A. “Food Stamps Still Feed One in Seven Americans Despite Recovery.” 2016.
2. Wall Street Journal, Smith, R. “How America Could Go Dark.” 2016.
3. Fox News. “Americans May Soon Be Able to Get Food Stamps By Phone.” 2015.
4. The Telegraph. Lean, G. “There's a food crisis coming. Are we ready?.” 2015.
5. Fox News. “Most states waiving work requirements for food stamps, despite improving job market.” 2015.
6. Wall Street Journal. Vilsack, T. “A Half-Baked GOP Plan for Food Stamps.” 2015.
7. Fox News. “FEMA can't account for up to $4.56M Sandy fuel funds.” 2015.
8. CBS News, Reid, C. “In the Dark of Power Grid Security.” 2015.
9. Fox News. Chiaramonte, P. “Black Lives' leader defends looting in Yale lecture.” 2015.
10. Wall Street Journal. Riley, J. “The Lawbreakers of Baltimore—and Ferguson.” 2015.
11. Natural News. Heyes, J.D. “Why did Obama nationalize the U.S. food supply with executive order 13603?.” 2015.
12. Fox News. “ FEMA asking disabled, elderly residents to repay aid from superstorm Sandy.” 2015.
13. Before It’s News. “Disaster Looms: FEMA Scrambles to Stockpile Food Reserves.” 2015.
14. Fox News. Lott, J. “Baltimore riots and the price of protest.” 2015.
15. Wall Street Journal. McWhirter, C. “Protesters Turn Out in U.S. Cities Following Ferguson Decision.” 2015.
16. AARP. Green, C. “A Conversation With Ted Koppel The former 'Nightline' anchor talks about cyberterrorism and lessons learned over his long career.” 2015.
17. Fox News. “New Reports of looting in Baltimore as national guard join police in patrolling streets.” 2015.

Product review - Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy, 4.94 oz, Pouch

Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy

I ordered a pouch of this product and tried it for breakfast. Very tasty and two good sized servings. I added two eggs. Surprisingly good tasting considering it's for long term storage.

No dirty dishes, pour boiling water into the pouch, stir and reseal. After a few minutes stir again and reseal for a few more minutes. Meanwhile I made coffee and nuked two eggs.

Even though I have refrigeration at my off-the-power-grid summer home, shelve stable products are good to have on hand. I will be buying the product again in a bigger size. Products like this are good to for everyone to have on hand for emergencies or camping.

Water from deser air, is it possible?

Is it possible to pull water from air? A research to do this summer!I live in the desert so a dependable source of water is very important.Interesting website: https://www.waterseer.org/

In my opinion, a must have prepper book!

Dare to Prepare by Holly Drennan Deyo is quite an informative book, all 600 plus pages. Holly has included information concerning/ answering all my questions, even composing toilets.

My primary concern is the possibility of either a solar event or an EMP created by either North Korea or Iran.

Back to off-the-power-grid home shortly

Getting to be that time of year, back to solar power. This years to do list:

• Continue checking solar cookers/ ovens
• Try my hand at collecting water both rain and from the air, yes, I'm told it can be done.
• Investigate scraping out my old Yellowstone Trailer and using frame for a tiny house 

Increasing Solar Array

As I Post this the installation of additional solar panels and storage batteries is being started. First shelfs had to be reconfigured for holding all the batteries with plenty of head space for ease of maintaining them.

I can't overstate the fact that solar power is not free and the payback period takes years of not paying an electric bill. Plus unless you spend many thousands of dollars for an extensive system, power needs to be conserved. This is especially true in the winter months. We are one month from the shortest day of the year and the sun is lower on the horizon resulting is a reduction of incoming sun. Add to that is maintaining batteries.

The value of solar power is that it allows for living off-the-power. This summer I was in town and people were talking about how long the power was off. Didn't effect me. Another advantage to solar.

Having a wind generator would be a nicr-to-have for overcast days but is a long range possibility.

A final comment, all the talk of free solar from the government; the government only has money raised from taxes so what sounds free is being paid for by taxpayers. More income redistribution?