August 13th, 2008Gardening Dilemma
by Yvonne Salcido, M.H.
August 13, 2008
This is the time of year I love most! Everything is green. The earth’s abundance and beauty is showcased everywhere you turn. Breath taking foliage, dazzling colors, succulent smells, delicious fruits and vegetables - wonders to behold with the eye and taste buds.
If you’re like most people who get interested in natural healing next on your journey comes an interest in gardening. Some start there first. However, if you have developed a green thumb there is a serious side effect, what I call the “Gardening Dilemma.” In other words, “What am I going to do with all this fresh produce?” You can only eat so much! This is nature’s way to help us prepare for the winter. Eating food in season and fresh is best, but what should you do with all of the extra food?
When I first started to dry foods I made a homemade dryer by nailing some 1 x 2’s together that were four feet long. I then got some screen from the hardware store and used flat quilting pins to secure the screen to the boards. I put a screen on the top and the bottom to keep the bugs out. On the top I only secured one edge with push pins so I could open it up to put the food in. I then put the food in and lifted the screen back over to cover it. I placed each end of the dryer on the back of two chairs to keep it off the ground. I then placed it in the shade. Voila, you have a food dryer for less than five bucks.
My neighbor said that she just uses two window screens, one for the top and one for the bottom. That is absolutely cost FREE. It also helps her to remember to clean her windows and screens.
Later I found a great dryer at a garage sale with 12 trays. Now I have an Excalibur Dryer, which is also great to use as an oven for living meals because, guess what? YOU control the temperatures.
August 14th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
A very nice article on the process of drying naturally, fruits and vegetables. And most certainly drying food items preserves the valuable nutrients that might other wise be lost by freezing or canning. Plus you save a lot of energy by using the sun to dry foods instead of electricity.
Only one concern here. What type of screen wire is being use to make the drying screens? If the screen is aluminum is there any chance of the aluminum salts being transferred to the food item being dried ? Remember nature strikes to achieve a balance and if aluminum is present next to food items the salts from that metal can be transferred to the food being dried.
Like wise in the high county of Tibet they dry Goji berries by the use of bamboo screens. Goji berries are one of the world most desirable food items and so very responsible for the long and healthy lives of the Tibetan people. Goji berries are wild crafted and is all collected by manual labor.
Yes indeed nature is truly in abundance and we as human beings only need to learn the best methods and ways of extending the abundance year around to every one.
Many Blessings,
Thomas
7:52 PM
August 25th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
what type of fruits and veggies can you do this with?