Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Nutrition Information for Dehydrated & Storable Foods

Nutrition Information for Dehydrated & Storable Foods

"The following information comes from the US Department of Agriculture Research Services Division, Composition of Foods - Handbook No. 8, Analysis Charts Table 2 - Nutrients In The Edible Portion Of One Pound Of Food"

calories by pound of stored food, good reason to dehydrate.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Building a solar dehydrator is a great project: 8/31/02

Building a solar dehydrator is a great project: 8/31/02

solar dehydration

or dehydrator shed
http://www.herbdatanz.com/sia4_dehydration_apparatus.htm

Solar Distiller

Here's a good idea for turning cloudy water clear

Solar Distiller

Solar Stills operate on the same principles that produce rainfall. The sun is allowed into and trapped in the Still. The high temperatures produced destroy all pathogens. The water evaporates, and in this process, only pure water vapor rises in the Still, only to condense on the glass. The glass is sloped to the south, and the condensed water runs down the glass and is collected in a trough. The water is allowed out of the collector through silicone tubing, and is collected in 5 gallon glass jugs. There are no moving parts in the solar still, and only the sun's energy is required for operation.

The design of the our Solar Still began with many hours spent researching previous designs, successes and failures. Our goal for the Still project was to design and develop plans for a Still which could be replicated using "off the shelf" materials.

We designed a still which is easy to replicate, using standard building materials, of which 95% are available "off the shelf". The exterior materials were chosen for their ability to withstand our desert climate with minimal maintenance. The still produces an average of 3 gallons per day in the summer months. Winter production is expected to be 1/2 that amount. The Solar Still can utilize a standard size patio glass replacement, 34"X76". The material costs per still are approximately $150.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Food and Water Storage for Long Term Emergencies

AquaRain Gravity Water Filter from Best Prices Storable Foods

AquaRaintm 200 (2 elements) - $190.00, $14.00 shipping, 48 states
AquaRaintm 400 (4 elements) - $309.00, $14.00 shipping, 48 states

Food Planning

Use this handy calculator for the basics:
http://www.internet-grocer.net/planner.htm

or here, same thing
http://lds.about.com/library/bl/faq/blcalculator.htm

heres a list of food needed for a 3000 calorie 1 year 1 person menu
http://www.grandpappy.info/hfood1yr.htm




Thursday, December 10, 2009

Biodiesel from Algae

Funky Fuels | The Big Money:

"Algae

Because it grows quickly, has a high oil content, and needs only sunlight and water, algae looks promising as a source of both ethanol and biodiesel. It also serves as a filter for dirty water and as a carbon sink. Ideally, an algae farm could be located downstream from a large-scale farm or factory, where it can clean the water of pesticides, carbon, and heavy metals.

Estimated production cost: $1 to $2/gallon.

Prospects: Good. Algae is cheap and easy to grow."

That sounds like a possibility...

I remember seeing that a guy was doing this himself at home, on a small property.

I think this is him:

http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/16/man-creates-homemade-biodiesel-from-algae/

And a Google search of homemade algae fuel brings up quite a few results including this video:



While that set-up looks interesting, I'm sure it has a long way to go before it produces fuel on a usable level. There are currently books on the subject, but I've seen the information selling at $100, and that's a bit steep for an e-book in my mind. That type of price-point online makes me trust it less for some reason.

And if you aren't ready for using algae to produce biodiesel (I know I'm not), then take a look at the setup in this video.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Solar Charger with Ipod connector

Solar Charger with Ipod connector - Bangalla Eco-friendly products & Australian Products Online Store:

"Popular solar charger for cell phones , Ipods, mp3 mp4,camera.comes in five different colors.

Carry a solar charger wherever you go and never loose a call due to flat batteries."

Not a bad idea to include this in your Bug-Out bag, or keep one in your car for emergencies. At $17, the whole family can get one.

If TSHTF and the power goes out for a long time, your going to want to charge up that Ipod to listen to 2/13/70 for a little rest and relaxation. In the meantime, this is a great way to lighten your footprint without lightening your wallet.

Bug-out bag - Just what is it?

Bug-out bag - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

"Bug-out bag From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"A bug-out bag is a portable kit popular in the survivalist subculture that contains the items one would require to survive for seventy two hours when evacuating from a disaster. It is also known as a 72-hour kit. The focus is on evacuation, rather than long-term survival, distinguishing the bug-out bag from a survival kit, a boating or aviation emergency kit, or a fixed-site disaster supplies kit."

Typical contents

The suggested contents of a bug-out bag vary, but most of the following are usually included:

* Enough food and water to last for seventy two hours. This includes:

o 4 litres (1 gallon) of water per person per day, for washing, drinking and cooking.
o Non-perishable food.
o water purification supplies.
o Cooking supplies.
o Cutlery and cups/dishes.


* A first aid kit.

* Fire starting tool (i.e. matches, ferro rod, lighter, etc.)

* A disaster plan including location of emergency centers, rallying points, possible evacuation routes etc.

* Professional emergency literature explaining what to do in various types of disaster, studied and understood before the actual disaster but kept for reference.

* Maps and travel information.

* Standard camping equipment, including sanitation supplies.

* Weather appropriate clothing (poncho, headwear, gloves, etc.)

* Bedding items such as sleeping bags & blankets.

* Enough medicine to last an extended evacuation period.

* Pet, child and elderly care needs.

* Battery or crank operated Radio.

* Lighting (battery or crank operated flashlight, glow sticks).

* Firearm(s) and appropriate ammunition, depending on local laws.

* Crowbar (weapon, building and vehicle entry, etc.)

* Cash and change, as electronic banking transactions may not be available during the initial period following an emergency or evacuation.

* Fixed-blade or folding knife."

Thanks wikipedia!

I'd like to add:
A deck of cards, some reading material, and 5 high quality Grateful Dead bootlegs.

One of the first steps in preparedness is to anticipate the types of emergencies you will face. A Bug-Out bag is essential for comfort and survival over the short term in the event that you need to quickly evacuate your residence, regardless of the type and nature of the emergency. It would be advisable to supplement your Bug-Out bag for disasters in your general locale. For example, I live in Hurricane country. I would add bleach to kill mold and help with sanitation, a small chain saw and fuel for clearing roadway obstructions (maybe even tow chains if you have a truck), and large tarps for shelter from rains and maybe to temporarily repair roof holes. I would also consider doubling the water supply, as it is possible to be dealing with high heat in our area most of the year.

I think I would also include some barter items that may really help people out and be worth MORE than cash!

I'm interested in hearing your thoughts as to what to include and in what area.