DIY Multipurpose Seedling Raiser + Food Dehydrator

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DIY Multipurpose Seedling Raiser + Food Dehydrator

Instead of buying in seedlings, we wanted to get an early season start with our favourite vegetables. We created a seedling raiser that was simple to move around, light and compact for storage and was efficient to allow plenty of sunlight whilst keeping the seedlings safe from the wind. The end result was a brilliant contraption that worked a treat.

Ideally, this item can be manufactured from easily sourced material that you may have on hand or sourced from local recycling areas.

We had lying around some spare plywood so this seed raiser was made to fit the material on hand. This can be made larger or smaller to suit (do experiment).

Following the diagram, we cut a base of 10mm (1/2 inch) thick plywood to the dimensions of 1200mm x 600mm. In the base, we drilled 72 x 8mm diameter holes.

The sides were made triangular as per the diagram - 750mm high and the legs within this measure were 150 high.

The height of the unit should be high enough to allow for any seedling growth.

An old broom handle was used for the top bar. This acts as a brace and a smooth wrapper for the plastic sheeting. A hole was drilled either end the same diameter as the broom handle, but 25mm (1") dowelling will do the trick as well.

When screwing the flooring to the sides, we used a 50 x 50mm (2x2") bracing timber to give the unit more stability.

The seedling raiser was designed to be elevated to allow for airflow and a spare painters clear plastic sheet was then wrapped over the unit as per the diagram. Staples were used to secure the plastic to the sides, leaving a liftup flap to access the seedlings. The plastic does not go all the way to the bottom to greatly assist ventilation and airflow - leave 50 - 75mm (2-3 inches).

The plastic has a limited life of approximately one season and can be discarded and replaced. If some recycled clear sheets of perspex can be sourced, this would be more permanent. than the plastic sheets.

The seedling raiser works well but if an unseasonally hot spell occurs, water must be kept up to the seedlings. Covering the punnets or flats with a couple of layers of paper can assist to retain moisture, ensuring germination. Covering a section of the clear plastic can also reduce solar heat input.

Rather than putting away for the rest of the year... the seedling-raiser now becomes a dehydrator to dry garden surpluses. Sometimes I stretch the limit of my creations using this as a dehydrator, but it does work extremely well.

A wooden floor frame was constructed using fly wire to ensure all-round ventilation of the items being dried.

Fresh juicy capsicum (bell peppers) are totally dehydrated in two good days of sun, the same goes for chillies and onions.

Fruit will take longer, although we have not tried it with fruit(we use our solar fruit dehdrator or trays from our electric Nara dehydrator - see link below).

As a dryer, it is not as efficient as some and if large amounts of material are to be dried then the time required could be a problem. However, to dry your own produce in this way costs you nothing and so it has a lot to recommend.

The dryer / seedling - raiser was constructed using material we had on hand, the design should be taken merely as a starting point from which you can develop your own ideas.

The next design (Mk 11) will encorporate some wheels I sourced from the recycling dump for ease of moving around. This will help take advantage of the sun or shade as required and save my back. Don't hang your hats up too soon waiting for this new improved version as I am working on many other ideas and I am having a ball of fun in the bargain.

Wash and discard any spoiled parts - if required, gently blanch / poach vegetables - you will probably want whole pieces, place cut pieces in your dehydrator, with or without baking paper ( without provides more efficient airflow). They should be ready in a couple of days.

A few vegetables, such as onions, garlic, capsicum / peppers, tomatoes and mushrooms can be dried and reconstituted successfully without heat treatment. In general, if vegetables must be steamed or blanched for freezing, they must be treated for drying.

Dried onions - We use them in cooking, baking and we use dried shallots in place of croutons on a salad. Dried onion rings and chopped garlic are particularly useful for camping, saving you from wasting the second half of the onion when you only need a little anyway. I use red "spanish" salad onions for their superior flavour.

You can make mashed potato this way, and I once made a dried " salad" out of a blended mixture of tomatoes, parsley, onions, celery, beetroot etc. (It was OK, but these days I just use vegetable chips). The point is, you should experiment - the risk of failure is very small compared to the cost.

When dehydrating you have to remember that to rehydrate it is a 1:1 ratio of dried items and liquid.

So, if you live in a sunny environment, have access to surplus vegetables and fruit, a little spare time, space to store your produce and your solar machine in the winter, and a little imagination - food drying is for you !

Seasoning

Dry one cup each of strips of red capsicum (bell pepper), onion, carrot and garlic in the sun, turning constantly. Make sure they are completley dry (they should snap when bent). Place in grinder with a cup of dried peas, or split peas or dried potato. Add one tablespoon each of dried marjoram, thyme and mint, a dessertspoon of cardamon (or dill, or peppercorns) one tablespoon celery seed and sunflower seed + two tablespoons dried hot chillies ( or 4 mild chillies). Combine thoroughly, grind into a powder.

This seasoning can be used for flavouring in cooked dishes, salads, dressings and soups.

The quantity you use will depend on taste. The above recipe makes a large amount, so reduce the quantities if you want less, or share with friends.

Store in screw-top jar to retain flavour. Adjust the seasoning to get more or less spiciness to taste.

Dressing

1 capsicum (bell pepper), sundried
1/3 cup organic Balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp crushed dried basil
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary or 1/2 tsp crushed dried rosemary
Place in grinder / blender / food processor. Cover and process until well blended and nearly smooth. Spoon dressing over salads.

Dried Fruit

Make the most of the long hot summer by drying your excess fruit and vegetable crops.Sunshine, drying is free and easy. It is easy to do and you will find the end product so much tastier than the bought variety. You will also know that no chemicals or preservatives have been used in its preparation.

http://ecobites.com/self-reliance-/diy-dried-fruit-3.html

Books

The Well Fed Backpacker June Fleming 1986 Vintage Books

The Lightweight Gourmet - Drying & Cooking Food for the Outdoor Life Alan Kesselheim 1994 Ragged Mountain Press.

How to Dry Food by Deanna Delong, Laura Gates

Backpack Gourmet Good Hot Grub You Can Make at Home, Dehydrate, and Pack for Quick, Easy, and Healthy Eating on the Trail : by Linda Frederick Yaffe

High Trail Cookery All-Natural, Home-Dried, Palate-Pleasing Meals for the Backpacker : by Linda Frederick Yaffe

Simple Foods for the Pack More than 180 All-natural, Trail-tested Recipes (Sierra Club Outdoor Adventure Guides) by Claudia Axcell, Diana Cooke, Vikki Kath, Bob Kinmont

Trail Food Drying and Cooking Food for Backpacking and Paddling by Alan S. Kesselheim

Lipsmackin' Backpackin Lightweight Trail-tested Recipes for Backcountry Trips by Christine Connors

Lipsmackin' Vegetarian Backpackin' by Christine Connors, Tim Connors

If you do any kind of homemaking, preserving, growing of your own food, etc., then you absolutely need to get this book! This will give you low-cost and realistic way to preserve your food naturally and in a way that keeps it tasting great! The step-by-step instructions for building the author's food dryer are top-notch and easy to follow, even for the non-mechanically inclined.

http://www.amazon.com/Solar-Food-Dryer-Performance-Sun-Powered/dp/0865715440

Preserve It Naturally II Dehydrator Book
Beautiful all-colour book: THE book on dehydrating! Chapters on fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, herbs, nuts, grains, dairy products, plus crafts, cake decorating, potpourri, sachets, macramé beads, dough art, wreaths, and much more. Recipes for hot/cold appetizers, soups, salads, main/side dishes, sauces, beverages, desserts, snacks, trail mixes, breads, and more. 8¾" x 11", 156 pages, spiral bound.
http://www.amazon.com/Excalibur-Dehydrators-Preserve-Naturally-Book/dp/B000PBZK0E

There are some really good sites that can help you get a grip on drying just about anything.

http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/dry.html

Food Dehydrator Store

http://www.food-dehydrator-store.com/

Mary Bell's Complete Dehydrator Cookbook http://www.drystore.com/recipes.shtml.htm

Solar Food Dryer

http://metalab.unc.edu/pub/academic/environment/alternative-energy/energy-resources/homepower-magazine/archives/29/29p62.txt

http://ecobites.com/diy-recycling-projects/diy-solar-food-dryer.html

Tip For Drying Fruits Without A Dehydrator http://www.angelfire.com/oh/adoptalabrador/berries2.html

Wood Fired Machine for Large Quantity Food Dehydration

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/hooker41.html
http://www.2-life.com/excalho.htm

Electric Dehydrators