Build a Solar Dehydrator

...an upward airflow through natural convection (hot air rises). You put the food on screen covered trays in the upper box. With sliced tomatoes it takes about two full days of drying and you have to take the food indoors at night to prevent mold from growing (a minor inconvenience). We built our dehydrator several years ago and have used it each season for tomatoes, figs and for making dried zucchini chips. You can find plans for this “Appalachian...

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Grillin’ and Tempin’

...h 160 degrees to kill germs, says Benjamin Chapman, assistant professor of food safety at North Carolina State University and a food safety specialist at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension. Temperature matters far more than color when it comes to meat, Chapman says; even thoroughly browned burgers can harbor bugs. “I was not a popular person at a family cookout a few years back when I insisted we ‘temp’ the chicken as we grilled in the rain,...

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We are all gardeners

...ther level, we need nature to remain healthy and sane. It’s not just about food or water or air quality, it’s about spirit. We are programed to be in relationship with the natural world. This is the subject of a whole different essay, but if you need convincing, check out books like Last Child in the Woods and Your Brain on Nature, or more immediately, articles on “nature prescriptions” like this one in Slate. Embracing our role as gardeners and s...

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098 Kelly’s Aortic Dissection Adventure

...nt so many kind notes and prayers. Some important links: The Mayo Clinic’s page on aortic dissection. John Ritter died of a aortic dissection. A foundation was set, in his name, that helps educate medical personnel on how to better recognize the symptoms. Kelly did not have a heart attack, but it’s always good to review the subtle symptoms of heart attacks experienced by women. If you’d like to leave a question for the Root Simple Podcast please c...

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Three California Natives that Double as Culinary Herbs

...ayQuil. Using it as a culinary herb brings the taste of California to your food. Bees love it too. You can make a tea with all of these plants and you can dry them for use as herbs. And a reminder that if you’re in a hurry you can dry herbs in a microwave by putting the leaves in one layer between two paper towels. Microwave for one minute and let the leaves cool. If they aren’t brittle, microwave for another minute. Pascal Baudar (a guest on epis...

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