Kitchen Food Dehydrators – A History Steeped In Piracy

Posted on by blogger

How do you feed a world that is becoming increasingly hungry? This is not a new question and one that according to the Food Preservation Team from the Department of Nutritional Science at the University of Missouri has been plaguing food engineers for decades if not centuries. According to their research achieving this grand goal cheaply and efficiently on a global scale is the challenge. Food preservation through dehydration may hold the key to feeding masses of hungry people. While the future of food dehydration may be stellar, its history over the last several centuries may hold some surprises.

Food drying or dehydrating is believed to be one of the oldest methods of food preservation throughout human history. It allowed hunter-gatherer societies to successfully travel, explore and hunt for different food sources. The development of agriculture was the single, major factor that made it possible for mankind to settle in permanent communities and transition from hunter-gatherer nomadic tribes. How to save or preserve these foods for a later date is a whole separate study. Research has showed that the first ancient stable, settled, civilization arose in Mesopotamia and Egypt in the Middle East. The uncovering of dried fruits, grains and dried, salt preserved fish and meat are traced back to over seven thousand years to these first ancient civilizations. Farming eliminated the constant need to search for food and allowed populations to grow through the production of a more stable food source. There are neither volumes of recorded history nor any one source of collected material on food dehydration. However very recent Middle Eastern archeological digs have un-earthed food samples which research determined to have been dried foods originating in ancient Jericho over 4000 years ago. In addition, Old Testament Biblical scholars have been able to isolate bits and pieces of scripture which mention the preservation methods of sun-drying and smoking foods over a hot fire as a means of feeding their people.

For centuries, much of the European diet depended on dried cod, known as salt cod or bacalhau (with salt) or stockfish (without). It formed the main protein source for the slaves on the West Indian plantations and was major economic force within the trade routes of the day. The next mention of food drying doesnt emerge again until around 1630. At about this time in history a band of French mavericks began appearing up and down the Yucatan peninsula and Caribbean islands. They were known as the buccaneers. The term buccaneer was actually derived from the Caribbean Arawak word buccan which is referencing a wooden frame for smoking meat. The meat of preference at the time was the plentiful, slow moving manatee or sea cow. From this became derived in French the word boucane and hence the name boucanier for French hunters who used their wooden frames to smoke meat from feral cattle and pigs on Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic). History of course tells us the rest of the story about the buccaneers. English settlers occupying Jamaica began to spread the name buccaneers with the meaning of ruthless pirates when in reality it was referring to their ability to dry meat. The name became universally adopted later in 1684 when the first English translation of Alexandre Exquemelins book The Buccaneers of America was published.

Along with an amazingly colorful history which includes ancient roots and ruthless piracy, food dehydration is even today on the forefront of cutting edge food engineering and preservation. Todays food dehydrator is a surprisingly simple capsule of modern technology and historical know how. Todays typical kitchen food dehydrator has electronically generated air flow along with micro-processor governed temperature control. In place of the wood frame on the beach is an amazingly compact, ergonomically designed piece of history that fits snuggly on a kitchen counter. With multiple level trays, even air flow and constant temperature control a person can dehydrate a large volume of fresh fruits, veggies and meats literally over night. The simplicity, efficiency and very low cost of the modern food dehydrator is once again taking center stage in the complex world of food preservation and engineering. Developing nations and countries that have endured natural disasters are re-discovering the practicalities of food dehydration to feed their hungry masses. The buccaneers of yester-year had no idea how their simple practice of meat drying on the beach would become a modern means of feeding a hungry world.

Led Grow Lights Future Of Hydroponic Gardening

Posted on by blogger

Until recently, indoor growers only had traditional mechanisms of indoor hydroponic growing with high heat bulbs such as high pressure sodium, metal halide, and more recently, compact fluorescent. The light bulb would provide massive amounts of light, measured in lumens, to replicate the sunlight necessary for photosynthesis which drives vegetative growth and flowering.

These lighting sources provide white light, which is the combination of all the colors in the visible spectrum put together. The problem with these traditional lighting sources is that they are inherently inefficient and waste a great deal of energy in the form of excess heat and light in the visible spectrum which is not beneficial to indoor growing. For example, the green spectra is not necessary for photosynthesis as green light is reflected and does nothing to the plants (green light bulbs are good to use when you need to enter your grow room during the sleep cycle of your plants because they will not be detected by the plants).

Although different plants have different lighting requirements (orchids have different light needs than cannabis plants), most plants flourish with only a limited range of light – reds, orange, and blues. This is because various processes and chemicals involved in photosynthesis respond most readily to these bands of light. Unfortunately, only about 15 percent of light emitted by HID/CFL bulbs is available in the bands of light needed for photosynthesis.

This is where LED technology makes the photosynthesis of indoor grown plants a more efficient process. Hydroponic LED lights concentrate their diode ratio around the reds, oranges and blues, along with the weighted value of other spectra needed to get the optimal blend for a particular plant. By concentrating on the wavelengths actually needed for photosynthesis, LED growlights can save a tremendous amount of energy as compared to high pressure sodium bulbs. This is why a 300 to 400 watt LED growlight can replace an entire 1000 watt high pressure sodium or metal halide system.

Furthermore, the LED grow light does not need a ballast assembly because the power supplies are built into the panel. If you start adding up all the capital and operational savings, it is easy to see why LED grow lights are becoming the future of hydroponic gardening.

To know more about LED grow lights and LED grow lights company along led grow lights arizona and led grow lights california feel free to visit http://www.dormgrow.com

How to Bonsai

Posted on by blogger

A bonsai tree is a Japanese approach for growing mini trees in ceramic pots to model aged saplings. The trees are becoming progressively popular to bring the outdoors in, and hundreds of species could be chosen to develop into a bonsai plant. The method might seem intimidating for a beginner; however with research and practice you can excel in the art form of bonsai! Follow these steps to grow your bonsai tree to perfection!

SELECT A SPECIES OF TREE
Selecting the right sapling is the first step of bonsai, and the choices should be carefully weighed judging by your geographical location and whether you want your plant indoors or outside. Some plants muster better inside and in a controlled climate, while others ought to be outdoors where they can go dormant in the winter. Analyze the trees that do the very best where you live, and go from there. The most common styles of bonsai trees are Elm, Juniper, and ficus.

SEED OR AGED TREE
The next step is to choose whether you wish to grow the tree from the ground up, or buy an existing tree from a nursery. It is advocated that beginners buy an existing tree for their first time trying to bonsai to make sure that they can succeed. Your local nursery will help you to decide on the perfect bonsai for your climate and expertise level.

CHOOSE A POT
The ceramic pot that you grow your bonsai tree is a crucial in the success of your plant. The term bonsai means ‘plant in a tray’, which someone can theoretically conclude that the tray is equally as important is the plant. Choosing the appropriate pot has a lot to do with the size of your desired plant. A deep pot will bring a larger tree, while a shallow pot will keep the roots miniature and keep the size of the tree small. The ceramic pot must allow proper drainage, and should be lined with wire to ensure your soil erosion does not occur.

CHOOSE SOIL
Bonsai soil is available in organic and inorganic, and most bonsai hobbyists strategically mix both soils to come up with the perfect mix for their plant. This also requires research depending on your geographical location and plant type.

PREPARATION
This step requires you to arrange your tree with wires and the initial steps of pruning, to procure the design of the bonsai tree. Remove the plant from its existing holder, and water the roots and prune them to ensure they fit securely into your purchased ceramic pot with the proper amount of soil.

POT THE TREE
If you haven’t already placed mesh netting on the bottom of the pot, you should do so now. Place the roots down at the bottom of the pot, and run a wire through one of the drainage holes to tie the plant into place. Attach the other side of the wire to the root system and pour soil over the exposed roots. Trees that are in temperate climates should be planted by spring, while tropical trees should be planted in the summer.

PRUNE & ENJOY!
The last step is to prune your tree when the leaves grow out, and have fun growing your bonsai!

Planting Tips For Growing Vegetables!

Posted on by blogger

Are you interested in growing vegetables in your garden? Growing vegetables in the vegetable garden is much easier than you imagine.

To grow vegetables, you do not need a large site.

You can grow in containers without any need for a piece of land.

In fact, growing vegetables need a careful planning and some simple planting tips with which you can grow your own vegetables in no time!

1.For a successful growth of vegetables, a healthy soil is very important. Use a high-quality soil or improve the existing one through the addition of organic materials such as sphagnum peat moss, leaf mold, compost, and rotted manure in large quantities. For a clay type soil, add some sand to provide a clear drainage. Add these materials into the soil using till or spade.

2.Good soil with better drainage is best for growing vegetables healthily. So, get your soil tested prior to using it for vegetable plants. Also, ensure that soil has all essential nutrients required for a plant growth.

3.Location of the garden is the key to the vegetable garden planning process. As almost all vegetables needs a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight for a healthy growth, choose a sunny spot with full of sunlightsouth, southeast or south west facing is best spot.

4.In a partially shady location where you get less sunlight, it is best to grow leaf crops like lettuce, coriander, and spinach than tomatoes or other vegetables.

5. For a vegetable garden, choose a location away from trees and shrubs as far as possible. This is because the roots of trees and shrubs, near the vegetable plants, will deprive the essential nutrients and water of the vegetable plants.

6. It is a good idea to locate the garden close to your water source. This helps you save time and energy.

7.Employ a drip irrigation system to save your water as well as to reduce watering chores. This system is most beneficial because it provides water directly to the root region of plants. In addition, it provides water automatically for the plants in the garden if you set a timer on your faucet.

8. For a vegetable garden, it is good to obtain maximum yields within a minimum space. So, do inter-planting with quick-growing vegetables (bunching onions) and slower-growing vegetables (cauliflower and broccoli).

9. It is not a good idea to do over planting. Growing several plants in a small area can damage the growth of all vegetable plants in the garden.

10. Get aware of the plant-growing season and protect the plants according to the season. To protect plants from early frosts, always use cloches, plant protectors, and row covers. Tomatoes are cold-sensitive vegetables and can be transplanted outdoors prior to its normal planting time.

11.Mulching is the best way to maintain healthy vegetable plants. So, mulch the vegetable plants in the summer time. This helps to eradicate weeds, keeps soil moisture and improves the soil structure when it gets rot. Cocoa bean hulls, straw, shredded bark, spoiled hay, and compost are the best mulch materials for vegetable plants.

Healthy Compost For Organic Gardens

Posted on by blogger

The development of organic gardening has evidently been positively influencing the cultivation of plants and its propagation. It is important to respect the balance of nature and in Australia, following the principles that embrace sustainable gardening, farmers are implementing gardening methods that can grow plants and other farm produce free from the use of fertilizers and pesticides which harm natural environment.

The basic requirement for organic gardening to succeed is the use of compost soil. Composting is the procedure by which a healthy compost soil used in organic gardening is achieved. Making your own garden compost is very easy contrary to what most people perceive. You need not look far looking for composters. Start with your own household and garden waste. In this way you also help preserve the environment in Australia. You can use old garbage bins or old wooden crates to pile up you composters. Basically, start with composters that have a combination of nitrogen rich organic materials like fruits and vegetables peeling, leaves and fresh grass clippings. Mix these with carbon rich materials like woody twigs and paper materials. The secret of organic gardening is that harmful insects do not attack healthy plants grown out of compost organic soil. Pests are kept under control. The period for composters to turn into rich compost soil may vary from three weeks to three months depending on the kind of composting ingredients that were used.

One of the most useful gardening tools available in Australia is a rotating composter. It is intended to speed up the composting process that takes only about three to four weeks duration. As in most garden tools invented, a rotating composter is designed to make life easy in organic gardening. Composters are piled in a compost bin which a rotating barrel that is periodically turned, say once or twice a week. Rotating of compost bin is purposely intended to aerate the composter materials and break them down into smaller pieces. This way, composters are quickly degraded thereby speeding up the process of composting. A rotating compost bin is also a labor saving device. You spend less time and effort in turning up the composters while getting rid of the backbreaking task of shoveling the compost pile repeatedly for hours.

Hanging baskets are inexpensive gardening tools that are helpful in organic gardening. Hanging baskets keep the plants aerated because air is coming from all directions allowing the plants to breathe. When working with hanging baskets, compost soil is kept moist without becoming too soaked in water, requires less space in the gardening area while promoting healthy bacteria to keep healthy growing plants.

The efforts of sustainable gardening advocates are now paying-off. The fruits their labor has evidently spread since organic food has swiftly gained international recognition and in Australia, the thrust for organic food production has turned into an industry on its own. Likewise, awareness as to the importance of recycling of organic household garbage into usable components has been gaining recognition worldwide. Organic gardening is a major step towards achieving an eco-friendly livable earth for the future generation to dwell in.