Clinton News-Record, 1978-04-13, Page 30Page 6
Dehydrating vegetables easy
The National Garden Bureau
sent us this article by Mane!
Dewey, a lecturer on various
ways of preserving food ,
"With what I consider min-
imal expense. a little effort and
ingenuity. a very satisfactory
home dehydrator (or dryer) can
be built. This homemade ma-
chine can extend the value of
your home garden and orchard
by preserving produce to use
throughout the year.
"In contrast to the average
cost of $200 for a commercial
dehydrator. you can, with free
plans, make one yourself using
one sheet of plywood and as-
sorted other inexpensive parts.
The cost to us was under $40,
using all new materials.
"Many states publish bulle-
tins on dehydrating foods. so
try first for one of these. The
bulletin used in building ours is
a U. S. Department of Agricul-
ture reprinting in full of a
University of California -
Oregon State University plan.
Ask at your Cooperative Exten-
sion office, or state Land Grant
College for U. S. D. A. Home
and Garden publication #217.
"Our plywood dehydrator is
simply built, operating on nine
100 -watt light bulbs in banks of
three each in three separately
wired groups You can leave
out the thermostat because.
with extensive testing, we found
that one bank of lights con-
stantly yields 120 degrees, two
yields 140, and three yields 160
degrees.
"I like to begin drying with
the three banks of lights for 2-4
hours. driving out most of the
moisture in the product. then
finishing up at the lower heat.
"In addition to saving money
Interior of dehydrator showing heat source
and fan aperture in foreground.
Spray weed killers carefully
Treating weedy areas on hot or
windy days could cause more
harm than good, warns R. A.
Fleming, horticulturist with the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
and Food. On days when the
temperature exceeds 27 degrees
C (80 degrees F), 2, 4-D and
combination -type products may
become volatile. Foliage may be
burnt and plants injured or killed.
To reduce chemical drift from
the target area, avoid spraying
on windy days. If there is a light
breeze. have your back to the
wind, or spray through a low-
pressure nozzle with a relatively
large opening. This gives off a
coarse spray and, when applied
within two or three inches of the
plant. reduces drift and damage
to nearby flowers, shrubs, fruits
or vegetables.
Before mixing the chemicals.
Mr. Fleming advises gardeners
to read the label and follow the
instructions carefully.
on a homemade dryer, you can
also save by utilizing equipment
you already have for processing
foods for the dehydrator. A big
kettle with a colander set inside
is perfect for steam -blanching
vegetables to neutralize the en-
zyme action.
Plastic bags you get free with
purchases from the market are
quite adequate for packaging
dried foods. I like to heat -seal
them with the iron set to
"Nylon," protecting the plastic
from melting by putting tissue
paper over and under the sec-
tion you are heat sealing. You
can seal all but a tiny opening,
then insert a drinking straw
and suck out all possible air,
then continue sealing that last
little bit for longest term
storage. Putting the plastic
bags full of dried material into
jars, or coffee cans, is a good
idea for double protection.
"Your food dryer can be used
for many innovative ideas in•
cluding drying home grown
grains, beans. herb bundles.
jerky, fruits, as well as most all
the vegetables you grow in your
home garden. The home grown
vegetables and herbs are far
superior to those you buy. for
dehydration . . . because you
can catch them at exactly the
right moment of ripeness for a
better dehydrated product.
"When you are blanching. as
most vegetables require, do so
only until the colors change to a
vivid brightness. rather than
timing from the tables in the
book. The change in color is
more rapid in fresher vege-
tables. and very apparent to the
eye. Avoid putting the hot
blanched vegetables into water
to chill them, just dry them on
a towel, and put them straight
into the dehydrator as fast as
possible. Steaming doesn't
make the food as wet as blan-
ching in boiling water.
"Check a cooled bit of dried
food to test for doneness. There
will be many other interesting
uses for a homemade dehydra-
tor: drying homemade soap
flakes into laundry soap, rising
bread or culturing yoghurt or
cheese on the warm top, drying
soaked cooked whole wheat for
homemade bulghur, all utiliz-
ing the controlled heat inside
your maching."
Before and after. The fresh soup mix in
the background dries to the small pile shown.
Plant yourfruit trees ,
in mid-May
Fruit trees should be set out in
home gardens in mid-May.
"For the best results, buy
quality trees and follow
recommended planting
procedures," advises Ontario
ministry of agriculture and food
horticulturist D.M. Sangster.
"Because fruit trees need good
drainage, avoid planting sites
with heavy clay soils that retain
water and inhibit new root for-
mation."
Dig a Targe hole for each tree to
allow plenty of room for root
deve:opment. Spread a good
loam soil around the roots before
filling in the hole.. After,planting,
water the tree with one and one-
half to two gallons of water.
Prune newly planted trees back
to assure a good balance between
the tops and root systems to
stimulate adequate regrowth.
Fruit trees do not need fertilizer
during the first year.
For proper pollination, plant
two varieties of apples, pears,
sweet cherries, and plums.
Peaches, apricots, and sour
cherries are self -fertile and
require only one variety. For
further information on
pollination requirements, consult
your nurseryman.
Propagation by cuttings
The houseplant fancier can
propagate many varieties of
geranium, coleus and ivy
whenever suitable growths are
available.
To propagate houseplants by
cuttings, use side shoots or tips of
branches three to six inches long.
Remove the lower leaves from
the cuttings to facilitate planting.
Trim the base of each cutting so
the cut is clean and not ragged.
"Cuttings of plants that root
rapidly, such as Wandering Jew
and Coleus, may be set in a glass
of water," says Ontario ministry
of agriculture and food hor-
ticulturist, D.M. Sangster.
"However, most cuttings
produce better roots in clean,
sharp sand or in a medium such
as perlite." Keep the medium
moist, but not saturated, and do
not reuse a medium unless it has
been sterilized.
To create a moist atmosphere
around cuttings and prevent
them from wilting, cover with a
glass jar or plastic. Remove the
covering gradually once the
cuttings begin to root.
Shade cuttings from the sun,
but make sure they have plenty of
indirect light. When roots are one
to two inches long, transfer the
young plants to small pots nearly
filled with a suitable potting soil.
Make room for the garden!
Move that old wreck from
your back yard to ours!
IT'S $$$ IN YOUR POCKET...
WE PAY SPOT CASH FOR WRECKS
PARTS
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CARS & TRUCKS
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INSTALLATION SERVICE BY
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