Rick Deckard

Bang up job here.
Remember the Valley.

Chi Monger wrote:We finally got install completed, right in time for winter—just!!  
Our Liberator rocket stove, is SOOOOOO wonderful!!  
Now, we gotta rent a splitter, to break-up all the long-seasoned logs out back!  We’ve mostly been burning pellets….good pellets don’t leave clinkers & only leave small amount of fine ash.  
This stove burns just about any wood pellets, because there’s more of them to keep each other warm, than in usual pellet stoves.   But, damp or badly made pellets, leave more ash, &/or, clinkers to clean out.   Still, cannot see smoke coming from chimney.

Cool Thing about rocket stoves & masonry mass stoves?….apparently,  States or cities that have passed laws against wood stoves, have NO problem with rocket stoves, because they are so efficient; & no one sees smoke coming from chimney.  

Respectfully submitted. Unless you're going to go the Ask Forgiveness vs Ask Permission, I'd get that in writing from the Dept Of Making People Sad. They all seem to have a real mad-on for anything that burns wood or gas (in YOUR home) vs the Holy Utility of Electricity and might veto it just from association.

Dennis Barrow wrote:

Glenn Littman wrote:Can any of you that have a freeze drying system comment on power consumption? I am fairly certain that for those of us who live off-grid it's not an option unless you have humongous battery storage capacity. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I think the process is on the order of 24 or more hours and pretty power hungry through the night. If someone knows the wattage demand of their machine and running time that would be helpful to know.

They are power hungry for off grid.  I just saw a post about that a couple days ago on a facebook forum.  The people said that they had to run a generator whenever the sun wasn't shining.  And they had a battery bank that would run their freezer.

Here in Montana where I am it costs me about $3.00 a day to run it, that's for 24 hours, and each batch usually averages 32 hours or so.

I concur. If you're running it in 'Candy Mode' for skittles and such, 2-3 hrs or so. But if you're doing real food - especially with high moisture or density, you are looking at 24hrs on the low side. I've heard stories of 32+ for fruits.

Eric Jaymes wrote:

Rick Deckard wrote:We have the large. We got it primarily for selling FD candy at Farmers Markets and events. After an Escape from WA this year, we're going to start producing our own stuff and also maybe for neighbors/church. We also had a glitch off the bat with needing to replace the motherboard but they sent it to us and an easy swap. The horror story we missed out that some have experienced was the system arriving looking like it was air dropped. Great community online with recipes, suggestions and *Don't Do This* (the photos are quite amusing). There a couple 'new kids on the block' trying to get in on the action which happens. Some have improvements and others clearly show they were rushed out the door. Always fun at events hearing people saying "I have a freezer and a dehydrator. I can do that too." Ok... good luck with that.
Best of success!

If you don't mind, how is the Farmers Market candy biz doing for you? Is it doing well enough to recoup the cost or is it more of an add-on, supplemental income thing? My friend has the smaller version and recommended going with a large; I'm just not sure I have enough growing to gain the benefit.

Full disclosure, we live in a small town with a small farmer's market so it's not retirement money. We took the winter to research other Markets and Events and we'll start participating as allows. We're looking at branding and selling throughout the state which is our limit unless we go Commercial. If you're wanting to do some sales or co-op with people on use then medium or large for sure. If it's just going to be you and what you produce (assuming backyard garden) then the small would be great. The other thing you'll need to keep in mind if you do go with the large is it needs a special outlet and a dedicated line. Best of Success!

We have the large. We got it primarily for selling FD candy at Farmers Markets and events. After an Escape from WA this year, we're going to start producing our own stuff and also maybe for neighbors/church. We also had a glitch off the bat with needing to replace the motherboard but they sent it to us and an easy swap. The horror story we missed out that some have experienced was the system arriving looking like it was air dropped. Great community online with recipes, suggestions and *Don't Do This* (the photos are quite amusing). There a couple 'new kids on the block' trying to get in on the action which happens. Some have improvements and others clearly show they were rushed out the door. Always fun at events hearing people saying "I have a freezer and a dehydrator. I can do that too." Ok... good luck with that.
Best of success!

Any suggestions for growing Lingonberries in ID, Zone 6b? Picked up some plants that were already climate adapted, using recommended fertilizer. And is that something anyone has had success with in selling cuttings? Thanks!

It says you have to be 'tied to the grid'.
One point I remember Jack Spirko talking about with someone who said the same thing was get the utility so you are legally 'connected', then throw the switch.
Unless it's that draconian where they say you have to USE the electricity.

Thanks! Will certainly put it to good use.

The easiest answer is it's been done for decades and granted, there will always be a few newsworthy fails, the great majority have used this method to preserve food safely and efficiently. Finding someone locally that can walk you through it would be best, YouTube and books would follow. Botulism truly isn't something to play around with but if you as mentioned previously, read the instructions, get experienced assistance, you can join the crowd and maybe even someday help someone else who's hesitant. Best of success!