"Refrigeration" without a Refrigerator? - Event Date: November 29 2006

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   In the October 2005 edition of the National Geographic magazine, they did a really good spread on the avian flu situation and the seriousness that it posed as a world disaster.  I kept the magazine because of that article, and in it, there was a small piece on a group of African women who have started a business selling "non-refrigerators" to others in the African Sudan.  I can't find my magazine, I think I've lent it to someone for them to read (not a good idea, I know) but that piece about the refrigerator is sticking in my head as a large ???HUMM???  

From what I remember, they accomplished it very easily - they had a large Terra cotta pot, then put another pot in it, with enough space between these two pots for sand to be pored in.  Then a lid was put over all of it, and somehow, the SAND between the two pots created a cooler type situation that mimics a refrigerator.  They'd said that they could keep food for several days longer that would have ordinarily spoiled in the hot climate there.

Does anyone have this magazine, or have you heard of anything that mirrors this, tried it, etc?  I would really love to make this if it's possible, if there's a way to keep things from spoiling a few days that would normally spoil overnight, we'd all be able to spread our preps out longer without that risk of spoilage.

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Calendar Event: "Refrigeration" without a Refrigerator? Posted: November 29 2006 at 5:05pm
	In the October 2005 edition of the National Geographic magazine, they did a really good spread on the avian flu situation and the seriousness that it posed as a world disaster. I kept the magazine because of that article, and in it, there was a small piece on a group of African women who have started a business selling "non-refrigerators" to others in the African Sudan. I can't find my magazine, I think I've lent it to someone for them to read (not a good idea, I know) but that piece about the refrigerator is sticking in my head as a large *???HUMM???* From what I remember, they accomplished it very easily - they had a large Terra cotta pot, then put another pot in it, with enough space between these two pots for sand to be pored in. Then a lid was put over all of it, and somehow, the SAND between the two pots created a cooler type situation that mimics a refrigerator. They'd said that they could keep food for several days longer that would have ordinarily spoiled in the hot climate there. Does anyone have this magazine, or have you heard of anything that mirrors this, tried it, etc? I would really love to make this if it's possible, if there's a way to keep things from spoiling a few days that would normally spoil overnight, we'd all be able to spread our preps out longer without that risk of spoilage.

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 29 2006 at 6:40pm
	4abbie&maddie, I read an article about this a few months ago. It is sometimes known as a 'Zeer' pot. I made 2 of these for possible future use. I used a 14" clay pot and then set a 10" pot inside that. Fill the gap between the two with sand (also bought at the hardware store). I haven't figured out what would be best to cover the top with, maybe cut out a piece to fit from some of that silver reflective stuff used in car windshields. When in use, you should keep the sand dampened at regular intervals. Supposed to keep veggies from spoiling for several days. Hope this helps. Dixie

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 30 2006 at 12:32am
	abby, go to google. type in zeer pot. you will find what you need. the sand between the clay jars has to be moist. evaporation is what makes it work.

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 30 2006 at 3:38am
	4abbie&maddie if you have a creek near by a cold spring might be an option.

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 30 2006 at 6:16am
	Thanks all! Never in a million years would I have remembered it's called a "Zeer Pot."

Penham Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Chief Moderator Moderator Joined: February 09 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14913	Post Options Post Reply Quote Penham Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 30 2006 at 10:34am
	On the preps board is an old thread about solar ovens cheap, it was one I started months ago, there is also directions on the website somewhere how to make ice under the ground in a solar type built box. I just find it hard to believe you can make ice, LOL, but it was the oven by the Brigham Young University Professor that was the one that could do the ice. Ice would definately be a plus in warmer weather.

nwprepper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List V.I.P. Member Joined: August 01 2006 Status: Offline Points: 78	Post Options Post Reply Quote nwprepper Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 30 2006 at 11:41am
	Does anybody know how much propane a propane freezer consumes? Also, do propane freezers need electricity? Sorry if that sounds like a stupid ques but I've been told that a propane furnace and water heater won't work when the power goes out. Have thought about buying a propane freezer, then packing it full and also using it to make ice to keep a regular coleman cooler. This would be cheaper than buying a propane fridge and freezer both... Also have thought about buying one of those solar ice makers - not sure if we get enough sun here in the rainy NW - our average is 3 hours a day. Any advice?

Weird-one Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List V.I.P. Member Joined: August 02 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 76	Post Options Post Reply Quote Weird-one Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 30 2006 at 1:05pm
	4Abbie&Maddie, the Zeer Pot requires DRY heat to work efficiently. They work on the same principle as evaporative coolers or swamp coolers which you�ll see out West . They work fabulously in Arizona but not so much in high humidity environments like my state FL or your state NC. The higher the relative humidity the less efficient they are. If it works it may be better than nothing but you won�t get the performance the Sudanese people get. Like so many things we are doing I recommend that you test this before you start depending on it. Bummer about your National Geo, did you check the top of the toilet?! Steve
	For once in my life I hope I'm wasting money!

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 30 2006 at 3:23pm
	Thanks Steve for that info about the dry heat.....and the mag. I'll go check there, haven't gone through those in a while....

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 01 2006 at 5:13am
	In post-wartime Britain, so my mother tells me, when they didn't have refrigerators in any case, (they were too expensive for ordinary people), they used evaporation to keep their milk cool. Evaporation consumes heat, and it takes that heat from what's next to the water. My mother used to wrap her bottle of milk (or pack of butter or whatever), in a piece of wet muslin, and dip the ends of the muslin into a container of water. The water evaporating from the muslin cooled the milk bottle (which usually also stood in the bowl of water). Because the ends of the cloth were dipped in water it neverdried out, and there was a constant supply of water to evaporate. Beth

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 01 2006 at 2:01pm
	beth, the muslin would act like a wick. the wick would pull the water up.

Ret. Paramedic Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: April 21 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ret. Paramedic Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 01 2006 at 2:41pm
	after a few days without electricity, you'll forget all about refrigeration. Your "Fresh" food will be gone or spoiled before you can eat it all and you'll be eating canned or dry foods with no left overs. leftovers go to feed the animals and stock.