BITS & PIECES
LETTER
COOKING WITH SUNLIGHT
I have lived here for six years now, ex Melbourne at Noosaville. I wanted to say how very much I love your magazine and collect two at nearby outlets; one for me and the other for my neighbour. Especially love the History page. It’s amazingly interesting to know the history of street names, etc. (in particular) Walter Hay Drive; its nearby to me. It has taken me six years to know the street names. I arrived using google maps and for a couple of years, only knew “at the roundabout” turn whatever. Used to think I can’t get my head around roundabouts, but now do spectacularly without u turning! I used to u turn a lot.. I can spot a tourist from a mile away. Happy living in Noosaville full of roundabouts. Thank you. Rose Mclennan, Noosaville.
WE all must be feeling the $olar pinch by now, To make ends meet there are lots of ways we can cut our spending, but it doesn’t always mean we have to cut back. About thirty years ago I designed a solar oven that was easy and dirt cheap to build, light-weight and folded up for ease of transport, and) yet operated continuously while the sun shone. Anyone adept at wielding a Stanley knife, working with cardboard or core flute (the stuff real estate and election signs are made of) and repurposing silver lined corn chip packets, can make themselves an efficient cooker. On the other hand, if you prefer to buy a ready-made item, all you need do is to Google “Solar Cookers” and go from there, or you can come to one of my workshops and make one (see students and their self-made ovens above). I have designed many styles and sizes appliances. Some are teeny – ideal as school science projects – others are devilishly potent. So here are some of the more impressive designs: The most versatile, the ‘panel cooker’, is light-weight, (essentially made from core flute and reflective material) is collapsible, and is a suitable alternative to the electric oven or slow cooker, capable of reaching temperatures of around 160°C. .
IN THE GARDEN — with Penny
The ‘box cooker’ is an insulated box with a clear glass leading face and will cook everything, from cakes to vegies to meats. This is large enough to cook up a family feast and capable of reaching temperatures of up to 220°C. It is a little too heavy to cart around on camping trips, and more suited to a permanent position on a sunny patio. The ‘parabolic concentrator’ is also capable of family sized cooking. It is a shiny reflective dish shaped unit, reaching temperatures of 220°C Whether you believe in climate change or not, you can save money and have loads of fun doing it. For more info. visit my website sizzlingsolarsystems.com or contact me at stan@cajdler.com
With the hot weather and good rain our plants have put on an amazing rate of growth. Time to trim back and tidy up, put some new cuttings in or add trimmings to the compost bin. With the price of vegetables at the moment it’s a great time to put in a few punnet including carrots, corn, spring onions, cabbage, cauliflower and silverbeet. Don’t forget some parsley along with any other herbs you may like. Pansies, statice, stocks and many bulbs can also be planted now. Time to fertilise before the cooler weather sets in. If you have room citrus are a good buy, there are many dwarf varieties available. Get rid of any weeds before they set seed. Caladiums will be starting to die back soon, so many pots have been thrown out over the years, make sure your pot has a label identifying there is a corm there. Keep pots where they don’t get any moisture or lay the on their side to stop corms from rotting. Orchids are coming into flower now, if plants are outside beware of the Dendrobium beetle which looks a bit like a lady bird, these pests can wreck your flowers overnight. Best way to get rid of them is an ice cream container with water and some kerosene, put the container under the flower and tap, any beetles will drop into the container. If you are new to gardening or have moved from a different area why not come on one of my garden tours to see what is on offer. Any of the garden expos showcase so many beautiful plants that grow well in our area. There are some great Orchid shows coming up, have a look, you won’t be disappointed Happy Gardening, Penny
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Tel: 5493 7166 terri@indigoliving.com.au www.indigoliving.com.au 16 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / April 2022
16.indd 2
Sunshine Coast
30/03/2022 10:39:08 AM
