Small simple technologies that are awesome

[Delight]

The Wonderbag just came to my attention. It is an age old technology (heat retention cooking) re-visioned. I would like to hear about the old/new technologies that are simple and need little energy (like appliances and electricity) to maintain. What have you found/created that is awesome? Please share your small and wonderful finds/ideas.

Some are in posts and maybe whole threads I missed here on Avalon that could be linked but collecting them all together is fun.


Originally invented by founder Sarah Collins in South Africa with the intention of conserving cooking energy in developing nations, this cordless, power-free, gas-free slow cooker might just change the way we slow-cook forever. Although our slow cookers are tried and true instruments in our kitchen, the notion of leaving an electrical appliance running hot while we sleep or leave our homes has always made us a little nervous, to be honest. The Wonderbag removes that worry, saves electricity and -- the best part -- actually works. You start anything you cook in the Wonderbag on the stove (recipes range from beef stew to oatmeal to greens and beyond), bringing your pot to a boil for around five minutes. Turn off the heat, seal the pot and pop it in the Wonderbag for your desired amount of time. A tender beef stew will take about four hours, but you can leave your food in the Wonderbag for up to 12 hours without it falling below a safe temperature. Wonderbag (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/02/wonderbag-slow-cook-video_n_4532485.html)

http://www.cucchiaio.it/wp-content/uploads/The-Wonderbag.jpg

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[Daozen]

Brilliant, this is what we need. 10 times more exciting than free energy. There are tons of threads like these on Avalon. Maybe we could compile them.

[Daozen]

Can we work out what material they're made from? Must be a way to buy a generic bag.

[Delight]

Brilliant, this is what we need. 10 times more exciting than free energy. There are tons of threads like these on Avalon. Maybe we could compile them.

I know you have some great ideas Daozen.
Yes, compiling those simple technologies already on PA is very useful for reference..even just linking the source on PA to go find. Maybe posters who see this thread will link their posts?

I am most personally interested in basic technology that needs no electricity and can be made from available stuff....(example even lipo C if it needs electricity is a disadvantaged tech IMO). Also deconstructing how the wonderbag and others are made is awesome.

Here is another example that I like. It could be made with a recycled metal canister inside another container?

http://www.mysolarpower.info/solar-powered-refrigerator.jpg

and the hillbilly washing machine (http://refashionista.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/diy-hillbilly-washing-machine/) even works for old fashioned diapers.

http://refashionista.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/20120521-diywasher-01.jpg?w=225&h=300

http://refashionista.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/20120521-diywasher-02.jpg?w=300&h=225

http://refashionista.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/20120521-diywasher-03.jpg?w=225&h=300

http://refashionista.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/20120521-diywasher-05.jpg?w=225&h=300

Also, another version of the heat retention principle of cooing is ore stationary...the haybox.

haybox cooking (http://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/haybox-cooking-zmaz80jfzraw.aspx#axzz3GAT0eMne)

Here is an Indian adaptation


In 2008, experimenting with solar thermal models for water heating and looking for a cheap insulator that would retain heat for a long time, we stumbled upon a traditional practice: using hay for cooking rice. In this method, rice is brought to a boil and then transferred to a haybox where it cooks in its own heat without a flame. Adapting this idea for Srikakulam villages, we designed a haybox made entirely of local material and also supporting livelihoods of the bamboo artisans. Moreover, our design is cost-effective. Priced at Rs. 70 in these villages, it is affordable by families dependent on daily wage work in agriculture, and who typically get paid Rs 40 -80 /day/person (on the days that they get work). It is one of the few products that is made in the village and also sold in the village.Haybox (http://aidindia.org/main/content/view/787/1/1/4/)

http://gallery.aidindia.org/gallery/gallery2/d/80788-4/haybox+making.JPG

http://gallery.aidindia.org/gallery/gallery2/d/80575-5/khichdi+in+haybox+low.JPG

and another resource:
http://thermalcooker haybox/ (http://thermalcooker.wordpress.com/category/thermal-cookers/haybox/)

[Tangri]

I wish to see an native Indian smoke oven here.

woZIIEBrKLc

[Chilliburger]

.. I say connect all these gym machines back to the powerplant! :whip:

0EFJvKTaOnM

[Delight]

At the risk of flooding and derailing this thread that I really want others to participate in:

This is my dream, participate in a company with some other people who would be excited by this work: PYROLYSIS of wastes...turn garbage into fuel and biochar. It is a not exactly SMALL SIMPLE nonelectric technology though it could be done on a small scale.

All landfills everywhere are now turned to fuel and inert material that is usable soil amendment!

http://www.alchemical-energy.com/uploads/1/6/5/2/1652225/_3881341_orig.png

http://www.alchemical-energy.com/uploads/1/6/5/2/1652225/_1402004000.jpg

Vhvogn49riI

0_xXjOKdLf8


Pyrolysis differs from other high-temperature processes like combustion and hydrolysis in that it usually does not involve reactions with oxygen, water, or any other reagents. In practice, it is not possible to achieve a completely oxygen-free atmosphere. Because some oxygen is present in any pyrolysis system, a small amount of oxidation occurs.

Biofuel

Pyrolysis is the basis of several methods that are being developed for producing fuel from biomass, which may include either crops grown for the purpose or biological waste products from other industries.[12] Crops studied as biomass feedstock for pyrolysis include native North American prairie grasses such as switchgrass and bred versions of other grasses such as Miscantheus giganteus. Crops and plant material wastes provide biomass feedstock on the basis of their lignocellulose portions.

Although synthetic diesel fuel cannot yet be produced directly by pyrolysis of organic materials, there is a way to produce similar liquid (bio-oil) that can be used as a fuel, after the removal of valuable bio-chemicals that can be used as food additives or pharmaceuticals.[13] Higher efficiency is achieved by the so-called flash pyrolysis, in which finely divided feedstock is quickly heated to between 350 and 500 °C (660 and 930 °F) for less than 2 seconds.

Fuel bio-oil can also be produced by hydrous pyrolysis from many kinds of feedstock, including waste from pig and turkey farming, by a process called thermal depolymerization (which may, however, include other reactions besides pyrolysis).
Plastic waste disposal

Anhydrous pyrolysis can also be used to produce liquid fuel similar to diesel from plastic waste, with a higher cetane value and lower sulphur content than traditional diesel.[14] Using pyrolysis to extract fuel from end-of-life plastic is a second-best option after recycling, is environmentally preferable to landfill, and can help reduce dependency on foreign fossil fuels and geo-extraction.[15] Pilot Jeremy Roswell plans to make the first flight from Sydney to London using diesel fuel from recycled plastic waste manufactured by Cynar PLC.[13][16][17]
Waste tire disposal

Pyrolysis of scrap or waste tires (WT) can separate solids in the tire, such as steel and carbon black, from volatile liquid and gaseous compounds that can be used as fuel. Although the pyrolysis of WT has been widely developed throughout the world, there are legislative, economic, and marketing obstacles to widespread adoption. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrolysis


http://www.dorset.nu/upload/Image/dorset-gm/producten/pyrolyse/pyro_circkel.png



Pyrolysis can be used on various materials, such as:

Used tyres
Plastics
Poultry Manure
Woodchips
Sewage Sludge
Other Biomasses
http://www.dorset.nu/en/page/home-gm/products/pyrolyse.html

Tires turned to fuel
u7sBcBrMZR8

[Daozen]

I think there are some forms of Lipo C that don't need a jewelry cleaner...

[Delight]

I think there are some forms of Lipo C that don't need a jewelry cleaner...

Hi,
from my research, emulsifying ascorbic acid by vigorously mixing ascorbic acid (AA) or ascorate with lecithin may encourage the natural way that lecithin tends to create liposomes (bubble of lecithin around a liquid).

The point made by the techies in that area is that sonication decreases the size of the liposomes enabling the liposomes to p[ass through the membrane in the gut to the circulation. Lecithin, AA and ascorbate are processed substances. I think that increasing the intake of foods and even local plants like pine tree needles where I live might be a basic strategy to take in vitamin C?

There are basic strategies and advanced technologies and I intend that we have increasing choice based on beauty, comfort, happy enjoyment of elegance and our own desires. The world I imagine is one where all is available, and knowledge present to decide in our abundance what we prefer. I prefer simple elegant technology when I find them. It is so pleasing to be independent of a plug in.

The latest interest I have is in areas of meeting human desires for food, shelter, clothing, health that are the most wonderful, simple, small and easily shared. I love information that maes choosing possible...Like with vitamin C: ways to increase availability, absorption and all the foods and herbs that have it.

Increasing the absorbability of AA (and AA versus ascorbate), dosing to bowel tolerance versus lipo C.... the discussion leads to vast pages of contradictory discussion in every forum.

In your area, Kiwi gel and aloe vera gel would be easy. In my area we can grow aloes indoors year round. This is research that might be encouraging.


The results indicate that the Aloes improve the absorption of both vitamins C and E. The absorption is slower and the vitamins last longer in the plasma with the Aloes. Aloe is the only known supplement to increase the absorption of both of these vitamins and should be considered as a complement to them.Aloe vera preparations on the human bioavailability of vitamins C and E (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711305000656)


It is possible that the bioavailability of ascorbate is superior from some foods, such as kiwifruit http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21123463

[Delight]

A Rocket Stove is a way to obtain massive BTUs from twigs and kindling! They have the advantage of being DIY-able for nearly free if you have the right random collection of materials.They range from recycling tin cans emergency type for cooking to fancy whole room/ home masonry heaters and can adapt to heat water. They are amazingly efficient and simple!

http://www.richsoil.com/images/rocket-mass-heater-animation.gif

http://www.richsoil.com/images/rocket-mass-heater-diagram.png

http://www.nwedible.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Screen-shot-2013-03-04-at-11.15.39-PM.png


rocket mass heaters in a nutshell:

heat your home with 80% to 90% less wood
exhaust is nearly pure steam and CO2 (a little smoke at the beginning)
the heat from one fire can last for days
you can build one in a day and half
folks have built them spending less than $20
rocket stove mass heater information (http://www.richsoil.com/rocket-stove-mass-heater.jsp)


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and here is a some simple one for the back yard

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Here is a primer on a basic one

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[Delight]

http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2014/12/Egloo-room-heater.jpg


Can you heat your room for just 10 cents a day? (http://inhabitat.com/egloo-heats-your-room-without-electricity-for-10-cents-a-day/)Egloo can. Egloo is a clever little heater that harnesses candle power to heat a room without wasting electricity. Egloo works by concentrating the heat from the flame of a few candles inside a terracotta dome, radiating warmth into a room even after the candles are blown out. The concept was developed by Marco Zagaria, a student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, and right now, he is looking for funding for the brilliant little heater. The project is being funded through Indiegogo (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/egloo-candle-powered-heater) where you can get in on the project and start heating your office, dorm or bedroom without using electricity.

https://images.indiegogo.com/file_attachments/1073739/files/20141205083530-eglooblender.png?1417797330

https://images.indiegogo.com/file_attachments/1076150/files/20141206111246-misure222222222222222222.png?1417893166

https://images.indiegogo.com/file_attachments/1091309/files/20141212041853-egloo-gif.gif?1418386733

[fourty-two]

Pot in Pot cooler is a refrigeration unit without electricity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfKgOpJc7Ps It also work for beer.
This inovative "technology" was introduced into an African Marketplace where poor growers
threw out their vegtables by the end of the day. It revolutionized the market!
There is a u-tube about it that I cant locate at the moment.
But here is a Wickepedia read on it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot-in-pot_refrigerator

[Delight]

http://image.slidesharecdn.com/smartlivingwall-130921063134-phpapp01/95/smart-living-wall-2-638.jpg?cb=1379763213

http://image.slidesharecdn.com/smartlivingwall-130921063134-phpapp01/95/smart-living-wall-3-638.jpg?cb=1379763213

http://blog.landscapedesign.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/commercial-7-resedential-benefits.png

Living green walls can range form the simply small like these succulent plants

http://www.floridafriendlyplants.com/Blog/image.axd?picture=Classic%20Living%20Walls%20c%20Riverview%20Flower%20Farm.jpg

to the simply huge

http://www.eauc.org.uk/image_uploads/1_wall_aix-en-provence_large.jpg

and have the same principles

They can be decorative, edible, esthetic, functional (http://inhabitat.com/green-living-technologies-green-walls-produce/)

Introduction to Green Walls (http://www.greenscreen.com/Resources/download_it/IntroductionGreenWalls.pdf)

audio here is spotty but worth trying to engage...
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K7FQd7DXdWc

You may DIY using many simple materials


Green Walls: The Benefits and How to Build Your Own (http://www.livingwallart.com/category/do-it-yourself/)

You can make an indoor wall garden in a variety of ways. You can use recycled materials, like old gutters, or materials bought from the home improvement store. When it comes to making your own indoor vertical wall garden, there are many options and styles to create or buy.

Picture Frame (http://www.designrulz.com/design/2013/09/cool-diy-green-living-wall-projects-for-your-home/)

http://cdn.designrulz.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Succulent-Gardens-designrulz-002.jpg

The picture frame is the simplest of the indoor vertical wall garden types. Start with an old picture frame or make your own frame. Then, attach chicken wire to the frame. Hold the wire in place with a second smaller frame—either bought or handmade. Attach the back to the second frame. Fill with soil, plant your favorites and water them.

Recycled Materials including pallets (http://beersnbeans.blogspot.com/2013/01/diy-pallet-living-wall.html)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y61N51l2oac/UQIJ8Tw6W3I/AAAAAAAAAQA/pL_YpIDcJwM/s640/Top.jpg

Most materials can be reworked into a vertical wall garden. For example, you could attach three rows of gutters to a solid wall in the interior of your home. Fill the gutters will soil and plant with your favorite flowers, vines or veggies for a permanent feature wall.

http://www.inspirationgreen.com/assets/images/Gardens/Herb%20Wall/rain-gutter-garden.jpg

http://www.livingwallart.com/wp-content/uploads/f821b22a0fd55579_5592-w406-h406-b0-p0-contemporary-landscape.jpg

Containment System

A container system starts with a series of containers, set of brackets and a strong material, like wood. You can use a piece of plywood or other suitable material as the backing. Attach the containers to the material with nails or staples. Then, add soil and plants. Hang or rest against a wall.

The only difference between an outdoor and indoor vertical wall garden is the size and weight. Because houses do not have unlimited space, so indoor vertical wall gardens tend to be smaller and less heavy. The picture frame style indoor wall garden is entirely possible, but it can get messy. Containment systems are more likely. Indoor vertical wall gardens can be messy, if the wrong materials are used. That’s way the container vertical wall method is more likely to be used then the picture frame style vertical wall style.

diy-green-living-wall-projects-for-home-interiors (http://www.decoist.com/2013-09-16/diy-green-living-wall-projects-for-home-interiors/)

Tips about using pallets for vertical vegi gardens

1. Pallets are everywhere, so take the time to find one in good condition and that is not made from pressure-treated wood (due to the leaching from potentially harmful chemicals). Look for a pallet that has “HT” stamped on the side of the pallet. HT means the pallet was heat treated and or kiln dried as opposed to the harmful “CT” (chemically treated). 10-amazing-garden-pallets-and-tips-how-to-get-started (http://removeandreplace.com/2013/03/18/pallet-gardens-10-amazing-garden-pallets-and-tips-how-to-get-started/#ixzz3Plf8wYIv)

2.A nifty and inexpensive greenhouse can be made from two salvaged pallets. This can help for seed starting plants20-creative-ways-to-upcycle-pallets-in-your-garden/ (http://themicrogardener.com/20-creative-ways-to-upcycle-pallets-in-your-garden/)

3. Be sure to leave your pallet garden horizontal for two weeks or so to let the plants take root.

4. Some vegetables are more suitable (http://homeguides.sfgate.com/kind-vegetables-can-plant-wooden-pallet-82585.html) for planting in the small space of a wooden pallet garden than others.

5. Benefits/Advantages (http://www.offthegridnews.com/2013/04/02/how-to-make-your-own-pallet-vertical-garden/)

Easier pest and disease control. By staying up and away from the ground, vegetables and herbs growing in a vertical garden avoid many common pests and diseases that thrive under leaf cover in the soil. The pests that do occur can also be noticed and dealt with more easily, since there aren’t thick masses of growth to block the gardener’s view. In addition, plants grown in soil above ground receive better airflow, reducing the chance of problems like rot and mildew.
Easier harvest. Not only can you actually see all the ripe fruit that would normally be hidden under thick growth, you can also harvest them without the need to strain your back or knees by bending over.
Space-efficient. Vertical gardens can be set up just about anywhere and are ideal for small spaces. Balconies, patios, and narrow walkways are all great locations for a vertical garden.
Portable. Many types of vertical gardens, such as the pallet garden, are completely portable. Moving to a new house? Just load up the pallet and take your garden with you!
Attractive. Even on large, spacious properties, vertical gardens can be a great addition to the landscape. They can brighten dull, boring walls, hide unsightly pipes or wires, and act as a living screen for more privacy.

[Delight]

Pot in Pot cooler is a refrigeration unit without electricity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfKgOpJc7Ps It also work for beer.
This inovative "technology" was introduced into an African Marketplace where poor growers
threw out their vegtables by the end of the day. It revolutionized the market!
There is a u-tube about it that I cant locate at the moment.
But here is a Wickepedia read on it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot-in-pot_refrigerator

Thanks! I was reminded of

pottery refrigerators (http://www.notechmagazine.com/2012/03/pottery-refrigerators.html)

http://krisdedecker.typepad.com/.a/6a00e0099229e88833016302778e1a970d-pi


simple root cellers (http://thesurvivalplaceblog.com/tag/pioneer-food-preservation-with-a-root-cellar-part-2-of-3/) too

http://preparedforthat.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Garbage-Can-Root-Cellar.jpg

http://preparedforthat.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Mini_Root_Cellar_Final.jpg

[RunningDeer]

Great thread, Delight. Here's a cost effective tip using drape, diffuser, and mylar bubble layers.

For more ‘do it yourself tips’ go to Mikey Sklar’s YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/sklarm/videos).


Best DIY Home Heating : Cheap, Easy

Y1XxixvcKh0

Published on Jan 13, 2013

Wendy Tremayne shows how easy it is to open and close curtains for passive solar heating. Her home heating bill has never exceeded $45 for a 1,100 square foot uninsulated trailer. The night time temperature that this film was made was down to 6F with windchill and day time high was only 36F. No heating was required during the day and the home heating unit only kicked on 3 times for 15 minute runs during the night to maintain a stable 60F indoor temperature.

[Delight]

Here's a cost effective tip using drape, diffuser, and mylar bubble layers.


Thanks so much for your input.

The video on using the sun and triple layer curtaining was so helpful to me. I was inspired to look up mylar bubble wrap uses and saw this about using plain bubble wrap on windows...

http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Conservation/BubbleWrapss.jpg



Bubble Wrap Window Insulation (http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Conservation/bubblewrap.htm)
Installation

Cut the bubble wrap to the size of the window pane with scissors.


Spray a film of water on the window using a spray bottle.


Apply the bubble wrap while the window is still wet and press it into place.


The bubble side goes toward the glass.


To remove the bubble wrap, just pull it off starting from a corner. You can save it and use it for several years. It does not leave a mess or stains on the window glass.

If you have trouble with the bubble wrap separating from the window when the film dries, you can try adding a little Glycerin to the water, but this probably won't be necessary.



A few small pieces of double back tape can be helpful on really stubborn windows.



The bubblewrap can be installed in the fall, and removed in the spring. Judging by how mine looks after a year, it may last quite a while.



When you take the bubble wrap down, put a small number in on the upper right corner of each piece of bubble wrap, and write down which window that number goes with on a piece of paper. Save the paper for the installation next fall. This tells you instantly where each sheet goes, and which way its oriented.



Some places to get bubble wrap:

- Save up bubble wrap packing material that you and friends receive



- Check places that sell larger items like canoes or furniture -- bubble wrap is often used for packing these.



- Check for wholesale suppliers of packing material in your area -- these places will often sell a roll to the public.



- Here is one potential online source: http://www.uboxes.com (I've not actually tried them, but looks OK)



- As a last resort, places like the UPS store have it, but the prices are usually high.

Suggestion from Pat:
"Bubble wrap small bubble and large can be had for free by contacting furniture retailers or rental shops. They throw it away by the tons!"
I've heard the same thing for places that sell canoes.

[RunningDeer]

Garden Tower Project
Q1C9zP5uJrE

Published on Oct 4, 2012

The Weekly Special visits the Garden Tower Project, a unique self-contained garden and composting system that is changing the potential of urban farming.

For more information on the Garden Tower Project, visit: http://www.gardentowerproject.com/



Grow 53 Plants in 4 Sq Ft with a Garden Tower Vertical Container Garden
BlMNXAV4M7M

Published on Nov 3, 2013

John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ sets up the Garden Tower Vertical Container Garden that allows you to grow 50+ plants in just 4 square feet of space. In this episode, John will share why the Garden Tower is unique and why it is the best vertical tower garden system he has found to date. The Garden Tower will allow you to have a vegetable garden where your normally couldn't such as on a patio, balcony, deck, sidewalk or driveway.

While watching this episode, you will learn:
1. How to assemble the Garden Tower
2. Where to place your Garden Tower
3. How to make a nutritious potting soil your plants will love.
4. How to fill and plant out the Garden Tower in one easy step.
5. How the Garden Tower Conserves and Recycles Water
6. How to add Red Wiggler Composting Worms to Your Garden Tower
7. If John Prefers the Garden Tower Project or the Garden Tower

After watching this episode you will learn the benefits and how to set up the Garden Tower so you too can grow a vegetable garden in a limited amount of space.

To learn more about the garden tower please visit
http://www.gardentowerproject.com

[sarahgomez1984]

All the ideas above are simple and easy to do. Even I did something with my vinyl windows in Toronto( http://www.clerawindows.com/windows ) . I made my own Thermal Curtains :sun: I used a tutorial online to make these curtains.

I used the following thing to make the curtains

Insulative batting material decorative cover material , wooden or metal curtain rod or dowel , Curtain rod brackets or dowel brackets , curtain rings or shower curtain rings,
velcro, sewing machine, thread, pins, scissors, tape measure, grommet punch set with grommets, fabric Scissors, mounting board and a cCap

1: Measure the window
2: Get the batting and decorative material and cut them out according to the size
3: Pin the fabric material to the batting and sew it into the fabric material
4: If any portion is remaining , use a sew-edge to tuck the remaining into the curtain
5: Make holes according to your requirement for the grommets
6: Place the grommets using a hammer
7: Sew velcro to the curtain . (Sew the to the areas which needs to be sealed. )
8: Place your curtain on the your curtain rod and hang it up!
9: Your Thermal Curtains are ready :)

[spacejack]

Thumbs up for the John Kohler video.

Here is a cool video. This guy has really cool stuff and he explains it well:

wP5qbKS_8VY

[pueblo]

Interesting and simple way to purify water using a pine branch.

JZ-vtnKKMEw

[Delight]

Thumbs up for the John Kohler video.

Here is a cool video. This guy has really cool stuff and he explains it well:

wP5qbKS_8VY

That video is good! "Teslonian Man Show! Make "GAS" from Wood"! Part 1"

[Delight]

People are worried about heating this winter and I want to suggest Rocket Stoves be utilized. This is simple below.....

KAi0mE5sT5w


Best Rocket Stoves (and Plans) For Camping & Survival
By Just In Case Jack
|
Last Updated:
June 29, 2022 (https://www.skilledsurvival.com/rocket-stove/#section4)

Specifically, we’ll deep dive into the following rocket stove topics:

5 Best Rocket Stoves On The Market Today (https://www.skilledsurvival.com/rocket-stove/#section5)

WHAT IS A ROCKET STOVE ANYWAY?
A rocket stove is a super-efficient small combustion stove. Its intelligent design makes use of any small fuel sources such as twigs, small branches, pine cones, and dry grass.

This means a fuel source is:

More readily available
Easy to gather and haul
FREE (who doesn’t love free?)
These small fuel sources are burned in a combustion chamber containing a verticle chimney. The design ensures nearly complete combustion.

This means you’re getting more heat output (for warmth or cooking) than traditional firepits or even wood stoves.

The first ones built were based on an old lamp design that’s been around since at least the 1700s. Since those early years, it’s undergone incremental improvements over the centuries.

The modern-day rocket stove was officially designed in the 1980s. They were originally built to support an improved cooking system for impoverished nations.

Since the simple design of the rocket stove captured the world. Because they are relatively easy and inexpensive to build. Even with scrap materials from the recycling bin or a small amount of concrete!

That’s why they’ve become so popular among those of us who are preparing for future emergencies…

How A Rocket Stove Works – It’s Called Science

How Rocket Stoves Work – It’s Called Science
The true beauty of a rocket stove can be appreciated until you understand how they work. Why? Because the rocket stove design is so simple.

Unlike a traditional wood stove, a rocket stove has no moving parts. This means no flue damper and no air inlet grate!

rocket stove designThe basic rocket stove has only 4 components:

The “Elbow” – is a fire-proof L-shaped pipe with a 90deg bend in the middle. The horizontal portion of the elbow is the fuel chamber and air inlet. The vertical portion is the combustion chamber and chimney.
The Stove Body – an insulated surround for the elbow, capable of withstanding the high heat from the elbow. Large metal food cans (or metal trash cans) work great, as does sheet metal bent to fit the elbow. A hole in the top allows the chimney to exit upwards. And a hole on one side allows access to the fuel chamber and air inlet.
A Fuel Grate – ideally the fuel needs to sit up off the bottom of the fuel chamber. Normally a metal grate provides airflow under and around the fuel. This allows any ash to fall through and be removed.
A Pot Skirt – this allows you to place a cooking pot on top of the chimney. It maintains an air gap to allow hot-rising gases to escape the elbow. The pot skirt also blocks the wind from the bottom of the pot. This helps provide a better heat transfer for faster cooking.
Once you’ve assembled the rocket stove and loaded it with fuel, it’s easy to see why it’s such an efficient design!



First, the fuel blocks most of the air inlet, providing a limited amount of air for the fire.https://2d0kr92f96zwxdnni4d4ifav-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/rocket-stove-design-300x200.jpg
This forces the air in a smooth stream under and around the fuel.

As this current passes around the tip of the fuel, it provides a constant stream of fresh air to the fire.

Second, the fire is only burning at the tip of the fuel.
As you slide more fuel into the chamber, it advances the burning material into the air stream from the inlet.

This makes it easier to control the burn rater and keep an even temperature.

Third, with the pot positioned above the chimney, you focus as much heat as possible into your cooking pot (or hands for warmth).
This means little waste and less fuel needed to get dinner on the table!

What you can’t as easily see is the insulated design of the stove body improves cooking efficiency.

It keeps the rocket stove from wasting much heat out into space and away from your cook pot. It also means the fuel chamber preheats the fresh air before reaching the fuel.


Why Rocket Stoves “Rock” For Camping and Survival

Why Rocket Stoves “ROCK” For Camping And Survival
Rocket stoves are a modern-day survivalist (or camping hobbyist) dream device.

No, they won’t win a “cool survival gadget” contest (like a solar charger) but I believe they’re even more important!

I mean what device can make your camping trips better AND save your life in an epic widespread disaster? Not many – that’s why the rocket stove is a device resilient people should invest in.

I believe it’s such a critical device for basic prepping that it’s on our top 10 list of basic preparedness steps.

So here are the top 5 reasons to invest in a rocket stove today.

1. The design works at different scales – small or large!
A rocket stove can be an extremely portable stove for cooking OR a massive “rocket mass heater” for heating a small cabin or hut.

So the design of the rocket stove is extremely versatile. Ideally, if you want to be extremely resilient to the uncertainties of life – you should invest in a small portable rocket stove and a large rocket mass heater as well!

2. They are insanely efficient – maximizing your fuel.
They run efficiently on very little wood fuel. You can use firewood, twigs, or pinecones to generate a lot of heat efficiently.

You can even run many rocket stoves on leaves, grass, and brush! The bottom line is that small portable rocket stoves can use the “free” combustibles found nearly everywhere on the ground.

But what about heating a home? With a well-designed rocket mass heater – you can make your large pile of firewood lasts much longer. How much longer? In the video below, they only used 0.6 cords of wood for an entire Montana winter!


3. They produce very little smoke.
If you hate smoke as much as I do, then it’s about time you did something about it.

You could get a smokeless fire pit for your backyard but you should also get a rocket stove for your survival cooking needs. Why don’t they produce much smoke? It’s due to the efficiency of the burn.

The more efficient the combustion process, the less smoke – it’s as simple as that! And if you’ve been paying attention – efficient burning is a rocket stove’s Modus Operandi.

4. They are a Plan B backup heat source in a long-term grid-down crisis.
What’s your long-term power outage heat plan? Even if you have a backup generator, it will eventually run out of fuel. So, what’s your plan after that?

For some people, a candle heater is worth a try – but it’s not gonna work for large spaces. So for others, it’s to invest in a kerosene or propane heater – but now you’re storing large amounts of liquid fuels…

Instead, if you’re serious about being prepared and resilient, then you should look at a rocket stove as a better solution. You’ll need to scale up to a rocket mass heater with a chimney to safely heat a home.

While small portable rocket stoves produce much less smoke it’s not “smokeless”. So if you burn on inside a home or space without a chimney – you could die from carbon monoxide poisoning. DON’T DO THAT!

5. They are a better option than campfires/wood stoves
I’ve always loved cooking over a wood fire. But it’s not always the most convenient means of preparing food and keeping warm.

It can be hard to find enough wood to keep a fire hot enough to cook.

Dry wood can be even more difficult to locate, especially in the rain and snow.

Even if you collect plenty of usable wood, you must constantly feed logs onto the fire to keep up a bed of coals.

Every time you add more logs, you must move the cooking pot out of the way. Thus disturbing the cooking process often, leaving you hungry longer!

A wood stove is an improvement. They help manage the heat and the burn rate of your fuel and provide a more stable cooking surface.

While wood stoves improve efficiency, they still require copious amounts of large firewood.

Splitting logs and sawing branches takes both time and effort! And traditional wood stoves are not exactly portable!

So, what can you do when there’s very little downed wood for fuel? What if you don’t have time to search for dry wood in the rain?

Best Rocket Stove Plans – DIY Rocket Stove Builds

Stacked Brick Rocket Stove Plans
For this super simple rocket stove all you’ll need is a small pile of bricks. Just arrange them in a way to create the rocket stove chambers and there ya go!

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Concrete Block Rocket Stove Plans
This version provides a stable place for a cooking pot and can be assembled in minutes. You’ll just need to source a few concrete blocks and properly arrange them. Simple, yet effective.

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5 Gallon Bucket & Concrete Rocket Stove Plans
For this version of a rocket stove, you’ll need a 5-gallon bucket, some concrete, and some cardboard tubes.

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Metal Rocket Stove Plans
There are plenty of simple designs for rocket stoves. But there are also designs that feature welded pipe for durability. If your skills include metalworking, these are best since they’re damn near indestructible!

And you can even build one that has a gravity-fed fuel chamber (watch next video)!

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Material Free Rocket Stove – The Dakota Fire Hole

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Now that you’ve taken a look at the DIY rocket stoves, imagine doing the same thing with a hole in the ground!

The Dakota Fire Hole has been a longtime solution for efficient cooking without concrete, bricks, buckets, or metal.

It consists of two intersecting holes or tunnels. It has the same fundamental configuration as the elbow of a rocket stove.

Since it’s similar in design, a Dakota fire hole has many of the same benefits as a rocket stove. It’s a very low cost, efficient, high heat, clean-burning.

But it adds an element of discretion (the flames are hidden below ground) and wind resistance.

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[palehorse]

Pot in Pot cooler is a refrigeration unit without electricity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfKgOpJc7Ps It also work for beer.
This inovative "technology" was introduced into an African Marketplace where poor growers
threw out their vegtables by the end of the day. It revolutionized the market!
There is a u-tube about it that I cant locate at the moment.
But here is a Wickepedia read on it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot-in-pot_refrigerator


to add some complement for this post, here is a PDF teaching how to build one yourself.

https://movement-verein.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/informationen_projekte_clay_pot_cooler_2014_en.pdf

I always wondered if was possible to build something larger using cob, perhaps using the same principles.

Thanks for bring this tech up.