Seedling problems

[derbytas]

Hi Guys
I want to sterilise my seedraising medium (home made) and wonder if someone can tell me how much time I need to put it in my oven for...I could experiment myself but thought someone here might know...would 10 minutes at a temperature over 100C (212F) be enough
cheers
Peter

[Reign]

Peter - I've never timed mine. I'm thinking it takes me longer than ten minutes (even when I don't forget I'm baking dirt). I just stir it every so often until I see a bit of steam in the center. I heat mine at like 200.

[Lomatia]

DerbyTas, you should pasteurise the medium in the microwave perhaps in a take-away container. I give the damp media about 10 mins on high. Didn't do it for the tommies but always do it for my perennials sinct their germination is a lot slower.

[derbytas]

Thanks guys
As I live without electricity and microwaves and takeaway containers etc I will have to use a metal container in a woodfired oven and take 200 as 200F which is just under our 100C ...I am assuming until it is totally dry....thanks for the advice..it gets me started
Peter

[dcarch]

Originally Posted by derbytas

Thanks guys
As I live without electricity and microwaves and takeaway containers etc I will have to use a metal container in a woodfired oven and take 200 as 200F which is just under our 100C ...I am assuming until it is totally dry....thanks for the advice..it gets me started
Peter

No electricity? How do you surf internet?

You can make a solar oven by using fiberglas insulation painted black with a clear glass cover.

BTW, you have an amazing farm.

dcarch

[derbytas]

I get the internet at my local town ...4 kms away (just under 3 miles) where we have a community centre which operates an Online Centre where I volunteer in ordeer to get free access...sometimes I have to pay
I use wood for my cooking, water heating and home warming. For lighting I use kerosene lamps (sparingly)...I get visitors about 800 nights per year (or more) and go through about 100L of kero /yr . My use of a chainsaw costs $A325/yr to run (including depreciation. i.e. replacement costs)
You can make a solar cooker but here in Tasmania (similar to your PNW it would be a little tedious ...especially when you might need to feed up to 15 people at a time)
cheers
Peter

[dcarch]

WOW! Fantastic way to live!

I know a place in NY, USA where you can get a few old microwave parabolic 12 feet dishes for free.

You can use those to make solar furnaces to cook for 100 people.

dcarch

[derbytas]

wow.can you send me a few over
Peter

[dcarch]

All these dishes are to be disposed of.
They can be used to boil water to generate electricity year round.

dcarch