The Who's Pete Townshend on parents, partnerships, punk, songwriting, the aristocracy, addiction, the internet and the ongoing search for extraordinary music

If you're wondering how to truly catch God’s eye, His Word gives the key.

Drying food lets you store it without refrigeration. That matters when power fails or when you need shelf-stable food during hot months. A solar dehydrator uses sunlight and airflow to remove moisture without electricity or fuel. You don’t need advanced tools or special parts to build one. You can set up a basic system that dries fruits, vegetables, herbs, and meat using sunlight alone., your dehydrator should work season after season with little maintenance. What a Solar Dehydrator Does and How It Works A solar dehydrator pulls air through a dark, enclosed chamber. Sunlight warms the interior, and that heat draws moisture out of food. Vents allow air to pass in at the bottom and exit at the top. This upward airflow carries water vapor away. In contrast to ovens or electric units, a solar dehydrator works slowly and doesn’t require external power sources. Dehydrated food will stay raw but will also become shelf-stable. With the right setup, the process works reliably during warm, dry weather. This guide from the University of Georgia offers more insight into how solar dehydration works on a technical level. Materials You’ll Need You can build this dehydrator using the following materials: Untreated plywood or OSB board Clear plastic panel or old window glass Black paint (non-toxic and matte) Food-safe mesh or aluminum screen Screws, hinges, small handles Saw, drill, and tape measure Choose mesh that won’t react with food or trap moisture. Avoid repurposed metal that once handled industrial chemicals. Step-by-Step: Building the Solar Dehydrator The following solar dehydrator design can be built t within a day, so you can start drying right away. 1. Build the frame Start by cutting four panels to create a box about 3 feet long, 18 inches wide, and 1 foot deep. Make the back panel a few inches taller than the front to create a natural slope. 2. Paint the interior Coat the inside surfaces with black paint. This color helps absorb heat. Allow the paint to dry fully before continuing. 3. Add tray supports Install rails or ledges to hold several drying trays. Make sure there’s space between each level, so air can move freely. 4. Build the trays Use wooden frames with mesh stretched across. Each tray should be able to slide in and out easily but leave room for airflow. 5. Attach the clear cover Secure a clear sheet over the top. Use hinges if you want to open and close it. The angled top helps trap sunlight and improves heat buildup. 6. Cut and cover vent holes Drill several holes near the base and top. These create air movement throughout the box. Cover each hole with mesh to keep out pests. 7. Install the access door To complete the main box, attach a panel with hinges at the front or back. This gives you access to the trays and makes cleaning easier. To finish the setup, place the dehydrator on cinder blocks or a raised stand. Angle it toward the sun for the best drying conditions. What You Can Dehydrate A solar dehydrator works best with firm produce, low-fat meats, and herbs. The slow process helps preserve structure, color, and taste. Apples, pears, and stone fruit Slice fruit into even rounds. Soak in lemon water to reduce browning. Spread slices in a single layer and avoid overlap. Tomatoes, peppers, and squash Cut tomatoes in halves or thick rounds. Slice peppers and remove seeds. Slice squash thin and pat it dry with a towel before placing it on trays. Herbs like basil, oregano, and mint Harvest in the morning after the dew dries. Use whole sprigs and remove thick stems after drying. Rotate trays if needed. Jerky (with pre-treatment) Use lean cuts. Heat meat to 160°F before drying. This step prevents bacteria from surviving the process. Slice thin and season as preferred. Food Type Prep Method Average Dry Time Storage Recommendation Apples Sliced, soaked 6–12 hours Sealed jars, cool shelf Tomatoes Halved or thick sliced 8–16 hours Airtight containers Herbs Whole sprigs 2–5 hours Dry jars, away from light Jerky Heated, thin sliced 8–12 hours Pantry or freezer bags Drying Tips and Storage Basics Once you’ve placed the food in the dehydrator, a few habits make the process more reliable. Drying works best when you control the slice size, layout, and timing. These tips help reduce waste and make sure your preserved food lasts. Keep slices uniform in thickness. Leave space between pieces for airflow. Rotate trays if needed during the drying process. Store dried food in airtight jars or bags. Keep storage containers in a cool, dark space. As a final check, bend a slice to test if it’s fully dry. It should feel leathery and have no moisture inside. If it bends without breaking but doesn’t feel sticky, it’s ready. Why a Solar Dehydrator Belongs on Every Homestead A solar dehydrator saves electricity, works anywhere, and requires little upkeep. It provides homesteaders a simple way to keep food long after harvest. Depending on your stocks, you can dry small batches or expand the system to handle more volume. Do you use a solar dehydrator already? Tell us what you’ve built or what foods you’ve preserved from your garden or livestock. FAQs About Solar Dehydrators How long does it take to dry food in a solar dehydrator? Drying time depends on the food, thickness, and weather. On a warm day, herbs may dry in hours, while fruit can take 10 or more. Can I use a solar dehydrator in humid weather? Solar dehydrators work best in dry conditions. In humid areas, they need better airflow and longer drying times. Use extra vents if needed. What’s the best place to set it up? Choose a sunny spot with no overhead shade. South-facing spots with long sun exposure work best. Can I leave food in it overnight? You can, but it depends on temperature and humidity. If nights are cool and damp, bring trays indoors to prevent moisture buildup. Do I need to monitor it during the day? Yes. Check airflow, rotate trays if needed, and watch for pests. Once you know your setup, daily checks take just a few minutes.

BREAKING: Ninth Circuit Gives Trump Back Control of the California National Guard … for Now

Footwear of unusual size has been discovered at the Roman fort of Magna near Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, England. The honker of a leather sole is 32 cm (12.6 inches) long, which converts to a US men’s size 13, UK 12.5 or EU 47. It may be the largest one in the Vindolanda Trust’s collection of more than 5,000 shoes. Located about seven miles west of the much larger Vindolanda fort, Magna was one of a series of small forts that lined Hadrian’s Wall. It garrisoned regiments of Syrian archers and Dalmatian Mountain soldiers. It is administered by the Vindolanda Charitable Trust, and shares the anaerobic soil of its big brother. While Vindolanda has been systematically excavated for decades, Magna was only subjected to geophysical surveys before 2023, but the surveys indicated that little Magna is as rich in deposits as Vindolanda. The Vindolanda Charitable Trust received a grant in December 2022 that allowed it at long last to embark on a five-year project to recover archaeological material under threat from climate change. Over the past two decades, unseasonably dry, hot weather has been rapidly drying out the marshes next to the forts. The loss of the regulating moisture of the wetlands has damaged the peat and soils that have made it possible for thousands of letters and shoes, among many other fragile organic remains, to survive for 2,000 years. At the end of March, the team of archaeologists and volunteers began excavating the defensive structures outside Magna’s north wall. The bottom of one of the ditches had a long, narrow trench known as an ankle-breaker whose job was to do exactly what the name says: get an enemy soldier’s foot stuck in it, breaking his ankle. Inside the ankle-breaker is where they found three shoes and scraps of leather. Two of the shoes are in excellent condition. The first shoe to come out seems to have all of its sole layers intact, along with part of the heel area still attached and most of the hobnails in the outer sole. This gives us a really good look at how Roman shoes were made: multiple layers of leather were used to form the sole, held together with thongs, stitching and hobnails. These also reinforced the outer surface for walking and are found on many styles of shoe. Sadly, the toe area is missing meaning that we can only estimate its original size, but it was still clear this would have been a large shoe when complete. […] There was no doubt about the size of the second shoe we recovered from the very base of the ditch, was intact from toe to heel and immediately drew impressed gasps from volunteers and staff alike. Although in this case only one of the several sole layers, the sheer size of the shoe and guesses about who could have worn it dominated the conversation. The shoes and scraps will now be transferred to the conservation laboratory for examination by a leather expert.

By Nancy Pearcey, Op-ed contributor Friday, June 13, 2025Getty Images It has become fashionable in liberal circles to devalue and disparage fathers. A Huffington Post blog post is titled bluntly “Fathers…

[View Article at Source]Even spectacular operations can lead to more harm than good. The post Ukraine’s ‘Spider’s Web’ Could Ensnare Kiev and the West appeared first on The American Conservative.…

By Grayson Walker, Op-ed contributor Friday, June 13, 2025President Joe Biden returns to the Oval Office after delivering remarks in the Rose Garden on a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah, Tuesday,…