Snow, Batch 72 Started, Heater in Cooler, Bagging, 6th Birthday - Monday

flemingfarm(80)

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Freeze Dried Foods

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Woke to it snowing again yesterday morning and ended up with about 3 inches for the day with it being a lot drier snow than the first.

Much of the snow fall was done by mid morning with just a little skiff later in the day.

I had to clean out the inside of the freeze dryer with a good wipe down and cleaned the gasket and shelf before I could get the next batch of chard loaded up. @stryeyz had the trays loaded and they were out under the carport where they had prefrozen for us. It made the initial part of the cycle go a good bit faster.

The oven liner that we have cut to size for liners works great as a cover for the trays to keep the chard from blowing around the chamber as it gets drier. Hopefully this batch will take 4 or 5 hours less than the last.

I kept meaning to do it but finally remembered mid day. The cooler is run by the Coolbot but now that the temps are getting so low I have to keep it warm enough instead of cool enough. I have this little space heater that is controlled by the temperature controller and with it set to 38F it kept the cooler between 38F and 42F overnight. The low last night was 18F so I am quite happy with how it is working.

coolbot heater.JPG

The thermocouple is sitting in the midst of the chard so gives me the correct temp at the level of the produce. Since heat rises I am sure the upper part of the cooler is warmer. I may have to lower it a bit to keep the temp range under 40, depending on how the greens look today.

Before going to pick the boys up from school I got the chard from batch 71 all bagged into mylar bags.

It was R's 6th birthday yesterday and mid day @stryeyz took mini cupcakes in for his class then last night she made him his birthday cake. We are going to be having a birthday party soon for both boys as J's birthday is on the 20th.

I had no desire to stay up late enough to see the eclipse but I did get to see the nice bright full moon as we soaked. It eventually cleared of clouds and the moon was super bright on the snow covered ground.

Today I have to go to North 40 for bird feed to get me through till next week when my 1000lb tote is in. I figured out a stumbling spot in my story and have a better handle on the direction of it now, am maintaining my daily lessons routine, and I need to get the next batch prepped for the freeze dryer.