How To Build A Solar Food Dehydrator For $300

Justin Gardner – Preserving food is an essential skill of the homesteading lifestyle. Whether you grow the food yourself or purchase it in bulk at farmers markets, some kind of preservation is needed so you can have certain fruits and vegetables later in the year.

While canning, pickling and freezing work well, adding dehydration to the mix gives you even more diversity. Instead of spending lots of money on a fancy machine, you can make a solar food dehydrator for much less, and take pride in your DIY project.

Dennis Scanlin of the Appropriate Technology Program at Appalachian State University spent nearly 20 years testing and experimenting solar dehydrator designs. His solar dehydration unit can dry large amounts of food quickly, and is wheeled for easy movement. Plus, you can add light bulbs to improve operation when the weather is cloudy or humid.

With a few tools and basic woodworking skills, this solar food dehydrator can become a vital part of your homestead.

This design relies on indirect solar power, meaning the drying food is not exposed to the sun but instead to solar-heated air. Our dryer takes advantage of the natural process of rising hot air to operate efficiently without any electric fans. Continue reading