Solar Cooking

If you have been following my blog then you have seen evidence of the endless equatorial sunshine, a resource which in necessary for all life and is responsible, in part, for the lush green of the landscape. The sun is useful for other things as is evidenced by the influx of solar farms in our immediate area.  Not only does it provide light energy but much needed heat energy as well.
It was this seemingly endless capacity to produce heat energy which inspired Gabriella Zamojski and her family to bring solar cooking to Kamin Oningo, a fishing community near Mbita, Kenya.  Gabriella and her crew spent two days of our CanAssist trip introducing the locals to this method of cooking.  The solar ovens, themselves, were inexpensive and of course the sun was free, making this a very cost effective way to provide food for the family.  Everything from soup to nuts (beans to cake) were prepared in this way and it seemed that the entire community came out to watch, learn and share in the subsequent delicious meal.
One of the problems in the region is a lack of firewood.  Traditionally, most meals are still cooked over open fires and firewood is scarce and expensive.  Now, local people can save money on wood, have more money for food and utilize a renewable resource which is free for the taking.  Hats off to Gabby who spent two full days bringing this resource to the community.  Your efforts have the power to transform lives in the region.  To read more about this great venture, check out John Geddes' feature article in yesterday's Whig Standard:

www.thewhig.com/2016/02/18/solar-ovens-help-fuel-future

Hugh checks out the cookers!

If I knew you were coming I would have baked a cake!

Beans, a staple food product, so delicious!

Gabby checks out the feast!

Two types of cookers;  An expensive North American model in the foreground and the less expensive equivalents in the back.  It is Gabby's hope that local craftspeople might study the designs and start to produce ovens of their own.