SCI News

Press Release: SCI Announces Hire of New Executive Director

2010-02-01T16:47:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release

February 1, 2010 Sacramento, CA - Solar Cookers International announced today that Dolores Weis has joined the organization as its Executive Director, effective immediately. Ms. Weis brings eighteen years of humanitarian management experience across many countries and cultures, including Eastern Africa and Eastern Europe. A large portion of her efforts have focused on health and women, issues closely intertwined with the work of Solar Cookers International. In addition, Ms. Weis has been instrumental in dramatically growing several organizations and will leverage this experience to capture and shepherd the many opportunities that lay ahead for SCI.

"We are thrilled to have found in Dolores the rare combination of proven leadership skills, strong administrative capabilities, and international experience needed to help SCI broaden its scope and increase its impact," said SCI Board President, Gary Hursh.

Prior to joining Solar Cookers International, Ms. Weis served as Executive Director for the Navajo Lutheran Mission in Arizona where she was responsible for creating and implementing strategic directives involving systems, procedures, program development and fundraising to improve the overall operations of the organization. She also served in various senior-level positions with Air Serv International, Women for Women International and the American Red Cross. Ms. Weis holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications, a Practical Nursing degree, and a Masters degree in Public Administration.

Thank you for helping to send Cookits to Haiti

2010-01-29T13:36:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who responded to our call to help send CooKits, Pots and WAPI's to Haiti. The response has been tremendous. We have raised the $8,000 needed for the first shipment. We will include more Cookits in a shipment schedueled for next month. All new donations earmarked for Haiti will be used for this second shipment. We will keep you informed of our progress. Again thank you for your donations!

For Immediate Release: SCI's Haiti Project

2010-01-21T13:29:00.000-08:00

Sacramento, CA, January 21, 2010 – Solar Cookers International (SCI), a not-for-profit organization founded in 1987, today announced the launch of the Haiti Project, which aims to send one complete solar cooking kit to at least 200 Haitian families that were devastated by the recent earthquake. The initial fundraising goal for this project is $8,000. Please consider lending your support to this effort.

Even before the disaster, SCI ranked Haiti as one of the top twenty countries in the world where solar cooking is poised to be very successful and tremendously beneficial. The recent earthquake, in combination with the country’s already scarce fuel and power resources, spells an immediate need for solar cooking training and supplies. Forty dollars is enough to provide one family with a solar cooker, a cooking pot, and a water pasteurization indicator (WAPI), a device that shows when solar-heated water has been rid of pathogens and is safe to drink. “With Haiti’s abundant sunshine, each solar cooker will provide a fuel-free means of cooking many meals, reducing the burden to buy charcoal or fuel-wood in this heavily deforested country, both now and into the future,” said Bev Blum, SCI’s interim Executive Director.

Solar cooking projects have been ongoing in Haiti for decades, and local groups who can facilitate training and distribution are already in place. Unfortunately, at least one confirmed death among SCI’s network was the leader of a solar cooking program, and one warehouse filled with much-needed solar cooking supplies was destroyed. SCI is working with Sun Ovens International and Friends of Haiti Organization (FOHO) to send as many solar cookers as possible to Haiti in a shipping container in the coming weeks. Once again, the goal of the Haiti Project is to send enough supplies for at least 200 families. Additional solar cooking supplies can be distributed if surplus funds are collected.

Solar Cookers International (SCI) is widely considered the world pioneer in advancing solar cooking through its product development and field training experience. SCI has improved the lives of tens of thousands through the development, distribution and training of solar cooking systems in Africa. SCI helped invent an innovative “water pasteurization indicator,” a simple, life-saving device that measures when solar-heated water is clear of all disease-causing microbes. For more information, or to make a donation, please visit www.solarcookers.org.

Press Release: Meaningful Carbon Offset Campaign Launch

2009-11-24T10:41:00.000-08:00

Solar Cooker System as “Most Meaningful Carbon Offset” Campaign Launched

Sacramento, CA, November 24, 2009. Solar Cookers International (SCI), a not-for-profit organization founded in 1987, announced today the launch of “The most meaningful carbon offset is also the simplest” campaign.

This campaign is arriving at a time when an enormous number of individuals want to do something meaningful to slow global warming. Yet, while our governments are painfully slow to act, options to offset our own carbon usage have been limited and, for many, of questionable impact. A recent report that voluntary carbon offsets for airline travelers do more to assuage guilt than reduce carbon emmissions has created a cloud of doubt around the benefits of such programs. "SCI's campaign is different from airline programs in that placing solar cookers in the hands of people who would otherwise burn wood or fossil fuels, actually reduces black carbon by up to one ton per family per year," says Kevin Porter, Director of Education Resources at SCI.

SCI is launching an online campaign, with a video where people can make a fifty-dollar donation that will allow SCI to provide one of the neediest families on earth with a Solar Cookit system and necessary training. Donors of the $50 CooKit systems will receive certificates showing a woman with a solar cooker next to the large pile of wood that will not have to be gathered or burned as a result of the tax deductible carbon offset contribution.

“Solar cooking emits zero carbon, and it reduces the desperate need to dangerously gather and burn wood in deforested environments,” said Honey Walters, of the SCI Board of Directors. “Each Cookit provides recipients with everything they need to transition from wood fires to solar cooking, including essential on-the-ground training, a solar cooker, a black cooking pot, a clean water container and an innovative water indicator to tell when water has heated enough to kill deadly microbes in drinking water.”

Solar Cookers International is widely considered the world pioneer in advancing solar cooking, through its product development and field training experience. SCI has improved the lives of tens of thousands through the development, distribution and training of solar cooking devices in Africa. SCI helped invent an innovative “water pasteurization indicator,” a simple life-saving device that measures when solar-heated water is clear of all disease-causing microbes. For more information, visit www.solarcookers.org.

Progressive Source Communications created the campaign and the video found on the webpage.

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Alternative Giving this Holiday Season

2009-11-03T16:15:00.000-08:00

The holidays are fast approaching. As in years past, Solar Cookers International (SCI) wishes to encourage its members and supporters to consider alternative gift-giving, the practice of making a meaningful contribution to a worthy cause in lieu of a traditional present. There are many great reasons to engage in this form of giving, including: promoting altruism, mitigating the effects of the holidays on the environment, and emphasizing the true spirit of the season.

A popular way of participating in alternative giving is to make a donation in someone else’s name. For this we offer gift cards personalized with a hand-written message of your choosing. And for those who prefer to buy something that can be unwrapped, there’s good news - the proceeds from sales of our solar cooking products support our nonprofit work, and the gift recipients are introduced to the wonderful benefits of cooking with the sun!

To place your holiday orders, please visit the SCI Marketplace or contact SCI Office Manager and Marketing Coordinator Sierra Scott at (916) 455-4499.

Shine On 2009

2009-09-03T15:45:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday August 26, 2009 friends and supporters of Solar Cookers International gathered in Sacramento to celebrate the organization’s recent achievements and to hear the latest news at this year’s annual Shine On event. SCI’s new board president, Gary Hursh, kicked off the event with a heartfelt thank you to veteran volunteer, Don Coan, who was added to the Solar Cookers International Order of Excellence, which recognizes those whose sustained efforts have contributed most to empowering people to cook food and pasteurize water with solar energy. Gary then announced a bold but achievable fundraising initiative, calling on donors and supporters to help SCI reach $50,000 in donations during the month of September. For ways that you can help, please visit the Support SCI page on our website.

This year, Shine On festivities moved from the Sacramento Zoo’s Kampala Center to the Sierra 2 Center in Curtis Park. The new venue was just one of several exciting changes to the event. Also new was the silent auction, offering guests a chance to bid on a beautiful array of items including ceramic jewelry, soapstone sculptures and African collectibles. Also up for auction was a weekly delivery of local, organic produce from Soil Born Farms. Renowned artist, activist and solar cook, Mary Frank, graciously donated posters of her work to help raise funds for SCI. These beautiful pieces are still available for bidding and will be posted on eBay soon.

Another addition to the program this year was a lively talk by solar cooking enthusiast Elaine Corn, who is a food critic for the Sacramento Bee and appears regularly on Capital Public Radio. Her presentation on the world’s cuisine offered by Sacramento-area restaurants was a big hit with the audience.

Finally, SCI Co-Founder, Dr. Bob Metcalf, reported on activities connected with SCI's Safe Water Project during his July 2009 trip to Kenya. He showed pictures of families that had received the safe water package, which included a CooKit and pot, Water Pasteurization Indicator and ceramic safe storage container, and reported a dramatic decrease of diarrhea incidents among their children. Bob also reported on water testing workshops for water service providers in the Tana Catchment District and for 25 Peace Corps Volunteers in training for public health assignments throughout Kenya.

Thank you to everyone who attended, and to the event’s sponsors for helping to make the evening so special.

*All photos by Louise Mitchell/True Story

Dr. Robert Metcalf Interview

2009-08-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

In the middle of Dr. Metcalf very busy summer he found time to give a very informative interview to Kirk Hamilton PA-C, of www.prescription2000.com, an online resource that deliveres credible nutrition research into the hands of health professionals and to the public. Dr. Metcalf's interview can be listened to by following this link http://prescription2000.com/images/stories/audio/2009-08-14-Bob-Metcalf-Solar-Cookers.mp3

B'nai Israel Congregation

2009-08-17T14:52:00.001-07:00

This is the story of an inspired and entrepreneurial Junior High class from the B’nai Israel Congregation in Sacramento.

Congregation B'nai Israel (CBI) decided to make solar cookers as their community improvement project last year, and Wendy Fischer's 7th grade class purchased solar cooker pots for use in constructing solar cooker kits to contribute to a Loaves & Fishes (L&F) homeless project. The program started in 2008 when Dave Brubaker had the notion to teach the kids about solar cooking as a way to save energy in Sacramento during good weather, lessen their carbon footprint, and start expanding the vision of ecologically friendly living in novel ways. At Dr. Rachel Weinreb’s suggestion, Bob Metcalf instructed the class on water pasteurization procedures and the importance of safe water in developing countries, expanding the class’ vision of how solar cookers could help refugees in Darfur--a special social outreach of Reform Judaism.

The cooking packages made for Loaves and Fishes contained: 1 solar cooker, 2 clothes pins, 1 three lb. black cooking pot, 1 turkey size roasting bag, and instructions and recipes for using the cookers. During the initial solar cooker give-away at L&F, the 7th-graders used old bicycle boxes to build the solar cookers, which, while environmentally friendly, were not foldable, and therefore not as useful to the homeless as they would have liked. (It's hard to carry a fully open CooKit on a bicycle!) Next year, CBI will modify the plan so that the cookers are more foldable (like the commercially made CooKit) or made out of attachable pieces, perhaps using Velcro to hold parts together.

The Congregation’s 7th grade Sunday School class is it's oldest class before the students become either Bar or Bat Mitzvah and move into other activities oriented towards teenagers ~ the connection with Solar Cookers International (SCI) was a direct result of the class's desire to find a worthy, community-based project that would support an identified need in the Sacramento area.

SCI sincerely thanks to CBI for contributing with initiative and hard labor to the spread of solar cooking in the Sacramento area!

Solar Cookers on Discovery Channel

2009-08-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

Living Off the Grid: A Dozen Skills to Get You Through

A new show depicts solar cooking as a tool for living in a post-apocalyptic world:

How Solar Cooking Works
As those appearing in the show “The Colony” know, you don’t need an oven to cook a good meal. All you need is sunlight. The sun’s rays can heat food anywhere from 180 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (82-204 degrees Celsius). In other words, a solar cooker can kill harmful microbes and make food and water safe for consumption. Read more about his simple technology and how it’s being used.

How to Start a Fire Without a Match
There are many different ways to start a fire without a match and plenty of different methods to make it happen. It all depends on your location and the materials available. HowStuffWorks has a whole slew of cool ideas, using everything from a soda can and chocolate to making a fire plow. See detailed illustrations and instructions in this article.

How to Build a Shelter
We all know that shelter is one of the most basic needs in any survival situation. Yes, it protects us from the elements and wildlife intruders, but perhaps provides psychological comfort, too? In this article from HowStuffWorks, author Chuck Bryant shows the basics of making a shelter using on-hand materials. Read more…

How Emergency Power Systems Work
In this article, learn how emergency power systems can help in almost any situation. Topics include understanding your power needs and goals, working with the resources you have and showing the difference between an inverter and a generator. Read more…

How Hand Powered Generators Work
There's one way to generate electricity that never runs out of power and is easy to carry: a hand-powered generator. It's the “gadget” that can power all your other travel gadgets – but for those living in “The Colony” – it’s essential. Learn how they work, how to use them and even how to make your own. Read more…

If I kill an animal, can I eat it raw?
Let’s envision for a moment that you haven’t eaten for a few days and you don’t have the resources to build a fire to cook an animal you just killed. Can you eat it safely? If not, are there some animals that OK to eat and others that aren’t? Read this HowStuffWorks article to find out.

What’s the universal edibility test?
There are more than 700 varieties of poisonous plants in the United States and Canada alone, so how can you tell which are edible and which are potentially toxic? Use the four steps outlined in the universal edibility test and you may prevent potential disaster. Read more…

How can I tell if a bug is edible?
Ever accidentally swallowed a bug? Some of us might have joked about it (“Mmmm … protein,” you say). But all over the world, people eat insects every day. It’s called entomophagy. In a survival situation, how do you know which bug is edible – nutritious, even -- and which can make you sick? Read on to find out.

5 Ways to Snare Dinner in the Wild
If you are used to being in remote places, you might be pretty adept at recognizing telltale signs of nearby animals. Droppings, tracks by a nearby watering hole, chewed up plants. But we’ve got 5 really cool tricks for snaring dinner, using fairly easy-to-come-by resources. Read on…

How to Find Water in the Wild
To maintain good health, the human body needs a minimum of two quarts of water per day, according to U.S. Military Field Manual 21-76. In a survival situation, that might be tough. There are some basic ways to find, filter, collect and store water, however. We’ve got the answers here.

How to Send Smoke Signals
Let’s put it this way: The Boy Scouts of America still teaches smoke signaling. So if it’s easy enough for a 12-year-old boy to do, you can learn the skill, too, right? Learn how to send specific messages in one-puff, two-puff and three-puff style. Read on…

Top 5 Everyday Items You Can Repurpose in a Survival Scenario
Whether you’re living in “The Colony”, just survived an airplane crash or are caught in a freak winter storm, there are five basic items that might come in handy in a survival situation. The first one on our list? You might be wearing it right now.

The Colony: Living Off the Grid : Discovery Channel

Posted using ShareThis

SCI Featured in Lift Up Africa Newsletter

2009-08-06T14:59:00.000-07:00

Olika Solar Cooking Distribution

Helping Maasai women in Southern Kenya

Since July 2005, Solar Cookers International (EA) has been working with women's groups in Kajiado to promote the use of solar cooking as a means to help poor women save their meager resources for other pressing needs. The women are generally Maasai women with their new CooKits, a small, portable type solar cookerwidows or single parents who need group support to move forward with their lives. Many are engaged in petty trade like selling vegetables, beads, milk and eggs.

Several groups devised a way to purchase solar cooking materials for each member. Thus far, some have been able to purchase CooKits--a small, individual solar cooker. (See photo) However, this system is slow and many women are still waiting to receive the materials they need to either begin or fully realize the maximum benefit from solar cooking.

Because the purchasing process has dragged on for three years, SCI approached LUA. They asked us to partner with several of these groups so the women could more quickly enhance their energy savings, thus improving their living standards.

On May 22, 2009 the first of these partnership distributions took place in Oloika. At the distribution event, SCI's Stella Odaba informed the women that through Lift Up Africa (LUA) they would now receive donations of the equipment they still needed, including hay basket fireless cookers.

Although the weather was a bit cloudy, some CooKits were set up to demonstrate pasteurizing water using the WAPI (water pasturization indicator.) The use of the fireless cookers was also demonstrated. While the members watched and timed the process, some rice was simmered for 5 minutes. Then the rice was transferred to the hay basket. Half an hour later a member went to check and found it cooked.

At the meeting Agnes Osoi, one of the group members, said:

"... solar cookers have been of great help to us....We can pasteurize our drinking water and our children don't suffer from diarrhea because of taking dirty water. FurtherSCI's Faustine Odaba demonstrating the hay basket fireless cookermore, it's safe around the child; I can leave the food to cook while I go to sell my beads in the market without any fears of fire accidents at home. Now with the addition of fireless cookers life will be even simpler for me. I will warm water at night, pour it in the ten liter plastic container then put it in the fireless cooker. In the morning my children have ready breakfast and warm water to bathe before school. I will not be exposed to smoke for so long; I will use firewood only when there's no sun and save some wood."

Other participants chimed in saying:

"The fireless cooker will bring peace in my home; my husband will always find hot food whenever he comes late. I don't have to wake up to light a fire to warm the food for him."

"...I am so excited and grateful to SCI and Lift Up Africa for their support in making our lives better!"

A vote of thanks was given by Esther Sekeyian, the group's chairlady. The women then gave gifts (beaded ornaments) in honor of Lift Up Africa and adorned Ms. Odaba with beaded ornaments, too.

The distribution to the 17 women who attended the event cost $700 (USD). This small grant will help an estimated 150 people.

Information on all of our solar cooking projects is available on LUA's Solar Cooking Wiki.

Please help Lift Up Africa help Africa's vulnerable special needs children! Just let us know you want to support KCCL or a specific KCCL need. Thanks!

Please support Lift Up Africa's critical efforts to
help African people by making a secure on-line
donation.

And because our board pays for all administrative
expenses, 100% of every dollar you contribute goes
directly to help African people.
Please Contribute
Asante (thank you)!

Lift Up Africa is a 501(c)(3) not for
profit organization. Our tax ID is 74-3116756.

Solar Ovens on Good Morning America!

2009-07-28T16:49:00.001-07:00

"Harnessing the Power of the Sun; Philadelphia invests in green tech, such as solar powered ovens and golf carts". The segment features the Sun Oven, the SOS Sport and the Hot Pot, aired during the 8am segment (ET) on July 29th, and hosted by Sam Champion.

Here's the link: http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8200868

SCI now on Twitter!

2009-07-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

Please follow us on Twitter!

http://twitter.com/solarcookersint

Rene

Shine On — Save the date!

2009-07-20T09:16:00.000-07:00

Our annual Shine On event is fast approaching. Save the date: Wednesday, August 26th. This year's Shine On will be at Sacramento's Sierra 2 Center. Our featured speakers will be Dr. Bob Metcalf, who will give an update on the SCI Safe Water Project, and Elaine Corn, Sacramento Bee food critic and Capital Public Radio personality. At last year's "Celebrating New Directions" Shine On we hosted 225 people who heard speakers, including Dr. Metcalf, talk about our recent successes and exciting new plans. Dr. Metcalf also showed off SCI's Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML). Our guests feasted on hot dogs, veggies, and an array of delicious solar-baked desserts. We hope to see you again this year. Remember: Wednesday, August 26, 5:30 p.m. at the Sierra 2 Center, 2791 24th Street in Sacramento, California.

Solar Cooking Article Published in the Public Service Review

2009-07-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

Sun in the oven

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Across Africa, cooking fires are projected to release about seven billion tons of carbon in the form of greenhouse gases by 2050. More than 1.6 million people, primarily women and children, die prematurely each year from respiratory diseases caused by the pollution from such fires. Scientists estimate that smoke from wood cooking fires will cause 10 million premature deaths among women and children by 2030 in Africa alone. These statistics can be addressed by promoting inexpensive, effective solar cookers, along with hay baskets (retained-heat devices that extend cooking temperatures after food is removed from a heat source) and fuel-efficient stoves for cooking when sunshine isn't available. These technologies are made with local materials whenever possible, and are easily used and constructed by anyone willing to learn.

Smokeless cookers can dramatically reduce respiratory infections caused by smoky fires, treat drinking water by eliminating waterborne pathogens, reduce the debilitating effects of deforestation, free time from hours of firewood gathering for women and girls and enable young girls to attend school rather than spend their days looking for firewood.

Millions of people become sick each year from drinking contaminated water. Worldwide, about 1.3 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water, resulting in an estimated 1.5 billion cases of diarrhoea each year and the deaths of nearly two million children. Yet, in many of the most severely affected regions, sunshine is an abundant source of energy that can not only cook food but can also heat water to temperatures that kill harmful microbes, making water safe to drink. This process is called solar water pasteurisation.

SCI co-founder Dr Bob Metcalf, a Professor of Biological Sciences at California State University, Sacramento, studied solar water pasteurisation in the early 1980s with one of his graduate students. They found that water heated to 65�C for a short time will be free from microbes including E. coli, Rotaviruses, Giardia and the Hepatitis A virus.

Since thermometers are not accessible to many people around the world, there is a need for a simple device that indicates when water has reached pasteurisation temperatures. In 1988, Fred Barrett of the United States Department of Agriculture came up with the idea of using wax with a specific melting point as an indicator. In 1992, engineering student Dale Andreatta created the Water Pasteurisation Indicator (WAPI), a reusable clear plastic tube partially filled with a wax that melts at 65�C. So, with minimal investment in a simple solar cooker and reusable WAPI, people in developing areas are able to pasteurise their water and make it safe to drink.

While solar water pasteurisation helped, the question still remained as to which water sources were contaminated. The Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML), designed by Dr Metcalf, contains tests for E. coli. Each PML includes 25 inexpensive and easy-to-use water tests. Using principles and methods from food microbiology, the PML is able to accurately test water in rural areas without the need for electricity, running water, or the expensive laboratory equipment normally needed.

In 2007, as part of its Safe Water Project (SWP), SCI began teaching Kenya's rural health workers how to test water sources using the PML and how to treat contaminated water with a solar cooker and a WAPI. The PML can be used anywhere by practically anyone, and is currently helping Kenyan government ministries in charge of water analysis who have had difficulties gauging water quality in rural areas due to travel limitations and technical expenses. Anticipated outcomes from the SWP include significant reductions in the incidence of waterborne diseases in over 20 communities, and broader community awareness of simple and effective water testing and water pasteurisation techniques. In June 2008, PML was used to help contain a cholera outbreak in Kenya's Nyakach region near Lake Victoria.

SCI is also now exploring collaborations with local solar lighting companies to meet another express need of those who benefit from its programmes.

Successful execution of solar cooking and water treatment programmes in developing areas can drastically decrease hunger, respiratory and waterborne diseases, and deforestation; increase food security, school attendance, and income generation; and empower women by providing entrepreneurial prospects and participation in micro-business.

By Karyn Ellis
Director of International Programs
Solar Cookers International

The Public Service Review: International Development Online is an online publication based in the UK.

To see this article in the July publication (14th Issue) of the PSR, click this link and see the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene section under contents on the left.

Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Jackson, CA

2009-06-05T11:36:00.000-07:00

Rotary Club of Jackson, California USA won gold with their international Integrated Solar Cooking Project during the 2009 Rotary District Conference of District 5190 in Reno.

Teaching the Teachers" in Brazil during 12 weeks in 2008 was a succes. Their team held 12 hands-on workshop, teaching not only how to cook and pasteurize water with solar energy, but also how to make the solar cookers, rocket stoves and hay baskets (all elements of the Integrated Solar Cooking Method). As a result in Brazil there is a team of 16 students perfectly able to teach how to use and make the solar cooking devices.

Thank you for helping SCI in our mission and congratulations on winning the gold!

Faustine Odaba, Head Trainer in East Africa Office, to Visit Sacramento, CA

2009-05-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

The Sacramento office is abuzz with activity.
We are preparing for Faustine Odaba's first visit to the United States.
We are very excited by her visit and honored that she chose Sacramento and the SCI office as a place to visit during her vacation.
Please join us in welcoming Faustine by emailing your good wishes to Rene@solarcookers.org. If you are interested in attending the May 28th reception for Faustine please contact the office or email Rene for the details.
We are very grateful for the work that Faustine does in the field. She is one of the many amazing people who work for SCI.

Rocket Stove Experiment @ SCI

2009-05-08T12:46:00.000-07:00

SCI decided to go off the grid for lunch today and test out the Rocket Stove loaned to us by our premiere Brazil advocate, Irene Perbal.

A few twigs was all it took...

A quesadilla for Rene.

Yum.

Popcorn had to be popped, of course.

It popped right on out of it's pot after only a couple of minutes.

And of course some tea, which also brewed up in a jiffy.

Yay, Rocket Stove!! Our next project is to make one of our own.

Solar Cooking @ Google

2009-05-05T10:50:00.000-07:00

On April 22nd, SCI put on a solar cooking demonstration at the GooglePlex in Mt. View, CA. Three staff and a handful of Board Members, loyal associates and solar cooking advocates came together to demonstrate a variety of solar cookers and water pasteurization devices. The Google crowd, not surprisingly, was full of intelligent and technical questions, and impressed at the simplicity of the solar cooking and water pasteurization techniques on display this sunny day.

Various parabolics, panel cookers, box cookers, and fuel-efficient stove technologies were represented.

The Villager Sun Oven, as usual, attracted people due to it's impressive size (not to mention delicious and irresistible cookies).

Posters and display boards explained how solar cookers work and provided illustrations of work in the field.

Star Board Member, Pat McArdle and Google rep. Mark Aubin made it possible for SCI to participate in Earth Day at Google.

Board Member Michael Mora cooked up some tasty cookies in the SOS Sport Oven (right).

SCI's Patricia and Rene prepare for the masses.

Pat explains the inventive Sunny Cooker ~ a parabolic donated donated to SCI by the Japan Solar Energy Educational Association that folds down to umbrella size.

SCI's Karyn Ellis enjoys a solar-cooked treat at the Chili table.

Interested Google techies take phone photos ~ hopefully for a Twitter update!

Karyn Ellis and Pat McArdle fraternize in between demo talks.

Patricia explains solar cooking procedures to Google staff.

SCI's former Executive Director, Bev Blum demonstrates how the CooKit panel cooker is used.

SCI Board Member Gini Mitchem explains the fundamentals of solar cooking.

A three-cheese pizza cooking in the Tulsi Hybrid Solar Cooker.

Allart Ligtenberg tells Google staff of his experiences in Nepal, and with his own backpack-cooker trekking up many a mountain.

Paul and Chris Munson travel around the country towing the large and impressive Village Sun Oven behind their SUV.

Popping popcorn on the intricate Prometheus parabolic cooker.

Sun Ovens cooking in front of their big brother, the Villager.

Gini and Michael speak with our host, Mark Aubin of Google.

We got quite the tour after the demonstration was over ~ Google seems like an interesting and 'happy' place to work, judging from all the relaxed and smiling employees on the lush and ample Google campus. We hope to work with Google again!

For more information on the various solar cookers available at SCI, please visit the product page of our website: www.solarcookers.org.

For updates on International Development Programs, visit SCI's International Photo Blog: www.solarmoxie.blogspot.com

Solar Cooking in Parade Magazine!

2009-03-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

We have been busy at SCI due to the article in Parade Magazine. Here is the link: http://www.parade.com/health/2009/03/solar-cooker-project.html

The Dish On Solar Cooking

2009-02-02T16:25:00.001-08:00

One of Sacramento's local weekly papers, The Sacramento News and Review, published a great article about SCI. To read the article follow this link. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=900087

Our own Kevin Poter was interviewed for this piece.

The News and Review has a great weekly column, The Green Guide. We hope to be featured there more often.

Tribute Gifts Available Online

2008-12-18T11:13:00.000-08:00

This holiday season give a gift that gives back and feel the spirit of the season! Pay tribute to someone special with a donation in their name to help support the work of Solar Cookers International. They will receive a card and a subscription to the Solar Cooker Review.

The alternative gift card can now be purchased through our online marketplace under Donations & Membership or by calling the office directly at 916-455-4499.

Happy Holidays!

Shine On!

2008-09-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

The 10th Annual Shine On! event at the Sacramento Zoo was a great success once again, with over 225 guests in attendance and good weather to boot. Solar cooked treats were served, as well as light fare, snacks and wine. Patrick spoke about his recent and productive trip to Kenya and Geneva; Karyn presented highlights on her recent trip to East Africa and future plans for International Development Programs; and Bob regaled the audience with recent successes and exciting plans involving the Safe Water Program and the Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML). A sincere thanks to everyone for your continued support!

The line up for our evening at Shine On!

Bill Hudson, Don Coan and Linda Hayward are the ever-reliable happy faces greeting our guests at the products and information table.

Alta Tura speaks with guests about the beautiful African art given as raffle prizes.

Virginia Moose and Gayle Hursh man the guest registration table.

Staff and volunteers assist guests at the products and information table.

Enthusiastic volunteers in charge of the solar cooked sweets table.

Two of Bob's ex-students volunteered to man the Water Table.

Kevin, staff and volunteers worked hard to put together some creative and comprehensive poster boards for the event.

Board Members Edye Kuyper, Baby Ellyn and Virginie Mitchem socializing at the event.

Yummy solar cooked treats.

Mike and Gloria a popular duo as bartenders for the evening.

Patrick spoke on his recent trip to Kenya, Geneva and France, and outlined project directions for the future.

Karyn showed a PowerPoint presentation on her recent trip to Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, with highlights of Integrated Cooking, Water Testing incorporation and plans for new directions in International Development Programs.

Bob wraps up the evening with a comprehensive report on the Safe Water Project in Kenya, the Water Conference in Vienna, and exciting new developments and movements forward with the Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML).

Second Saturday

2008-09-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

Saturday the 13th of September was a busy day for SCI local exposure, with Patricia @ the Midtown Community Fest and Edye and I working different booths at the popular Second Saturday Art Walk in the evening. Edye, one of our most active local Board Members, has been working with SMUD and she represented SCI at Green Sacramento on 19th & H Streets; and through collaborations fostered with Heifer International, SCI was able to secure a great spot in front of their office on J Street. While we are always looking for volunteers, they are not always available to staff every event, so this was an active weekend for local staff, Board and our most loyal advocates.

Karyn at SCI's booth during Second Saturday in Heifer International's courtyard.

The See's Candy sign brought em in, and we held em with solar cooked veggie lasagne and chocolate chip pumpkin bread!

Heifer International is located on J St between 22nd & 23rd in downtown Sacramento.

Renee of Heifer Intl educates people on Heifer's mission.

The band was great and attracted a lot of attention to our venue.

The weather was nice and the crowds were steady. Heifer will have one more 2nd Saturday event this season and has invited us back next month :)

Please contact Sierra@solarcookers.org if you're interested in helping out!

Midtown Community Festival

2008-09-15T10:16:00.000-07:00

SCI had the opportunity to have a presence at this year's 3rd Annual Midtown Community Festival in front of the Rubicon Brewery in downtown Sacramento on the 13th of September. The event kicked off with a Kids Walk-A-Thon around the capitol followed by live performances by various bands, fun games and activities for kids, great BBQ, raffle prizes and of course the ever famous Beer Tasting Garden with all proceeds benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento. SCI had a very visible booth in a prime location in front of the beer garden, and SCI's Database Manager Patricia and Stellar Volunteer Don Coan were present to answer questions and serve scrumptious solar cooked goodies.

SCI's solar cooking informational booth set up at the Midtown Community Festival (MCF) and manned by our own Patricia and Don Coan.

SCI's Don and Patricia assist interested passersby at MCF.

SCI's ever enthusiastic volunteer and staff ~ always ready to answer questions and educate people on the wonders of solar cooking.

Karyn, Don and Patricia at SCI's booth at the MCF.

Our Volunteer Extraordinaire ~ Don Coan is SCI's most reliable and knowledgeable volunteer, and one of the best solar cooks in the region!

Karyn and Patricia @ MCF (I cheated and just popped in at the last minute ~ it was Patricia and Don that did all the work ;)

Michael and Patricia in front of the Sun Oven, Box Cooker and SOS Sport ~ Patricia shows off her stellar solar cooked lasagne.

SolFest

2008-08-18T15:12:00.000-07:00

SolFest is the annual two-day celebration of solar technologies, renewable energy and sustainable living put on by the Solar Living Institute in Hopland, CA,; about 2.5 hours north of San Francisco. Heifer International was kind enough to share their coveted booth with us (thanks Heifer!) providing us with a prime location for promoting Solar Cookers International with a like-minded crowd. We had a steady stream of visitors throughout the day, and this kind of exposure at such a venue is unparalleled. It was hot as hell, but worth the trip ~ we made some yummy solar cooked treats and were one of the most popular booths present, hardly giving us a free moment!

Bio-tents at SolFest.

The hub of SolFest, complete with own Burning Man.

A Renewable Energy Booth on the grounds.

Patricia and Michael setting up the booth @ SolFest.

Solar Living Booth.

A Solar Cooking workshop at SolFest.

The Solar Living Institute has an active solar goods retail store on it's grounds called Real Goods ~ they already sells the Sun Oven, the SOS Sport and the Hot Pot. While we were there I spoke with Tina Meyers, Retail Buyer for Real Goods, and they will be carrying the CooKit and other items from SCI's store soon as a result.

The Hot Pot for sale @ Real Goods.

Zero waste is the name of the game @ SolFest.

An overview of SolFest.

Even the babies @ SolFest are hippies.