Winter Storage Question

[StephenLee]

Watching A History of Ancient Britain the other night, Neil (Get your hair cut, its not a good look for a man of your age) Oliver revealed that late bronze age man stored grain in holes in the ground the entrances to which were sealed with clay. The grains on the outside would get moisture from the surroundings and begin to germinate. This germination would generate carbon dioxide which would build up to a point where purification was halted, potential pests could not survive and the pit would achieve a state of (almost) suspended animation that would allow the stores to remain good for years.

This set me thinking ! Always dangerous according to Mrs Lee but here goes …...

Looking around Lee Acres, I have 12 gallons of wine bubbling away in demijohns (this year is a bit quiet) plus two 25 litres of beer (One being my 'Work-a-day' bitter and the other my 'Don't smoke whilst you drink it, just in case!' Christmas/Yule brew).

Both are generating significant quantities of carbon dioxide. Is there any way that this can be utilised in the storage of fresh produce over the winter time ? Any ideas ?

Stephen

[preppingsu]

Don't know the answer. Sorry.

BUT do you fancy writing a short turtorial about wine/beer making for us beginners. I have a lot of kit, read some books and got totally confused but would love to give it a go.

[bulldogeagle]

Watching A History of Ancient Britain the other night, Neil (Get your hair cut, its not a good look for a man of your age) Oliver .

Stephen

who the heck are you to tell someone how they should look?? personally i think he's got wonderful hair, and he's only 40 anyway. i gave up worrying what some poor sad . straight thought about how i looked some 30 years ago, if we all looked the same life would be boring. OH who is over 60 thinks he's georgeous!!

[preppingsu]

Lets keep to the topic from the OP please, lets not degenrate into a slanging match over personal opinions.

[Brambles]

Your theory has some merit, a couple of problems come to mind. The gas produced will have some moisture never a good thing when storing food and you would have to store food in a sealed container or just use the gas to purge the container. A few thoughts, not great, but mine own

[diamond lil]

I remember this being explained on the Time Team and it made sense but I forget how lol

[StephenLee]

BullDogEagle - I'm sorry if I have caused offence to you. My comment was humorous in nature and intent. It was in no way a sleight against you, your appearance or your hair. I admire the way that you leapt to Mr Oliver's defence.

As it happens, I know Neil Oliver very well having become friends whilst we were both working on a project for the Open University in 2008. Funnily enough, his wife Trudi and Mrs Lee were at school together and played lacrosse together for the county. I have appraised him of my comments on this forum by telephone and he has assured me that he has not taken offence and made a rather distasteful comment about my hair that I can not repeat. In addition he is pleased to hear that you think that his hair is wonderful.

Preppingsu - Happy to oblige if you think that it will be of interest to anyone.

Brambles - Good thinking. I can dry the gas fairly easily by passing it through a desiccant.

Stephen 'Poor Sad Straight' Lee

[nickdutch]

Watching A History of Ancient Britain the other night, Neil (Get your hair cut, its not a good look for a man of your age) Oliver revealed that late bronze age man stored grain in holes in the ground the entrances to which were sealed with clay. The grains on the outside would get moisture from the surroundings and begin to germinate. This germination would generate carbon dioxide which would build up to a point where purification was halted, potential pests could not survive and the pit would achieve a state of (almost) suspended animation that would allow the stores to remain good for years.

This set me thinking ! Always dangerous according to Mrs Lee but here goes …...

Looking around Lee Acres, I have 12 gallons of wine bubbling away in demijohns (this year is a bit quiet) plus two 25 litres of beer (One being my 'Work-a-day' bitter and the other my 'Don't smoke whilst you drink it, just in case!' Christmas/Yule brew).

Both are generating significant quantities of carbon dioxide. Is there any way that this can be utilised in the storage of fresh produce over the winter time ? Any ideas ?

Stephen

I am not sure, but maybe you could combine vacuum techniques with CO2 techniques, but on the other hand, why not just stick with vacuum techniques?

[itsybitsy]

BullDogEagle - I'm sorry if I have caused offence to you. My comment was humorous in nature and intent. It was in no way a sleight against you, your appearance or your hair. I admire the way that you leapt to Mr Oliver's defence.

As it happens, I know Neil Oliver very well having become friends whilst we were both working on a project for the Open University in 2008. Funnily enough, his wife Trudi and Mrs Lee were at school together and played lacrosse together for the county. I have appraised him of my comments on this forum by telephone and he has assured me that he has not taken offence and made a rather distasteful comment about my hair that I can not repeat. In addition he is pleased to hear that you think that his hair is wonderful.

Stephen 'Poor Sad Straight' Lee

*snorting with laughter*

We want to know what he said about your hair...

PS - Lil fancies him!

PPS - Neil Oliver, not BullDogEagle. Just to clarify.

[diamond lil]