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Are you looking for ways to save energy and live your life greener? You can cook your food by the light of the sun. What could be more back-to-the-earth and off-the-grid than that? Solar ovens are available commercially, and can be quite expensive. If you are into green living you don’t need me to tell you all the un-green things about stoves and ovens, gas and electric alike. But you may need me to offer you an alternative. So here it is – the simple homemade solar oven that you can make for under 10 dollars.

Your list of materials:

2 cardboard boxes of two different sizes (more on this in a sec)
4 flat pieces of cardboard (2′-3′ square or rectangular)
scrap cardboard
1 small, 18″ wide roll of aluminum foil
1 piece double-strength glass (more on this in a sec too)
white paper glue
black pan

Now, about those boxes – one of them should be able to fit inside the other one with 2 to 3 inches of space all around. And about that glass – it should be half-an-inch longer and half-an-inch wider than your smaller cardboard box.

A solar oven is made up of two parts: the oven itself and a solar collector.

To make the oven:

Paint the inside of your smaller box black.

Cut up your cardboard scrap into pieces and line the bottom of the larger box with a layer of scrap thick enough so that when you place the smaller box inside the larger one, the smaller one’s lip rests about one inch below the larger one’s lip.

Once you’ve got your scrap layer sized right, take that smaller box out for a second so you can fold in the larger boxes flaps. Then place the smaller box inside. Cut up however much more scrap you need to stuff in around the sides of the smaller box so that you’ve got it wedged in there good.

The glass should make a nice seal when placed on top of the oven, with enough of a lip that your finger can hook under it to raise and lower the glass as needed.

To make the solar collector:

Take the 4 flat pieces of cardboard (don’t use double-strength) and cut them out in the shape of an anvil (like the kind the Road Runner drops on Wile E. Coyote’s head all the time). Glue these to the upper, outer rim of your solar oven so that the pieces join together in an overturned lampshade sort of shape. (To do this, glue the shorter of the two parallel sides of each flap to the upper, outer rim of the larger cardboard box. Then glue the angled edges to one another.)

Glue aluminum foil to the upward facing sides of these 4 flaps.

And you’re done!

To use the oven, simply place the food you want cooked inside it and sit the unit out under the sun until sufficiently cooked. Then eat and enjoy your – gas and electricity free!

Andy Green is a green redneck. He writes about green living for rednecks at GreenRednecks.com (with some help from his friends). If you are a a rural person who cares for the land check out the resources at http://greenrednecks.com.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/build-a-solar-oven-for-under-10-use-solar-power-to-cook-your-food-946298.html

Looking for easy and inexpensive ways to update your kitchen?

Are you wanting to create a warm and inviting space for family meals or entertaining?

Here are a few simple ideas that will give your kitchen an updated look.

When I first moved into my house, my kitchen made me feel like I was stuck in a decade that I never even lived in! The cabinets and hardware were outdated, the ceramic tile was awful, and the wall color and coutertops were just not my taste. I knew I wanted to spruce up the space, but I also knew what my bank account looked like.

Start sprucing up your kitchen by choosing the right wall colors. This will all depend on your choice of theme, style, or color scheme. I prefer to coordinate my wall colors with my textiles and decor, and to contrast with my cabinets and furniture. Another idea that will ad to your wall color, is to add some kitchen tile backsplash. There are so many styles to choose from, and will make clean up a breeze since the backsplash is directly behind your workspace in the kitchen.

If you are not happy with the cabinets or countertops, there are ways you can save money updating them. Painting kitchen cabinets is a great way to brighten up your space. Although it can be time consuming, it is a lot cheaper than replacing them! You can also just change your cabinet hardware for an easy update. There are many styles of knobs, pulls, or, hinges to choose from that won’t cost a fortune. When it comes to countertops, getting them refinished or reglazed will save you more money than having them replaced. However, I happened to find some pre-cut countertops that I wanted, and had a contractor cut to size and install. And, the pre-cut countertops even had large matching formica sheets that I had glued (using recommended glue) and cut to size, to the large island countertop since there weren’t pre-cut sizes large enough to cover it.

Now you are ready to add your decor. Whatever your style or theme may be, I would recommend coordinating your textiles instead of having every last piece match. The reason for this is because you don’t want to look at the same pattern everytime you turn your head in your kitchen, which could cause you to get tired of it easily. Also, by having different shades and patterns, I think it makes it easier to pick up coordinating colors from your textiles, right to your wall or countertop decor.

When choosing your wall decor, I would recommend cuisine art themed prints, plates hug with plate racks or hooks, or shelves with photos or candles. Some of the wall decor can also be functional. Photo frames with hooks to hang keys, or decorative calenders or memo boards can add decor and convenience.

Your countertop decor can include the basic kitchen items that you use often, such as a stand mixer, or pieces to store food, such as a bread box or decorative canisters. Add more color to your countertop using artificial fruit in a decorative bowl, or simply fill a vase with flowers!

All of these ideas will help you decorate your kitchen without having to spend a lot of money. They can create a warm and inviting space for good food, and good conversation with family and friends. Get your kitchen updated, and start enjoying it!

For more information visit Home Decorating Ideas where you can learn more about home decorating and get kitchen decorating ideas.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/how-to-decorate-a-kitchen-946323.html