We added some very cool energy-saving devices to the boat this fall, and thought you might enjoy seeing them in action.

The new Nomad 13 solar panels. The charging battery it connects to puts out up to 19v, enough to charge a laptop. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

We are very excited about the potential for saving on engine idling time (and diesel use) by using these new portable panels for charging laptops, ipad, satellite messenger, phone, etc.

Our new GoalZero battery charger hooked up to Nomad 13 solar panels, while charging the iPad. (Doesn’t look like it in the picture, but this method is keeping the charger and the iPad in the cool shade while the solar panels are on top of the butterfly hatch, which is tilted to the perfect angle. Turns out, it’s a great setup, and the iPad came to a 90% charge in only four hours!

We also found something online that helps us limit our use of propane. This Wonderbag is the brainchild of a South African entrepreneur, who came up with the idea to rework the old technology of cooking in an insulated box. She was looking for a way to improve the lives of women in Africa and other developing countries, and started a company that uses local workers to sew these insulated cooking bags using recycled foam for stuffing. With the Wonderbag, I just have to heat up whatever I am cooking to boiling, then let it simmer for about 10 minutes (15 or 20 if it is meat). Then I wrap it in a towel and place it in the super-insulated Wonderbag. Four to eight hours later, I have the equivalent of a crockpot-cooked meal. I have used it so far to cook dry black beans, salsa rice with soy meat, spaghetti sauce, and an overnight success with oatmeal and fruit. I still have to work out how much water to add, and adjust my recipes as I go, but so far, we have really enjoyed all the meals I have made using this fat little pillow.

The “Wonderbag” at work, cooking up a batch of salsa rice and soy burger using only retained heat.

But perhaps the best thing about this Wonderbag is that the company’s primary purpose is to deploy as many of these as possible into the developing world, starting with Africa. For every bag bought, one is donated. They are seeing great success in reducing the amount of fuelwood used, and deforestation due to trees being chopped down to feed cooking fires. Use of the Wonderbag by families who cook with wood also reduces ill health from smoke inhalation, and frees up women and girls from the hours-daily it takes just to walk to and from a fuelwood source. Please visit the Wonderbag link at the right of the page, and also consider buying one at Amazon for yourself (and a family in Africa!) I am not participating in adwords, and do not profit in any way from this plug.

The wonderbag masquerading as a pillow when not cooking a meal.

The videos and stories on the Wonderbag website are really inspiring, so it is worth a visit even if you are not interested in purchasing one.

Sail on!