3 models you can build from scratch!

Secure your food supply and stock up your pantry 

Easy-to-follow videos and 3D plans allow you to build your very own supersized  food dehydrator, powered by the sun, using simple and inexpensive materials.

Learn More About This Reliable Off-Grid Low Tech Solution Below – The Power Is In Your Hands!

What is a Solar food dehydrator?


A solar food dehydrator is a device used to remove moisture from food using the power of the sun. The result is dried food that can be stored for long periods without spoiling. Solar food dehydrators are a low-cost alternative to electric food dehydrators. They are the secret to boosting the nutrient density of your preserved goods. 

Our easy-to-follow movies and plans will guide you through each step of the building process, ensuring that you end up with a high-quality and functional food dehydrator. Your family's food security depends on it!

how Does it work?

In our solar food dehydrator design, air enters the bottom of the solar air collector. The heated air then flows into the top of the drying chamber, falls down and across the shelves … all the way down, and then flows up through a 'chimney' which is separate from the main drying chamber. This works with the natural tendency of cool air to sink and warm air to rise, so it results in better, more consistent airflow … and thus, more efficient & faster drying.

A preppers must-have! With our easy-to-build plans, you'll be able to preserve your own food without relying on electricity or fuel and at the same time, save money on groceries.

 Our supersized solar food dehydrators are a must-have for off-grid living!

What can you dehydrate?

  • Meat (Hello, jerky!)
  • Poultry
  • Rhizomes (ginger, tumeric, etc.)
  • Mushroom 
  • Berries
  • Fruit
  • Vegetables
  • Eggs
  • Bread
  • Wild Foraged Foods
  • Fish 
  • Leafy and Woody Herbs
  • and so much more....


What are the benefits of a Solar food DeHydrator?

Cost Savings

 Energy savings

Emergency Preparedness

Nutrient retention 

Flavor preservation

Customizability

Longer shelf life

Healthier snacking

Self-sufficiency


Testimonials

samantha lewis

The food dehydrator is so cool and it is still going strong after 5 years in the weather. I love that I can dehydrate so much food at once. Anyone who loves to eat farm fresh produce needs to get one of these to preserve their harvest. It's "the bomb!" Saves my food and saves my money!

Erica Wisner

This is the sturdiest solar food dehydrator I have ever built. Typical solar dehydrators just don't cut it for homesteaders. This is the homesteader's best friend for keeping food for longer.

opalyn Rose 

I have some experience with home-built solar dehydrators and the solar dehydrator at Wheaton Labs is the best and most efficient design I've ever used.  It is able to dry three pounds of fruit on a single screen and can hold 18 screens.  The hot summer sun keeps the unit warm and dries food evenly and quickly. It also works great going into the fall as fruit harvests increase.

what's in the plans?

WHEATON ATC1 MODEL

The Wheaton ATC1 food dehydrator model has an extended solar collector, allowing for faster drying.

Included: Detailed, full color, 4 page PDF of plans & cut list; authored by Davin Hoyt

MISSOULA MODEL

The Missoula food dehydrator model has an overhang for weather protection & enclosed sides to stabilize temperature fluctuations.

 Included: Detailed, full color, 4 page PDF of plans & cut list; authored by Davin Hoyt

Rocket assist Model

The Rocket Assist food dehydrator model uses rocket mass heater technology to stabilize temperature fluctuations throughout the day and night, turbocharging your dehydrator whatever the weather. Essentially, using super efficient wood-fired heat to give you reliable and consistent results, even on cloudy days.

 Included: Detailed, full color, 41 page step by step, 3D PDF plans; authored by Andres Bernal

what's in the movies?

Solar Food Dehydrator Movie

Man building a food dehydrator

This HD video is 1 hour 21 minutes long and includes discussion over the general design that was decided on, an then some of the problems that were experienced during the build. This movie complements the Wheaton ATC1 and Missoula solar food dehydrator plans. Available in HD streaming.

Free Heat Movie

Free Heat is a 2 hour 18 minute film that explores the world of rocket mass heaters, a highly efficient and radical type of wood-burning technology. The movie follows the experimentation and implementation by a team of experts working on various types of rocket mass heaters, including the Rocket Assist solar food dehydrator. Whether for heating a home, cooking a meal, or creating a relaxing sauna experience, rocket mass heaters are a versatile and efficient technology for self-sufficiency. This movie complements the Rocket Assist solar food dehydrator plans. Available in HD streaming.


ABOUT THE CREATORS

Paul Wheaton

Paul Wheaton, dubbed "The Duke of Permaculture" by Sepp holzer and Geoff Lawton, is an author, producer, certified advanced master gardener, and gentle giant. After a successful career as a software engineer in aerospace, Paul became obsessed with everything permaculture. He has created hundreds of videos and podcasts, and written dozens of articles and several books. You can find all of it at permies.com



Paul_Wheaton

Tim Barker

Tim Barker has previously been farm manager for the permaculture research Institute of Australia, power station operator/mechanic, adventure guide and professional turtle wrestler. His rocket stove and char making powered hot water systems, ovens and cookers reflect his passion for elegant simple and durable combustion technologies. He currently teaches technology for the Koanga institute in New Zealand and Very Edible Gardens (VEG) in Melbourne.



Davin Hoyt

Davin Hoyt offers architecture and permaculture services as a one-man-firm. He seeks a lifetime relationship with his clients.

"I help everyone I can. I collaborate with most. Come meet me for coffee, or shoot me your thoughts."

Davin-Hoyt

Erica Wisner

Erica Wisner is an educator, published author, educator and volunteer fire fighter. She is currently working on family care teams, and mountain ecological maintenance is her passion. Erica keeps the home fires burning with her expertise for all things rocket mass heater. 

Erica Wisner headshot

Andres Bernal

Andrés Bernal is a permaculture farmer and artist living in one of Colombia’s last patches of tropical dry forest where he plants trees. He has over 12 years of experience in media content creation and has shifted his focus to ecological and permaculture related subjects.



Chris McClellan

Uncle Mud (aka Chris McClellan) raises free-range, organic children in suburban Ohio. He has been using natural building as his soapbox to preach self-reliance and community empowerment, since 2004. Building houses, pizza ovens, and woodstoves with mud and junk is his way of sharing the can-do spirit. He writes, teaches workshops and hosts mud pit and DIY building demonstrations at fairs across the US.

Chris_McClellan

Build Your Solar Food Dehydrator Today!

Solar Food Dehydrator

Movies 

$19.50

Man building a food dehydrator
  • Solar Food Dehydrator movie  (1hr 21min)
  • Free Heat movie           (2hr 18min)
  • HD streaming

Solar Food Dehydrator

Mega Bundle Pack

$35

Man building a food dehydrator
  • Solar Food Dehydrator movie  (1hr 21min) HD streaming
  • Free Heat movie (2hr18min) HD streaming
  • Missoula model plans
  • Wheaton ATC 1 plans
  • Rocket Assist Solar Food Dehydrator plans

Solar Food Dehydrator

Plans Pack

$29.50

  • Missoula model plans
  • Wheaton ATC 1  plans
  • Rocket Assist Solar Food Dehydrator plans
  • pdf downloads

FAQs

How much food can I dehydrate in the solar food dehydrator?

Our solar food dehydrators can dry large amounts of food quickly. They have 18 trays and each tray is about 18" by 24" and able to dry about 3 lbs of vegetable/fruit, for a total of 54lbs. 

How long does it take to dehydrate food in this solar food dehydrator?

Drying time may vary depending on the your location, weather conditions and what you are drying. But typically, you can expect the food to be dried in 1 or 2 days.

Why are our solar food dehydrators the best?

These 3 models of solar food dehydrators are the result of many years of testing and re-designed and more testing to increase the performance, make it easier to use, more simple and low cost to build.

Dehydrating is a great way to preserve produce but direct light can lead to nutrient loss. Our solar food dehydrator design uses indirect heat from the sun – the food is dried by solar-heated air – leading to sun-dried deliciousness with maximum nutrient density retained!

How much will it cost to build the solar food dehydrator?

This will vary, depending on how much you are able to use reclaimed materials or if you have to buy new.

It looks complicated! Can I really build it myself?

Yes, absolutely! There are detailed plans, cut lists and assembly instructions. The videos  are also very helpful. If you get stuck, help can be found in the forums at https://www.permies.com

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