Today I'm inspired to make my own Zeer Pot Cooler, (which takes no energy). Since it's starting to get mercilessly hot over here again, (and Monsoon season still a few months away), seeds can't germinate anymore - But maybe, just maybe, if I am able to attain a temperature difference of around 10°C below ambient, I perhaps would be able to make seeds sprout out of season. Yes this is very much dependant on humidity levels. So the less humidity there is, the more it'll cool, (as it's cooling by evaporation). But since I'm so close to the sea, I'm trying not to be too optimistic - However I won't know until I try, so here goes. As I have all the material I need. This shouldn't take too long.
OK so first I mixed some gravel and cement, and added water. Which has given me concrete. I could have used plaster of Paris, but since this will always be wet, PoP will deteriorate. So concrete seems like a very good option. So first I plugged the drainage hole in the big clay pot with concrete. Obviously because I don't want water to leak. Next I cut up 4 pieces of PVC pipe into 2 and a half inch sections. Filled them up with concrete also, and anchored them to the bottom of the big clay pot. As these will become the risers upon which the smaller clay pot will rest. Now filled this area with sand, and moistened it so it would become compact. After this I put some more concrete on these 4 risers. So they would bond with the smaller clay pot I'll now place from the top. Next I place the smaller clay pot on top of this, and plug it's drainage hole too - The drainage hole of the bottom clay pot and the one on the top are now in line and plugged with a connecting chunk of concrete. This is crucial, otherwise the smaller clay pot can float away when you put water between the 2 clay pots. So this way it's like a concrete rivet with a spacer in between, holding the 2 pots together. So I think I'll now rest for the day, as it's getting too hot outside to work. All that's now left to do is fill the gap between the 2 clay pots with sand, and moisten it - And the Zeer Pot Cooler will be done!
In case anyone wants to know about this in more detail. And would like to build one for themselves - See these videos below.
