Diane and Ron’s Freeze Drying Story

Ron and Diane know what it takes to grow a great garden. They have been doing it for years. Diane loves the idea of knowing what goes into the food she eats, and that is a major motivating factor for her to continue her toil in their 4,500 square foot plot.

The growing season at their Coeur d’Alene, Idaho home is short, but always produces more than their family can eat. This is why last summer they purchased a Harvest Right Freeze Dryer. Their only regret: “Not getting it sooner.”

A few years ago Diane researched freeze dryers and found that they provide the best solution to preserve garden food, but she found them to be far too expensive. “I couldn’t find a new freeze dryer for under $18,000 and the ones I found were for scientific use and not for foods that would fit our needs,” Diane recalls.

She knew that freeze drying would be the best way to preserve her garden, but the price was just too high. That’s why, last summer, Diane decided to research freeze dryers, again, and learned that the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer is a fraction of the cost of other available units.

She purchased their freeze dryer the very next day. After waiting anxiously for it to arrive, Ron and Diane have used their freeze dryer every day since.

Ron is a design engineer by profession and has developed a way to maximize the output from their freeze dryer. He took a refrigerator-freezer and fashioned scrap plastic into shelves so that they can pre-freeze their garden produce and then put it directly into the freeze dryer.

Freezer modified for freeze dried food storage  Freezer full of food ready to freeze dry 
                   a freezer full of traysa freezer full of trays of food

After a few weeks of use, Ron and Diane had a system going where they could finish most batches of freeze dried food in 18-20 hours.

Diane says that “one of the first foods we freeze dried was organic blueberries, but since then we have preserved many other foods from the garden, like pears, apples, lettuce, kale, swiss chard, green beans, avocado, basil and even raspberry leaves for herbal tea.”

Beyond the garden, Diane has been freeze drying pinto and kidney beans, pearl barley, brown rice and chicken stock so that soups and other meals can be made almost instantly.

“I love knowing exactly what is going into my meal because there are no additives and preservatives,” she said. “I am more confident in the food that I have freeze dried than anything else in my storage.”

Because Ron is a design engineer he cares about the quality of equipment that he buys. He appreciates that his freeze dryer is American made and that it is built to last. He went on to explain that “lots of equipment these days isn’t built with high quality and breaks with a little use, but that isn’t the case with our freeze dryer. I am so pleased with the craftsmanship and find that most companies don’t build things this way anymore. We are happy to own such a quality machine.”

For Ron and Diane, purchasing a freeze dryer has been one of the best investments they have made. “In the past, so much of our garden has gone to waste,” said Diane. “Our only regret is waiting until August to get one!”

Comments

The trays are just lids from storage boxes. I believe they had some from hat boxes because Diane makes Kentucky Derby hats. But, if you look closely, they are just like the plastic lids from the top of a plastic storage bin/box.

Unfortunately, we do not have them. We will try emailing Ron and Diane to see, but not sure we’ll be able to get them.

Will you please email me these plans as well? We are purchasing a freeze dryer from you guys and this would be most helpful.

I see many of us would like to know the plans to convert the upright freezer to a freeze dryer prep unit. Harvest Right please share them with us.

The plans are now part of the original blog post. At the bottom of the post there is a download button where you can print and/or download the instructions.

The plans are now part of the original blog post. At the bottom of the post there is a download button where you can print and/or download the instructions.

The plans are now part of the original blog post. At the bottom of the post there is a download button where you can print and/or download the instructions.

The plans are now part of the original blog post. At the bottom of the post there is a download button where you can print and/or download the instructions.

Hi
Am I the only one in Ireland with a freezedrier? My problem is storage of packaged foods. I use heavy mylar bags packed into rectangular plastic bucked stacked in what had been my coats cupboard. I am adicted to freezedrying. I love the idea of prefreezing foods to speed up the process and would love a copy of these plans to give me an idea of hoe I can adapt half my freezer. Can anyone tell me how long food would keep in mason jars with an oxygen inhibitor sachet? Just for shorter term storage.

Hi Barbara, Maybe you have already seen this reply from Harvest Right to other comments.
“At the bottom of this post there is a download button where you can print and/or download the instructions.” Sorry, I can’t help with your other question.
I actually have a question for you if you don’t mind! I am in Ireland also but can’t seem to find anywhere to buy a freeze dryer.
Can you tell me where you got yours, please?

We have several hundred mason jars that we have been saving for canning (now freeze drying). Our old food sealer has an option to vacuum seal Kerr jars and we use that. On the off chance we used Mason or old food jars the oxygen eater packs are great. We are planning for 25 years of shelf life storage.

I have been canning and freezing for the better part of 55 years. I have moved into a tiny house and no longer have the room to store my canning it room for my freezers. Would love to get int freeze drying. Can you direct my in how to get more information on freeze drying

I just received my hr freezer. I am very excited and would love to have the plans to modify my regular freezer. Thank you so much.

Hello, I am curious about something regarding the modification to the original freezer. Where plastic trays were used; could one not substitute homemade screen trays into existing freezer in order to freeze dry things ?

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