To have and to - - lack?

So, last post I pointed out that there won't be any electricity at our wedding to preserve food (we won't even be touching the issue of music just yet!). Both comments and in-person feedback expressed concern on the hot-foods-hot and cold-foods-cold dilemma, as well as having enough food for everyone to munch on.

Our wedding will be taking place in the afternoon - thus if there will be any meal involved it would be lunch. However, Shaun and I were hoping to host something more like an 'afternoon tea': finger sandwiches, some cookies and snakes, maybe some salads and desserts, but there won't be dinner platters of grilled chicken breast or anything. Folks would also have the option of simply making some food instead of handing over a wedding gift, but they wouldn't be obligated to by any means. But, still, just a thought as we haven't even finished the guest list yet. If there are too many guests, having a potluck just simply won't be feasible at all. Local and organic caterers would be preferred - so far we like Fifty Percent Crunchy and Terra Luna.

But continuing on with the fancy that it IS, there are some really easy ways to keep food and drink at the appropriate temperature. There are, quite simply, ice chests! To keep things warm, line an ice chest with a towel or newspapers. Load it up with dishes fresh out of the oven, at their hottest, and fill in any empty spaces with more towels. Be sure to cover the top before you seal it up, as well. This can keep hot foods piping for at least an hour, easily more if the lid isn't opened and it's kept in the shade. For the cold, prechill the cooler with ice (load it up ahead of time until the cooler is frosty), then replace most of the ice with sealed foodstuffs. The remaining ice can then be used for beverages.

OR, if we wanted to really keep up with the 'learn something new about keeping it green,' theme, we could use Zeer pots! These contraptions are used in poorer, remote areas of Africa (it's made a huge difference in Darfur already). You take a smaller clay or terracotta pot and put it inside a larger pot. Fill the space in between them with wet sand, and cover the top with a wet cloth. When the water evaporates, it pulls the heat out with it, making the inside cold. It's a natural, cheap, easy-to-make refrigerator! It's most efficient if set up ahead of time to 'charge' (for the clay to absorb water). You only need to add about a quart of water once or twice a day, and it can easily make a 45 degree F difference. Here is a comprehensive overview of the contraption, while Michael Bloch at GreenLivingTips.com chronicles his experience with one very well.

I think it would be fun to use those, but I'm a little worried about how unwieldy they would be to transport! Supposedly light, though. Well, this post is getting quite large, I'll leave it here with the promise that next time will be a new subject - invitations!