Bayreuth – For large parts of the population it represents THE horror scenario – a widespread blackout!
The Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) in Bayreuth has taken the current crises as a starting point in order to convey the self-help content to the population with the pilot project “Cooking without electricity”.
Tobias Schif (40), spokesman for BRK-Bayreuth, says the goal is for the population to be able to take care of itself. In addition, you have to get rid of the mentality that the state always offers full help for everything immediately
Tobias Schif (40), press spokesman from the BRK Bayreuth to BILD: “Regardless of the current crises, we have noticed that the ability to help yourself is declining in the population. Therefore, we want to prepare rationally for various crisis situations.”
BILD tests cooking without electricity
BILD reporter Tom Zinram (24) was there himself to test cooking without electricity. After a three-hour theory unit, the entire course was able to try out cooking without electricity in practice.
Only a gas cooker and a rocket oven were available. However, the focus was not only on cooking, but also on safety theory.
“I don’t just want to show how to cook without electricity, I also want to explain fire and hazard protection,” explains Martin Schmidt (55), volunteer BRK field cook.
BILD reporter Tom Zinram prepares tea with wood and the rocket stove
Therefore he shows cooking without electricity using the rocket oven. This is one of the safest variants, as it is equipped with fireclay, the fire goes out after the flap is closed and it cannot spread to other objects.
Other goals of the seminar: to promote personal responsibility and the ability to help yourself and to raise awareness of the topic. It’s not just about being able to look after yourself, but also your fellow human beings in an emergency and to be able to help them.
The ingredients of the anti-crisis jam are not only rich in vitamins, nutritious and digestive, but can also have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects in a natural way
The participants then prepared or boiled down a crisis protection jam, of which each participant was allowed to take a jar for their own household stock. “It was important to me that everyone had something in their hands after the event,” says Schmidt. The jam consisted of:
►Zwiebeln
►Knoblauch
►Schinkenspeck
►Zuckersirup
►Braunen Zucker
►smoked paprika spice
►Rauchsouce
►Orangensaft
Each of the participants was allowed to take a glass of the crisis jam with them. The jam will keep for years if it is boiled down
This constellation of ingredients makes the crisis protection jam rich in vitamins for emergencies and also promotes digestion. Martin Schmidt also explains to the participants that the recipes he proposes should only provide initial suggestions. Ultimately, everyone can cook their own jam with a wide variety of ingredients.
Would like to know how to take care of myself in an emergency
The motivation for why people take this course is extremely varied. Pensioner Herrmann Meyer (72) explains:
“I would like to know how I can cook without electricity in an emergency and what equipment I can use for this. I particularly enjoyed cooking with the rocket oven and the theoretical information was also very helpful for me.”
Herrmann Meyer (72) wants to be prepared for emergencies and builds a ceramic oven under supervision. Its heat can warm up an entire room
Ursula Vogel (68) is interested in the course because of the energy crisis and would like to find out about alternatives. “It’s important to broaden your horizons and I was curious how cooking without electricity works.”
Yes, the feedback from the other participants was extremely positive. The practical exercises were particularly praised and that the course drew attention to many possibilities
raise awareness among young people
In summary, Martin Schmidt reports that the planning effort was worth it and that he is satisfied with the opening event – he would not have thought that so many people would register. However, in the next seminars he would like to stamp out the theoretical part a little more and focus even more on practical testing.
In the future, he also wishes to raise awareness among younger people, which is why this generation in particular should be advertised even more.