[MaxMax]

I once repaired a home made freeze dryer used for saving documents from flooding.
It was an office water bottle stuck inside a top freezer with the mouth
sticking out the side. The mouth was cut back allowing for a 8in opening and
a plain metal plate with a rubber seal around it stuck to it being held in place
by two latches.

Very simple to make. The vacuum pump is the expensive part though. Over all the
whole system would cost about $700 on the DYI cheap.

[NTHockey]

Have you heard about a zeer for storing produce? It is still being used in Africa today. It is probly several thousand years old.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfKgOpJc7Ps&feature=related

I wonder if meat and chese could also be used.