Under The Next Rock

2011-11-11T14:57:00.000-08:00

2010-10-05T14:08:00.000-07:00

A good hot fire! It takes 2 1/2 to 3 hours to get it up to temp (900F)

2010-09-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

Two loaves of Marilyn's oatmeal bread ready to come out! Temp at 450.

2010-09-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

Kari's latest creation, chocolate chip scones, baked for 15 minutes in the earth oven. Oh so good!!!

2010-09-09T09:34:00.000-07:00

The very first pizza!!

2010-09-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

FINALLY FINISHED!!!

2010-09-06T21:52:00.000-07:00

2010-09-06T21:50:00.000-07:00

Yeh!! We are "to the top" It took longer than I thought it would. Now let's get this baby dried out and ready for baking!

2010-09-06T21:48:00.000-07:00

Jill putting on the final touches!

2010-09-06T21:47:00.000-07:00

Makin straw bricks, and clay animals! Lots of fun!

2010-09-06T21:44:00.000-07:00

We call this the "Vevi Stomp"! No one else can do it quite like Vevi, talk on the phone, drink coffee and stomp mud!

2010-09-06T21:40:00.000-07:00

Labor Day and it's time to finish the second layer of mud (clay sand and straw) So it is more stompin for the willing volunteers! Notice the clay on the oven a little over half way up!

2010-09-04T14:57:00.000-07:00

Another layer of "mud" started. This time with lots of wheat straw mixed in for insulating and binding.

2010-08-31T20:11:00.000-07:00

Here we go!!! But, just a small fire to assist in driving the moisture from the clay. And "oh dear" look at that big crack, they say it's normal though. A few fires like this and should be ready for the next layer of "insulating" clay (clay, sand and straw) Maybe next Saturday!

2010-08-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

2010-08-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

2010-08-28T20:15:00.000-07:00

2010-08-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

The day has finally arrived to make mud (clay, sand, water, and work)
Was a great day! We put the music on and dancing happened!

2010-08-21T09:10:00.000-07:00

Nine 2x4's some glue and screws and you have an earth oven door! Nowwww I'm ready for the mud!

2010-08-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

An inch or two of sand on top of the cement board and then the fun of laying the fire brick. Almost ready for the mud!

2010-08-05T20:33:00.000-07:00

Top done, ready for mud, ready for rain!

2010-07-24T15:36:00.000-07:00

Making a bit more progress on the roof, however it's 90 degrees on a Saturday afternoon and I think I will stop for some ice tea!!

2010-07-20T21:56:00.000-07:00

The mud is postponed a bit longer as I have decided to build the roof cover first. Needed a nice place to stand while building without the oven dome in the way. --I am beginning to smell wood fired oven pizza in my dreams!!

2010-07-18T17:31:00.000-07:00

One more step in the process! Had a friend build my little brick wall and set in the hearth stone that the fire brick will butt against. Getting anxious to start makin mud!

2010-07-14T20:38:00.000-07:00

Just getting an idea of what it might look like!

2010-07-14T20:34:00.000-07:00

On top of the cinders and sand, covering the whole frame top is two sheets of 1/2 inch cement board with sheetrock screws securing them to the wood frame.

2010-07-14T20:26:00.000-07:00

I decided on cinders and sand for insulation under the oven, thinking the cinders would be trapped air with sand sealing around them. Hope it works!

2010-07-14T20:21:00.000-07:00

After framing my stand I secured two 1/2 inch sheets of OSB under the upper frame to act as the floor of the lower insulation chamber, and then braced underneath with an angled 2X4.

2010-07-14T20:17:00.000-07:00

Thought if I built a stand with space underneath I would have storage for my firewood. Found these 6X8 juniper beams that are supposed to last forever! Buried them about 18 inches in the ground.

2010-07-14T20:11:00.000-07:00

Getting the curve just right is the trick, I hope it's right!

2010-07-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

After grilling a basketmaker in Ireland last year I decided to tackle the job of building my oven form from willow rather than sand. My wife says it's a shame to burn up my basket in the end, Hey, it was created to burn!

2010-07-14T19:02:00.000-07:00

It all started here! Thanks to Kiko Denzer for getting me inspired to make an earthen oven in our backyard!