What does one do with 8 bags of tube sand and a VERY large pile of sticks? Build an earth oven of course. Also known as a cob or adobe oven by those who build and use them. They have been around forever and are recently coming into favor as a cheap way of making a wood fired oven. I ran into the idea while browsing the net this weekend. I’ve always wanted a brick oven and wasn’t willing or able to outlay the money required to build one or have one made. I read a post on some blog about cob ovens and instantly knew I HAD to build one. The basic ingredients are clay, sand, straw or manure, and lots of sweat.
So far I have located a source for the clay subsoil without having to dig up my yard. I have 8 broken tubes of sand that you put in the back of the truck during the winter for traction, a few bricks and a site picked out. Today when I came home, the city had cut down a couple of pear trees that lined the street and left the nicely cut wood in my yard. A couple of dozen trips with the dolly and I have next year’s wood all stacked up.
After reading Kiko Denzer’s book ‘Build Your Own Earth Oven’ that I picked up from the library on Saturday, I made a test brick using about half sand and half clay. I cannot believe how solid this thing is already. I can’t even make a dent with my fingernail. I also did the water test and it looks like the clay is fairly pure.
I think I am going to do a cinder block foundation surrounded by field stones. The foundation needs to be about 4′ in diameter. I am hoping to get this thing built before the end of the summer.
I am also an avid KY gardener. Love your blog!
Becky, welcome and thanks.
‘Built before the end of summer’ boy was I dreaming.
love your blog! thank you for sharing