Sometimes you have to follow where your errant dreams lead. Even if you have no idea what you're doing. This oven is a point in case. I planned to have it done by the New Year to put in the new book, due imminently. I still don't know if it will work, but I will share some photos nonetheless. First is a form made out of eathenware clay on a mound of wet sand.
Then it was cut into blocks, about 150 of them, and fired in my electric kiln. I know I could have fired them in place with wood, but I wanted to make life difficult. Then I put them all back together - harder than I thought. What posessed me to use some Greek letters I'll never know. Is it Phi Xi Psi? They wouldn't go back together without mortar and putting the sand back in the empty space. A few gaps, I hope don't structurally compromise the whole.
And then I just covered it all with stucco, hoping nothing falls out of place when I remove the sand. The bricks are just to hold up the arch on the opening. There's a little chimney at back too. Otherwise nothing much to it. I'll give you the specs in The Lost Arts of Hearth and Home. Cost me about 150 bucks. Not an earth oven, nor a 10,000 dollar commercial pizza oven. MY fingers are so crossed. Please cross yours too. And HAVE a HAPPY NUDE YEAR!!
7 comments:
AMAZING!! Fantastic, terrific, awesome, back to amazing. What are you going to bake first?
Bread of course. I think at least using the handful of grain I grew in the backyard, ground by hand with wild starter. Ridiculous, I know, but what else do I have to do?
That's not ridiculous! That's awesome! I've been wanting to plant grain in my backyard. Can't wait to see your bread.
WHoa... that is insane. I always wonder at those house movers that take apart 18th c houses in numbered bits and put them back together perfectly... how do they do it???
I do hope yours works when you fire it up.. .bet it is more forgiving than you might think. Heat and seasoning should glue it into shape. I can't believe you grew your own wheat. It's been on my mind lately since I read the old varieties are so much better for you... I want to see what they taste like.
Happy NY, Ken!
JUST removed the sand and she looks great. Time to get some dough rising and a fire going!
I'm planning on making one this summer - so glad to see yours! Of course I'm planning on doing a lot of things this summer. I may need to bake vicarious pizzas for awhile. Can't wait to read about it!
you are my hero. when we FINALLY move out of brooklyn to somewhere w/ space- this is a dream of ours. i'm going to use this as inspiration. i love how personal and d.i.y. it looks. so so cool
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