open heart-mind studio
a practice in sustainable community development
Earth Ovens
Earth ovens, are essentially any oven made of earth in which a fire is built and the earth is used to store heat and cook food. They can be as simple as a fire pit, or quite elaborate. The ovens I build are based on a basic dome-shaped design with a fire-brick hearth and simple door. This is a fun and engaging way to cook. Earth ovens are great for cooking pizzas, bread and a variety of other foods. Building earth ovens is also a great way to build community. Building with earth is easy to learn and super fun (who doesn’t love to play in the mud?). To the right are some pictures of ovens built by friends and myself, ranging from super simple to beautiful artwork.
The initial firing of the oven.
This oven was built at Moonshadow Farm in Tennessee in collaboration with a creative rock mason.
This oven built at the Solar Living Institute demonstrates how a simple form can be transformed with the creativity of the participants.
The initial firing of the oven.