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Our most popular book, Build Your Own Earth Oven, came out in 1998 – or was it ’97? The much-improved third edition offers a simpler, more efficient, better oven, and better bread. New ovens, methods, techniques, questions and answers at "hot from the oven". See what author Kiko Denzer is up to at his page.
Max Edleson brings a marvelous DVD from Argentina that describes and explains natural building principles and many unusual methods by which to apply them. The DVD features one of Max's mentors, Argentina's master builder Jorge Belanco. Watch Mud, Hands, A House — and build your own.
Ann Sayre Wiseman, author of Making Things, is working on a new book on how to work with your dreams using simple, intuitive methods that work. Tentative title? Don't Argue with Your Dreams! It's a great technique to use with kids' nightmares. See Ann's Nightmare Help for more. Ann will also be presenting at this year's dream conference at the American Association for the Study of Dreams, in Berkeley, CA.
Interest in wood-fired ovens, school gardens, real food, real community, earthen building – learning by doing – continues to grow, as we do. Yes, we're responsible!...as a raindrop is for the sea. It is fascinating to participate. Much of what we learn comes through readers and friends, so tell us about your creative projects related to any title, or related interest. See these pages to share your ovens, projects with kids, and workshops. Contact us! and help improve the site!
Featured Books:
Kiko Denzer : Heaters
Masonry “Heater Hat” Videos: Construction Details
This little heater hat has worked superbly! I think it’s a great do-it-yourself option for anyone interested in turning their box stove into a much more efficient, cleaner heater for their home or shop. However, I’m reluctant to publish formal plans or how-to info as I’ve built just a couple of heaters, and I consider this one to be an experimental prototype. (If you’re inspired to try something of your own, take good care; be sure to include a better clean-out design that what I allowed for here, and send photos!)
A heater in the home poses serious risks — …
Solstice, 2010: bring in the mud! (into the house, that is)
This time of year I don’t usually get too muddy, but I brought some mud into my office last month so I could have a better and more efficient source of heat — finally! This little “heater hat” effectively turned my little iron box stove into a mini-masonry heater — with an oven! (note the wooden door on the right, just above the iron stove door). The wood that used to over-heat me, briefly, in the morning, now keeps me comfortably warm all day, and into the next morning (depending on how long I fire it and how cold it …
