Preparing clay soil

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Preparing clay soil
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dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45460
Location: yes

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 16 3:00 pm Post subject:

Mistress Rose wrote:

By the time the roots get down there it should be reasonable, but I think 'hot' in this case means that they contain so many nutrients that they 'burn' the roots, not actual heat.

yep iirc it isnt just the amounts but the ph as well all of which settles to a good growing mix given enough time.

Ty Gwyn

Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4563
Location: Lampeter

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 16 8:20 pm Post subject:
Its the very high N in chicken manure that burns the plants.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 16 8:22 pm Post subject:
Build a more permanent pizza oven and there's no need to dig at all, save for a slab.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 16 10:19 pm Post subject:
I have children to entertain. They're way better at mud pies than bricklaying. So am I, really. Once I figure out the base, I'm really looking forward to the cob part. It doesn't the need to be permanent, we won't be here in ten years. Maybe five.

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2506
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 16 11:30 pm Post subject:

Like this?

. . . . .

It begins with a form covered with wet newspaper.

The innermost layer is made of sand and clay. John digs the clay in his backyard. Some passing boys a quite willing to help stomp / knead / dance / work the clay / sand mixture to an even consistency.

Brick-like lumps are built up one by one. There will be a second, core layer of clay and sawdust that will in turn be covered by a third layer, again of clay and sand. The opening will be cut before
the clay layers completely dry out, as will the air vent.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 16 9:25 am Post subject:
Yes, exactly like that. Only I probably shan't bother with a chimney. Is that built on sleepers? I feel I can manage the clay thing, but I've never built anything out of bricks before, so I'm a bit puzzled about the base. Also, I have no cement mixer. You can't mix concrete with your feet!

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45460
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 16 10:08 am Post subject:
a chimney provides a good draft and a door with an adjustable air vent really helps to adapt it to different fuels (dry split chestnut is very different to damp willow sticks etc etc and a chimney keeps the smoke/sparks above face height when stoking etc . somewhere between nick's nuke proof witch roaster and an earth oven is probably a decent intention to start from.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 16 10:58 am Post subject:
With no chimney, it will not work very well. It's a ten minute addition which will make your oven work.

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 16 1:46 pm Post subject:
You don't need a cement mixer, just a shovel. It is like making pasta but on a bigger scale!

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2506
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 16 3:00 pm Post subject:
Mixing sand and clay Earth Oven, brick by brick

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 16 8:12 pm Post subject:
I thought it the door was the right size you didn't need one? So far none of the cob types I've looked at have had them, although it could be that they don't work very well. After all, it was on the internet, so it must be right?! What s your chimney made of Jam lady? It looks like a log, which I'm sure cat be right!

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2506
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 16 9:01 pm Post subject:
Not mine, wellington womble. It was a presentation at a two day Smallholding event. The chimney pipe is just that, a hollow metal stovepipe thing-y.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15575

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 16 7:22 am Post subject:
I have cooked in a clay oven with no chimney and an open door, but that was quite big, about waist height, and only used it for honey cakes, although it might just have done pizza. It was British Iron Age though, and I don't think they ate pizza here then.

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4586
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 16 8:03 pm Post subject:

dpack wrote:

a chimney provides a good draft and a door with an adjustable air vent really helps to adapt it to different fuels (dry split chestnut is very different to damp willow sticks etc etc and a chimney keeps the smoke/sparks above face height when stoking etc .

somewhere between nick's nuke proof witch roaster and an earth oven is probably a decent intention to start from.

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