Big Brother and Little Sister

Kendra Michaud and I will be leading earth oven workshops on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2. in Skowhegan, Maine. Participants will construct their own earth ovens and some will be able to take them home. See the photos. You'll be taking home "Little Sister", not "Big Brother".
"Little Sister" was constructed on the morning of July 5, 2008. That evening we were making pizza in the new oven.
Go here for lots more information: http://heartofmaine.org/kneading/

Rock and Mud Bread Oven

www.flickr.com/.../in/set-72057594111015258/

The latest word in mud and rock technology. I'd like to see this oven in action

All Clay

I don't advise using a 100% clay composition for an earth oven. I tried it, and the oven cracked severely as it dried. See the photo. I had to remove the clay and start again. The exact same thing happened also to someone I know.
THE BREAD OVENS OF QUEBEC (a great book) purportedly shows ovens of 100% clay composition, and I don't know how the builders did it. Could be there was already just enough sand present in the clay. Maybe I'll read the book more closely.
Anyway, a mixture of 25% clay and 75% sand works best for me.