How to Build an Earthen Oven

In this video we show you how to build an earthen oven. Wood-fired earthen ovens are easily documented all the way back the ancient Romans. Likewise, they are easily documented in archaeological evidence and first-hand accounts from the 18th Century. We show you how easy it is to build one. #townsendovens
A book on how to Build Your Own Earthen Oven www.townsends.us/products/bui...
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[@townsends]

Build Your Own Earthen Oven www.townsends.us/products/build-your-earth-oven-bk576-p-1212

[@saltybildo9448]

Awesome imma build one after I finish my chicken shack

[@bkpickell]

finally! A video titled "How To" that is actually a how to and not a slide show with music of someone building one.

[@terribledecisions5413]

@Saruman the White what's it to you

[@taylor5065]

Forgot that KZbin used to be full of stuff like that lol

[@Stettafire]

@@taylor5065 It still is in certain corners. Just they don't get promoted as much anymore

[@intoxicviii]

Can we give this guy credit for keeping a clean shirt all the time lol

[@jacquelinee8994]

Lol😁

[@ericfricke4512]

Yeah why tf he wearing a white shirt

[@MrBottlecapBill]

@@ericfricke4512 The white clothing is a testament to oven making mastery. The less dirty you get, the greater your skill level. :D

[@PaganShagger]

@@ericfricke4512 white is default color of cotton. Its work clothes. In the colonial days color was expensive and not easy to make unlike today. Having colored clothing was a sign of wealth.

[@danakarloz5845]

Mr. Charming yeah but did you see his feet 🤓♥️

[@MichaelMagill1990]

What a warm-spirited man. I hope he lives a very long and fulfilling life.

[@generalerica4123]

Right, it's 12:33 am... Now to construct an oven in the garden!

[@staceyk2627]

Same

[@VoxNerdula]

more like, time to dutch oven my wife under the sheets

[@cbaylor0369]

Me on adderall

[@brandonfoley7519]

I'll come ! Cob party at your hoyse

[@JeannetteTetrault]

Are we all watching this in the middle of the night?? 😂

[@gozertablet5937]

Just an idea to help with the refractory qualities of your inner layer of clay and sand mix...toss in a few handfuls (or more) of wood ashes. The ashes help to refract heat back into the oven and increase the efficiency. It's perfectly contemporary with that period, and is a trick that blacksmiths of all time periods have used in constructing simple forges out of the same materials. (See Tim Lively's "Knifemaking Unplugged" video on making a forge to see what I mean.) If it works for heating iron and steel up to working temperature more efficiently, it will definitely work for cooking bread and other things more efficiently in your oven.

[@townsends]

Interesting suggestion, I might have to give it a try sometime.

[@gozertablet5937]

+Jas. Townsend and Son, Inc. Let me know how it works out for you! I've studied more from the smithing angle than from the baking angle, but I've done some research on wood fired brick ovens as well (yes, I have very eclectic interests). Good place to check out on those types of ovens is www.traditionaloven.com. Rado Hand from that site does more modern takes on what you are doing here, but still with the traditional methods of cooking. He'll fire up his ovens hot enough to cook pizzas in mere minutes, then as the temps drop will cook roasts and other meats, then bake bread as the temps drop more, all the way down to drying herbs and tomatoes and other things as the temps come down. You can get a lot of mileage out of one firing. It all comes down to the heat that is stored in the walls and floor of the oven, and how efficiently it has been built. Of course that's a little off topic from what you are doing here with this cob oven, but it is possible to do. Anyway, thanks for all the great videos, and fantastic ways of keeping the old spirit alive. We've come so far since then, but I have to wonder sometimes how much we've lost along the way. :)

[@ericross5048]

Thank you man!!

[@hineko_]

it’s for less cracks. Traditional russian mortar for brick owens consist of ashes, salt and water. Any clay will crack eventually and let fire through while ash mortar won’t

[@POSMhorsefarmer7]

Thanks for sharing.

[@Rufert]

Just commenting to thank you Jas. After watching your video my father and I made one of these for my parents' garden. It now lives with its own little shed. Building it was a success, and it makes delicious food! Never would have happened if you hadn't made this video. Thank you.

[@townsends]

Great, thanks for the feedback!

[@nicholasmenezes6371]

where did you get the dried clay? I can't seem to find any online? Is there a brand name you can provide? Thanks

[@yasuni9391]

just start diggin down till you find some. you probably do not have to dig more than 4 ft. its everywhere under your feet. and its for free. Pure clay is not a good material for ovens or stoves. you better use 50/50 sand/'soggy clay rich soil'. it will be less likely to produce severe cracks while heating/cooling multiple times. try your local clay and mix with different percentages of sand. start with 50%. keep adding sand untill it doesnt crack anymore while drying. keep that ratio and scale it up. create your oven. have fun.

[@octodude6815]

@@yasuni9391 Sorry, this is absolutely untrue for many; clay is not under everyone's feet. Or rather, not in a practical distance under everyone's feet - it depends on what is under your top soil. If I dug down in my back yard, I'd hit fairly solid limestone in about 4 inches/10 cm. If I want to dig for clay I'd have to travel several miles laterally, or vertically through about 100 meters or more of rock. So, not a reasonable option for everyone. There are areas with clay just under the surface, but many areas where there is not.

[@Snowyday90]

I'm the 420th like!

[@dandamanatee9023]

Me at 3am: "Yeah I could totally make an oven"

[@randyladiski3743]

This may be the only channel on KZbin with next to no negative comments. I love this channel, and how positive everyone is. Thanks for your videos, sir. God bless

[@simontesla7032]

Can you imagine having someone cool like this as a neighbor. I'd probably pass out from all the info smashing around in my head.

[@sharonkeith601]

SIMON TESLA / Like “Tim the Toolman’s” neighbor?

[@dakotac9547]

@marthale7 lol

[@20greeneyes20]

Yes he's very interesting to say the least

[@izz13i]

@@sharonkeith601 @

[@NakedExpat]

First video I've seen that explains the importance of 63% ratio/height for opening. EXCELLENT tip. Thank you so much Jas.

[@rogerhwerner6997]

Great video Jon! Many years ago, I had the chance to make Adobe bricks and the mud covering used at Sonoma Barracks, California, circa 1810. The bricks were made using sand, clay, and water. Once laid in place, they were covered in a matrix similar to the oven matrix shown but instead of hay, the Spanish employed horse hair. In my fieldwork, I encountered dozens of outdoor ovens dating from the Gold Rush era, 1849 to 1862. The ovens, typically associated with southern European occupation in California, consisted of a clay interior roughly 6 to 8 inches thick. To protect the over from weather, this was covered with either a motared layer of cut or uncut fieldstone, or, if available, commercial fire brick. After 150 years of exposure to the elements, these "Behive-shaped" ovens were sometimes completely intact. Other times, they had collapsed and could be observed by nondescript piles of fieldstone. That when pulled apart often revealed melted clay matrix.

[@HeatherMerrell]

I think this was the first video I ever watched of yours. It's been 11 years!!! 😆 Wow. I feel so old.

[@mattevanswastaken]

Loved the video! I took your suggestion and invited all my friends for a cobb party, not only were they disappointed there wasn't any corn, but now I have more earthen ovens then friends. More bread for me.

[@jdmaine51084]

dude this is my new favorite channel... thank you for this.

[@jeffwaller9547]

Me too! I'm so addicted! :)

[@havenosmellleavenoname382]

_\| GARDENING ::: F00D × BUSYNESS |/_

[@Nasreddiin]

In North Africa this very same oven is still used in the rural areas to make a blessed tasty bread to eat with olive oil... Mmmmmm.... 😊

[@christopherleblanc5187]

in Peru, where my wife is from, this is exceptionally common in the northern states and in the andes. Ahhhhh-mazing food they cook with this type of oven too.

[@GlenAndFriendsCooking]

I wanted to build one of these, but time just wasn't on our side. So we just bought a clay brick wood fired oven for our outdoor cooking set... love cooking in this thing, and can't wait to share our recipes for it.

[@arthas640]

I wanna see your take on colonial era north American cooking. I'd be interested to see any regional 18th and 19th century Canadian dishes

[@vedprakash-bw2ms]

Where did you get that .. Could you share that or perhaps contact for the same.

[@dreamwolf7302]

My Tribe used to make ovens, similar to this, using slate, granite, and a cement like mixture of clay, sand, and ash from cooking fires. Dig a pit, put a bottom layer on, coat with the mixture of clay sand and ash, let it dry for a few days, then start building walls, once the walls were about mid shin high, we would fill it with wet sand, and then keep building to make the dome top out of granite. Once that dried, slate pieces were inserted after the sand was removed, to act as a cooking surface. My tribe learned this from the mythical beings known as the 'Pale Spirits' who had fur on their faces, and rode giant wooden beasts across the ocean and skies.

[@ColonelSandersLite]

@@dreamwolf7302 That's a super interesting piece of lore. What tribe is that?

[@dreamwolf7302]

@@ColonelSandersLite the Akali, technically considered a subset of the Abenaki, but with less than 80 members left, condemned to extinction. We were always a smaller tribe, but we numbered over 900 when the Mayflower landed in Plymouth. Historically the Akali ranged from Quebec to Maryland, semi nomadic, my ancestors spent their winters in a valley in New Hampshire, and their summers and falls were spent traveling the coast, trading with other tribes, and fishing or foraging on the seashore. My tribe is one of only 2 that displays the blue eye gene, and had it before the pilgrims arrived. The 'pale spirits' are largely thought to be Viking sailors, given their descriptions of being covered in 'fur like a bear' and being 'pale of flesh and hair'. It sucks to think about, but im one of only 2 tribe members in my generation to have kids, the rest are either incapable, or unwilling. And with the deaths of our elders, over the last decade, there isnt anyone left who really knows the full history, and culture of our tribe.

[@stavrosgazis5824]

Jas you horrible man ;-)... each time i watch your videos i have this desire to have a small little farm and living this way... i just need the farm now!

[@Menuki]

Stavros Gazis I made one of the for just a backyard pizza oven. It's actually rather fun. Children and a kiddie pool are perfect to make the cob

[@stavrosgazis5824]

it's incredible... love your channel... original, fresh and educational... well done!!

[@user-ot4mr6xe8u]

Stavros Gazis ωχ ένας έλληνας

[@namesurname7172]

Stavros Gazis He's John.

[@carolinemoreno3658]

me too!

[@AggelosKyriou]

Awesomely old school as always

[@Shahrezad1]

Absolutely fascinating! I love the idea of using the basket as the base to build upon. ❤

[@gristlevonraben]

I would love to make one of those. You probably already know this, but you can add cement to your clay. Our ancestors used to make cement binder by heating common limestone until it glowed red hot, in smaller oven pits than yours, but very similar, basically driving off every drop of water possible. When you let it cool, then pulverise it, it will heat up when added to water, but more importantly, if mixed with clay and gravel, with the water, it tries to become a stone again, but has to interlock it's crystals around the other materials, thus making it a stone with longer lasting strength than just the limestone alone. I love your show, I wish it was on PBS. Maybe you could create a Roku channel. They have a free to use template. You and Roku could possibly make money through commercials. Or you could ask Pluto TV to put your videos up. For a show that teaches a person history and crafts, it's oddly very relaxing. I wish you lots of luck in 2018. 😁

[@flashgordon6670]

Midhun R, Who do I believe You? Or Gristle + 40 people who liked his comment?

[@flashgordon6670]

I don't have a cement/concrete wall and I'm not about to go and vandalize someone elses. Gristle did say add cement to your CLAY. He did not say make a pure cement oven. As I think you mistook him. That would obviously be a stuuuupid thing to do. He also said to drive off all the moisture and mix it with clay and gravel. Could that be where youve been going wrong all this time. So far no one has liked your comment. Soo I think I'll side with Gristle and the 40 likes...for now. When you have 41 likes or more than Gristle, THEN I'll believe you. But until that time you have to prove him wrong, to gain my belief. And just to show you that I'm on Gristle's side, I'm going to like his comment and not yours. Perhaps you should make a vid to prove your point, if you think you can do any better. I doubt it. He also has a funny hat and hair and looks like he knows what hes talking about. You on the other hand dont even have a proper picture. Just the anonymous generic people symbol that everyone starts out with on you tube. Honestly mate, you need to get a grip of reality.

[@flashgordon6670]

I did and he told me to send you in. And that doesn't prove that Gristle is wrong. You have nothing to base your claim on whatsoever. Go back to sleep.

[@flashgordon6670]

NOoo! YOU'RE the one that made a claim, so it's up to YOU to prove it.Otherwise when I and the 40 likers of Gristle's comment make our clay ovens, we're going to put cement in it and there's nuttin u can do about it. And if they explode, it will be your fault for not proving yourself.

[@aaroniouse]

@@andyscobie5381 and that's where you are wrong.

[@amanbajwa233]

My family still has an earthen oven in our backyard in India. We call it a “Tandoor” and use it to make Tandoori Breads. We also have something called a “chulha” - a wood fire stove made of clay mud. We use it mainly on weekends to slow cook our traditional foods, makes any dish taste 5x better than on a regular stove or oven.

[@Snuzzlekin]

This whole setting, music, your clothes, the forest in the background and ofcourse ye olde building of the earthen oven reminds me of the olden times where life was hard, but also a lot simpler. Twas truly a gifted way of life.

[@WithmeVerissimusWhostoned]

+Snuzzlekin It made me think that if our world was that of LOTR, this guy would have been a hobbit. lol

[@ThePapabear2012]

It may be fun to think about but the reality of it... No thanks

[@destinationbackroads8425]

Reminds me of when I was a child.

[@Mike_Dubo]

@@ThePapabear2012 makes you more appreciative of what we have these days, though.

[@Textile_Courtesan]

So I toured my local 18th century living history village and they had an earthen oven just like this. I spoke with the docent, who had been part of the construction of it, about the particulars of making one in our climate. It was super exciting and I think the docent was happy to have someone to talk with who understood the basics. Unfortunately, it isn't used frequently throughout the year.

[@mmodnao]

He looks a bit like Gordon Ramsay but less pretentious, less angry and more helpful.

[@almightyfalcon]

@ If you mean Gordon, that dude has the antithesis of a clean mouth. If you mean Townsend, he's very family friendly.

[@friedrichmacklin4735]

Jack Fitzsimons No, he‘s never sworn in any video as far as I know

[@secretinaPI]

And he sounds a bit like Fred Willard, just less funny and more alive.

[@moonsofourmother2815]

More helpful!

[@purpledefaultpfp6233]

@ he is more of an educational channel and education doesnt swear majority of time

[@gaylejideofor6198]

when I was a missionary in Kenya we used cow dung to make this type of 'clay ' for the floor of our church. The ladies mixed cow dung, water and sand. The result was a beautiful green velvety floor covering the consistency of thick felt. ( the cow dung had built in grass, no added grass or straw added because we used it on the floor.) It would keep the dust and dirt from getting kicked up from the people walking & dancing and jumping~ in Praise in the church. After about 3 months the bench seating legs would cause it to break up a bit, we would shovel it up and out and start again. A coworker of mine made a pizza oven like this and made a clay face looking down with closed eyes and praying hands. ( Positioned it above the center &Front. of the dome.Her 'Mother-Earth' oven has been the star of many yard parties. THanks this was so interesting and well done.

[@spandanganguli6903]

They use the Cow dung for floors, not fuel? That's quite different from what I'm used to seeing.

[@UtahSustainGardening]

This is the best video on cob ovens I have seen.

[@townsends]

+Utah Sustainable Gardening LLC Thanks for the vote!

[@stocktonjoans]

+Utah Sustainable Gardening LLC same, most traditional too which is something I like

[@jaredmogensen302]

When you mentioned the "tunnel" height is ~60% of the dome height, it occurred to me that that ratio, like soooo many things, is very close to the Golden Ratio...

[@cyiabsalon9720]

That's why it's Golden? 1.618 is in Everything. Including golden, hot, fresh baked bread with that golden, . . melted . . butter. . .*GROWL*.. Dang! Hungry now!

[@POSMhorsefarmer7]

www.britannica.com/science/golden-ratio Golden ratio, also known as the golden section, golden mean, or divine proportion, in mathematics, the irrational number (1 + Square root of√5)/2, often denoted by the Greek letter ϕ or τ, which is approximately equal to 1

[@jonroland2702]

Did someone mention pi 🤤

[@SW-ii5gg]

@@jonroland2702 now I am hungry.

[@mwendapoleee]

@@cyiabsalon9720 its in fashion design too!

[@darkbulb367]

Thank God there are folks like this keeping these natural engineering & self sustaining methods alive. A person doesn't need to build a stove to appreciate the multi use concepts conveyed here.

[@danielleterry180]

10 years later and we are seeing a real need for these! Thank you for this vid and showing us how to build a oven and the potato bread recipe in your other vid was delicious looking forward to my potato harvest to stretch my flour 😁

[@Mhmdwazpedo21]

Awww... reminds me of small clay houses ppl make during diwali.... Sooo cute... Will make one soon.

[@papayer]

That sounds adorable

[@deusvult7947]

Watching this in 2011: The 18th century was a much simpler and peaceful time. Watching this in 2021: 2011 was a much simpler and peaceful time.

[@JordanBeagle]

7:25 The most wholesome man in existence : )

[@parenthesisss]

Jordan he’s a bit like the Bob Ross of historical tutorials

[@ecthelionsilverleaf7826]

This video provided me with priceless knowledge, I've watched some of the videos on your channel and some of the techniques the people of the 18th century used will surely come in handy for this project of a self sustainable homestead I have in mind, particularly this oven, thank you for your work sir, the videos are awesome! Greetings from Mexico.

[@EducatedIdiocy]

Clay is so awesome. Just the texture of it and all the things you can do with it is just amazing!

[@philipmalaby8172]

Townsend is the only channel I actually don’t skip commercials

[@royperkins3851]

This is a basic first oven used in every human culture since time immemorial and still used in little lovely places that cook traditional breads. Cheers for a beautiful job and video!

[@ArtistAnnex]

Love your channel. I found it last year and have been slowly watching and cherishing each installment. This episode is especially well produced and may be my favorite. Keep the wonderful content coming!

[@feefeee]

Wearing long sleeve whites, how the hell are you so clean working with this mud?!

[@xchn2]

What are you? An animal? Just don't get it on your clothes.

[@jeremyluteran5242]

+xchn moore lmfao 😂😂😂😂😂

[@StretchReality]

+xchn moore damn straight savage lol

[@krasimirivanov1720]

Because he have4 wives to wash them round the clock

[@koshar44]

he does have it on his feet and pants, i assume from stomping the mud/straw together.

[@domenickstamegna3483]

I LOVE your show! My grandparents lived kinda like this. Your show makes me feel warm inside because I remember those simple but savory meals from upstate NY. Bless you and your show

[@ChunkyMonkaayyy]

Remember when this was first posted. Just came up in my feed again. Blast from the past!!! So great.

[@johannesburnett7847]

Wow, man! 11 years now. What a journey! Love your channel, brother. Long may it stand!

[@ShaddySoldier]

Mad respect for him wearing white while doing this and still looking fresh. Absolute unit

[@Mountainrock70]

New shirt every 2 minutes!

[@mnasser08]

I was in Morocco in January 2019. . .folks all over the countryside bake bread in ovens like this, especially in the mountain villages

[@hlegler]

Clear my schedule! I'm making an earthen oven this week. Love this!

[@buyerofsorts]

Wow, I first commented on this video a good 4 or 5 years ago. Look at all those views. Soon you'll be at a million! No surprise, its still one of my favorite youtube vides. You know, your videos remind me a lot of the Ray Mears videos. Something about them are just very pleasing, soothing and relaxing. Thanks for all of them thus far!

[@ThePatriotWhip]

I watch this episode over and over. So intriguing and informative. This may be my new project for next year.

[@tinfoilhatsarethenewblack8788]

10:58 "until its almost ready to fire" (pretending nobody saw the suspicious soot on the entrance)

[@papayer]

I love the light patting on the clay for some reason

[@doctorwork]

Reminds me of some cob-related limericks I wrote: Why build houses with concrete and steel When just straw and wet clay have appeal? Form this mud into cobs (Like small loaves made by slobs), Mush them on-cobwork walls are ideal! If you're building cob homes out of clay And some straw, it is best that you pray That good weather's expected Till the roof is erected, Lest the rain wash your work clean away.

[@Briselance]

Doc Work Why? Concrete and steel are sturdier. :-3

[@notsure6187]

Briseur De Lance Na man. Cob Skyscrapers are best.

[@landomilknhoney]

BRAVO!!!👏

[@kiralypeter88]

0:51 My mom told me when she was growing up in the 1960-70s they still did that. Took their dough to the baker in town in Hungary. :) I love the music and the whole setting :) Do you all live this way or it was only for the video?

[@peaceandlove5855]

+Peter Kiraly the musique yeaaaah , i like it too :D

[@BlackSeranna]

+Peter Kiraly I believe they are re-enactors. I mean, they live modernly. But I'm positive they use this stuff often to eat, who wouldn't! :D

[@kiralypeter88]

BlackSeranna Yeah. I've watched a lot more of their videos since I asked that and I think you're right. :)

[@aztec999999]

I am completely addicted to your show. Love it. 😀😀😀😀😀

[@donaldkeyes7349]

Ok great job on the oven.how dose it work for moon shine.

[@kerryhoefner2509]

When we were missionaries in Mexico many years ago, we built one of these. Did a lot of internet research and ended up with a design exactly like yours. Made a concrete block base about the same size as yours; filled it with dirt; used the regular bricks available at the local brick store, setting them on edge as the top layer above the dirt. We were fortunate to live in a small village where there were many adobe buildings. They would tear them down and rebuild using concrete blocks. We got the materials for our cob for free from those discarded adobe blocks. A lot of work to pulverize them and create adobe "powder" to make the mud from. Wet dirt for the dome, newspaper, applied the mud in two layers. After about a week, a tiny fire inside to help it dry out. Did that a few times. Over and over again the other builders stressed the ratio between dome height and width vs. the size of the door. Worked like a champ. Just like yours! Thanks for the memories.

[@nathanielthompson7967]

Normally 18th century things don't interest me, but this channel is just so interesting and I could use the recipes and other things you show in my religious practice and in culinary experiments in the future. Awesome!

[@user-wk2uf5yo7x]

In morroco this type of traditional oven is still used on a regular basis in the villages

[@annwltr]

I hear the clay lends a special flavor. I'm building an adobe house in New Mexico and after I plan on adding one

[@kellye2013]

never thought I'd be this excited to see an oven come together.

[@metalmax6452]

Thank you Townsends for having this channel and doing what you do and posting it! I find great beauty in what you do, it's also educational and the music and clothing you choose is perfect for immersion (which is critical to me for enjoyability and learning) so, thank you!!!

[@dfrenchorn]

8:13 watch his mind going! This man loves his life

[@jakewheat6552]

lime plaster on the outside will make it pretty rain resistant. cob plaster dried and then several coats of linseed oil also works great for water resistance

[@jessicag630]

What is lime plaster made of? Is not linseed oil flammable?

[@jakewheat6552]

@@jessicag630 lime plaster is made from either limestone or shells from rivers or the ocean. It is baked for a certain amount of time at a certain heat. Water is added to the shells or stone after it's cooked and it breaks down into a plaster. This process is called "slaking." You can buy slaked lime by the 50lb bag. There's some good videos that show the process here on youtube. Its pretty cool really.

[@jakewheat6552]

@@jessicag630 also I wouldn't think that a linseed finish would flame up.

[@SW-ii5gg]

@@jakewheat6552 I saw a video of how to make Roman concrete a few years ago, burning sea shells for the lime was part of the process.

[@ShilohsBride]

@@jessicag630 you can buy a big (50 lbs) bag of hydrated or masonry lime at a hardware store.

[@Bigrignohio]

Wow. It has been 12 years already? KZbin re-recommended this old classic to me. Well worth rewatching.

[@Vincent60657]

Just wanted to let you know that this video was the 1st and the beginning of our love of your channel. It's been several years now since then and you keep getting better. Thank you

[@smacman68]

The ratio between the domed section to the entry tunnel to get optimum airflow is, once again, 1.6 to 1, the Golden Ratio. Imagine that...

[@viianapoa7448]

Wow, while I am so fascinated having the modernized version, i would always love coming back to the most natural, traditional way to cook my yummy burger buns! Thanks for this video, it greatly helps!

[@jeepman1961]

I made this the first of July, and have had MANY fires in it. It is now October, and I had a chunk of clay fall from the ceiling. I am happy to have made, used, and enjoyed this old school method! But in the spring I will make one with firebricks. Love all the videos on this channel! And I have bought a few items from his store!!

[@zacharyboettcher9815]

I just found this channel today. It is amazing and now I want to build my own little homestead out on the prairie. Thank you for all your work.

[@taijilou]

Sir, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us for free. This video is AMAZING. Thank you x1000

[@eggyboi1217]

When I was little I made a “birds nest” out of clay and dried grass. After it was dried I tried to throw it up in a tree. It went in the tree and shortly after fell out and put a massive dent in my dads truck topper. 😭 I can attest to how tough this oven will be.

[@keirameetze831]

XD

[@1959jimbob]

Just found this video and man alive am I glad I did. Now I know what my next family project is going to be. Thank you Jon!!!

[@graphene1487]

Mixing the cob with your feet is brilliant. Awesome video sir. Many thanks.

[@katieratsch9725]

I love the part about having the party 😂 I wish my friends would Want a party like this

[@marenkuether-ulberg3311]

Katie Ratsch ... Our Norse village has regular work parties throughout the year and our latest cob oven making was a hoot. We incorporated buckets of horse dung into the clay for the fibre part. Works great but what a funny experience to have 4-5 folks around a big tub elbow deep in clay and horseshit!

[@Methodoc]

Bilbo?

[@Methodoc]

First I saw his face, but when I saw his feet I confirmed it. lol

[@regularfather4708]

I just realized he is a hobbit yesterday while perusing the catalog. He even dresses the part And he can cook, so there's really no point denying it.

[@jackiefreeborn2563]

Methodoc this guy could totally build a hobbit hole.

[@luciatilyard2827]

Methodoc They're not furry though!

[@roygee1164]

Neelix

[@jenns.5791]

these videos are just too cool! on the weekends I plop down on my bed in my sweats, and binge watch this channel. the videos are oddly relaxing, yet very informative. thanks Jas!

[@debbiramsey4603]

I watch this mans stirring he's very down to earth and easy going. He educates you so you learn.

[@Ganges1081]

This guy really seems to be coming from 18 th century, ... very nice person, sincere soul

[@buyerofsorts]

Hey Guy. I used to communicate with you about the oven a few years ago. This video is still one of my favorites on youtube. I Watch it about once every year. :)

[@austinfowler8554]

It's people like you that keep history alive and well. Keep it up!!

[@phoenixdiamond2814]

I've just been watching lots of videos on how to build your own oven and this was the best!

[@raynamdarian5363]

I wanted to take the time to thank you for this wonderful instructional video. I was able to reproduce a similar product with your instructions.

[@BoyYardee]

Thank you, for the best and most easiest or approachable technique for DIY.

[@BulgarianOrphanHelp]

I like the Know-How that KZbin gives but even more than that I love the Know-Why that the Townsends provide with it. Thanks!

[@akabga]

This is the video that started it all for my family! We've been hooked on this channel since!

[@sidneywilliams1234]

Hi ive been searching for a good video on this and wow thanks i really like it and thank you

[@kittzy3598]

The way the heat is in Alabama it took my oven 4 days to dry.

[@townsends]

Mordecai Alexander Well I guess there is one advantage to blistering heat.

[@maxdecphoenix]

Did you use or beloved red clay?

[@jl_woodworks]

@@townsends Try Central America in the summer. Gotta love the 38 Celsius. :)

[@endrankluvsda4loko172]

This was so interesting and cool! Thank you. With modern ovens you just turn them on and wait for them to warm up, but it makes you appreciate them way more if you realize how far they've come.

[@missilpeludo8813]

Your channel is super well produced and your idea to show how that stuff was made in the past . simply awesome

[@3420undertaker]

true gentleman not a stain on his clothes for most of the video.

[@fionaandemmettstowell]

We’ve been thinking about building a pizza oven for years but finally decided to do it as part of a Revolutionary War study with our homeschooling kids. We spent this weekend building a stacked stone base with a soapstone surface (both leftovers from our house build). Now we’re ready to build the oven but are wondering what the door dimensions are? Thank you for posting this video!

[@RetributionK]

Beautiful! Also loved seeing your videos on canoe building - keep up the amazing work and looks into how things were done.

[@admira5228]

Mixing up that cob looks so fun... Hopefully I'll remember this when it's warm enough to give it a try!

[@bikinggal1]

so now we know how to make a tiny oven, next project...4 bedroom , 2 story Cobb house!!

[@lawrenceyoungberg8897]

Good Idea. The Pueblo Indians did that....several stories tall.

[@cyiabsalon9720]

Come on. Stick to basics. An "Old Refrigerator" Smoker first.

[@kanora582]

@ 2:52, This is crucial to remember, as i just built my own Cob Oven using John's video here. Mine came out a bit flatter, because my clay was dug up from on site and had about 60% clay. and my sand was only about 65% sand. My dough came out wetter and i mixed in in a wheelbarrow, but the height ratio was the same.

[@network4861]

I love this man's optimism. Good fun those cob parties!

[@JordanBeagle]

Wow, can't believe this was 8 years ago! Love this channel, so wholesome!

[@VentiVonOsterreich]

Survival skills (+bonus swag) increased

[@jploeg8862]

for some reason Yule Brunner kept popping in my head. "More bricks, give them no straw"

[@yergaderga]

J Plough So let it be written, so let it be done.

[@harlemsar]

Thank you soo much, we just finished our first coboven following your instructions, i did it with my dads help, he is fighting cancer right now, and this activity really got him lots of joy.

[@escapefromny2012]

LOVE your videos. Even if I'm not going to build an oven, the history and information is fantastic. Thank you for making and sharing this and other great videos!

[@philmangini1728]

I've probably watched this video 30 times. I think I'll start watching at .75 speed and work my way down so I can watch it mor.

[@vikz5786]

Hi Jas (or is it Jon?). Just discovered your channel. Fascinating stuff. Always wondered how woodfired ovens were traditionally made. Keep up the good work!

[@dontshineforswine]

Very simple and very easy to make. I have made a few of these while working at Upper Canada Village and a "Fort" (basically a small reinforced battle ground) the Thousand Islands area. Specifically, Fort Wellington National Historic Site. It was used by the British Army and by the Canadian militia. It was built in the War of 1812. It's aprrox. 3 KM's between Upstate NY and Ontario Canada ST. Lawrence Seaway. Where the massive Tankers come through to head up into the Great Lakes to drop off Cargo coming from Europe. It's an awesome spot for Scuba Diving as well. I have seen a lot of old shipwrecks in that area and many more moving eastward. Every time I go diving, I always find something new. It's one of the best diving hotpots I have been to in North America. And an all over amazingly beautiful place to live. It is a perfect place for camping, hiking, diving, swimming, snorkeling, and just about anything else. Also, there are lakes everywhere. It's great for getting a nice cabin alongside any one of those lakes. The winters are extremely harsh, with tempuratures around -40 degrees centigrade and tons of snow. And the summers getting as hot as +30 and eveen hotter with the harsh humidity. That's why I love living on the water like that. It's perfect for swimming in. It's not too cold and not too warm. I've gone on long enough... I hope you visit some day! It really is something to see. Google "Thousand Islands in Onario"

[@gregdileo]

That was fun to watch, thanks for putting that together.