Build Your Own Barrel Oven

"Eva and Max Edleson are highly skilled both as builders and as bakers, but what really shines through in this book is their excellence as communicators. They clearly present varied methods and materials, with very helpful discussions of the pros and cons of each option. Other builders' voices really round out the presentation. This is a book that will likely inspire you to build your own oven, and make you feel like you have experienced mentors walking you step-by-step through the process."

—Sandor Ellix Katz, author of Wild Fermentation, The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved, and The Art of Fermentation

The tools for a sustainable future continue to grow! In this book, Max and Eva Edleson offer a comprehensive guide for planning and building a practical, efficient and affordable wood-fired oven. The barrel oven offers surprising convenience because it is hot and ready to bake in within 15-20 minutes and is easy to maintain at a constant temperature.

It can be the seed for a small-scale baking enterprise or the heart of a community’s wood-fired cuisine. All kinds of food can be baked in the barrel oven including bread, roasts, pizza, cookies cakes, pies, casseroles and stews. Follow this step-by-step guide to transform local, low-cost materials and the sun’s energy into good food.

About the Authors

Max Edleson

Max Edleson is a professional artist/builder. He is dedicated to using naturally and locally available materials to create spiritually-uplifting and energy-efficient elements of homes and public spaces. Masonry heaters and wood-fired ovens are the main focus of his work, along with reviving the practice of using wood as a sustainable fuel to meet basic cooking and heating needs. Max combines these professional activities with a passion for farming, homesteading, and other traditional crafts. He engages in all these activities with his wife Eva and together they run a company called Firespeaking. www.firespeaking.com. ...

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Eva Edleson

Eva Edleson is a professional natural builder, cook, gardener, and craftswoman with over a decade of experience specializing in earthen wall systems, wood-fired cooking and natural finishes including plasters and paint. She has trained and worked with many of the most-respected natural builders in North America, as well as Argentina. Eva has combined her own research and experiences into a successful natural building practice. Find out more about Eva's work at www.firespeaking.com. ...

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