Middlewood Scout Camp Meet

[Matt Weir]

I tell you what, I like the sound of the mud oven. Also, there is the oven which has a buried fire with an entrance at the front to pop firewood in and a chimney to draw the air in. I cannot remember the name of it at the moment, so will need to look in my library. Is there a source of clay in the area such as a river bank or a pond/lake?

Spam, not 100% sure if this particular area has clay but I highly suspect it has as I live not too far away and it's quite clayey (?) at a couple of spits depth.

I will make some enquiries.

 

[Matt Weir]

Matt,
If there is room, I'm seriously thinking about this w/e which looks really great, but I need to figure out family stuff first. So could you put me down as a definite maybe
Chris

No worries Chris. There is plenty of room.

As regards pitched for tents, I have had a walk around the whole site and found that the southern part of the site has quite a few nice big flat grassy areas that are ideal for any big family tents which are just as welcome as tarps and hammocks.

Here is a map of the site.

 

[Aragorn]

i like the idea of the oven, count me in for some "clay digging up" what sort of size can we make it, big enough for a 9" (ohh er misses)

 

[spamel]

There are a few ways of doing it. I seem to remember a frame made by bent sticks and then daubed in clay with holes in the top to cook on aswell, I think I may have seen it on Time Team or similar. It would be very interesting to try them out, but I've just realised. No fires allowed on the ground! How are we gonna do it?

 

[bikething]

There are a few ways of doing it. I seem to remember a frame made by bent sticks and then daubed in clay with holes in the top to cook on aswell, I think I may have seen it on Time Team or similar. It would be very interesting to try them out, but I've just realised. No fires allowed on the ground! How are we gonna do it?

A couple of methods i've seen are:

build a mound of soft sand - cover with clay - dig sand out from underneath and light a fire inside to 'set' it.

Build a fire lay with bundle of dry sticks in a hut shape - cover with leaves - cover this with clay - make a hole in the top - then light the sticks and they bake the clay while burning themselves down leaving a hollow in the baked oven.

as to where - IIRC there were a couple of brick and concrete 'pads' around the site that you could hijack to build the oven on top of.

btw - how do you use a clay oven - do you build a fire in it to heat the clay, then remove the fire and put your food in? or do you need to leave hot coals in the oven in the base, or around the edges?

 

[spamel]

Dunno! That's part of the fun!

 

[bikething]

I've just remembered where I can dig up some china clay from an old settling pit - might have a go at a posh clay oven

 

[spamel]

Groovy! Make sure you get a job lot!

 

[bikething]

Groovy! Make sure you get a job lot!

If I manage to get up to this meet I'll bring a bucketfull or two

 

[spamel]

You can dry it out aswell, according to Rays' first book. Then you just rehydrate it when you need it. Just put it in a warm place and crumble it up as it dries, you'll eventually get a powder and it'll weigh less!

If you need details, I can go and get the book from my library!

 

[bikething]

You can dry it out aswell, according to Rays' first book. Then you just rehydrate it when you need it. Just put it in a warm place and crumble it up as it dries, you'll eventually get a powder and it'll weigh less!

If you need details, I can go and get the book from my library!

I'm not worried about the weight - the car will be carrying it!!

It's wet 'in-the-ground' already so will save the time and trouble of making it ready to use again.

 

[spamel]

I believe the reason Ray does it is that he adds scorched sandstone to the dried mixture and then rehydrates it. The resulting clay is then more robust after firing.

 

[bikething]

I believe the reason Ray does it is that he adds scorched sandstone to the dried mixture and then rehydrates it. The resulting clay is then more robust after firing.

Not much sandstone round here... do you think granite would work???

make it a bit heavy for the old backpack though...

dug up a builders buckets worth of clay on the way home - I think the cheap folding shovel's had it though.

 

[Singeblister]

this is sounding better each time i read it looking forward to the stories and it will be nice to do something instead of my usual chill by the fire

 

[spamel]

Cool! Loads of clay to play wi.... I mean to work with and to create a functional cooking device, no fun involved honest honey, whenever I go away bushcrafting, it is all work.....

 

[Wayland]

Matt, can you cook a pizza on an open fire? I suppose if you could prop it at an angle in front of the fire like Ray does with his bannock, that might work! So, that's one to try now isn't it!

I've cooked pizzas or garlic breads under this fella.

Usually have a bigger fire in it for the job.

 

[Wayland]

Not much sandstone round here... do you think granite would work???

make it a bit heavy for the old backpack though...

dug up a builders buckets worth of clay on the way home - I think the cheap folding shovel's had it though.

Crushed, fired clay can be use for chamot (sp?) but if you are intending to use it in the weekend you have to make it an dry it out completely before properly firing it.

Alternatively bring a pile of bricks and cover it with turf. Works a treat.

You can't see it in this picture but there is a brick oven behind me in the picture that we used for 5 years to bake bread.

 

[spamel]

You should post a new picture with every post you make Gary, they are fantastic!

 

[Wayland]

I don't think I've got 2000 pictures though.....

 

[spamel]

You be careful sitting on that cold stone!