May 21-27, 2024
Come and learn how to build a wood-fired cob oven! From harvesting the clay to making the first fire, immerse yourself in the fun, messy, and awesome process of creating an outdoor oven that will stand the test of time. Always wanted to make an oven in your backyard to cook delicious wood-fired food but didn’t know where to start? This is the workshop for you!
Join instructor Otto Pierce for one week at the Sable Land in Stockbridge, VT for a hands-on experience where you will learn the ins and outs of cob oven construction.
There is the option to camp at the Sable Land for the duration of your stay, or to come during the days if you live in the area. Read on to learn about your instructor for the course, as well as logistics and fees. *** Can’t come for the whole time? Day drop-ins are encouraged!!!**
ONE SPOT LEFT FOR FULL WORKSHOP. Tuesday - Thursday are now full for drop-ins. FRIDAY - MONDAY are still open!
Instructor Bio:
Otto Pierce (he/him) was born and raised in Central Vermont. In 2013 he founded The Sable Project, where he led the build on our first dragon shaped cob oven (pictured above!). Otto has since built a few more cob ovens, and cooked about a million pizzas in the oven at Sable. He is currently building a house for his family in between his role as Creative Director of Sable and running Fat Dragon Pizza with his partner Sara, a traveling wood-fired pizza business. He is also the proud father of Màiri Rose, who you will definitely get to meet (and play in the clay with) if you attend!
Rough Schedule:
May 21: Arrive in the morning (there is an option for arriving the day before in the evening and camping overnight). Set up your tent, orientation, lunch, and general overview of the week. In the afternoon we will jump right into first steps on the oven!
May 22-26: Expect fairly long days of physically demanding work! We will be harvesting clay, mixing cob, setting bricks, mixing more cob, playing with sand, mixing more cob, doing a little sculpting, and probably mixing some more cob.
Breakfast and lunch will be self-serve (food and kitchen provided by Sable). Dinners will be cooked on a rotating schedule by participants. All dietary needs/restrictions can be accommodated.
May 27: Final touches and then a pizza party for lunch! (Even if the oven isn’t ready to cook in yet, we can cook in Fat Dragon Pizza’s ovens). Final reflections, pack up, and goodbyes afterwards.
Tuition:
There is a sliding scale fee for this intensive. Your tuition will include food and access to the various structures around the Sable Land.
Full Workshop + Staying at Sable: $175-300 (meals incl.)
Day Participant: $25/day (only lunch incl.)
Drop-In + Camping at Sable: $40/night (meals incl.)
Sable is off-the-grid! We live in the woods in Vermont’s Green Mountains. There is no electricity, cell service or wifi. Participants will be expected to bring a tent and their own camping gear. The Sable Project provides tent platforms and access to our kitchen + food, bathhouse with shower, and various other structures. See our About The Sable Project, Mission and Values, The Sable Land, and Sable’s Structures pages for more details.
Want to attend? Follow the link below that applies to your level of participation to sign up:
Full Week- Cob Oven Workshop - Deposit
Day Drop In Participant - Cob Oven Workshop - One Day
Camping Drop In Participant - Cob Oven Workshop - One Night
Questions?
Send us a message from our contact page with the subject “Cob Oven Workshop” and we will get back to you!