[Cob] Portland Oregon Cob source

[ocean]

Hi Michael,

There is clay all over Portland!  The Portland City Repair Project has 
sponsored over 60 cob projects in Portland.  If you're not familiar 
with City Repair, their website is http://www.cityrepair.org  Every 
spring City Repair sponsors a Village Building Convergence featuring 
grassroots community organizing, cob structures, parties, permaculture 
gardens, etc...

If you need just a few wheelbarrows of clay, try looking into the earth 
piled around construction, excavation or building sites.  Clay soil in 
our area is often (not always) rich yellow or red color, very sticky to 
touch, and usually 18-24" below the topsoil.  In the summer it cracks 
when drying.  If you are building an oven using Kiko Denzer's book, he 
has very good information on testing soil for clay content, etc.

Good Luck!

Ocean Liff-Anderson
Proprietor, Intaba's Wood Fired Eatery
http://www.intabas.com

On Apr 10, 2006, at 12:33 PM, Michael Montagne wrote:

> I liv in Portland and I'm building a cob oven.  The base is done, the 
> fire
> brick is laid, but I'm having trouble with a good source of clay rich 
> soil.  I
> tried a couple of test bricks from my yard and the each failed.  All I 
> need is
> a couple of wheelbarrow loads (I think).  Where could I look that is in
> reasonable proximity of Portland?  I could also use a bit of time from 
> an
> experienced builder regarding mixing, etc.  Any suggestions would be
> appreciated.
>
>
> -- 
> Michael Montagne
> michael at themontagnes.com
> http://www.themontagnes.com
>