Rock Pile Stoves

07/15/09

Rock Pile Stoves offered by

Lost Cove Naturalist Center

We offer:

Day Long Basic Workshops

Rock Pile Stove Construction

Combing technologies from all over the world, this is a time tested and proven method to safely heat most primitive shelters. It has it’s roots in the so called Russian Heaters, German Tiled Stoves (kachelöfen and grundöfen), Finnish Masonry Stoves or Finnish Contra-Flow Fireplaces. Utilizing these ancient ideas with primitive materials, these Rock Pile Stoves can be used to heat & cook inside even smaller shelters that an open fire would burn down.

 By carefully configuring a keyhole, stone lined pit with a stone firebox with a bake oven (complete with a door!) on top, and a "rock pile" chimney (which doubles as a spark arrestor), these Rock Pile Stoves not only heat your shelter and cook your food; they will also give off heat long after the fire is out!

During this day long workshop, we'll cover the most essential principals and building techniques to properly build a safe and efficient Rock Pile Stove that you can build yourself and use inside your primitive thatched hut, debris hut, wicikup, tipi, Mandan Lodge or most any other structure. It can also be used outside as a primitive BBQ!

Advanced techniques including how to utilize this technology as a radiant floor heater for your shelter or workshop floor will also be covered in this day long workshop. Participants will help gather the rocks, dig the proper size 7 shaped holes and learn proper placing and building techniques.