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I Get by With a Little Help From My Friends

8/26/2015

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"Have faith my friend" was the theme this past Saturday while we where working on the oven. Our task was to form the insulation layer. We where working with a vermiculite & Portland cement mixture which none of us had experience with. The mixture was a lot drier than we thought it needed to be so the directions where checked multiple times to make sure that we where doing it correctly. Several times it was stated that we need to have faith in the process and ourselves. Building the oven is about the end product of a working oven but it is also about the process of working together, learning from each other and having faith in each other. The layer was completed and is drying so that the temperature probes can be laid and the layer of heat resistant concrete can be laid this Saturday 8/29. We were joined this week by a special supervisor, “Stormy“ Tracy and Bob Hoover’s furry family member watched us intently from the cool comfort of the seat in the pickup.

On Tuesday night we had planned to take the night off from working while we waited for the needed supplies to arrive for the next step but God had other plans. A call from Joyce Johnson that he was taking a tree down in his yard prompted us to hold the work night and collect the wood from his yard and clean up the downing of the tree.  We thank God for all of you who are supporting the oven with your labor, your donations, and your prayers. 
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Groundhog Day?

8/19/2015

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This week the work was much like the movie “Groundhog Day” it seemed like we were back to do it all again only this time we were a little bit higher. On Tuesday 8/11 we dry stacked the next 2 layers of block. We then used the bricks donated to the oven by Helen York to finish off the bottom of the ash drop. Then, on Saturday 8/15 a hardy group of souls braved the heat and helped core fill the layers we stacked on Tuesday. The heat was so intense that an easy-up tent was put over the bricks to shield the workers from the direct sun and to keep the cement from drying too quickly.  The concrete mixers weren’t as lucky but they where able to step out of the sun under the awning that enters the hall while the cement was mixing. We managed to finish the core filling by 10:30 and some of the workers cleaned up and then met at the Goldsmith’s to assemble the float and travel to Spring Valley for the parade. Again the positive personalities in our group over powered the oppressive heat and a good time was had by all.

 

Working with our fellow church members has been a blessing.  The comradery and conversations have been lively and fun.  It has been a joy to work beside people who are as excited to work on the oven as I am. Though my muscles may be sore the day after working on the oven, I never feel that the work is to overwhelming or takes to long. I hope you will consider joining a work day to help with the oven.  You could learn a new skill, make a new friend, or maybe even learn something about yourself while working with others. Our next work day is 8/22 from 8 am – 11 am.  We will be laying the patio bricks for the base of the oven chamber and making the insulation pad layer for the oven.

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Update 8.12.15 - One Block, Two Blocks, Three Blocks, Four, join us for a work day and help build some more.

8/12/2015

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One Block, Two Blocks, Three Blocks, Four, join us for a work day and help build some more.

Work days are scheduled for Tuesdays from 6:30 – 8:30pm and Saturdays from 8:00 – 11:00am. Since our last entry a trailer full of supplies has been picked up by Charles Kenning and Jeff Goeldi and the building has begun.




















On Saturday 8/8 a group of 7 workers gathered together to dry stack and core fill the first two courses of the oven walls.


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On Tuesday 8/11 we will be adding the next two courses of block for the wall. On Saturday 8/15 we hope to lay the patio blocks that will support the pads for the oven chamber. We will also set the forms for the insulation pad that we will pour that day. Stop on by and check out our progress or lend a hand whenever you have a chance. Make sure to wave at us as when the Church Float goes by this Saturday 8/15 in the AG DAYS Parade in Spring Valley.
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Pictures 8.5.15

8/5/2015

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Update 8.5.15

8/5/2015

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Much has happened since our last entry. We are well on our way to seeing a Community Wood Fire Oven in Racine. Thanks to Lagit Services of Grand Meadow for picking up and delivering the gravel we needed to prepare the area for the slab to be poured. Rick Laganiere donated his services with his dump truck so that we only had to pay for the cost of the gravel itself. Thanks also to a generous donation from Dale Meldahl Construction who paid for the supplies to pour the slab and poured and floated the slab for us, we are well on our way. Thank you to both of these local business owners for helping to make this project possible for our community.

Since our last post the slab site was prepared and tamped by Terry Goldsmith, Charles Kenning and Andrew Kenning. Dale Meldahl set the rebar for the slab and arranged for the delivery of poured concrete and floated the slab. We allowed the slab to dry and on Monday a crew consisting of: Tracy and Bob Hoover, Darrel Clark, Jake Goeldi, Andrew Kenning and his Bob Cat , Nate Goeldi, Norma and Charles Kenning, and Deb and Jeff Goeldi, removed the forms from the slab and filled in gravel around the slab and raked and packed the gravel to transition to the parking lot level. This Saturday at 8:00 AM we will be gathering to start laying the first two courses of cement block that will be the base of the oven.

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