Pizza Oven Project

2011 and Beyond

2011-10-14T16:17:00.000+13:00

This blog will transition its learning journeys across to our Green Team Blog Site at: http://rhodestreetgreens.blogspot.com/ at the end of this year. But until then we thought it was timely that we up-dated you all on what is happening with our Pizza Oven.

The Boys from our Whare Whakairo Wananga show their skills on a giant pumpkin grown by the Green Team in 2010 and soon to be roasted in the Pizza Oven.

Pizza Fund Raiser

2010-11-09T13:40:00.003+13:00

The Green Team are selling wood fired pizzas this Thursday.

$2.00 a slice

Please order and pay your teacher asap.

Funds raised will go towards their trip to Tauranga next week.

Rhode Street School - TeacherZone Links

2010-06-09T15:07:00.000+12:00

Rhode Street School - TeacherZone Links

Bench Plan

2009-11-05T14:25:00.005+13:00

This is our bench plan for us to follow and build.

Mr. Kerr has given us a stainless steel sink bench and we will use the Hinuera stones we got from the farm.

Great News

2009-10-29T15:35:00.003+13:00

Hello Gentlemen.

I spoke at the National Maori NPA Hui last Wednesday and was well received by the conference delegates. Pat Broomhall also attended and supported my korero.

They were very impressed with your Pizza Oven Project and I am sure you will get a lot of hits over the next month or so. The organisers gave me a koha of $500 which I am putting towards your budget to cover building costs for the next stage: the work bench and seating area.

Keep up the good work.

Burning Ring of Fire

2009-10-15T13:35:00.006+13:00

Burning Ring of Fire: Johnny Cash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lhf9U5Wf3Q

Lighting A Fire for Our Wood Fired Oven

2009-10-15T13:19:00.006+13:00

Remember to keep your wood dry and in small pieces so that they catch fire easily and fit in side the oven.

The stainless steel door keeps the heat inside the fire and stops the fire burning too fast. We need a chain on it to stop it falling down.

Our oven needed a "flue" so that the oxygen can be sucked up through the fire via the entrance and out of the flue to keep it burning.

Your fire needs to fill the whole oven and burn for at least an hour to generate enough heat to cook your pizzas.

Our Instructions

First: Roll sheets of newspaper up really tight after folding them into quarters.

Second: Arrange the rolled paper in a triangular layer on top of each other.

Third: Sprinkle dry bark, wood chips, dried fern leaves (brown), or cabbage tree leaves over paper sticks.

Fourth: Add two slightly larger pieces of dry wood and then more paper sticks.

Fifth: Build up your stack in layers allowing plenty of room for air to flow through.

Six: Light the fire down low in three different spots with a BBQ lighter.

Seven: Stand back a safe distance and add more wood as the fire grows.

CAUTION: Do not use petrol or any other flammable liquids to start your fire.

Make sure there is always an adult supervising you.

You guys are amazing

2009-10-13T22:16:00.002+13:00

Great work gentlemen. I see you are now ready to light your first fire to start "curing" your pizza oven. Remember small fires at first so that you don't crack the oven and ensure you let it dry out slowly.

My fire lighting skills are in fine form because I never forgot what I learnt as a Boy Scout all those years ago. I will teach you how to light a good fire with very little "fuel" and then you guys can give it a go.

Think about the safety aspects of what you have to do. Look at the website: Firewise for some good ideas.

I guess you will also be thinking about painting your oven to reflect your "organic" look soon. I hope the weather stays fine for you tomorrow.

Mind Mapping Our Next Steps

2009-10-13T11:56:00.004+13:00

We met with Mr Ngatai and Mr Kerr to mind map our next steps now that the main job of building the pizza oven is completed.

We centred our thinking around the word "Organic" because that is what we wanted to create, something that looked like it had risen out of the earth.

Our Thoughts

A mountain rising out of the earth with a cave and water fall over it's entrance. Lots of native plants including ferns cloaking the base of the mountain that is filled with wood (our fuel) to feed the internal volcano (oven) that lives inside the cave.

The Paua shell will represent the water droplets from the waterfall which will cascade down from the mountain top.

Our Pizza Oven will include the natural elements of earth, wind, water and fire.

More Plastering

2009-10-13T11:49:00.003+13:00

In this photograph Kayne and Uriah are making little dents to make the oven look more "organic".

In preparation for this photo we needed to have completed an excellent job in plastering our pizza oven.

When plastering our pizza oven we needed to make sure the plaster was even all over before we could move on.

Jaycob 24th September 2009

Levers

2009-10-13T11:47:00.004+13:00

In this photograph, Clinton is slowly but carefully placing the pizza oven on the base that we had prepared one week before the arrival of the oven.

In preparation for this photograph we needed a hiab to lift the newly prepared pizza oven on to our fantastic base we made.

Jaycob 24th September 2009

Getting Plastered

2009-10-13T11:38:00.004+13:00

In this photograph I am plastering the pizza oven. The plaster I am using for this is Clinton's secret plaster recipe. I am unable to tell you the ingredients.

Before this photograph was taken there was a lot of preparation that had to be done. We made runny mortar to brush onto the pizza oven. This is so the plaster had something to stick to.

We had to make sure that the mortar wasn't drying to fast by the time we had made the plaster, otherwise it would not have stuck. (A bit like glue)

Jaycob 24th September 2009

Adding Details to the Oven

2009-10-13T11:34:00.003+13:00

Clinton is placing smashed Paua shell on to the front entrance of the oven. So that it looks a bit more "organic".

He needed a strong person to smash the Paua shells and that was me. He also needed to be really careful in case someone bumped him.

Uriah 24th September 2009

Mixing the Plaster

2009-10-13T11:29:00.004+13:00

Clinton and Jaycob are mixing a bucket full of plaster which includes spades full of sand, cement, and a little bit of water.

They required a bucket, a spade, a hose, cement, and sand with salt in it.

They also required a safe place to work so no one would get hurt (including Jack the dog).

Uriah 24th September 2009

Taking Photos of the Oven

2009-10-13T11:09:00.003+13:00

In this picture I was taking a photo of me. I was the cameraman so there weren't many photos of me and I thought we needed one.

Even though I did some mixing, sealing and smashing up of paua shells.

Another reason for taking this shot from inside the oven; it was raining and I kept the camera dry.

Before this picture was taken I required a camera and a suitable location to place the camera.

Uriah 24th September 2009.

Embelishing the Pizza Oven

2009-09-30T14:10:00.004+13:00

Fern print detail.

Paua inlays detail.

The plastered oven with Paua inlays and fern prints.

Construction Day Photos: Trailer to base.

2009-09-30T13:57:00.013+13:00

Paul from Kiwispan.

Thanks Kiwispan for the use of the hiab.

Same at the back.

Then a spade and crowbar to lever the block out and the oven down.

Using a block of wood as a large lever.

Lowering it into place.

Up she goes!

Placing the straps in place

The Pizza Oven arrives from Kaitaia.

2009-09-30T13:53:00.003+13:00

We were putting up the gazebo and we put it over the oven to cover us and the oven from the rain that fell all day.

It was lucky that Mr Kerr got the gazebo from Mitre 10 so that we had some protection from the weather.

2009-09-30T13:49:00.002+13:00

We were plastering the herb garden and Clinton was showing me how to do it. This was fun and when I had finished, I played with Clinton's dog Jack. I was playing fetch with him.

As we were making the plaster Clinton said that he lived in a pineapple house and that he is one of the best oven makers in New Zealand. I got all dirty and my clothes were covered in plaster.

Arapeta Thom 24.09.09

2009-09-30T13:45:00.002+13:00

I was collecting some ferns so Clinton could press cool molds of the fern prints into the pizza oven plaster.

We had to mold this special plaster on to the outside of the pizza oven so we could put leaf prints into it.

Kayne Kohu 24.09.09

2009-09-30T13:38:00.002+13:00

The hiab picked up the pizza oven off the trailer. The pizza oven weighed 1500 kg. The hiab placed the pizza oven on top of the block base we had made earlier. Clinton placed some of the blocks on top of the base so he could prise the oven off the straps that were attached to the hook of the hiab.

We had to organise a hiab to lift the oven off. It came from Kiwispan Sheds and Paul controlled the hiab from his truck. Clinton parked the trailer close to the hiab. Next we put some straps under the base of the oven and tied it down tight.

Kayne Kohu 24.09.09

2009-09-30T13:30:00.002+13:00

I am using scissors to cut out a cardboard template so that we could put a piece of granite on to the sides of the pizza oven for a place to put our cooking tools down as well as decoration.

I had to measure the width of the sides by placing the cardboard on the sides and drawing with a pencil where to cut the edges.

Kayne Kohu 24.09.09

Thinking Page Example

2009-09-24T11:46:00.003+12:00

You Boys Are Awesome

2009-09-24T11:17:00.003+12:00

Hi there Pizza Pioneers,

It was fantastic seeing the sheer delight on your faces yesterday morning. The anticipation and excitement in the air was electric (and very wet thanks to the weather) and your enthusiasm was infectious. I was buzzing at the thought and prospect of what was about to happen at school.

It was a good thing that Mr Kerr and I decided to score a pop-up gazebo from Mega Mitre 10 that morning to keep you boys dry (well, as dry as possible). So there was your first challenge, putting it up. Well done on that front boys.

Then Clinton Scott arrived with his double axle trailer, his dog and all the tools necessary to complete your oven. Clinton owns Woodfired Ovens Ltd and without his generosity and help, we would not have achieved what you have in such a short time. Thank you Clinton, you were a real asset on the day and the way you interacted with our students was awesome.

Then Paul from Waikato Kiwi Span Sheds arrived to help you lift the oven onto it's base. Thank you Paul for your help and assistance. We will repay your generosity by letting you borrow our staging for your Bush Bar at the Waikato Home Show next week.

I will let you boys tell the rest of the story in your own words, but have prepared some "Thinking Pages" for you to use and help you write a visual narrative on what happened throughout the day.

Post your photos and the supporting narrative when you have peer reviewed each other's contributions and are satisfied they meet the following success criteria (which we have co-constructed):

WE have explained what is happening in the photograph in detail
WE have explained what had to happen before the task was undertaken
OUR thoughts and ideas are easy to follow
OUR narratives are free of mistakes and entertaining to read

Our Oven Is Here

2009-09-24T11:08:00.002+12:00

What an awesome day we had yesterday (Wednesday 23rd September 2009) when at 9.00 am Clinton arrived after travelling down from Doubtless Bay in the beautiful Far North with our wood fired pizza oven on his trailer.

Paul from Kiwi Span arrived at 9.30 am with his hiab truck to help us unload the oven (which weighs in at 1500 kg).

The oven fitted perfectly on top of our base which we made a week ago (the template was a great idea Clinton).

We then set about plastering and decorating our oven. Clinton also donated a fibro-cement herb planter as well.

Read our narratives below on our fantastic day.

Thank you Clinton, Paul, Mr Kerr and Mr Ngatai, for helping make our vision a reality. Learning has never been so much fun. Now the real work begins...

Keeping in touch with Clinton

2009-09-15T13:46:00.001+12:00

From: Clinton Scott [mailto:woodfiredovens@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, 31 August 2009 10:56 a.m.
To: ngatai@rhodestreet.school.nz
Cc: rhodestreet.school@gmail.com
Subject: RE: Rhode Street School Order

Hi just making sure the template arrived ok and if you have a aprox date for installation yet

Regards Clinton

We Reply:

Yes thanks Clinton

Week 10 of this term: 23^rd September. You are most welcome to come down the night before and stay at our place (promise a big breakfast).

Clinton Replies later:

That all sounds good thank you for the kind offer of accommodation but I have very close friends that will be put out if I don't stay with them.Will be in touch closer to the time.

Regards Clinton

Uriah's version of events

2009-09-15T13:36:00.004+12:00

Today the Pizza Oven Pioneers made mortar. A creation of sand, water and cement to put between blocks to make them stick together and stick to the concrete base.

We have made four layers of ten blocks using two double blocks and eight singles. Mr Kerr (our caretaker) has mortared all the blocks and we have mixed, placed and evened the mortar.

Our next small step is to spray a little bit of water on the blocks and martar to keep it moist so it doesn't dry to quickly.

15th September

2009-09-15T13:26:00.003+12:00

Today we made brock layers and we put mortar in the layers. Mortar is made out of water, sand and concrete mix: 4 spades of sand, 1 and 1/2 spades of cement mix and 3/4's of a bucket of water. Add sand and cement together and mix until cement is mixed in properly. Add water gradually until it is like quick sand and drops off your hand easily.

We had four layer of blocks with 10 in each layer. Two double blocks at the start with 8 single blocks around it to form a U shape.

We used three wheel barrow loads of mortar to join the blocks. On the last layer we had to cut the reinforcing steel rods with a hack saw so they were below the top of layer of blocks.

Tomorrow we will give the blocks a light spray of water so it doesn't dry to quickly,. (The slower the mortar drys the harder it becomes).

On Thursady we will be filling the triangular gaps at the back of the U shape and the square holes of the blocks with concrete.

Mixing the Concrete

2009-09-15T13:17:00.003+12:00

To create concrete you need to mix the following:

1 bucket of water to 3 spades of builders mix and one spade of cement makes one wheel barrow of cement.

Arapeta Thom.

8th September Update: Concreting the base.

2009-09-15T13:09:00.003+12:00

Last week kayne, Uriah, Arapeta and I dug out the base design for the pizza oven. It took us all one and a half days to complete digging out the foundations. We marked out with spray paint and then we started to dig down 250mm. Once we dug that, the centre had to be chopped off 5mm so we could concrete the base.

Before we conctreted we put reinforcing rods in to support the concrete blocks. Then we concreted the base. It took about 12 wheel barow loads to make the base of the pizza oven. We waited three days for the cement to dry.

Jaycob Hildreth

Our Reply to Clinton (2)

2009-09-01T13:23:00.004+12:00

Yes thanks Clinton

Week 10 of this term: 23^rd September. You are most welcome to come down the night before and stay at our place (promise a big breakfast).

Regards

Pizza Boys

Our Email to Mr Kerr

2009-09-01T13:23:00.003+12:00

Hi Mr Kerr

Can you please order the concrete blocks and mortar as soon as possible?

We are looking forward to working with you from next week (weather permitting)

Regards

The Pizza Boys

Our Updated Time Line

2009-09-01T13:19:00.001+12:00

It is week eight next week and we have to start the base.

Tasks:

Reply to Mr Kerr and ask if we can order concrete blocks and mortar.

Reply to Clinton and say Wednesday week 10 will be our day to install oven.

Mr Kerr's Response

2009-09-01T13:18:00.001+12:00

The time frame goes something like this

Setting out and foundation prep 1 day

Concrete footing and base 1 day + 2 days to dry

Mortar in blockwork 1 day + 2 days to dry

Concrete fill blockwork 1 day and minimum 3 days to dry before oven can be installed on top

The above will take approx. 2.5 weeks BUT is dependent on weather and other events happening in school eg production

My aim would be to have the base ready for the oven at the end of week 9 for installation in week 10

Alastair

Our Reply

2009-09-01T13:16:00.003+12:00

Hi Clinton

The template arrived fine (many thaks for sending it)

Mr Kerr has given us a time line to build the base (see his posting)

Clinton Keeps In Touch

2009-09-01T13:16:00.001+12:00

Hi just making sure the template arrived ok and if you have a aprox date for installation yet?

Regards Clinton

Pizza Garden Instructions

2009-08-25T14:13:00.003+12:00

Click on IMAGE

Building Update

2009-08-25T13:50:00.003+12:00

Today we received a template for the base of the pizza oven from Clinton.

We spoke to Mr Kerr (Property Manager) and gave him the plans and template.

He has agreed to work out what materials we will need and will email us his list.

We have five weeks left to construct our base, our bench, and the paving before Clinton can come to help.

Jobs to do:

Mark out where base is going (use spray paint)
Mark out bench area
Mark out paving area
Purchase building materials
Construct concrete base, walls and top
Install stainless bench
Complete paved area
Install Pizza Oven
Plaster
Build herb garden
Plant Pizza vegetable garden
Test fire oven
Practice recipes
Make pizzas
Make fires
Practice not burning pizzas
Start making pizzas

Pizza Vegetables

2009-08-25T13:40:00.006+12:00

We have selected 13 lucky vegetables for our Pizza Garden to grow and use in our recipes. All these vegetables are healthy and full of minerals and vitamins. Yum.

Pizza Dough Recipes

2009-08-25T13:29:00.003+12:00

PIZZA DOUGH

This is a basic pizza dough recipe.
Ingredients:
• 1 envelope active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water, 110° F.
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 1/4 tp 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt

Preparation:
Put warm water in a cup; sprinkle yeast over water and stir in sugar; let stand for about 10 minutes, or until it begins to bubble.
Combine 2 1/4 cups flour and salt in a large bowl; pour in oil and yeast mixture and stir until a stiff dough is formed. Turn dough out onto a floured surface; knead about 5 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Add extra flour as needed to keep from sticking to hands and board.
Place in a large bowl greased with shortening or butter; turn dough over to coat the dough well. Cover with towel and let rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. Dough should double in bulk. Punch down the dough and shape to fit a lightly greased pizza pan which as been sprinkled lightly with cornmeal. Keep dough slightly thick around the edges. Fill with favourite filling and toppings and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes at 425°.

http://southernfood.about.com/od/yeastbreads/r/r90430rev.htm

http://www.annamariavolpi.com/pizza_recipe.html

http://www.kiwiwise.co.nz/recipe/pizza-dough-basic

Pizza Dough (Basic)

This is an easy basic pizza dough recipe. Creating pizzas is a great way to feed guests for a social event or serve with salad for a family meal.
Prep time: 1 hour
Servings: 30cm pizza
Ingredients:
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon oil
Directions:
Combine water and sugar, then sprinkle yeast on top and leave for 15 minutes until frothy.
Sift flour into a mixing bowl with salt. Make a well in the middle, add oil and yeast mixture. Mix and combine.
Turn out dough onto a floured surface and knead dough until smooth and elastic (if sticky add a little extra flour). Shape into a ball and place in a greased bowl. Leave covered in bowl until ball doubles in size (time depends on temp of room but about 40 minutes). Finally punch down dough and knead lightly before placing into pizza tray.

*Cooking Instructions

Sprinkle pizza tray with cornmeal and press dough evenly into tray.
Spread the pizza base with tomato puree then sprinkle on your favourite toppings such as salami, ham, capsicum, pineapple, olives and cheese.
Bake at 200°C for about 15 minutes until golden brown and cooked.

New Tasks for Week 6.

2009-08-24T20:58:00.003+12:00

Kia ora Boys.

Tuesday this week you have the following tasks to complete in your own time.

Jaycob: Find some pizza dough recipes and post three onto this Blog.

Arapeta: Describe how to light a fire safely in five easy steps.

Kayne: List thirteen vegetables we could use for pizza making and provide images.

Uriah: List the cooking utensils we will need to prepare and cook our pizzas. Provide images.

All: Check Emails for Clinton's updates.

Team Members

2009-08-24T13:18:00.003+12:00

We thought we better post an image of us, so that you know who is behind this Blog.

From left to right: Kayne, Arapeta, Jaycob and Uriah.

Pizza Tricks

2009-08-20T13:53:00.003+12:00

Clinton Replies

2009-08-20T13:43:00.002+12:00

Thankyou for your order. Just a few technical notes regarding the oven instalation. The ready to go oven comes on a concrete slab and is very heavy it requires a hiab to put into place do you have access ?

Are you able to organize one at your end I often ask thev local ITM.

I will send down a template of the oven base you need a three sided concrete block wall no bigger then the template and about 950mm high.

My plan was to bring the oven down on trailer and spend the day putting the finish coat on oven and block base with the kids.

Let me know when will suit you.

Regards Clinton Scott

Where to place the pizza oven at school.

2009-08-18T13:14:00.005+12:00

After interviewing Mr Kerr (our caretaker) we decided to locate the oven inside the fenced kitchen garden behind the kitchen.

Some of the factors we considered

were:

The best site to build closest to the kitchen
Somewhere safe away from the students (smoke, heat, fire)
Where the wind is not hitting our faces

Questions Mr Kerr asked us:

Does it matter which way the pizza oven faces?

Does all of it get hot or just the door and front?

How high is the chimney and does it get hot?

What are the overall

dimensions?

18th August 2009

2009-08-18T13:07:00.002+12:00

We met today and delegated the following tasks:

Kayne: Write email to Clinton and ask for base specifications.

Arapeta: Ask Mr. Kerr where the best place to site the oven would be and why. Write a report.

Uriah: Learn how to post new articles on our blog site.

Jaycob: Absent today.

Chosen Model

2009-08-15T15:56:00.002+12:00

Using china clay, crushed marine volcanic stone, silica sand and special high temperature binder and fibre, we will make a one piece dome and a floor for the Family oven. They are strong and easy to install, giving you the freedom to have the outside shape you like.

All these ovens need to be sealed from the weather once they are cured and completely dry. A little moisture inside the oven is fine but water getting into the insulation layers stops them working properly and can cause problems.

After we have fired our oven a few times some cracking will appear in the dome and floor, this is normal due to thermal expansion and contraction.

Woodfire Ovens

2009-08-14T10:50:00.000+12:00

Last Tuesday we wrote to Clinton Scott at Woodfire Ovens in Kaitaia and asked if he could help us by supplying some of the materials we will need to build our pizza oven.

Clinton replied today:
"Hi everyone Thanks for your enquiry. You have a great idea your school will just love our woodfired oven.I have spent 2 years planting edible gardens in a school in Kaitaia so think its just great what you are doing.I can offer you the following deal. Family oven ready to go for $2,500. Free, delivery to Hamilton, Free days plastering tutorial when we can finish off the oven with paua etc and make a vertical herb garden to go with it. Let me know what you think. You will have to build a concrete block base to support the oven. I can supply specifications.

Regards Clinton Scott"

We looked at our budget and decided that we could afford this amount because all the other costs have been donated and Clinton has knocked $700 off his price (which we are very grateful for). We will have to sell 350 pizzas to pay for it.

Congratulations

2009-08-13T16:04:00.000+12:00

Well done Pizza Pioneers on this awesome vision

Pizza Oven Team

2009-08-13T15:48:00.001+12:00

Pizza Oven Team

Kayne Kohu (Room 3)
Jaycob Hildreth (Room 3)
Uriah Brown (Room 3)
Arapeta Thom (Room 3)

Our Vision

2009-08-13T15:10:00.000+12:00

WE are four students from Rhode Street School in Hamilton, NZ.

We are going to build a wood fired pizza oven here at our awesome school.

We already grow a lot of healthy vegetables at Rhode Street and have a commercial kitchen to prepare and cook our kai.

Having a pizza oven will teach us new skills, such as:

Fire lighting and safety
Construction techniques
Cooking with fire
Making pizza dough
Fundraising with kai
Marketing
Budgeting
Time management
Communication
Team building

The pizza oven will give our school another method for cooking food in a sustainable way.