Facilitators-Handbook-For-Permaculture

Workshop Module 12: Appropriate Technology 325

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Presentation : Appropriate technology ovens and stoves

Method : Facilitator presentation

Tools : Images, black/white board, markers

References : PC Book MOD 12 - Appropriate Technology

Objective    :  Participants    learn   about   a    range  of   ovens  and  stoves and  their  benefits

Ovens and stoves are a very important appropriate technology that can easily improve
peoples health and livelihoods, as well as the environment. They use a lot less firewood,
therefore:

• You will save a lot of money and help to protect the environment.


• You will save time and effort collecting firewood.


• A lot less smoke is produced which is very important for improving health.

Types of appropriate technology ovens and stoves include:

• Clay stoves - Are very simple to make and cook on. The fire is made in the
  bottom of the stove and the pot is placed on top. The clay directs the heat and
  flames to the bottom of the pot. The clay also becomes hot providing more heat
  for cooking.


• Clay ovens - Can be made in many different ways. Small simple ovens can be
  used for cooking inside (bread, cakes, etc). Larger ovens can also be used like a
  stove to cook food on top. These ovens can also have a chimney to draw smoke
  away from people and out of the kitchen. Clay ovens are made from clay, dry
  cow manure, and a small amount of cement.


• Cement/sawdust stoves - Are cheap, long lasting, easily movable, and easy
  to make. They use sawdust as cooking fuel. They may also work with rice husks
  and coffee husks, but these fuels haven’t been tried yet.


• Drum ovens - Are a simple way to cook a lot of food using a drum, sand,
  rocks, and banana leaves. It uses a lot less wood to cook the same amount of
  food as a cooking fire. It also keeps more nutrients in the food than boiling or
  frying.


• Tin metal stoves - Use rice husks or coffee husks as a fuel instead of wood.


• Gas stoves - Are much easier and much cleaner to use than wood fires. They
  don’t produce smoke and reduce the very serious problem of deforestation.


• Solar ovens and cookers - Use the heat from the sun to cook food. Solar
  ovens collect and store heat using reflective material, glass, and insulating
  material. Solar cookers use reflective materials to intensify the sunlight and
  direct it onto the pot. The oven or cooker uses the sun to slowly cook the food.
  Food can be heated on a stove or fire until it is boiling and then put in the solar
  oven or cooker to speed up the cooking process.

These are only a few of the many different oven and stove designs. For more information
and explanatory pictures see the “Ovens and stoves” section from PC Book MOD 12 -
Appropriate Technology.