What Ryan's cooking up these days….

Ryan Browne

When I ran into FHHS grad Ryan Browne over the holidays, he told me about his business, which included building cob ovens – straw, mud, sand, clay all put together for the most heat-efficient oven you’ve ever seen. I saw him last night (as you can see, about to fire up the oven)… I asked him to tell me what he’s been doing, with this and helping with the slow food group.

Here’s more:

Hey Ian,
Thanks for writing!  Yes, I have been working recently with the slow food group at the high school, building a cob oven at Matt and Maureen Marinkovich’s house. I think Linda Cobos mentioned that she might have spoken with you? It’s wood fired, made out of clay and sand, and designed to cook everything from breads and pizzas to vegetables and yogurt. I taught workshop about how to build it.

I have started my own ‘business by donation’ here on the Island called Earthlore.  It will provide awareness and education through reintegration of the land in which we live within (not ‘upon’), focusing on earthen building and sustainable land practices. My hope is to encourage creativity and independence by empowering people to learn how to build, what to plant (if anything), and most importantly, how to listen. If we can only get back in touch with the land in an intimate way and deepen our understanding of place, we can live easier, healthier, more abundant lives, while embracing the true spirit of this place. We are the stewards of these beautiful, fragile islands, and we as landowners are the ones who will shape their future.

I am hoping to start a website soon, so I can have more information available on the internet.  Anyone who is interested in all this should email me at [email protected]. And it’s free! The young and the elderly are especially encouraged.

Thanks a lot, Ian, and I hope to talk to you soon!

Blessings,
Ryan

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