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Weekend - May 21-23, 2021 Alternative Firing Workshop Jessica Wilson Explore the hands-on process of raku, pit and horse hair firing in this intense course. Be prepared to work hard in a hot environment and to welcome the unexpected and unpredictable! Bring lots of bisque-fired pots and leave with unique, one-of-a-kind, finished pots. Intermediate $360 Registration and Information

I'm interested in doing pit firing in an updraft kiln made from a metal barrel. The laws in CA, especially in Sacramento can be pretty tight when it comes to what we do on our properties and I can't seem to get a clear answer about whether or not it's legal, or how to go about getting a fire permit IF they would allow this type of thing. Does anyone have experience pit firing in Northern CA?

Hi All, I am trying out barrel firing whilst in lockdown as I do not have access to a kiln. I'm having some problems. The first firing I used the following 60cm pit dug 3-4 inches on fine sawdust pots (some wrapped in foil, some not) Salt Seaweed Red Iron Oxide More sawdust Kindling, then smaller logs up to larger logs Paper to get the fire going. The fire burned for about 2 hours and I think put a lid on and sealed the edges. Next moring it was still quite hot when I took the lid off, so i left it to cool a while. The pots were mainly black, with some small amounts of colour (galaxy like). The Second firing, I completed in half a 55 gallon drum with a few holes from bottom to middle to create airflow. This time i used less sawdust. I also added dried bananas skins, lots more seaweed and used a little more salt, and wrapped copper wire around 1 pot. I only foil wrapped 1 pot too. I started the fire and about 1 hour after I added a little more wood as I could see the pots emerging, however they were not glowing red. As all of the wood had mainly burnt to a nice bed of embers i placed the lid on (no seal this time, some air and smoke did escape) The following morning I took the lid off and allowed it to cool a little. The pots are very contrasting . Please see the link to the images. Some colouring has worked wonderfully, however where the pots were lying in the sawdust, they are completely black. I admit it could be a cool affect, however not what i was trying to achieve. https://photos.app.goo.gl/hpoXPyVDNhnb4u2N6 Barrel Firing photos Can anyone help problem solve with me? My first thoughts are use wood shaving rather that sawdust,, maybe place a grate in the barrel so the pots are not in direct contact with the sawdust. other than that, i'm really not sure???