BJ Clark | Stinking Desert Ceramics on tue 16 may 06
Pat,
I would think that most people would consider firing with wood to be "green=
"
because wood is a renewable resource instead of gas or electric, both of
which are probably not "green" (I bet an electric kiln would take a couple
photo voltaic cells).
BJ Clark
Western Colorado
On 5/16/06, Pat Southwood wrote:
>
> Hi
>
> Sorry for being particularly verbose tonight,
>
> I have searched the archives for refences to "green" or enviornmentally
> friendly aspects of our profession.
> One of my ex students has to do a survey of how green potters are in thei=
r
> business lives. She has asked for my experiences because I recycle 50+ yr
> old thatching reed from roofs.
>
> Other than using recycled packaging, i cant think of much else that might
> be virtous ? I guess getting dust from granite mines, but we dont get man=
y
> of those to the pound in Norfolk......
> Even firing with scrap wood must surely leave a negative imprint ?
> Has this been discussed anywhere, does anyone know ?
> If so, I cant find it !
> Many thanks
> Pat Southwood
> pat@southwood4.fsnet.co.uk
>
>
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--=20
BJ Clark
Stinking Desert Ceramics
bjclark@stinkingdesert.com
www.stinkingdesert.com
David Hendley on wed 17 may 06
I am very concerned about environmental issues and set
up my pottery business to be as ecological as possible.
Perhaps number one in importance is that I do not travel
to work every day. I often go several days without driving.
Business trips to the bank and Post Office are combined
with other errands.
The other significant ecological plus is my wood-fired kiln.
No gas or electricity is used to fire the pots. The fuel is scrap
from pallet factories that would be incinerated if I didn't
use it. I burn it more efficiently, so it produces less smoke
and pollution than being burned green in an open fire.
My shop (and home) are also entirely heated with wood.
My kiln was built with mostly recycled bricks and the framework
was made with recycled steel.
My pugmill and extruder were built with junkyard parts.
The shop itself "The Old Farmhouse" is, in a sense, recycled
because it was in gross disrepair when I bought it - it was
free with the purchase of the land.
I recycle many things around the pottery shop. Packing
materials, of course, but also other small things.
Water: a 5-gallon bucket is used for hand washing. When
significantly "dirty", the water becomes throwing water,
and the current throwing water goes to the clay recycling
bucket. Of course, all clay scraps are recycled and the
buckets themselves are former pickle or oil buckets.
Ashes from the wood kiln (and heaters) are used in glazes.
Only a portion can be used - the rest are added to the garden
as mineral additive.
Broken bisqueware is pulverized in a hammer mill, and
becomes grog for the next batch of clay.
Glass jars and bottles are broken and ball milled and become
a glaze ingredient. Glass cullet is a good source of nearly
insoluble soda, with no added alumina.
I'm probably forgetting some things, but you get the idea. I
seldom go out and buy new things for the shop.
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
david(at)farmpots(dot)com
"EXTRUDE IT! Getting the Most From
Your Clay Extruder" available at
http://www.farmpots.com
----- Original Message -----
On 5/16/06, Pat Southwood wrote:
> I have searched the archives for refences to "green" or enviornmentally
> friendly aspects of our profession.
> One of my ex students has to do a survey of how green potters are in their
> business lives. She has asked for my experiences because I recycle 50+ yr
> old thatching reed from roofs.
>
> Other than using recycled packaging, i cant think of much else that might
> be virtous ? I guess getting dust from granite mines, but we dont get many
> of those to the pound in Norfolk......
> Even firing with scrap wood must surely leave a negative imprint ?
> Has this been discussed anywhere, does anyone know ?
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