Building Firewood Based Rocket Stoves

During your time here, you will have the chance to work with local communities in constructing firewood-saving oven stoves. This activity is intended on reducing the number of trees that are cut down to provide firewood and charcoal for cooking. We use available resources to construct these stoves which includes mud, grass, and water, making these stoves easy and affordable for households.

The process of the stove creation takes one to two weeks. First, the mud needs to be made using anthill dirt, grass, and water. The mud then needs to be covered in banana fibers and other grasses and left for a week. After this time period, the stove is measured out and the construction begins. Small balls of mud are splattered on top of one another, eventually creating the stove (see pictures below). The stove is then left to dry, filling in cracks when needed, and is ready for use after two months.

Benefits of rocket stoves:

1. Saves money
   • The amount of firewood needed is cut down threefold, freeing up money to be spent on other essential items.
2. Cooks faster
   • Produces more heat than a 3-stove fire and therefore cooks food faster. It also gives the option of cooking more than one dish at the same time, cutting down on total cooking time.
3. Less smoke
   • Less smoke is better for the cook’s health and reduces the risk of developing respiratory illness.
4. Easy to use
   • Once lit, the rocket stove fire will not go out unless the user stops adding firewood. There is no need to blow at the flames to keep the fire burning, allowing the user to do other tasks.
5. Safe to use
   • Rocket stoves are safer to use because the fire is shielded. There is less likelihood of accidents or burns to the user and children.
6. Affordable
   • The stoves are constructed using local materials such as dirt, grass, and water, which means they do not cost any money to  make.
7. Heat retention
   • The stoves retain heat for a significant period of time which enhances efficiency   during smoking and can be used as food warmers.
8. Environmentally friendly
   • These stoves use less firewood and therefore contribute to the reduction in  deforestation rates.
9. Job creation
   • For those who have the knowledge, they can start making the stoves for a profit at household levels and institutions such as schools.

Making the mud

Carrying the mud to the stove construction area

Splattering the small balls of mud around what will be the combustion chamber

Freshly finished stove

Stove after one month of drying