In Wood Firing Season, the migration of potters wind their way up the mountain to Fred’s house for the dirtiest, most hard working job of a potter: Firing a two chamber Anagama Kiln. This was a 6 day process.  (FYI: Wood Firing Season is when ever Fred puts out the word that it’s time. Usually Spring into Summer. And it last as long as it needs to. And it’s the time of year I dream of and plan for all year...)

Day one is about getting everything ready to load. Prepping shelves and post with kiln wash so things won’t stick to them. Finishing up glazing, so the pots come out perfect. Setting up the outdoor kitchen, cause we’re potters and we love to eat. Cleaning out the kiln and hoping the rattle snakes are gone. (Ohhh, danger potting.)

   Day two, we start to load. It takes hundreds of pots to fill the kiln. And the wood needs to be chopped or cut to the right size. Wadding needs to be made and put on the bottom of every pot.

Day three, we  usually finish loading and lit the fire that night. I enjoy the first shift - It’s called candling. This is when you get one log burning slowly. Nothing like working hard all day and then staying up to the wee hours of the morning. Though, it’s a relaxing time during the firing.

   Day four is all about the firing. You stoke and stoke. Check the inside of the kiln. Keep your eye on the cone packs to help  judge the temperature inside the kiln. We also started to stoke wood into the back chamber. Oh yeah, and more wood splitting and stacking. A wood kiln is very hungry creature.

   Day five is much like day four. By now there is a great rhythm going on. I try to find time to do a little hiking and relaxing. Late in the day we sealed up the front and moved onto only stoking the back chamber.

   Day six is the wee hours of the morning. Once we get the cones down, we seal up the door with muck, cleaned up and go to bed, very tired potters.

   The kiln takes about three days to cool before we can open it up and take all the pots out. I’ll trek back to Fred’s to help with unloading. There are always surprises and disappointments. Some of my pots  have had blisters, very bad. Some can be under fired, better luck next time or next month. And some can be just: Wow!

   I hope you enjoy these photos from 2 firings in 2009.  Feel free to contact me with questions and sales inquiries.