Photo courtesy of Nicki van Hooff. The Mt. Barker Community Garden recently welcomed me to their Duck Flat site to demonstrate making biochar using a Maccy Kon-Tiki flame-cap style kiln. We successfully made a barrow load of biochar from 5 (or what is it 6?) barrow loads of tree litter that would otherwise have been […]
The first trial of my new Maccy-Kontiki Kiln took place last week and I can report that it was most successful. It was a sunny still day but cold. I started a small fire with paper and twigs and a firelighter in the bottom of the kiln which burned rapidly with some initial smoke. I […]
Date: 3 Feb 2017. FROM: Tom Miles, The Chairman, International Biochar Initiative Compost & Biochar: There are now several biochar amended compost products in retail garden stores. Biochar has been added to compost for filtration and growing media. Research continues to improve ways in which biochar can help compost, especially for water retention and odor […]
A new type of flame carboniser is being developed by the Warm Heart organisation that is shaping up to be an ideal approach for making biochar from tree litter. It does need to be tended (or stoked) to add new layers and prevent smoking but the trough shape makes it very suitable for longish branches […]
Now that the EPA has introduced its new air quality regulations the need for a safe and cheap alternative to burning tree litter is imperative. The answer has been staring us in the face for some years. Gasifier type biochar kilns can be used by households and home gardeners to cook their garden waste at […]
South Australian on-line publisher Strong & Bold Publishing has released the 2nd edition of “Making Biochar – With Technical Manual” written by ‘Yours Truly’. This book is based on the experience gained from 5 years of developing and trialling 3 different styles of biochar kilns. It may be unique in that it provides detailed fabrication […]
The South Australian WEEKENDER HERALD NEWS recently printed an article entitled “SUBSTANCE COMBATS GLOBAL WARMING” featuring a photo of “yours truly” holding some biochar. This excellent article crafted by journalist Lucy Robinson kindly referred to my 5 years of biochar trials while managing local equipment manufacturer Flow Force Technologies; and recommended my new book “Making […]
Hi out there! Sorry to have been away from the blog for so long. I have been busy developing two new types of biochar kiln. A brief summary follows: One is a gasifier kiln based on the principles of the “Troika” TLUD (Top Lit Up Draft) gasifier stove developed by Dr. Paul Anderson. I have […]
I know there are a few people actually developing and trialling various types of carboniser here in South Australia. But they don’t get much coverage in the media these days. If you are either building, developing, trialling or buying either a batch or continuous carboniser feel free to send your details here with a bit of […]
THE BIOCHAR REVOLUTION & COMMUNITY GARDENS The author of The Biochar Revolution, Dr. Paul Taylor recently contacted me to discuss the Flow Force Technologies biochar kiln that we have been testing in the Adelaide Hills. He is interested in possibly using it in his community garden projects in northern NSW. He is currently using […]