Dale Redpath provides the following report from Opotiki.
“In late June I had some help from Sven Carlsson (a local reporter) to make a video about making farm-scale biochar, because I’ve taught some workshops previously but decided a video was a better way to reach more people. There was also an article in the Opotiki News (June 27 2024), and I had some interest from people wanting to do something with trees that were going to be felled on their land.
Farmers often have branches that they don’t have a use for – they often burn them in a bonfire, which create a lot of smoke and require monitoring over several days until it’s all burnt out. And at the end they are only left with a pile of ash, which is not used. In other words – a big waste of time and carbon. By making a bonfire but lighting it at the top, people can turn big unruly branches into valuable biochar, and it is with this message that I am trying to reach as many local farmers as possible so the unused brush in the area can be put to good use.
In the video, I demonstrate a top lit updraft branch pile and it is very straightforward and uses hardly any equipment at all. I think this comes through in the video (Sven did a great job of producing and editing the video: https://youtu.be/hMt7C3kOFZQ?si=wbYzOYqz_SvQpiXy).
In addition to making biochar to sell and to educate people, I am also turning wood into mushroom logs, garden stakes, and I’m planning to make some barbecue charcoal as well, all for the local market near Opotiki. I’m also looking for places to hold biochar workshops – ideally not far from a town with a regular supply of dry twiggy branches and toilet facilities – so if you have such a site, I’d like you to get in touch with me via email at enquiries@rivendalewood.com“
