Learn the skills needed to convert your pruning burn pile into a source of valuable charcoal, the type commonly referred to as biochar. You can use biochar to amend your chicken and livestock feed, your
compost, and your garden soil. Household uses of clean, home-made charcoal include odor control, water purification, artist charcoal, first aid for ingested poison, digestive aid, and even for brushing your teeth. At the April 1st work party we will be pruning a windbreak, making fuel bundles from the prunings, and stacking them to dry. At a follow-up in August, we will burn the bundles using advanced smokeless techniques and tuning them to make a soil-friendly, environmentally clean, low ash, high quality charcoal. We will demonstrate the principles of nearly smokeless charcoal production in April, but at a smaller scale using an open cone kiln, similar in shape to a cooking wok. The instructor, Phil Small, has been making biochar since 2005. Event will be hosted at Heartstead Farm by Tawnya Rourke Kelly. Bring your favorite loppers and some work gloves!
Class takes place in Evergreen, MT, and will go from 12-4pm Saturday April 1. Please call 471-0022 or email
tawnyark@gmail.com to RSVP. Snacks and drinks will be provided.
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