Biochar working its magic at Ōrewa workshop

If you’ve never heard of biochar, that’s about to change. This rich black substance, which is fast becoming an environmental buzzword, is made by ‘cooking’ natural materials such as wood at high temperatures without oxygen.

It can work its magic on soils in the home garden, or on farmland and its use is being explored as a way to dispose of forestry slash on a large scale.

Layered into a compost or worm farm, then added to your garden – or dug directly into clay soil – biochar acts as a sponge, holding onto moisture and minerals. 

At a recent Eco Fest workshop held at the Ōrewa Community Garden, Hibiscus Zero Waste’s climate action ambassador Betsy Kettle shared her knowledge of biochar. Participants were especially interested in how they can use it in the home garden, which, as Betsy explained, requires preparing it by composting it first. 

You can also place it at the base of a Bokashi bin where it helps to reduce odours.

“Adding it to the soil after this process is a way to turn your bit of ground into a carbon sink,” Betsy says. 

Everyone at the workshop agreed it was empowering to do something positive for the environment.

Biochar can be purchased online from Charbro, visit biochar.nz or phone 028 8518 1454.