Biochar
In the Kula Fellowship we provide biochar training and biochar kilns for Fellows to use. Biochar is the process of turning biomass (husks, wood chips, farm waste, etc.) into a charcoal-like product by burning it at high heat with little oxygen, making it a nutrient rich substance. By utilizing simple locally-made sealed kilns to burn dried leaves and chaff, farmers can gain a valuable soil amendment to increase their farm health and ultimately their coffee production, while additionally sequestering carbon in the ground and preventing CO2 emissions. Especially in tropical climates, biochar has been proven to improve water retention and add nutrients back to the soil, and ultimately we have seen increased coffee yields in farms treated with biochar. It’s an easy, cost-effective process, and once applied, the benefits of biochar can last for up to 30 years.
