Category Archives: Places I go

Biodynamic farming methods and biochar

Biodynamic farming is the word for today as I just completed a field day on Sunday. The goal for me is to gather as much knowledge of earth repairing technologies, so I can steadily convert it to wisdom as I practice over the next few years.

bio dynamic farming field day Biodynamic farming methods and biochar

Learning Biodynamic farming concepts

Biochar as you know is a rock solid foundation on which microbes can build their families and colonies in, it is like offering each family a high rise apartment block for their own use with no conditions. How many people would love something like that ?

Sure I have spent considerable time on researching what is the best ways of populating biochar with microbes. This is why I went to the biodynamic farming field day. In the past I have studied the work of Rudolf Steiner the book is called agriculture. What I took away from these books is the concept of spiritual farming which excites me no end.

Biodynamic farming

building a biodynamic compost Biodynamic farming methods and biochar

biodynamic Compost is a great way to introduce microbes to biochar

It wasn’t until now that I understood that biodynamic farming is all about the microbes. Microbes on mass we are talking about a 35 gram of properly made biodynamic preparation holds as much as 500 million (500,000,000) microbes.

My initial thoughts were wow imagine giving all those microbes a new home that would last a couple of hundred thousand generation. This could be what I am looking for microbes for my biochar.

bio dynamic training at the field day Biodynamic farming methods and biochar

Here are folks awaiting the lectures by lise

So I asked the question “Is biochar suitable to be used with biodynamic farming preparations”.
The answer was “NO”. Lise went on to explain that 2 weeks ago at a biodynamic field day in Gatton, the father of biodynamic farming in Australia Mr Alex Podolinsky was asked the similar question and his response was “No”.

However once we started to walk to the compost demonstration two ladies both approached me and said they were at the Gatton field day and believe that Mr Alex Podolinsky did not understand what biochar was they said he thought it was coal. So now it is my job to research if in fact biochar can play a significant role in biodynamic farming and of course if biodynamic preperations will work well with biochar.

biodynamic preparation box Biodynamic farming methods and biochar

A biodynamic preparation holding box

Here is my hunch (not very scientific I know). Biochar needs microbes and microbes need a safe haven to grow to their potential. Byodynamic preparation 500 offers lots of microbes but they are only available for 1 hour after activation.

However the other biodynamic preparations  502 ,503 ,504 ,505 ,506 ,507 ,508 all work well in a compost system.
Biochar works extremely well in a compost system. Biochar and biodynamics could well be the missing link.

bio dynamic prep application by lise Biodynamic farming methods and biochar

Lise demonstrates how Biodynamic preperation 501 needs to be applied

So here is my open invitation to anyone let me know what your thoughts are on this subject, weather it be knowledge / wisdom / information / trials / tests / channeled information direct from Rudolph. I would like to start a dialogue on this concept.

I will be commencing test trials at the hill of abundance just as soon as I can. My intuition says Yes their is a role for biochar in biodynamics. Charmaster Dolph Cooke will be the grand daddy of Biodynamic Biochar you read it first right here.

I would like to thank James for hosting the biodynamic farming field day. Jim for organising the day.  Lise for presenting all about biodynamic preparations and farming methods. A big thank you to all the newly initiated biodynamic farmers that attended and thank you for your interactions you all inspire me absolutely

Charmaster Dolph Cooke
On the case for Biochar.
Founder Bioichar Industries
Kunghur NSW Australia.

Biochar shows Uki, Barkers Vale and Nimbin 2011

Hey folks,

Come and check out my Biochar tent at the following three shows this September.

Uki public school eco day is Saturday 11th September 2011

Barkers vale school eco day is Saturday 18th September 2011

Nimbin show is Saturday and Sunday 24th & 25th September 2011

I will be demonstrating how to make biochar
Talking about Biochar and selling biochar products including the champion Tluds.

So put these dates in your diary.

Thank you

Charmaster Dolph Cooke

biochar with permaculture in Nimbin

Yesterday I attended the open day for  Djanbung Gardens Permaculture .
It was a fantastic day filled with fun, knowledge and excellent people.
The rain stayed mostly away and the food was plentyful.

Charmaster Dolph and the Champion Tlud 200x300 biochar with permaculture in Nimbin

Charmaster Dolph and the Champion Tlud at Djanbung Gardens Nimbin

Conan gave a workshop on how a

biochar gasifier

works. Then he demonstrated all the aspects of it so everyone could be informed. Many people attended and lots of questions were asked.

dolph and conan 300x200 biochar with permaculture in Nimbin

Dolph and Conan Djanbung Gardens Nimbin

Other notable Industry people present were.
Charmaster Dolph Cooke
Barry Bachelor from Black earth products
Wayne Wadsworth from waste to wealth

dolph and Baz 300x200 biochar with permaculture in Nimbin

Dolph Cooke and Barry Blackearth

Products for sale were the Champion gasifier stove. The book and of course Black Earth products.

Tlud biochar stove set up 480 300x200 biochar with permaculture in Nimbin

Tlud stove set up for sale

The big highlight for Fire fans was when Wayne Wadsworth demonstrated what NOT to do with a big 44 gallon drum gasifier. I wish we had caught it on camera a huge explosion that shot all the lit bamboo leaves up into the air then they slowly descended on fire like fireworks on cracker night.

firework display blur 2004 300x199 biochar with permaculture in Nimbin

BOOM

So much good wholesome fun was had and much more then just Bio char was on offer.

The tour around the Gardens, A talk from Nicola Peel of eyesofgaia.com,  a talk on basket making and dyes, Excellent live music, Good Food, permaculture displays and sustainability themes.

bamboo workshop 300x200 biochar with permaculture in Nimbin

bamboo workshop at Djanbung Gardens

Djanbung Gardens is a permaculture school in Nimbin and it has a unique live in accommodation for students based around 3 old railway carriages. They have a pair of big pigs many chickens and lots of different foods growing. I walked around the gardens and saw compost toilets, Waste water treatment, pathways to other gardens and of course the big kitchen. I met some really nice people and had a great day.

Oh almost forgot Barry Bachelor offered one of his old prototypes for our education centre that there was another big highlight.

Thank you Djanbung Gardens (Platypus Gardens)

Charmaster Dolph Cooke