Supercharge your garden with an ongoing supply of super dirt, by learning the secrets of making the eco-friendly soil booster known as biochar.

On Saturday 1st September, Sacred Earth’s founder Phil Greenwood is running a hands-on workshop among the trees, showing how biochar is made. An amazing soil amendment, this special kind of charcoal is designed to improve soil fertility and water retention – and so plant health and crop yields.

During the workshop, Phil will make a batch of biochar in our outdoor kiln, set among the trees. He’ll explain in detail how it’s done and provide a range of expert tips. All course participants will have the chance to get involved and help. (Please note, this course is open to complete biochar beginners, as well as those who have a little knowledge).

Phil will talk about:

  • The history of biochar and how it was first used to enhance soil fertility in the jungles of the Amazon thousands of years ago.
  • The special kind of kiln needed to make biochar and where to get one
  • How to set up and run the kiln, with detailed information on temperature and timings
  • How to source the natural wood off-cuts and biomass needed to make biochar
  • How to recognise high quality biochar
  • What biochar does for the soil – and for the environment, in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
  • What he adds to the biochar to create the most potent soil food possible

This course will last from 10.30am until 4pm and will take place on our site, near the village of Horam, East Sussex. A light lunch and a sample of our new Biochar Soil Booster to take home are included. Participants will also have the opportunity to experience the peace and quiet of our stunning 40-acre site for the day.

Alternatively, those who’d rather just buy some lovingly handcrafted biochar soil booster for the garden can get some from our online shop, from 1st September. Sacred Earth’s Biochar Soil Booster will cost £9.99 for 3kg. As well as our biochar, it will contain comfrey tea, seaweed and biodynamic compost preparations – making it what we believe to be the most potent soil improver around.