Come to Blackdown Hills EcoHub and meet our research partners from Plymouth University who will introduce our project. Guest presenter Nicola Peel will share her vast experience of biochar and regenerative farming. Nicola has been working for over 20 years in the Ecuadorean Amazon. In 2016 she started an agroforestry project for the charity Rainforest Saver and is now working with around 100 farmers and 6 agricultural colleges. Their mission is to prevent tropical deforestation by regenerating the soil. Using the method of inga alley cropping they have had remarkable results. Nicola has spoken this year at the International Forest Gardening Symposium and The Oxford Real Farming Conference. Here is an email testimonial from Mike Donovan, editor & publisher of Practical Farm Ideas www.farmideas.co.uk. Nicola is a Solutionist and regenerative agriculture is one of the crucial solutions we all need to be discussing wherever in the world we live.
We’ll also be joined by Carbon Farmers who have built an amazing biochar stove (with Esse/Aston University) which we’ll use to cook food, whilst making biochar from twigs. James from Genesis Green Grocers, Honiton has kindly agreed to cook with us and is bringing along his BBQ smoker to create delicious food, hopefully with some of our veg from the Food Growing Community Field.
Hideo, a research student from Reading University will share his findings on why there is such a slow take up for business/farming/households to use biochar. Phil and Rob, local biochar experts will give us an update on carbon credit discussions and chemical properties of different feedstocks.
If you plan to join us, please bring a camping/festival chair, wear old clothes as we’re in a field, please car share if you can as there is limited parking space.
We’ll have several stalls to raise money for our Blackdown Hills Eco Hub activities, so you’ll be able to buy plants, biochar, (bring a box or waterproof bag for cheaper refills), sourdough bread, pastries and homemade jam! Feel free to bring drinks to share.
