Building Better Soil: Compost and Biochar Workshop2

You are warmly invited to an exciting all-day event at a commercial flower farm near Glorit, north of Auckland. The exact address will be given to those that register.

We are pleased to showcase "The Threesome"—Compost, Biochar, and Plants—and demonstrate how this powerful combination can transform heavy clay into friable, highly productive soil. The Rapsons will be providing a hands-on look at their innovative techniques, featuring:

  - Biochar Equipment: See a TLUD pyrolizer and an insinkerator for grinding biochar in action.
  - Creative Systems: Learn about their unique hose system for spreading biochar and large-scale biochar-bokashi food scrap composting.
  - Proven Results: Discover why the usual "clod buster" methods fail on Ultic soils and how the combination of biochar, compost and plants provides the solution while touring the beautiful results of their commercial flower farm.

We are especially keen  for members of the Araparera-Makarau Catchment Management group and those who signed up for the Rodney Soils Workshops.

Event Details:

  - Location: Near Glorit (Address provided upon registration).
  - What to Bring: Please bring your lunch, drink bottle, hat, and gumboots!
  - Peace of Mind: Tickets are fully refundable if your plans change.

Spaces are limited, so please register early! If this workshop fills up, we have already planned a second session for 18 October 2026. We look forward to seeing you there and share these transformative soil secrets!

Itinerary:

Morning- Starting at 10 am

• Morning Tea, introductions

• Ultic Soils, Terra Preta

• Composting and worm farming demonstration

• Video of the overall Biochar process

Lunch-BYO

Afternoon-

• How wood is prepared for charring

• The TLUD packing

• Lighting and safety

• Slow pyrolysis and monitoring

• Removing and “quenching” biochar

• How one can tell if the biocharring was successful

• Grinding the biochar

• Inoculating and curing the biochar

• Spreading the biochar

• Finishing at 3:00

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