Biochar has been used for millennia in the indigenous Americas as non-exhausting soil amendment that provides home for trillions of useful microbes and preserver of moisture with its fractal microcavities. It’s made by heating wood without oxygen at a high temperature – pyrolysis – which heats off the lignins, oils and other non-carbon materials leaving a lightweight carbon skeleton that can be crushed and added to compost to create a super growing medium.
After reading this article from Los Alamos National Laboratories, I thought high tech machinery would be required. But Peter Callen, of Albuquerque’s Open Space Common Habitat, showed me a way anyone can make it at home, with common available components that cost under a $100.

Materials required:
- 55 gallon steel drum with lid
- 30 gallon steel drum with lid
- 1 6″ stove pipe adapter
- 3 lengths 6″ stove pipe
- 1pc 18″ length of 1 1/4″ galvinized steel pipe
- 1pc 1 1/4″ steel conduit lock nut
- 1 Dual Barbeque Blower Fan unit
Further Biochar Resources: