Michael and Tom and Biochar List-readers,
I smile because of Michael’s message below. Yes, we will start biochar sequestration documentation in Malawi. But it is certainly NOT: “Once done, it will just be a matter of counting…”
Counting will be important, but there will be many complexities to overcome if we are to get financial gains from biochar in the Malawi situation.
This discussion of this effort is now leaving the public discussion space of the Biochar Listserv. Michael and I will communicate with the “implementation partners” in Malawi. Occasionally we will post something to the Biochar Listserv, and we will try to make presentations at appropriate meetings, etc.
On the other hand, we are interested in having a small group of “supporters” who will be more closely informed and who will actually provide support. Support can come in many forms, especially professional knowledge and visits to the operations in Malawi and volunteer time (such as to organize the support group) and financial contributions.
[Note: Financial help should be in terms of hundreds of dollars or more because we are not equipped yet to have small donations recorded, etc. These can be tax deductible in the USA via either Michael at WarmHeart and Paul at Juntos NFP ). If interested in being a supporter / volunteer / sponsor, you can write to me at psanders@ilstu.eduOnward!!
Paul
Doc / Dr TLUD / Paul S. Anderson, PhD
Exec. Dir. of Juntos Energy Solutions NFP
Email: psanders@ilstu.edu<mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu> Skype: paultlud
Phone: Office: 309-452-7072 Mobile: 309-531-4434
Website: www.drtlud.com<www.drtlud.com>
From: d.michael.shafer@gmail.com <d.michael.shafer@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 7, 2019 12:26 AM
To: Anderson, Paul <psanders@ilstu.edu>
Cc: Tom Miles <tmiles@trmiles.com>; biochar <biochar@yahoogroups.com>; Info <info@warmheartworldwide.org>
Subject: Re: [biochar] Zomba, Malawi Biochar Project
Paul,
I am glad to hear that you think we can even monetize burp and fart methane reduction, but I will leave that to other researchers. This is, apparently, a methodology, but I suspect that it will need to be run on Malawian cows in situ, since they certainly eat a different diet!
I am going to write Sister to ask that she get us the basic values we need. Once done, it will just be a matter of counting – luckily to high numbers!
M
Michael Shafer
www.warmheartworldwide.org<www.warmheartworldwide.org>
http://www.twitter.com/warmheartorg
www.facebook.com/warmheartworldwide<www.youtube.com/warmheartvideo>
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Dr. D. Michael Shafer
Founder and Director, Warm Heart
+1 732-745-9295
www.warmheartworldwide.org<www.warmheartworldwide.org> | Skype: live:d.michael.shafer53
61 M.8 T.Maepang A.Phrao 50190 Chiang Mai Thailand
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On Tue, Aug 6, 2019 at 10:36 PM Anderson, Paul <psanders@ilstu.edu<mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu>> wrote:
Michael,
Char into manure by mixing or by eating by animals is certainly sequestration (no chance of it ever being burned).
About being fed to cattle and the reduction of methane emissions, THAT is “emission reduction” which can also claim carbon emission reduction offsets/credits. Work is needed to PROVE that, but on the voluntary market, some people might be inclined to support such efforts financially if we have a reasonably reliable program continuing in Africa (Malawi and other places). The “doers” can lead the “researchers” and the “researchers” (when they are ready and have their own funding) can go the where the “doers” are active and conduct verification there. That will not be quick, but that delay is not a valid reason to delay what we are advocating.
As long as we are TOTALLY transparent and explain everything, there is nothing illegal in getting people to donate money to this biochar usage work in Africa (or Thailand). Receiving a Carbon Offset certificate is essentially a nicer “receipt” for the contributions that are clearly linked to these specific efforts about biochar.
We have much work to do. Let’s see what Sister MP sends as a reply.
Paul
Doc / Dr TLUD / Paul S. Anderson, PhD
Exec. Dir. of Juntos Energy Solutions NFP
Email: psanders@ilstu.edu<mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu> Skype: paultlud
Phone: Office: 309-452-7072 Mobile: 309-531-4434
Website: www.drtlud.com<www.drtlud.com>
From: d.michael.shafer@gmail.com<mailto:d.michael.shafer@gmail.com> <d.michael.shafer@gmail.com<mailto:d.michael.shafer@gmail.com>>
Sent: Tuesday, August 6, 2019 2:01 AM
To: Anderson, Paul <psanders@ilstu.edu<mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu>>
Cc: Tom Miles <tmiles@trmiles.com<mailto:tmiles@trmiles.com>>; biochar <biochar@yahoogroups.com<mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com>>; Info <info@warmheartworldwide.org<mailto:info@warmheartworldwide.org>>
Subject: Re: [biochar] Zomba, Malawi Biochar Project
This helps and I will write sister with a cc to you so that you can be sure that I got the instructions right.
As regards use, another complexity (isn’t the real world fun?) Much of the char goes straight into the ground mixed with manure. Some (and I suspect an increasing amount) goes into animal, especially cow, feed. As such, it is not sequestering anything, although it surely takes up a lot of methane. I have every reason to believe that the char infused manure will then be used as fertilizer. Is it ok to go on that assumption and simply count all char that does not go into the cook stove as buried and so sequestering?
M
Michael Shafer
www.warmheartworldwide.org<www.warmheartworldwide.org>
http://www.twitter.com/warmheartorg
www.facebook.com/warmheartworldwide<www.youtube.com/warmheartvideo>
Founder and Director, Warm Heart
+1 732-745-9295
www.warmheartworldwide.org<www.warmheartworldwide.org> | Skype: live:d.michael.shafer53
61 M.8 T.Maepang A.Phrao 50190 Chiang Mai Thailand
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On Tue, Aug 6, 2019 at 12:40 PM Anderson, Paul <psanders@ilstu.edu<mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu>> wrote:
Michael,
There is no need to have uniformity in the moisture content (MC) of the char produced. We need to know the barrel count for each type of fuel (and full barrel) plus at least a few times when the char is NOT moistened (but is smothered). Or if they combine the production from several barrels to then have a bulk quantity that is uniform in MC, and then we need to sample that quantity and actually dry a sample to measure the MC. With clarity of what is being produced and measured, we can do the numerical adjustments to get the DRY equivalent.
I admit that we are not being extremely precise. But we should be dealing with hundreds of kilograms of char, so errors would be in the third or fourth decimal place. And we can make a reduction adjustment so that we are conservative (rather than inflating the numbers.)
Similarly, there will be determinations of the char from trenches. MC is to be reported, even if zero. And also any “dirt content” will need to be noted and taken into consideration.
In the end, we expect to report some number of metric tons of char that is claimed to be produced (call this the char creation”. And we will be very clear about any lack of accuracy in the numbers.
We will ALSO have numbers that are coming back from the persons who are using (sequestering) the char. That is the “char utilization”. We will compare the creation vs. the utilization numbers.
And we will need to agree upon some multiplier for the multi-year impact of true CO2e REMOVAL.
To the general public, all the data and calculations could mean nothing, especially in the early years. But to the knowledgeable “carbon-aware community” (including us) we will be able to present our case. We will have something to actually discuss and adjust in order to make progress beyond where we are today.
We expect to have data that is from the initial years (pre-rigorous data) and after we have some rigor in the data collection.
Please make contact with that Sister.
Paul
Doc / Dr TLUD / Paul S. Anderson, PhD
Exec. Dir. of Juntos Energy Solutions NFP
Email: psanders@ilstu.edu<mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu> Skype: paultlud
Phone: Office: 309-452-7072 Mobile: 309-531-4434
Website: www.drtlud.com<www.drtlud.com>
From: d.michael.shafer@gmail.com<mailto:d.michael.shafer@gmail.com> <d.michael.shafer@gmail.com<mailto:d.michael.shafer@gmail.com>>
Sent: Monday, August 5, 2019 8:13 PM
To: Anderson, Paul <psanders@ilstu.edu<mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu>>
Cc: Tom Miles <tmiles@trmiles.com<mailto:tmiles@trmiles.com>>; biochar <biochar@yahoogroups.com<mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com>>; Info <info@warmheartworldwide.org<mailto:info@warmheartworldwide.org>>
Subject: Re: [biochar] Zomba, Malawi Biochar Project
I think that Sister can be counted on to organize the counting of barrels produced. They are, however, quenching TLUDs with water, which raises the moisture content question. If we assume a common load and yield, how would you like them to dry the char (to what degree of moisture content) to measure a standard assumed yield per barrel burned?
Char made with a trench is bone dry – zero percent – if you want to use a positive moisture content, do you want them to add it into assumed trench yield or do you want to standardize on zero percent?
M
On Mon, Aug 5, 2019, 10:40 PM Anderson, Paul <psanders@ilstu.edu<mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu>> wrote:
Tom, Michael, and all,
We are in agreement to do something to advance biochar issues via the Zomba project, if we can find a reasonable way to do it. So I have a proposal to consider:
1. I am progressing with efforts to sell (to receive donations) for carbon related actions that can be documented. I had a poster about this at USBI 2019 in Colorado 5 weeks ago. CharTrac carbon accounting system. It uses blockchain WHEN JUSTIFIED by data flows. But can start with more simple cases.
2. There is nothing much possible without some data. No need to get too technical, but we need to know SOMETHING. What I would like to know is the amount of biochar that is produced. (has been produced, is being produced, and then ongoing production). It can be measured in “number TLUD barrel operations” or kilos or some volume. Or from trenches. Is there even an estimate?
3. This is NOT a story of measuring increase in eggplants or milk production, although of great interest. The issue is amount of biochar and assurances that it goes into the soil (via animals is fine) and can never be burned. THAT amount is what is being sequestered and can be presented for “sale” (voluntary payments for sequestration are considered to be donations – tax deductible if to a USA 501-c-3 corp like what I manage for ChatTrac.)
4. Michael, can you put me (us) into contact with Sister Miriam Paulette and/or someone at her mission in Malawi? And/or if there are indeed additional locations where the WarmHeart / Sister Paulette operations are functional and continuing, we would like to have contact with those places also.
If not data can be obtained, we cannot move forward.
5. As Michael knows, I have the same offer to him for his work in Thailand and in Northern Ghana. But it seems that the Malawi efforts could have the most volume of biochar on a continuing basis.
6. ASSUME that we can convince ourselves (and eventually others) that there is defendable data on the production and sequestration of biochar in Malawi (or other sites). Data will be converted into dry metric tons of charcoal (that will eventually be tested for fixed (resident) carbon content.). This will be put into CO2e numbers. THEN we can claim some NET (negative emissions). We announced them for sale (donation) along with the full biochar story of the locations (include agricultural benefits, etc.).
7. What will be the donor’s purchase price of such sequestrations? We need to find out. And then the money can be used to advance the biochar work in Africa. At the start, we are all volunteers and cover our own expenses (including for the CharTrac efforts), and later a reasonable fee might be covered for proper expenses to maintain sustainability.
What is important is that the biochar production and use is ALREADY OPERATIONAL AND IS CONTINUING.
This can be a topic on the Biochar Listserv for a while, but eventually the discussion of details will be between those who chose to be involved.
Open for comments.
Paul
Doc / Dr TLUD / Paul S. Anderson, PhD
Exec. Dir. of Juntos Energy Solutions NFP
Email: psanders@ilstu.edu<mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu> Skype: paultlud
Phone: Office: 309-452-7072 Mobile: 309-531-4434
Website: www.drtlud.com<www.drtlud.com>
From: tmiles@trmiles.com<mailto:tmiles@trmiles.com> <tmiles@trmiles.com<mailto:tmiles@trmiles.com>>
Sent: Sunday, August 4, 2019 10:44 AM
To: biochar@yahoogroups.com<mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: ‘Info’ <info@warmheartworldwide.org<mailto:info@warmheartworldwide.org>>; Anderson, Paul <psanders@ilstu.edu<mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu>>
Subject: RE: [biochar] Zomba, Malawi Biochar Project
Tom
From: biochar@yahoogroups.com<mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com> <biochar@yahoogroups.com<mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com>>
Sent: Sunday, August 04, 2019 3:55 AM
To: Tom Miles <tmiles@trmiles.com<mailto:tmiles@trmiles.com>>
Cc: biochar <biochar@yahoogroups.com<mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com>>; Info <info@warmheartworldwide.org<mailto:info@warmheartworldwide.org>>; Anderson, Paul <psanders@ilstu.edu<mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu>>
Subject: Re: [biochar] Zomba, Malawi Biochar Project
Tom, Paul and all,
First, let me say how much I appreciate Tom’s dispatching Malawi “old hand” Mike Hill to visit our biochar “extension” project in Zomba, Malawi. Warm Heart recently published an edited version of Sister Mary Paulette’s report on her work in East Africa, but without external verification. Mike’s report provides a nice confirmation of her commentary.
What is missing, as Paul notes, is real data.
Two thoughts on this. (1) It provides field confirmation of what has been reported in numerous papers. People tend to discount or to fail to recognize the import of published results. When these results are confirmed by real, uneducated farmers making low-rent biochar with low-tech “machines” it takes on a whole new significance. (2) Biochar does not exist only in the domain of developed world scientists. Biochar exists and functions in the world of tiny, dead poor farmers who are able to produce it from field waste using rudimentary technology and employ it effectively to dramatically increase crop yields, and animal health and productivity. The agricultural market for biochar in the developed world may be a bust, but biochar has huge potential in developing world ag markets. This, however, suggests that an entirely different data set may be what is required.
As for who will supply data, I am afraid, that we, Warm Heart, are subject to the hard facts of operating without a budget or external support.
If you are interested in testing the utility of biochar as a fertilizer in the degraded soils of Malawi or NE Ghana, please let me know. I will connect you with the team leaders. Likewise, if you are interested in the utility of biochar added to the feed of pigs or cows in either area, let me know, i will connect you.
We would welcome your research, as would many other readers. Our problem is not that we do not value the data, but rather that we cannot afford to collect it.
Warm Heart is a small organization without an outside patron. Our biochar work is funded, to the extent possible, out of our operating budget and the procedes of our biochar social enterprise. Where we fall short, I fund programs out of my own pocket. Under the circumstances, I have always chosen to serve people over data collection. Thus, rather than trying to establish a data collection effort 10,000 miles away by training a handful of Carmelite nuns by email and then hoping that they can train illiterate farmers as research assistants, I chose to reach 1,000 farmers and establish a training program to reach hundreds of villages.
I am aware of the consequences of this choice. If I had chosen instead to spend years seeking the funds to pay for the necessary data collection, I might someday have been able to interest a large organization in approaching smallholder biochar. In my experience, however, the ifs involved establish overwhelmingly bad odds. I am not a big boy and have little hope of raising the initial capital and none of attracting the attention of a large organization. There is also not a prayer that a large organization or it’s state partner would fund or participate in a project intended to improve the economic independence of poor, rural farmers.
If you consider the design of the Malawi, Ghana and Thai projects, you will see that they all aim to assist small farmers to create their own social enterprises that are profitable in the absence of government or International organization support. Why? Because neither will support such projects. There is very little money invested in agriculture as is, and precious little of what is invested targets very small farmers. There is a wealth, literally, of really neat, cutting edge technology being developed – but where I work, just 70 km from a major city and two supposedly renown agricultural faculties, farmers have no ag extension, are educated by seed and fertilizer salesmen, cannot get their crops to market and are increasingly going hungry in one of the most bizarre ironies of our times. In twenty or thirty years, I am sure that we will be thankful for the foresight that led us to invest in early stage technologies that would take a long time to commercialize. But my neighbors and I will be long dead, and not only because in the long-run, we are all dead.
Pardon, please, my jaded cynicism, but I have been at this too long to believe in fairy tales.
On Sun, Aug 4, 2019, 12:34 AM <tmiles@trmiles.com<mailto:tmiles@trmiles.com>> wrote:
Paul,
In may Michael Shafer posted a report about his efforts in East Africa. See “Biochar Sweeps East Africa: One small farmer at a time” warmheartworldwide.org/biochar-africa/ “
I asked my friend Mike Hill, Village Orphan Care Africa<www.villageorphancare-africa.com/>, if he knew of the project in Malawi. During his recent trip to Malawi he located the monastery and visited Sister Miriam Paulette twice to learn about their use of biochar. As an independent observer with more than 40 years of working the area he was impressed with the results. He and his daughter, Zilah, went out of their way to produce the video. https://youtu.be/pHSOKbqddGs
The project was initiated and supported by personal donations from Michael Shafer, and is supported by the Mother Superior and Carmelite Monastery. They estimate that the 10 trainers will reach about 1000 farmers. They would appreciate any support to continue and expand their work.
Sister Miriam Paulette says the veterinarian in the video has strong credibility in the village. In the video he reports his own experience and the experience of the villagers. Reduced disease, improved digestion, which was apparently inhibiting milk production, improved water holding in the soil resulting in reduced watering and improved quality of vegetables. If this is not enough, Robert and the trainers think there are other benefits to biochar. No scientific reports, no academic studies, just healthier soil and animals. As a biochar community weshouldsupport these projects with additional information and experience with biochar in similar circumstances.
Many thanks to Michael Shafer for sharing his project and to the Hill’s for producing the video.
Tom
From: biochar@yahoogroups.com<mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com> <biochar@yahoogroups.com<mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com>>
Sent: Saturday, August 03, 2019 8:48 AM
To: biochar@yahoogroups.com<mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: ‘Michael Shafer’ <info@warmheartworldwide.org<mailto:info@warmheartworldwide.org>>; Anderson, Paul <psanders@ilstu.edu<mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu>>
Subject: RE: [biochar] Zomba, Malawi Biochar Project
That is an enjoyable, uplifting video with real content about biochar in Malawi. Such great stories lead to requests for more and more information and full details about the project. Is a report available (or being prepared)? Not needing an academic paper, but seeking more data about amounts of biochar produced, hectares of coverage, soil types, and so much more.
Of course it would be nice to have scientific (or reasonably careful) data collection to substantiate the claims about milk yield (increased from 8 to 15 liters) and tomato crops, etc. Is there any effort for such data collection, considering that the biochar is already being produced and used (no need to create a new project to show results of biochar.).
I am looking forward to whatever additional information can be collected.
Paul
Doc / Dr TLUD / Paul S. Anderson, PhD
Exec. Dir. of Juntos Energy Solutions NFP
Email: psanders@ilstu.edu<mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu> Skype: paultlud
Phone: Office: 309-452-7072 Mobile: 309-531-4434
Website: www.drtlud.com<www.drtlud.com>
From: biochar@yahoogroups.com<mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com> <biochar@yahoogroups.com<mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com>>
Sent: Friday, August 2, 2019 10:30 PM
To: biochar@yahoogroups.com<mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [biochar] Zomba, Malawi Biochar Project
Mike Hill records the experience of biochar production and use during an informal visit to a project lead by Sister Miriam Paulette at the Carmelite Monastery in Zomba, Malawi. The monastery employs 10 trainers to teach people how to make and use biochar from agricultural residues. Michael Shafer, Warmheart International (Thailand), taught the trainers how to use barrel and pit kilns to make biochar. Veterinarian, farmer, and field trainer Robert Chilunga explains how biochar benefits his crop and livestock production. Many thanks to Mike and to Zilah Mendoza Hill for producing this great story. It is wonderful to have simple, positive results from an affordable biochar process benefiting people who deserve it.
https://youtu.be/pHSOKbqddGs
Tom Miles
Chair, International Biochar Initiative
Biochar-international.org
tmiles@trmiles.com<mailto:tmiles@trmiles.com>
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