Char Chit Chat is created by Dylan Graves and explores char in New Zealand and beyond. The podcast aims to interview a range of people involved in biochar, activated charcoal, carbon anodes, and so on. The main subject will tend to be biochar as that is most accessible and scales from individuals making char in their woodstove over the winter to large industrial pyrolysis units outputting several tonnes per day. Biochar is also a great soil conditioner and improver and so is relevant to gardeners and farmers alike.
An introduction and overview of Biochar: https://www.sces.org.nz/biochar
Toula from Southland Carbon (https://southlandcarbon.co.nz/) joined me for a chat this week about her journey of biochar discovery to being the largest commercial producer in NZ.
Toula and partner Andrew set up the facility in the old Pukerau Brickworks which is near Gore in Southland.Southland Carbon produces livestock grade biochar for feeding to animals as well as wood vinegar (condensed wood smoke).
Their website is full of great information and their Instagram is a place for inspiration: https://www.instagram.com/southlandcarbon/ (https://www.instagram.com/southlandcarbon/)
An introduction and overview of Biochar: https://www.sces.org.nz/biochar (https://www.sces.org.nz/biochar)
The national biochar association in NZ: https://biochar.net.nz/ (https://biochar.net.nz/) (BNNZ)https://freesound.org/people/joshuaempyre/sounds/250749/ (https://freesound.org/people/joshuaempyre/sounds/250749/)
23 Sept 2026
CCC S2E14 with Kevin Rapson (Buzi-B Flower Farm)
Episode 14 was a fun chat with Kevin Rapson from Buzi-B Flower Farm (https://buzibflowers.co.nz/). We chat about how he has used biochar to improve his and his wife Trish's soil for growing flowers commercially on their small holding on the Kaipara Coast, North West of Auckland.
I met Kevin and Trish at the Fieldays in June at the Biochar Network stand and I could tell straight away that Kevin was passionate about biochar. He agreed then to be interviewed and so here is his journey into learning about biochar, making it, and now helping others to learn about it (as well as composting and flower growing).
22 Aug 2026
CCC S2E13 with Amanda Currie (Tinwald Farm)
Episode 13 of the Char Chit Chat with Amanda from Tinwald Farm (https://tinwaldfarm.co.nz/) covered a lot of cool stuff. I feel like more women are needed in the world to run farms so that they become way more connected with the living systems that they are part of.
Amanda farms regeneratively near Cromwell where her challenges are improving degraded soils and reducing inputs. She is doing this by breeding and applying microbes at scale and incorporating biochar into various aspects of the farm. Amanda has studied extensively with the Soil Food Web Foundation (https://soilfoodweb.com/) where soil life education is paramount.
Amanda explains in detail how microbes are extracted from home made compost and applied to the vineyard and pastures at scale. And also how grapes can be grown in a regenerative way. Current trials involve applying mixed compost and biochar under a wool mulch to those vines that need it.
And of course, how biochar is made and with what feedstocks in the Kontiki Kiln with skids for ease of mobility...
An introduction and overview of Biochar: https://www.sces.org.nz/biochar
The national biochar network in NZ: https://biochar.net.nz/ (BNNZ)https://freesound.org/people/joshuaempyre/sounds/250749/
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
406
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 34 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
42
Social presence
0
YouTube
66
Engagement
0
Contact Char Chit Chat
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Char Chit Chat?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
