News

US Army trained in benefits of biochar to war-torn agriculture.

11/08/2011

US soldiers are learning techniques to make land more fertile and improve farming conditions.

“”The hope is that soldiers may eventually take what they have learned and apply it in Iraq, Afghanistan or Africa” said Sgt. Jeremy Hancock.

Biochar has a fantastic ability to restore neglected soils, and ultimately can be a sustainable way for communities to quickly reinvigorate their lands and economies after long periods of turmoil.

"In Afghanistan right now, the economy doesn't go much further than sustenance farming," Hancock said. "Agricultural development is economic development."

As the owner of a participating training  farm put it, “Biochar becomes a sort of reef for beneficial microbes and bacteria, from white, sandy earth, suddenly, we've created fertile soil that will last for decades."

Takesumi Journeys to Cornwall

08/03/2011

A team from Takesumi will be on hand at the Cornwall Garden Society’s annual Spring Flower Show to explain biochar and it’s benefits. As one of the countries most enjoyable horticulture events, the show attracts large numbers of gardeners to the beautiful Boconnoc House.

For more information visit: www.cornwallflowershow.co.uk

Two New Retailers for 2011

20/01/2011

We’re pleased to announce two new official Takesumi retailers, both located in the heart of London. Fulham Palace Garden Centre and Clifton Nurseries will both be stocking Takesumi Bamboo Biochar.

Both outlets are known for their intimate plant knowledge and customer service so will be the perfect stop off, convenient for all of our urban gardeners.

We are Going to GLEE 2010

31/08/2010

Takesumi has signed up to attend this year’s GLEE exhibition at the NEC Birmingham. Glee is the UK’s most comprehensive trade show for the garden and leisure industries, taking place at the NEC Birmingham, 20-22 September 2010.

The Takesumi stand will be located in the innovator zone, which showcases the latest products in horticulture. For anyone who wants to visit us; we are happy to pre-book appointments (please contact info@takesumi.co.uk) but all comers are welcome at any time.

Takesumi Featured by Top Organic Blog

19/08/2010

One of the UK’s most popular parenting blog writers, has dedicated her latest post to Takesumi. Natalie Southgate, who is also the founder of The Organic Toy Company is always on hand to help mums and dads with all things eco, organic and ethical.

The Organic Toy Company has a fantastic range of baby products - everything from teddy bears to sun-screen, and a wealth of information for environmentally contious parents.

To follow Natalie’s blog:

http://www.otoys.co.uk/blog/read_15553/stronger-lusher-vegetation-without-chemicals.html

To follow Natalie on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/theorganictoyco

To visit The Organic Toy Company website:

http://www.facebook.com/theorganictoyco

Congratulations to Kitchen Gardener Magazine Competition Winners

30/06/2010

Takesumi wants to congratulate all of the winners of Kitchen Gardener magazine’s June competition. Twenty lucky winners recieve a FREE 2.5kg box of Takesumi Bamboo Biochar. Thanks also to all entrants who unfortunately did not win.

Biochar Community Garden Wins $10,000

11/02/2010

A group of community gardeners from Mullumbimby, Australia have been celebrated as “Eco-Visionaries” after winning a nationwide contest for “Big Green Ideas.” The project was applauded for it’s new approach to gardening, sustainability and for bringing societies closer together. The innovative team took biochar one-step further and mixed it with household waste. Team leader, Jeannette Martin said of biochar,

“Spread on the ground it does miraculous things for soil fertility. It also increases carbon sequestration properties of the soil, so is part of the solution to climate change”.

The garden has gone from being a bare and depleted cow paddock to bursting with plump watermelons and pumpkins, stands of corn, and almost every other kind of herb and vegetable. The team has several other projects on the go and big plans for the future.

“Our garden is evolving into a sustainability education centre,” said

Oscar Winner, Nobel Winner and former Vice President, Al Gore

23/11/2009

Al Gore has used his new book to throw his support behind biochar. “Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis” is a follow up to the hugely influential “An Inconvenient Truth” which won Gore a Nobel Prize and an Oscar. The new book gathers together the most effective solutions to climate change that are currently available.

The former vice president of America said “One of the most exciting new strategies for restoring carbon to depleted soils, and sequestering significant amounts of CO2 for 1,000 years and more is the use of biochar.” In his book Gore predicts that by using our soils and biochar we can reduce our atmospheric carbon content to a safe level of 337 parts per million whilst growing healthier vegetation.

Sir Richard Branson Backs Biochar

01/11/2009

The billionaire Virgin boss, Sir Richard Branson, has helped the US with creating a “Carbon War Room” to support the war on climate change. “I’m using my resources and profile to try and tackle some of the seemingly intractable problems of the world.” Said the self-confessed hippie. The project is looking at every industry to see what emissions reductions can be made and to find new ways of extracting carbon from the atmosphere.  Branson estimates that if every farmer in the world were to adopt biochar technology all the carbon outputs from planes, cars and buses every year would be offset.