Hey there Graham, Mark, and Nando,

I'm replying to this post because I would very much appreciate your involvement in helping plan my upcoming biochar project in Central America.  First of all, in the interest responding to previous posts and full disclosure, I am what you might describe as someone who is going to "pay their own airfare, live in mud huts (and pay rent), and sweat that Amherst education out of their pores at the end of a hoedad."  I've got to contend, however, that I'm less motivated by liberal guilt than I am a vested interest in the economic prosperity of the people in Nicaragua to whom I will be returning for this project.  Also, I'm just 23, but lost my "innocence" half my life ago, and didn't go to Amherst, but it's west coast equivalent, Claremont McKennna.

Getting to the point: I've been volunteering for the Seattle BioChar Working Group (or SeaChar), helping develop their programs for the purpose of getting their technology on the ground.  Where I foresaw their technology working best was our backyard in rural Latin America. I am lucky enough to have had field experience in independent research and community planning work with Agros Intl, a Seattle-based non-profit that operates there.  Agros gave me the green light, but no money and a pretty free reign to collect all the data I need, establish test plots, and get feedback about the technology I'll be doing trials with.  I'll be getting fuel and labor savings and biochar production estimates for a portable gasifying stove, and using a larger 55 gallon drum type kiln to make more biochar for setting up test plots.  Then next summer and in the following seasons I should be able to get some info on fertilizer savings, changes in soil fertility, and get more feedback on an improved stove.

I've got some good leads for funding, but nothing certain at this point.  Any of you guys have suggestions?  Care to put in some cash for a kiln yourself?  I'd love to get some input if you have any to offer.  I'll be hitting the ground running early August, and will have until mid-September to get to as many of Agros' communities in Nicaragua as I can.  Also, Sustainable Harvest International might pay to get me to the other side of Nicaragua to work with their communities, and Forest Trends might bring me in on what they've got going in Costa Rica.  Other than that, I've got only a couple other options from others for getting some of the financial burden off my back.

So, I've got a little project summary and pitch for funding if you can help out or pass it along to someone who might.  I'd be happy to address any questions or comments you have, so please, respond to this message or reach me at scottjeaton@....  Until later,



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