PHOTO: Asiphe Mntuyedwa applies biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More to the soil in various Cape Flats gardens as part of the fieldwork for Abalimi Bezekhaya. Photos: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

In Khayelitsha, a township in Cape Town, backyard gardeners are using biochar to enhance their soil and improve crop growth. This initiative, led by sustainability advocate Freda Burden, aims to boost food production and address food insecurity in the area. Biochar, a carbon-rich material made from burning organic matter, is mixed with composted sheep manure to improve soil quality, particularly in the sandy soils of the Cape Flats.

The project began in 2023 when Burden collaborated with SouthSouthNorth (SSN), a nonprofit organization, to test biochar’s effects on community gardens. SSN donated 30kg of biochar to the Abalimi Bezekhaya Garden Centre, and trials were conducted across ten gardens in Kuyasa. Gardeners like Thembisa Kulana observed significant improvements in crop size and quality when biochar was added, especially when combined with composted manure.

The results demonstrated that biochar, particularly when mixed with organic materials, could significantly enhance soil health and agricultural productivity. Burden highlights biochar’s potential to not only improve food security but also contribute to climate change mitigation. By trapping carbon in the soil, biochar helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and locks carbon away for thousands of years.

Although still in the early stages, this initiative provides valuable insights into how biochar can support small-scale farming in townships and improve sustainability in urban agriculture.

READ MORE: Small gardens, big impact: Township gardens thrive on biochar