The kiln is made up of two rings of steel and a conical lid, which all fit on top of each other. Four smoke holes in the lid and four chimneys are used to control where and how much air is let in and out of the kiln.
The Final Product
The charcolised wood is riddled to ensure the small peices and dust are removed and it is then bagged up ready for selling.
Unlike some charcoal which can come from ancient mangroves and rain forests, ours is a sustainable product that is easy to use. It lights without having to use fire lighters, it burns evenly and is ready to cook on in just 15 minutes.
The Wood
The wood used is the thinnings from woodland within a 7 mile radius of the farm. It would usually be left to rot on the woodland floor but by turning it in to charcoal, it has a use. Hardwoods are used such as oak, ash, hazel and sycamore and it is dried for a year before burning.
The Burn
The kiln is loaded with wood and small fires are lit in the base of the stack. Once the fire takes hold, it is carefully monitored to make sure it is burning evenly, with the chimneys being moved around to help draw the air through. It will burn for 16 to 24 hours, depending on the weather conditions and the wood.
Once the wood has charcolised, the kiln is clamped down by sealing off all the air. This stops the wood from burning further and the kiln is left for two days to cool down.
