The Kinyanjui portable drum kiln - make charcoal from twigs and branches, coconut husks, maize cobs etc...

If you grow and make your own charcoal you know where it comes from and you know you have not paid 1 penny extra to anyone else for a clean renewable energy solution that starts with tree seeds. 

Mkaa ya magunzi ~ Maize cob lump charcoal

Collect some dried maize cobs from a friendly farmer.

Using a mini-kiln, it takes about 3 hours to make a full ngodoro worth of maize cob charcoal (appx. 6kgs). 

Begin the carbonization process using the lid to control the air flow. Mix with twigs and branches for blended charcoal if needed.

Show your neighbors how easy it is to never buy charcoal again! 

 

Once finished, seal the kiln, let it cool for a few hours and voila! Your lump maize cob charcoal is ready to use!

Some great things to cook using maize cob charcoal on a Cookswell jiko:

A small 3 level charcoal oven (15,000ksh) 

And of course once the maize cobs have been carbonized they no longer emit as much noxious smoke!

Ted's famous Ten Minute ribs!

Simple, Sustainable, Branch Charcoal Solutions

On June 9th The Woodlands 2000 Trust and Cookswell Jikos held a day long demonstration course in sustainable charcoal making for the Carnivore Restaurant. This method uses the Kinyanjui Barrel Kiln to carbonize small branches and twigs rotationally pruned from trees that coppice well. 

The best Kenyan 'nyama choma' (BBQ) has to be cooked on charcoal!

The kilns and some of the correct sized feedstock. Grow the fuel to fit the cookstove

Topping up the kiln - Charcoal making the easy way; no chainsaw's, earth mounds collapsing, na hiyo mambo ya kupanga raili na kuhepa maAskari.

Excellent charcoal made from only branches using minimal effort. High carbonization rates are achieved as seen in this photo.