Ben Elms

Ben Elms (AKA Dr Compost) is a founding member/treasurer of ‘Biochar Network New Zealand’, an organisation promoting Biochar throughout Aotearoa. 

Ben also runs a small artisan biochar business making and supplying Biochar with ‘Black Moa Biochar’ and loves nothing more than giving others the skills and knowledge to make their own biochar.

The Biochar workshop is part of the Festival of Nature on Saturday 2 Nov: Join Ben Elms (aka Dr. Compost) for a hands-on workshop on making biochar, a carbon-rich substance created from waste biomass like timber slash and corn stalks. Biochar enhances soil resilience, improves water retention, reduces fertiliser needs, and promotes biological activity. During the workshop, Ben will introduce biochar with a presentation and demonstrate the making process. As a founding member of Biochar Network New Zealand and owner of Black Moa Biochar, Ben is passionate about equipping gardeners, farms, vineyards, and orchards with the skills to create their own biochar.

Ben will also be part of the Food Resilience Day at the Wao Summit 2024.