Global Ecovillage Network/Solution Library/Making charcoal briquettes for fuel

▼This solution entry was ported from the Global Ecovillage Network's Solutions Library.This is open edit, but please leave your comments on the talk page before editing.

Deforestation for fuel, lack of income, waste charcoal, and mosquitoes.

Charcoal briquettes or 'earth orbs' are balls of compressed flammable matter for starting and maintaining a fire.

• Collect the remains from charcoal cooking fires.
• Mix the charcoal remains with corn cobs or other such material and Pyrethrum Plant (Dalmatian insect flower, Big Daisy). This plant improves the orb's combustion (firepower), and its smoke chases away mosquitoes.
• If no pyrethrum is available, you can substitute a local plant with similar properties. Mold the mix into balls of 250 grams (about 1/2 pound) each.
• The balls are left in the sun for several days to dry.

The finished orbs burn very well and are a marketable product. They thus can provide additional income for the makers. And their easy production can be done by women, the elderly, and young people, most in need of income.

The Earth Orb project will inspire change at its most effective level, on the ground, spurred on by villagers who care deeply about the health of their communities, their local economies and most of all, their place on the planet.

• Renewable Energy & Transport.

• Sharing & Collaboration.

• https://organicfarminghealingtherift.blogspot.com/2010/03/making-charcoal-briquettes-in-kenya.html