When does the workshop take place?

The workshop takes place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Where is Making Plant Charcoal taking place?

The event location is the Kardinal-Döpfner Hall at Campus St. Michael, Vonfichtstraße 1, 83278 Traunstein.

How much does participation cost?

The participation fee is 19 Euros.

What will be done practically in the workshop?

Participants will produce plant charcoal from tree pruning in a soil pit and learn about the carbonization process.

What topics are on the agenda?

Topics include the discovery of Terra Preta, further processing of plant charcoal, its use in compost, impacts on the CO2 balance, and examples from agriculture and industrial processes.

Who leads the workshop?

The workshop is led by Reinhard Gocht, who works with compost, worm farming, and plant charcoal production in the Creation Garden Heilig-Kreuz.

Making Plant Charcoal: Black Gold for Gardens and Soil in Traunstein

Name: Making Plant Charcoal
Start: 2026-10-03T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-03T17:00:00+02:00
Location: Kardinal-Döpfner-Saal, Campus St. Michael

Making Plant Charcoal: Experience Terra Preta Practically

How is plant charcoal made, and what makes it so interesting for compost and soil? The workshop at Campus St. Michael in Traunstein combines understandable knowledge transfer with practical experience. Under expert guidance, participants will produce plant charcoal themselves in a soil pit and follow the carbonization process directly on site.

From Pruning to Black Charcoal

The focus is on producing plant charcoal from tree pruning material collected on the grounds of St. Michael. The event vividly demonstrates how porous carbon structures are created from plant material through controlled carbonization. The process is explained step by step and made tangible in practice.

Terra Preta and Healthy Garden Soil

The workshop places plant charcoal within the concept of Terra Preta. Participants will learn how plant charcoal is used as an additive to compost and its significance for water and nutrient retention in the soil. The impacts on the CO2 balance as well as examples from agriculture and industrial processes are also part of the program.

Practical Knowledge for Gardens, Compost, and Agriculture

Reinhard Gocht shares his experience from gardening practice. As a co-gardener in the Creation Garden Heilig-Kreuz, he specifically focuses on compost, worm farming, and plant charcoal production. The event's planning targets garden enthusiasts, sustainably working households, agriculture, and anyone who wants to better understand natural cycles.

The event atmosphere combines focused knowledge transfer with the immediate experience of a practical demonstration. Between tree pruning, fire pits, and soil, it becomes visible how a regionally available raw material can become a versatile component for compost and soil.

Conclusion: Sustainable Knowledge to Take Away

The workshop offers a vivid event experience around Terra Preta, soil health, and climate-conscious circular economy. Those who want to get to know plant charcoal not just theoretically, but experience its production live, will find solid practical knowledge and concrete suggestions for gardens, compost, and agriculture.