In 2023, The Good Carbon Farm captured local attention with its innovative sustainability project in Upper Hutt, funded in part by the Sustainable Stimulus Grant (SSG). Today, that initiative is gaining momentum, turning forestry waste into climate-positive solutions and laying the groundwork for long-term environmental impact.

Despite its modest size, the initiative punched above its weight. It drew interest from media, forestry professionals, and school-based food and gardening programs, and contributed content to the Sustainable Landscape Guide developed by fellow SSG recipient Urban Edge Planning.

Last year’s SSG-funded project saw over 3 tonnes of forestry slash converted into biochar in the Akatārawa Valley, storing roughly 50% of the carbon that would have been re-emitted through natural decomposition. The biochar was then incorporated into local school and community gardens, creating micro carbon sinks, and triggering a reaction that makes soil more resilient. The core of the project centres around carbon storage. Using a controlled process, forestry waste is baked into solid form that creates biochar – capturing carbon dioxide that would have otherwise returned to the atmosphere. 

The project has also enabled a major step forward for Gallops Ridge—investment in new production infrastructure now in operation, securing the ability to produce biochar in the Akatārawa Valley well into the future.

“This initiative aligns closely with our Sustainability Strategy,” said Tim Harty, Group Manager Operations at Upper Hutt City Council. “It supports our goals around reducing emissions, building resilient communities, minimising waste, promoting education, and demonstrating leadership.”

The project didn’t stop in Upper Hutt. In April 2024 a similar initiative funded by the Mazda Foundation launched in Auckland, further showcasing the potential of community-scale biochar to tackle climate and food security issues.

Now, in 2025, The Good Carbon Farm is taking another bold step with the launch of The Good Carbon Store—an online platform allowing individuals to mitigate climate change through the gift of carbon storage. This new initiative aims to create a self-sustaining financial model for the charity, while celebrating its supporters through online acknowledgements and an interactive map.

The Store’s revenue is expected to support three key initiatives in Upper Hutt over the next three years:

• Scaling up biochar production in the Akatārawa Valley
• Continuing supply to school and community gardens
• Building and deploying mobile biochar-making equipment across the region

You can view their website here: https://www.thegoodcarbonfarm.com/thestore

The Good Carbon Farm has also cultivated strong collaborations with Enviroschools, Garden to Table, Oke and other sustainability networks. Their journey—from grassroots innovation to scalable climate solution—is being shared through podcasts and public engagement efforts.

As biochar continues to demonstrate its power as a natural, circular, and regenerative technology, The Good Carbon Farm is proving that even small-scale projects can sow the seeds of big change.

Source: Upper Hutt City Council

28/05/25