How a garden question sent me down the eco-sweep path

While sweeping a chimney, the homeowner asked about using the soot in her garden. I explained it's not safe due to chemicals. This led me to research eco-friendly disposal. I found out some sweeps partner with farms to turn creosote into biochar. I'm now exploring this for my business. It could reduce our impact a lot. Has anyone else tried similar partnerships? I'm interested in how we can all be greener.

2 comments

2 Comments

reed.nora2d ago

My neighbor's organic farm in upstate New York tried using mushroom compost from a local brewery last fall. Your biochar plan sounds like a similar win-win setup. It's frustrating how many green options aren't really safe, like that soot in gardens thing. Good on you for digging deeper instead of just saying no. Those small business pivots are where real change happens, even if it's just one chimney at a time.

walker.mia2d ago

Watched a friend turn brewery waste into garden soil last year for his landscaping business. He got the spent grain free from a taproom, but the real work was composting it right so it didn't stink or attract rats. It took a few tries to get the mix balanced with leaves and grass clippings. That process taught him you need a real plan, not just good intentions, to make these loops actually work. His whole thing reminds me of your biochar search, where finding the right farm partner seems like the make or break part.