Updates to the Charcoal Pit Restoration Project
The Japanese Garden Society will appreciate your financial support for the on-going maintenance and repairs of the kiln. You can donate specifically to support the charcoal kiln project. Please contact us for more details.
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Public opening of the kiln on Sunday November 29th, 2015
We invite you to join us in celebrating the completion of this project, and to reflect on the Japanese Canadian pioneers and the history of Salt Spring in the early 1900’s.
At the opening event speakers will share their stories and knowledge about the history, restoration, and use of the charcoal kilns.
We look forward to seeing you.
Time: Sunday November 29th from 1pm to 3 pm
Location: Japanese Charcoal Pit Kiln in Mouat Park
The site is on the left fork of the main path after the rain shelter on the right.
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Photo album of the restoration
Click the link below to see the photos on Flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132582883@N03/albums
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Youtube video of the Guided Kiln Tour on Sunday October 18th, 2015
Shawn Stevens, who participated in the guided tour, kindly put together a visual record of the tour of that day (about 23 minutes).
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The Restoration Work Began:
May 13th and 14th: Steve Nemtin from Galiano Island, Kirk Harris from PARC, and PARC crew Justin and Blair conducted the first major excavation of the kiln. Steve restored two similar kilns on Galiano Island and is now overseeing the restoration on Salt Spring.
Photo document of the work on May 14th, 2015
Steve, Justin, and Blair examine the kiln wall
Treasures
Steve Nemtin in the pit
Part of the roof?
Several pieces of what
might be the roof of the kiln
Present state of the wall of the kiln
Blair, Steve, and Justin with their findings
Blair examines the kiln floor
Kirk Harris from PARC with a piece
of charcoal
100-year-old charcoal
Charcoal pit kiln
Steve and Justin digging
Justin looks into the flue
Steve puts his arm into the flue
Hardworking PARC crew Justin and Blair
May 20th and 21st: Steve Nemtin from Galiano Island made a second visit to the restoration site. Kirk Harris from PARC, and PARC crew Justin and Blair joined Steve and worked over two days to clear the site further to determine the kiln’s structure. Steve and the crew found a piece of cedar board inside one of the flues. According to Steve, the builder of the kiln used cedar boards to form the flue and built rock wall around it. When the kiln was fired, the cedar boards were consumed and the surrounding rock wall was remained. They also found the third flue.
On May 20th, Bob Rush from Salt Spring Foundation met with Chuck Tasaka, the Board of the Japanese Garden Society and Kirk Harris from PARC at the Library and told us about wonderful news of the grant approval. Thank-you to the Salt Spring Foundation for the generous support!
Photo document of the work on May 20th, 2015
Blair and Chuck Tasaka in the pit
One side of the kiln has been cleared
Steve probes the flue
One of the three flues that has
been located
Close up of the flue
Chunks of ceosote from the flue
Creosote covered wood piece
Justin tries to find the original floor while Steve
examines the flue
Blair holds a Japanese soap
containing charcoal powder
Steve and Blair measure the kiln
Bob Rush from SS Foundation brought wonderful news of the grant approval to
Japanese Garden Society board members, Chuck Tasaka, and Kirk Harris
from PARC