Charcoal House Introduction
Near the intersection of Fengcheng Road and Xinhu Road in Baoshan Township, there is a household that has been continuously producing smoke from their charcoal-making activities for years. Curious vehicles passing by may stop to be greeted by people seeking shade under the trees. They might invite you to enjoy an orange from their own trees or enthusiastically explain the ancient method of charcoal production that remains. This is the home of charcoal, where eight years ago, the Li family rebuilt a kiln with the aim of keeping the old industry alive. They strive to produce the highest quality charcoal using traditional methods. Li Yongxing, who returned to his hometown from Taipei ten years ago, has the robust build of a farmer. He says he grew up watching his grandfather and uncles making charcoal, a life marked by tending to the kiln year-round amidst the agricultural routine. Later, as lives improved, the demand for charcoal decreased, compounded by competition from imported low-cost charcoal, leading to the closure of many kilns. Fortunately, the former township chief of Baoshan wanted to revive this craft, and Li Yongxing was unwilling to see his grandfather's and uncles' skills fade away. With the technical guidance of his father, Li Shenghua, and financial support from the township office, he adorned the kiln with a handwoven "straw hat" and tightly packed acacia wood harvested from the mountains into the kiln. Then, he used camphor wood from the mountains to reignite the family’s charcoal-making traditions. Despite the challenges associated with the phrase "unwilling to give up", Li Yongxing acknowledges that he is fortunate his children are grown, as financial pressures are not as heavy. Otherwise, making and selling charcoal would hardly be profitable. The whole process starts with harvesting wood from the mountains, and organizing firewood to pack into the kiln takes about ten days. Carbonization requires 20 to 25 days, followed by another 15 to 20 days of cooling after sealing the kiln (if the kiln is opened prematurely, the uncooled charcoal will ignite upon exposure to air). All in all, the entire process takes at least a month and a half. However, 20,000 pounds of acacia wood will yield only about 6,000 pounds of charcoal, priced at 20 NT dollars per pound, which means they only earn labor costs. If it weren't for their sense of mission driven by "unwillingness", who could endure it? The charcoal-making process typically begins around two or three o'clock in the morning. Even in winter, the just-opened kiln is still quite warm, making the labor of moving the charcoal sweat-inducing. Moreover, due to the dark color of the charcoal, everyone quickly ends up appearing as "black". You will see thick pieces of charcoal being moved out, completely carbonized from the long burning process, resulting in smoke-free and long-lasting charcoal that knowledgeable buyers are already waiting for. For those interested in charcoal-making, you might want to call and inquire about kiln opening times. The experience is rare and often attracts many photography enthusiasts who come to help move the charcoal and 'become black'. Incidentally, our publication coincides with the Lunar New Year, right at the peak season for navel oranges and ponkan citrus. The citrus crops cultivated by Mr. Li Shenghua have won awards. The kiln opening signifies the harvest time. Whether you join to ‘become black’ or to pick citrus, this New Year at the home of charcoal will provide extraordinary rewards!
