An updraft gasifier including a reactor chamber, the chamber adapted to receive an amount of biomass fuel, one or more reaction gas input means, the base portion located below and fluidly connected to the receiving portion of the reactor chamber, a hollow feed tube extending into the receiving portion of the chamber to terminate at a feed tube terminus within the receiving portion of the chamber, one or more product gas output means located at or near the top of the receiving portion of the reactor chamber; and wherein the gasifier further includes a biomass distribution member within the receiving chamber, the biomass distribution member positioned to enable a portion of the distribution member to be moveable beneath the feed tube terminus.