What do Biocharring Invasive Brush & Water Health Have in Common?

Come and learn with us at the land on Saturday October 24th from 10am to 4pm, as we practice and experiment with making biochar from invasive brush to improve the water health in our waterways!

Many biochar projects start from a simple local biomass problem. Weeds, crop residues, forestry waste, and invasive plants are often treated as disposal issues, but with the right carbonization approach, they can become biochar! The opportunity is not only in the biomass itself, but in building a practical system that turns a local problem into a solution.

Biochar is a stable, carbon-rich, charcoal-like material made by heating organic waste without oxygen, that has its origins in the ancient Terra Preta (dark earth) soils created by Indigenous peoples in the Amazon Basin over 2,500 years ago.

The uses for biochar are innumerable! From nutrient retention in the soil to carbon sequestration and water filtration. Biochar can be added to building materials, pollution remediation and it can even be integrated into power supplies and clothing! And as a water remediation agent, biochar effectively removes multiple organic, inorganic and microbial contaminants.

During this work day we will focus on step one of the biochar process: clearing and preparing the materials. Jeff Boland-Prom, from the Illinois Beaver Alliance, will give a talk about biochar and together we will prepare the ground to use this amazing component to restore water.

Lunch and beverages included. Please RSVP by October 21st!