Community Biochar Projects: What you Can Do

Biochar is an ancient tradtional agricultural technique that has been used by cultures in the Amazon, Africa, Japan, China and many other places. Today, communities all over the globe are reviving this tradition and experimenting with making and using biochar. Get involved and see what you can do in your community. There are lots of resources right here on the IBI site.

Biochar with David Yarrow: a Conversation

Bio-char with David Yarrow from mediasanctuary on Vimeo.

NASA Makes Biochar

One resource we highly recommend is this article with tips on making and using biochar from NASA, the US National Aeronautics and Space Agency.

See a video of the biochar making process by the Tidewater Builders Association here: http://youtu.be/uKSLbjHWyjA

Photo: From left, Doris Hamill from NASA and Jim Steward of Bluebird Gap Farm and Langley intern Adam Crockett fire up the pyrolyzer at Langley to make biochar. Credit: NASA

 

Biochar Work Parties

IBI joined with the climate action group to promote a very successful day of climate events on October 10, 2010. Read the reports and see the pictures here.

Interested in organizing a biochar event?

You don't have to wait for the next Global Work Party. Gather your family, friends and associates and plan a biochar work party or educational event. See below for 10 BIOCHAR EVENT IDEAS. SHARE your event details and pictures. NETWORK with others for help and ideas at Facebook, LinkedIn and the Biochar Yahoo groups. Scroll down for more information:

Visit the IBI Facebook page

 

Visit the Biochar groups on Linked In
 

Discuss Biochar at the Biochar Yahoo Groups
 

10 BIOCHAR EVENT IDEAS

 1. Plant a tree with biochar

• For help with this idea, download IBI's Technical Bulletin, Practical aspects of biochar application to tree crops

 2. Plant a 350 banner in biochar

• Find a piece of poor soil and outline the 350 logo.
• Fill the outline with biochar and soil mixed together. Leave the plain soil around the outside.
• Plant some seeds and watch it grow – the biochar-amended 350 logo will be bright and green!
• For more help, download IBI's Technical Bulletin, Using biochar to create artwork in the landscape

3. Hold a Biochar BBQ - make biochar and cook food on biochar stoves

• See the IBI Stoves page for more information.
• Article about biochar grilling at the Bioenergy Biochar List.
• Many biochar-making stove designs are discussed at the Bioenergy Stoves List.

4. Incorporate biochar in a community garden

• IBI has several publications that can help you test biochar in your soils and growing conditions: see the
  Guide to Conducting Biochar Trials and our short technical bulletins.
• See the SeaChar community garden project for an example.

5. Set up a biochar experiment to test biochar in pots

• IBI has several publications that can help you test biochar in your soils and growing conditions:
  see the Guide to Conducting Biochar Trials and our short technical bulletins.
• Visit the IBI site and read the Project Profiles for ideas about how others have conducted biochar experiments.
• Start a biochar experiment at your school - visit the Biochar in Schools page to see the biochar experiments that young people have been doing. Start a project at your local school.

6. Sponsor a biochar stove making workshop

• Many biochar-making stove designs are discussed at the Bioenergy Stoves List.

7. Conduct a survey of  waste feedstock that could be used to make biochar in your area

• Conduct a survey of local businesses, farms or land management agencies to discover sources of waste biomass that could be used to make biochar. Find information on appropriate feedstocks for biochar here.
• See this example of a biochar feedstock survey in Haiti for ideas.

8. Hold a biochar meeting to educate people about the potential of biochar

• Download biochar fact sheets from the IBI website to share with your group
• Invite a biochar expert to speak to your group
• Form a biochar regional group and commit to further learning and biochar projects

9. Hold a biochar action party to write letters and articles urging action on climate change and biochar.

• Gather your friends on 10-10-10 and get out your pens, paper, and computers.
• Politicians take special note of individual letters from constituents, including handwritten ones.
• The letters-to-the-editor section is the most read part of your local newspaper. 
• Perhaps your homeowners association, congregation or school has a newsletter where you could submit biochar articles.
• Visit IBI’s policy page to research the status of biochar in many policy contexts.
• Use IBI fact sheets, FAQs and other resources to write your letters and articles.
• IBI's policy action page has a number of letter writing ideas on specific, current issues.

10. Showcase your Biochar Company or project

• Are you part of company that makes biochar or biochar equipment? Hold an open house and educate the public about your products.
• Donate some biochar to a community garden or a school.