(Biochar is charcoal that is produced by burning biomass in the absence of oxygen; it is used as a soil amendment. Biochar is a stable solid that is rich in carbon and can endure in soil for thousands of years.
Biochar is being investigated as a means of carbon sequestration and as a means to mitigate climate change. Biochar may increase the soil fertility of acidic soils, increase agricultural productivity, and provide protection against some foliar and soil-borne diseases. from wikipedia)
Adding biochar to your soil is an excellent way to improve its fertility and ability to retain moisture. Charcoal is an extremely stable form of carbon and once added to soil will remain there for centuries, unlike other forms of organic matter which in time will decompose and return to the air as CO2.
Biochar can be made from any woody material, including yard waste such as fallen branches and tree prunings.
Brian Smallshaw is manufacturing kilns for this purpose on Saltspring. They are portable; two people can move them to where they are needed for a burn, and they are easily transported in a pickup truck box. They are simple and safe to operate; material burned in a biochar kiln produces far less smoke than a normal bonfire, with the consequent lower impact on air quality. Because the fire is off the ground and contained within a metal vessel, there is a much lower chance that the operator will lose control of the fire. For these reasons, biochar kilns make excellent backyard firepits. If you regularly burn material during yard cleanup, biochar kilns allow you to turn material that is a fire hazard into a useful material for your garden or orchard.
Contact Brian Smallshaw at b@pixelmap.ca for more information or to order a kiln. Cost is $1700 + GST and delivery time is approximately two weeks.
